Review, buy General: The Christmas Album Vol.2, Songs for Christmas, The Art of Anne Sofie Von Otter, Walt Disney's Classic Cartoon Favorites, Vol. 9: Classic Holiday Stories (REGION 1) (NTSC), The Christmas Collection, Jazz at Santa Monica Civic 72 [European Import], No.1 Christmas Album, The Best Christmas Carols...Ever, Happy Christmas From Motown, Now - the Christmas Album, Andrea Bocelli - A Night In Tuscany [1997], We Wish You a Metal Christmas and a Headbanging New Year, A Christmas Present From Motown - Volume 1, Platinum Christmas, Classic FM Christmas, An English Folk Christmas, Pop Idol - the Idols: Xmas Factor, Cool Cool Christmas Album, Christmas Hits, Feels Like Christmas

Tracks Songs for Christmas

O Come O Come Emmanuel
Holy Holy, Etc.
Away in a Manger
Ding! Dong!
Christmas in July
Winter Solstice
Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!)
Joy to the World
O Come O Come Emmanuel
Come on! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance!
That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!
Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming
Once in Royal David's City
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
First Noel
It's Christmas! Let's Be Glad!
Put the Lights on the Tree
Jingle Bells
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!
Little Drummer Boy
Jupiter Winter
Incarnation
What Child Is This Anyway?
We're Goin' to the Country!
Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time!
Amazing Grace
Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming
I Saw Three Ships
Sister Winter
Only at Christmas Time
Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
Holy, Holy, Holy
All the King's Horns
Angels We Have Heard on High
Friendly Beasts
Get Behind Me, Santa!
Silent Night
Once in Royal David's City
We Three Kings
O Holy Night
Star of Wonder
O Come O Come Emmanuel

Tracks The Art of Anne Sofie Von Otter

L'Amour est un oiseau rebelle from "Carmen" - Bizet
Visa från Lappland from "Hjärterovet" - Hahn
Marietta's Lied from "Die tote Stadt" - Korngold
L'Anneau d'argent - Chaminade
V'accendano le tede from "Agrippina" - Handel
D'Amour l'ardente flamme from "La Damnation de Faust" - Berlioz
Oh solitude! - Purcell
Qui sedes ad dextram Patris from "Mass in B minor" - Bach
Belle Nuit, o nuit d'amour from "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" - Offenbach
Ved Fjaetle-Bekken from "Haugtussa" - Grieg
The Christmas Song - Torme & Wells
The Sprig of Thyme from "13 Folksongs" - Grainger
Cease, ruler of the day, to rise from "Hercules" - Handel
Parto, ma tu ben mio from "La clemenza di Tito" - Mozart
Stille Nacht - Gruber
Le Roi de Thulé from "La Damnation de Faust" - Berlioz
An Silvia - Schubert
Du Ring an meinem Finger from "Frauenliebe und -Leben" - Schumann
Soave sia il vento from "Così fan tutte" - Mozart
Ging heut' morgen übers Feld from "Songs of a Wayfarer" - Mahler
Voi che sapete from "Le nozze di Figaro" - Mozart
For the Stars - Elvis Costello
Laudamus te from "Mass in C minor" - Mozart
Oh rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him from "Elijah" - Mendelssohn
Dopo notte, atra e funesta from "Ariodante" - Handel
Lullaby - Brahms
Buss und Reu from "St Matthew Passion" - Bach
One Life to Live - Weill
Une poupée yeux d'émail from "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" - Offenbach
Like an angel passing through my room - Andersson & Ulvaeus
Non so più from "Le nozze di Figaro" - Mozart
Mina - Meyerbeer
O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion from "Messiah" - Handel
Je Voudrais... - Chaminade
Come Away, Death from "Songs of the Clown" - Korngold
Rheinlegendchen from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" - Mahler
Les Tringles des sistres tintaient from "Carmen" - Bizet
Ave Maria - Schubert
Smanie implaicibili from "Così fan tutte" - Mozart
Ah, guarda, sorella from "Così fan tutte" - Mozart
Haec est Regina virginum - Handel

Just listing the composers featured on The Art of Anne Sofie von Otter here would take up the allotted space. Suffice to say that from Handel, Mozart and Bach through to Berlioz, Korngold and Elvis Costello, this ravishing compilation sums up what we have long known-that von Otter effortlessly embraces so many styles of music with consummate artistry, character and technique. What more can you say? She is as at home with early music ensembles such as The English Concert and Les Musiciens du Louvre as with the Berlin Philharmonic in Mahler or Offenbach with the Dresden State Orchestra. Churlish reservations relate only to the overall choice of repertoire-perhaps at the expense of a little less Mozart and Handel, still more space devoted to an uninterrupted sequence of songs with piano would be welcomed, an area where many find von Otter's gifts at their most compelling. The magical 1996 Swedish song album isn't represented at all, but then again a quick flip through the von Otter discography leaves one wishing so much else was included here. That would be totally impractical, of course, after all, who could buy this and not want then to explore her discography in detail? -Andrew Green.

