Track Listing

1. Jingle Bells
2. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
3. Christmas Song
4. White Christmas
5. My Favorite Things
6. Best Gift
7. Sleep in Heavenly in Peace (Silent Night)
8. Gounod's Ave Maria
9. O Little Town of Bethlehem
10. I Wonder as I Wander
11. Lord's Prayer

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6498 in Music
• Released on: 1990-10-25
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
You haven't heard "Jingle Bells" until you've heard Barbra Streisand's version. Sounding more like a bebop Santa on A Christmas Album's rousing opening track, Streisand keenly races through the stanzas, toying with the words, pushing the song's tempos, and generally having a lot of fun. After that, she gets down to the more serious side of holiday offerings, with tracks that include "My Favorite Things," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Silent Night," "The Christmas Song," and others. At times this world-class singer can bowl you over with her range, sensuality, and emotion, and when she visits "Ave Maria" or closes with "The Lord's Prayer," it's easy to see why this is one singular Streisand record that has traveled so well for so many years. A classy classic. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews

A Christams Standard
Christmas isn't Christmas without this cd. A friend of mine years ago recorded this cd onto cassette for me when the cd first was released. I bought my copy of the disc about ten years ago. Barbra's rendition of "Jingle Bells" is considered by many to be the definitive version of this tune. It's abbreviated but oh well, it's fun. After this one upbeat song, the album takes a turn toward a serious feel. Next to the original, her soaring version of "My Favorite Things" is a personal favorite of mine. Barbra's version, for lack of a better term, is cinematic. "The Best Gift" is an original written about her soon to be infant son, Jason. Look at the cover and underneath the star Barbra appears to be holding is a very pregnant Barbra; she was also recovering from a cold during the sessions for this album and it caused her voice to be a bit more burnished than usual, it's all true! All the songs are beautifully performed and the solo harpsicord featured on all the songs, save for the opening track, may mark time a touch but it also adds an unusual warmth. The closing track, "The Lord's Prayer," is an amazing vocal feat; the song was a bit controversial way back when because Barbra is jewish and she sang a christian prayer, which had the catholic clergy upset because no one is to ever sing a prayer and the jewish felt it was a contradiction.

"A Gem!"
Barbra Steisand released "A Christmas Album" in 1967 and it has become one of her biggest selling albums in her catalogue being certified 5X Platinum. The album is also one of the biggest selling Christmas CD's out there. I always feel the Holidays don't start until I put Barbra and "A Christmas Album" on my CD player and once I hear that marvelous voice and those wonderful songs I know Christmas has finally arrived. Barbra released another Holiday package of music called "Christmas Memories" in the 2000's, but "A Christmas Album" is far superior. Barbra is in fine form and her voice is at its peak. The song list is wonderful ranging from Barbra's own arrangement of "Jingle Bells" to the finale of "The Lord's Prayer". Other songs that are standouts are "Have Yourself A Merry little Christmas", " "The Christmas Song", " I Wonder As I wonder", and my personal favorite "My Favorite Things" from "The Sound of Music". The cover picture is taken from Barbra's concert "A Happening In Central Park". In 1999 Columbia rereleased "A Christmas Album" with a new cover art, but I prefer the original.

What today's singers could learn....
I had friends who owned this cd thruout the years, and i always thought it was overrated - that is, w/out ever giving it a thorough listening. But 2 years ago (in the Springtime, no less) I stumbled upon it on sale and decided to purchase it! Upon the first listening during the Christmas season, i was BLOWN AWAY. The intimacy of the recording - Barbra's mastering of tone, enunciation and every little inflection of her voice - draws the listener in closer, making you feel as if she's singing just to you. What i find to be the most brilliant aspect of this album is the SEQUENCING of the songs. Sometimes sequencing can push an album from "great" to "excellent", and in this case - as in other older recordings such as Carly Simon's "No Secrets" - it is very true. After the 1-2-3 punch of White Christmas, The Best Gift & My Favorite Things, you feel as if the momentum cannot be sustained - but oh, it is. A total thrill and a totally classic recording. I feel privileged to be able to hear this album every year.