Our Review
I love Christmas music, it's true. But let's admit it: sometimes these artists' take on the season get a bit cheesy, even for me. But I knew before I heard it that a Ray Charles Christmas would be among the best and brightest, bar none. Ray sang jazz, blues, R&B, pop, country, easy listening. He was the 600 lb. gorilla who could go wherever he wished. Eventually, he melded and molded all of those genres into a distinctive "Ray style". The Spirit of Christmas, re-released this year by the good folks at Concord Records, is vintage Ray. Equally at home either singing sacred music with spirited reverence or silly pop tunes with comical alacrity, Ray Charles bestrides Christmas like a colossus.
I liked them all, and I will continue to listen to them all, but I enjoyed That Spirit Of Christmas most, I believe. Produced in an orchestrated, chorally augmented, style so popular in the early sixties, this track is a perfect example of Ray style, a style that never grows old for me. His music ages remarkably well. I can't think of many artists whose popularity arc never seemed to reach its peak, not in quite the same way his did. He just kept getting better and better.
I have a few more superlatives in my pocket (I never leave home without a few). But, it's Ray Charles, for gosh sakes. Need I say more?
--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2008)
More
This is a new digital-only re-release, available in 2008 only from Concord Records. Planned for CD release in 2009.
Ray Charles
The Spirit of Christmas
(Digital-Only Release)
Artist link
Label: Concord Music Group
Length: 47 minutes
Genre: R&B
Release: 2008
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| What Child Is This |
| The Little Drummer Boy |
| Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town |
| This TIme Of The Year |
| Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer |
| That Spirit Of Christmas |
| All I Want For Christmas |
| Christmas In My Heart |
| Winter Wonderland |
| Christmas Time |
| Baby It's Cold Outside |