Tracks Jazz at Santa Monica Civic 72 [European Import]

Spring Can Really Hang You up the Most - Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan Trio
Sanford & Son Theme (The Streetbeater) - Count Basie Orchestra, , Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan Trio
Little White Lies - Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan Trio
In a Mellow Tone - Jazz at the Philharmonic All-Stars
Blues in Hoss's Flat - Count Basie Orchestra
You've Got a Friend - Count Basie Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan Trio
Ballad Medley: Blue and Sentimental - Jazz at the Philharmonic All-Stars
Ballad Medley: I Surrender Dear - Jazz at the Philharmonic All-Stars
Basie Power - Count Basie Orchestra
Good Time Blues - Count Basie Orchestra
Ballad Medley: If I Had You - Jazz at the Philharmonic All-Stars
C Jam Blues - Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Jazz at the Philharmonic All-Stars, Jazz at the Philharmonic All-Stars
Cole Porter Medley: Too Darn Hot/It's All Right With Me - Count Basie Orchestra, , Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan Trio
L.O.V.E. - Count Basie Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan Trio
Ballad Medley: Makin' Whoopee - Jazz at the Philharmonic All-Stars
What's Going On - Count Basie Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan Trio
Meetin' Time - Count Basie Orchestra
Loose Walk - Jazz at the Philharmonic All-Stars
Ballad Medley: She's Funny That Way - Jazz at the Philharmonic All-Stars
You Are My Sunshine - Ray Brown, Oscar Peterson,
Shiny Stockings - Count Basie Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan Trio
Ballad Medley: 5400 North - Jazz at the Philharmonic All-Stars
Madalena - Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan Trio
Norman Granz: Intro - Count Basie Orchestra, Norman Granz
Begin the Beguine - Count Basie Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan Trio
Night and Day - Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan Trio
I Can't Stop Loving You - Count Basie Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan Trio
Spirit Is Willing - Count Basie Orchestra
Indian Summer - Count Basie Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan Trio

Tracks No.1 Christmas Album

Spaceman Came Travelling - De Burgh, Chris
It May Be Winter Outside - Love Unlimited Orchestra
Winter Melody - Summer, Donna (1)
Stop The Cavalry - Lewie, Jona
Fairytale Of New York - Pogues & Kirsty MacColl
December Will Be Magic Again - Bush, Kate
Pipes Of Peace - McCartney, Paul
Merry Christmas Darling - Carpenters
Another Rock N' Roll Christmas - Glitter, Gary
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day - Wizzard (1)
Lonely This Christmas - Mud (1)
I Believe In Father Christmas - Lake, Greg
Pretty Paper - Orbison, Roy
Mary's Boy Child (2) - Free The Spirit
Only You - Flying Pickets
Frosty The Snowman - Jackson Five
Merry Christmas Everybody (1) - Slade
Power Of Love - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Mary's Boy Child - Boney M
Christmas Wrapping - Waitresses
Stay Another Day - East 17
Silent Night Holy Night - O'Connor, Sinead
Winter's Tale - Essex, David
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Ross, Diana & The Supremes
Merry Christmas Everybody - Shakin' Stevens
Driving Home For Christmas - Rea, Chris
I Was Born On Christmas Day - Saint Etienne
In Dulci Jublio - Oldfield, Mike
Keeping The Dream Alive - Freiheit
Last Christmas - Whigfield
Walking In The Air - Shadows (1)
Little St Nick - Beach Boys
Step Into Christmas - John, Elton
Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Mel & Kim (2)
Little Drummer Boy - Jackson, Michael & Jackson Five
Last Christmas (2) - Wham
When A Child Is Born - Mathis, Johnny (1)
Walking In The Air (2) - Jones, Aled
White Christmas - Crosby, Bing

Tracks The Best Christmas Carols...Ever

In the bleak midwinter
While shepherds watched
Methinks I see an heavnly host
Good King Wenceslas
We wish you a merry Christmas
Masters in this hall
O come, O come Emmanuel
A Christmas Carol
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Shepherds Pipe Carol
Hark! the herald angels sing
Angel Tidings
Gabriels Message
O little one sweet
In dulci jubilo
Once in Royal Davids City
Joy to the world!
Up! good Christen folk and listen
The Coming of our King
Silent Night
The First Nowell
The Coventry Carol
Sussex Carol
Past three oclock
Carol with Lullaby
Sans Day Carol
Adam lay ybounden
O come, all ye faithful
Christ was born on Christmas Day
We three Kings of Orient are
Cherry Tree Carol
Here we come a-wassailing
Angels from the realms of glory
I saw three ships
The Babe of Bethlehem
Nativity Carol
When an angel host entuned
The Holly and the Ivy
Weve been a while a-wandering
A Spotless Rose
A virgin unspotted
God rest you merry, gentlemen
It came upon the midnight clear
Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!
See amid the winters snow
Infant holy, infant lowly
When Christ was born
Away in a manger
Rocking
My Dancing Day
The Lord at first did Adam make
Unto us is born a son
As with gladness men of old
Ding dong merrily on high (
O little town of Bethlehem

Tracks Happy Christmas From Motown

Frosty The Snowman - Jackson 5
Christmas Won't Be The Same This Year - Jackson 5
Let It Snow - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
White Christmas - The Supremes
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - The Supremes
Someday At Christmas - The Temptations
Christmastime - Stevie Wonder
Jingle Bells - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Joy To The World - The Supremes
What Christmas Means To Me - Stevie Wonder
Little Drummer Boy - Jackson 5
Up On The House Top - Jackson 5
The Christmas Song - Stevie Wonder
Children's Christmas Song - The Supremes
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Jackson 5
Silver Bells - The Supremes
Jesus Is Love - Commodores

Tracks Now - the Christmas Album

Christmas Wrapping - Spice Girls
Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney
Mistletoe And Wine - Cliff Richard
Please Come Home For Christmas - State Of The Heart
Step Into Christmas - Elton John
Stop The Cavalry - Jona Lewie
Santa Baby - Kylie Minogue
Lonely This Christmas - Mud
The Millennium Prayer - Cliff Richard
Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth - Bing Crosby/David Bowie
Fairytale Of New York - Ronan Keating feat. Maire Brennan
Last Christmas - Billie Piper
Driving Home For Christmas - Michael Ball
In Dulce Jubilo - Mike Oldfield
The Perfect Year - Dina Carroll
White Christmas - Bing Crosby
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Vanessa Williams
Silent Night - Sinead O'Connor
A Spaceman Came Travelling - Chris De Burgh
I Wish It Could Be Christmas - Wizzard
The Christmas Song - Nat 'King' Cole
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
Merry Christmas Everybody - Slade
Walk This Sleigh - Robbie Williams
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Dean Martin
It May Be Winter Outside - Love Unlimited Orchestra
Sleigh Ride - Spice Girls
Frosty The Snowman - Jackson Five
Perfect Christmas - S Club 7
Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
Angels - Robbie Williams
Little Saint Nick - Beach Boys
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - John & Yoko
A Winter's Tale - Magnets
The Power Of Love - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
When A Child Is Born - Hannah Morris
Baby, It's Cold Ouside - Tom Jones with Cerys from Catatonia
Last Christmas - Billie Piper
Walking In The Air - Aled Jones
I Believe In Father Christmas - Greg Lake

Tis the season to be jolly, and what better to kick of the proceedings than Slade and Wizzard with those perennial seasonal favourites "Merry Xmas Everybody" and "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday". The Now Christmas collection stands head and shoulders above the field of festive compilations as it actually has a lot of unusual tracks-the titles may be familiar, but the artists doing them are all quite unexpected. Hence you get Kylie purring her way through "Santa Baby", the Spice Girls indulging in some "Christmas Wrapping" before taking you on a "Sleigh Ride", Samantha Mumba telling us "All I Want For Christmas", Billie Piper casting her eye back to "Last Christmas" and Ronan Keating teaming up with Maire Brennan for a "Fairytale Of New York". These tracks work to varying degrees, but there are plenty more traditional originals on offer to sate the most hearty of holiday appetites-from Bing Crosby crooning his way through "White Christmas" to Aled Jones taking his Snowman by the hand while they go "Walking In The Air". No Christmas compilation should be without Cliff Richard, and sure enough he puts in an appearance with "Mistletoe And Wine" and "The Millennium Prayer". A worthy addition to the Now stables, and a thoroughbred through and through. -Helen Marquis.

Part concert, part documentary, part travelogue, this video hit duplicates the success of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli's albums and underscores his unique crossover appeal. Critical response to Bocelli has been confined to fusillades of scorn from classical and opera writers, but the bullet-proof superstar is better understood in the context of a mainland European tradition of pop-classical fusion. Bocelli cheerfully ignores the supposed wall between high (classical) art and low (pop) kitsch with his mix of operatic chestnuts, soft pop and traditional Italian songs. Indeed, despite interview segments in which he proclaims his love of opera or proudly recalls an apprenticeship to operatic veteran Franco Corelli, Bocelli comes across as more fan than virtuoso. But if his voice can prompt technical cavils from hard-core opera buffs, the blind singer's emotional directness and relative lack of onstage preening explain much of his populist appeal. Featured songs include warhorse arias, leading off with the "Louie, Louie" of tenor showpieces, Turandot's "Nessun Dorma" and duets with gruff Italian pop-rocker Zucchero and sopranos Nuccia Focile and Sarah Brightman (who buddies up for the tear-jerking closer, "Time to Say Goodbye"). Even with the marquee bonus of those guests, however, A Night in Tuscany gets its biggest boost from the seductive Italian countryside, prominently featured in between-song segments, and in the romantic concert setting, Pisa's Piazza dei Cavalieri. -Sam Sutherland.

Tracks We Wish You a Metal Christmas and a Headbanging New Year

We Wish You A Merry Xmas - Soto, Jeff Scott & Bruce Kulick/Bob Kulick/Chris Wyse/Ray Luzier
Silver Bells - Tate, Geoff & Carlos Cavazo/James Lomenzo/Ray Luzier
Grandma Got Ran Over By A reindeer - Pearcy, Stephen & Tracii Guns/Bob Kulick/Billy Sheehan/GregBissonette
Silent Night - Billy, Chuck & Scott Ian/Jon Donais/Chris Wyse/John Tempesta
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Dio, Ronnie James & Tony Iommi/Rudy Sarzo/Simon Wright
Run Rudolph Run - Lemmy & Billy F Gibbons/Dave Grohl
Rockin' Around the Xmas Tree - Turner, Joe Lynn & Bruce Kulick/Bob Kulick/Rudy Sarzo/SimonWright
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - Shaw, Tommy & Steve Lukather/Marco Mendoza/Kenny Aronoff
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Cooper, Alice & John 5/Billy Sheehan/Vinny Appice
Little Drummer Boy - Pinnick, Dug & George Lynch/Billy Sheehan/Simon Phillips
Deck the Halls - Logan, Oni & Craig Goldy/Tony Franklin/John Tempesta
Santa Claus Is Back In Town - Owens, Tim 'Ripper' & Steve Morse/Juan Garcia/Marco Mendoza/Vinny Appice

Tracks A Christmas Present From Motown - Volume 1

Joy To The World - The Supremes
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Give Love On Christmas Day - Jackson 5
One Little Christmas Tree - Stevie Wonder
Merry Christmas Baby - Four Tops
Winter Wonderland - The Funk Brothers
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Jackson 5
Silent Night - The Temptations
Frosty The Snowman - Jackson 5
White Christmas - The Temptations
This Christmas - Diana Ross
The Miracles Of Christmas - Stevie Wonder
Christmas Here With You - Four Tops, Aretha Franklin
Christmas Everyday - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Children's Christmas Song - The Supremes
Purple Snowflakes - Marvin Gaye
Everyone's A Kid At Christmas - Stevie Wonder
Let It Snow - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

Pop music wise, Christmas is traditionally soundtracked by that "blimmin' Slade tune" and a host of even more irksome ditties. So, thank the Lord for Berry Gordy and his Hitsville roster, whose A Christmas Present From Motown Volume 1 features 18 soulful seasonal songs. Selections include traditional carols, Christmas evergreens and a smattering of specially written festive numbers, mostly recorded during Motown's 60s and early 70s heyday. The Temptations offer a swoonsome croonsome Bing-like reading of "White Christmas", alongside their doo-wop gospel take on "Silent Night". On a more up-tempo tip are Smokey's self-penned shuffler, "Christmas Every Day", and the Jackson 5's playful "Frosty The Snowman". The Four Tops are dreaming of a blues Christmas with the bourbon soaked "Merry Christmas Baby"; Marvin Gaye's "Purple Snowflakes" is a balmy beauty; and Stevie Wonder contributes a trio of tunes in the supper club soul style of his early Tamla hits. Somewhat predictably, Diana Ross provides the only mawkish moment. "Children's Christmas Song" is as hideous as it sounds and yes, there's a vomit-inducing spoken interlude and a kids chorus. Program your CD to skip this track and have a merry Christmas. -Chris King.

With a fairly even mix of pure pop and R&B, Platinum Christmas should be on every chart fan's wish list for the festive season. On the pop front, Britney Spears ("My Only Wish (This Year)"), S-Club 7 ("Perfect Christmas"), Backstreet Boys ("Christmas Time") and N-Sync ("I Don't Wanna Spend One More Christmas Without You") keep the seasonal goodwill at an all-time high with plenty of sleigh bells and winter warmers, only to be let down by Steps with an appalling cover version of one of the all-time greatest Christmas songs ever, Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody", which they desecrate with vocoders, plinky-plonky synths and some of the weakest vocals ever committed to disc. On the R&B front, things fare a bit better with Monica ("Grown up Christmas List"), R. Kelly ("World Christmas"), Whitney Houston ("Who Would Imagine A King") and TLC's startling, yet strangely compelling, reworking of Phil Spector's classic "Sleigh Ride". With the exception of TLC, the cover versions tend to be the less compelling tracks, with the original material proving a far fresher take on the Christmas theme. As for Steps-they'd obviously been at the sherry. -Mel Roberts.

Tracks Classic FM Christmas

Joy To The World - Joan Sutherland, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
White Christmas - Orchestrated by Robert Russell Bennett (+1988) - Bryn Terfel, Philharmonia Orchestra, Paul Daniel
Ave Maria - Lesley Garrett, Amanda Thompson
Away In A Manger - Aled Jones
Silent Night - All Angels
Colours Of Christmas - Patrick Hawes
While Shepherds Watched - The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Simon Preston, David Willcocks
O Little Town of Bethlehem - The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, David Briggs, Stephen Cleobury
12. Chorus: "For unto us a Child is born" - Chicago Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Georg Solti
The first Nowell - The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, David Briggs, Stephen Cleobury
The Holly And The Ivy - The Choirboys
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Katherine Jenkins
Balulalow - Anthony Way, Lucy Wakeford, St. Paul's Cathedral Choir, John Scott
The twelve days of Christmas - Ingomar Rainer, Wiener Sängerknaben, Wiener Volksopernorchester, Uwe Christian Harrer
The Lamb - The Monteverdi Choir, John Eliot Gardiner
O Holy Night - All Angels, The Choirboys
When A Child Is Born - Michael Ball
Up! Good Christen folk, and listen - Arr. G.R. Woodward - Choir Of Westminster Abbey, Simon Preston
Adeste Fideles - Andrea Bocelli, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra, Academy Of Choir Art Of Russia, Victor Popov
Past Three a Clock - The Monteverdi Choir, John Eliot Gardiner
Still, Still, Still - Aled Jones
Do You Hear What I Hear? - The Choir Boys
Auld Lang Syne - Nicky Spence, Anne Collis, Annabel Thwaite
In dulci jubilo (Gesangbuch von Joseph Klug, 14. Jhdt.) - Arr. Robert Lucas de Pearsall (1795-1856) - Choir Of Westminster Abbey, Simon Preston
Mary's boy child - Bryn Terfel, Malcolm Martineau
I Saw Three Ships - John Bowen, The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, David Briggs, Stephen Cleobury
Candlelight Carol - Aled Jones
Good King Wenceslas - Choir Of Westminster Abbey, Simon Preston, Christopher Herrick
I Know A Rose Tree - Secret Garden, Anúna, Irish National Chamber Choir, Fiachra Terence W. Trench, RTE Concert Orchestra, John Tate
Shepherd's Pipe Carol - John Rutter
Sussex Carol (On Christmas Night) - The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, David Briggs, Stephen Cleobury
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, David Briggs, Stephen Cleobury
Winter Wonderland - Patrizio Buanne
Air: Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion - Renée Fleming, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andreas Delfs
Panis Angelicus - Russell Watson, Chamber Choir Of St. Catherine's, Bramley, Guildford, William Hayward, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Nick Ingman
Once in Royal David's City - Robin Barter, David Briggs, The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Stephen Cleobury
O Tannenbaum - Wiener Sängerknaben, Uwe Christian Harrer
Jingle Bells - The Puppini Sisters
Walking in the Air (Duet) - Aled Jones
Coventry Carol - The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, David Willcocks
In The Bleak Midwinter - Blake
Ding Dong! Merrily on High - Arr. Charles Wood (1866-1926) - Choir Of Westminster Abbey, Simon Preston
Gesù Bambino - Luciano Pavarotti, The National Philharmonic Orchestra, Kurt Herbert Adler
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, David Briggs, Stephen Cleobury

The Xmas Factor is a collection featuring all 12 finalists from 2003's Pop Idol series, each getting a solo bite at the Christmas-classic cherry. Critics of the series may think it easy to dismiss the soon-to-be-forgottens but the truth is each of the finalists deliver a good performance and the group collaborations "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" and "On This Day" are good versions of great songs. There's very little in it, but highlights include Sam's charmingly warm "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and Susanne's wonderfully kooky "Santa Baby". Another song worth noting for a completely different reason is "I Believe" in which Brian sounds eerily like the silver-tongued cavalier of Christmas tunes, Sir Cliff Richard. So all in all, The Xmas Factor is a really good collection of songs for the festive season-you might not want to listen to it in July but it'd be nice to think it might get dragged from the back of the CD rack for later Christmases. -Georgina Collins.

Tracks Cool Cool Christmas Album

In The Bleak Midwinter - Lauren Laverne
Gift X-Change - Calexico
My Christmas Prayer - Saint Etienne
I Believe In Father Christmas - Six By Seven
O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Belle & Sebastian
Christmas Eve - Teenage Fanclub
Every Day Is Christmas - The Webb Brothers
White Christmas - The Flaming Lips (Demo for Tom Waits)
Thank You Dreaded Black Ice, Thank You - Giant Sand
Hwiangerdd Mair - Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
Spiritual Guidance - Titan
Maybe At Christmas Time - Drugstore
Christmas Downer - Departure Lounge
Christmas Boogaloo - Big Boss Man
Feliz Navidad - El Vez
Christmas In Waikiki - Morgan
Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas - Eels
When I Get Home For Christmas - Snow Patrol
Little Drummer Boy - The Dandy Warhols
Just Like Christmas - Low
Alan Parsons In A Winter Wonderland - Grandaddy

With just about every musical genre under the sun having a Christmas compilation, it's about time that indie had a crack at it. So in 2000, alongside the inevitable (and numerous) Best Christmas Album In The World Ever!-style releases, Jeepster (that bastion of indie credibility) planted its flag with It's A Cool Cool Christmas. And what a line-up it's got: Jeepster's own Belle & Sebastian, Calexico, Saint Etienne, Teenage Fanclub, the Flaming Lips, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci-21 artists in all. Truly, these are the indie elite of 2000, united for a good cause (all profits from this album go to The Big Issue Charities). Although the bulk of the compilation is made up of original or lesser known songs (including Low's superb "Just Like Christmas" from their equally superb Christmas and a happier Eels proclaiming "Baby Jesus, born to rock" on the singalong "Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas"), the biggest gems on It's A Cool Cool Christmas are the new takes on traditional favourites. The Dandy Warhols rock their way through "Little Drummer Boy", Belle & Sebastian shine with "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" and Grandaddy pay fitting tribute to one of their 70s prog heroes on "Alan Parsons In A Winter Wonderland". -Robert Burrow.

Tracks Christmas Hits

I Have A Dream - Westlife
Merry Christmas Baby - Presley, Elvis
O Come All Ye Faithful - Norwich Cathedral Choir
Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow - Sinatra, Frank
Over The Rainbow - Cassidy, Eva
I Saw Three Ships - Marlborough Cathedral Choir
Seven Joys Of Mary - Marlborough Cathedral Choir
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Sinatra, Frank
Come To The Manger - Westminster Cathedral Choir
Auld Lang Syne - Gay Gordon
Holly And The Ivy - Westminster Cathedral Choir
Ding Dong Merrily On High - Marlborough Cathedral Choir
Christmas Time - Backstreet Boys
Jingle Bells - Cole, Natalie
First Nowell - Norwich Cathedral Choir
Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin' Stevens
O Christmas Tree - Lanza, Mario
I Don't Wanna Spend One More Christmas Without You - 'N Sync
O Little Town Of Bethlehem - Norwich Cathedral Choir
Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Williams, Andy (1)
What Christmas Means To Me - Green, Al
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Vandross, Luther
While Shepherds Watched - Westminster Cathedral Choir
Wintersong - McLachlan, Sarah
All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth) - Jones, Spike & His City Slickers
Christmas Day - Dido
Winter Wonderland - Bennett, Tony
Millennium Prayer - Richard, Cliff
I Believe - Robson & Jerome
Mary's Boy Child - Belafonte, Harry
Stay Another Day - East 17
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Wells Cathedral Choir
Silent Night - G4 (2)
Oh Happy Day - Hawkins, Edwin Singers
Sussex Carol - Wells Cathedral Choir
Cherry Tree Carol - Marlborough Cathedral Choir
As With Gladness Men Of Old - Wells Cathedral Choir
Christmas Bop - T-Rex
Dream A Dream - Church, Charlotte
I'll Be Home For Christmas - Day, Doris
Fairytale Of New York - Pogues & Kirsty MacColl
Proper Crimbo - Bo Selecta
Driving Home For Christmas - Rea, Chris
Blue Christmas - Shakin' Stevens
Power Of Love - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
When You Wish Upon A Star - Ronstadt, Linda
Merry Xmas Everybody - Steps (1)
When A Child Is Born - Mathis, Johnny (1)
Deck The Halls - Wilson, Jackie
I Have A Dream - Westlife
Deck The Halls - Norwich Cathedral Choir
Little Drummer Boy - Cash, Johnny
Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord - Boney M
Personent Hodie - Westminster Cathedral Choir
Once In Royal David's City - Ely Cathedral Choir
Do You Hear What I Hear - Knight, Gladys & The Pips
Angels We Have Heard On High - Westminster Cathedral Choir
Power Of Love - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
All I Want For Christmas Is You - Carey, Mariah
Hail Blessed Virgin Mary - Wells Cathedral Choir
Holiday Celebrate - Braxton, Toni
O Come O Come Emmanuel - Wells Cathedral Choir
Walking In The Air - Auty, Peter
Wombling Merry Christmas - Wombles
Pie Jesu - Angelis
Joy To The World - Franklin, Aretha
Millennium Prayer - Richard, Cliff
Stop The Cavalry - Lewie, Jona
My Only Wish (This Year) - Spears, Britney
We Three Kings - Ely Cathedral Choir
White Christmas - Bolton, Michael
Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End) - Darkness (2)
O Holy Night - Il Divo
Christmas Song - Aguilera, Christina
Santa Baby - Kitt, Eartha
Last Christmas - Wham
Love On Layaway - Estefan, Gloria
Away In A Manger - Westminster Cathedral Choir
Hark The Herald Angels Sing - Wells Cathedral Choir
Sleigh Ride - Air Supply
2000 Miles - Pretenders (1)
Early Christmas Morning - Lauper, Cyndi
Stay Another Day - East 17
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Lee, Brenda

Review The Christmas Album Vol.2 / Neil Diamond:

Review Songs for Christmas / Sufjan Stevens:

Review The Art of Anne Sofie Von Otter / Universal Classics:

Review Walt Disney's Classic Cartoon Favorites, Vol. 9: Classic Holiday Stories (REGION 1) (NTSC) / Walt Disney Video:

Review The Christmas Collection / Barbra Streisand:

Review Jazz at Santa Monica Civic 72 [European Import] / Various Artists:

Review No.1 Christmas Album / Various Artists:

Review The Best Christmas Carols...Ever / Various Artists:

Review Happy Christmas From Motown / Various Artists:

Review Now - the Christmas Album / Various Artists:

Review Andrea Bocelli - A Night In Tuscany [1997] / Universal Island:

Review We Wish You a Metal Christmas and a Headbanging New Year / Various Artists:

Review A Christmas Present From Motown - Volume 1 / Various Artists:

Review Platinum Christmas / Various Artists:

Review Classic FM Christmas / Various Artists:

Review An English Folk Christmas / Various Artists:

Review Pop Idol - the Idols: Xmas Factor / Various Artists:

Review Cool Cool Christmas Album / Various Artists:

Review Christmas Hits / Various Artists:

Review Feels Like Christmas / Cyndi Lauper: