It's Christmas, Of Course

Darlene Love who recorded with the Blossoms & the Crystals in the classic rock era & has gone on to star in films and in the musical "Hairspray" has recorded an excellent Christmas CD that pulls from the work of many songwriters who worked since the 1970s. Tom Petty's "Christmas All Over Again" begins with a bold rocker, "Christmas is a rocking time, put your body next to mine, underneath the mistletoe we go!" NRBQ's "Christmas Wish" is a handsome track. Hank Ballard & James Brown are co-writers on the funk-fest "Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto." Darlene's version of "Please Come Home for Christmas" aches with the sadness many feel at holiday time. The Pretenders recorded  Learning to Crawl  shortly after the death of one band member and shortly before the overdose of another. Love takes their "2000 Miles" and embodies feelings of grief mixed with the holiday, "In these frozen and silent nights, sometimes in a dream you're here outside under the purple sky, diamonds in the snow sparkle." Billy Squier's "Christmas Is the Time to Say 'I Love You'" rocks with Love belting boldly. My favorite track is the soulful "What Christmas Means to Me" with Zev Katz's infectious bass line thumping throughout. Robbie Robertson who played with The Band wrote "Christmas Must Be Tonight" that slows the pace a bit for Love's most religious track, "How a little baby boy could bring the people so much joy, son of a carpenter, Mary carried the Light." XTC masquerading as The Three Wisemen recorded "Thanks for Christmas" that Love polishes to reveal a lovely melody, "Thanks for Christmas, thanks for winter's friendliness." Love polishes John Lennon & Yoko Ono's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" with its beautiful message, "So this is Christmas for weak & for strong, for rich & the poor ones, war is so wrong." The set concludes with a lovely holiday ballad "Night of Peace," "East to west, sun to sun, a night of peace." "It's Christmas Of Course" is an excellent collection of modern Christmas songs performed with zest and conviction. Enjoy!

If you know your Christmas music you know Darlene from the Phil Spector Christmas Album and David Letterman. DARLENE LOVE knows how to do Christmas music and this album is no exception. As Stan the Man always always commented, “‘Nuff Said”.

Darlene Love. Christmas music. What's not to love? Tis the season for holiday neo-classics, right?! Worth the price of admission for her beautiful take on The Band's "Christmas Must Be Tonight" alone. But then there's Tom Petty's "Christmas All Over Again," John & Yoko's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," Charles Brown's "Please Come Home for Christmas," and on and on. Actually, it's so good you'll probably play it all the year through. Highly recommended.

Darlene Love is best known for singing "Christmas(Baby Please Come Home)" on the classic Phil Spector produced album  A Christmas Gift For You . But she never released a Christmas album of her own until 2007. The album doesn't feature any traditional songs like "Silent Night". It doesn't include any new songs either. Instead, it features covers of Christmas songs from the '60s, '70s and '80s. These songs were originally performed by the likes of James Brown, Stevie Wonder, the Staples Singers, NRBQ, the Pretenders, Tom Petty, XTC and others. Darlene's versions of these songs don't really match the original versions, but they are quite good in their own right. But I am a little disappointed that she didn't cover the Jackson 5 song "Give Love on Christmas Day", which would have been quite appropriate for her.

Having seen her perform live on numerous occasions and having collected every solo recording that she has made (and most of her Blossoms sides as well), you can imagine how thrilled I was to have some new recorded material from one of the great pop voices of our time.Unfortunately, I have some problems with this album. The selection of songs is often uninspired, and the rather sparse arrangements are nothing special.But worst of all, John Lennon's "Happy Xmas/War Is Over" is reduced to "Happy Xmas" here. That's right, somebody (WHO?) made the decision to -eliminate the chorus-, "War is over/if you want it" - thereby eliminating both the song's great hook and its very meaning! Does this mean that Darlene likes war? Is it a statement of support about the current war (making Lennon's message as timely as ever)? Whatever the case, it ruined my enjoyment of this album.Darlene's vocal gifts are still amazingly strong, but I'm really, really disappointed, and sad that someone eliminated a message of peace when we need it most.

I had only heard portions of this album before. It's all great. I'm thrilled to have it in my Christmas Collection!Arrived on time and well packaged.thank You!

I always loved her singing

I guess I was anticipating a big Phil Spector Wall-of-Sound production. In fact, Ms. Love's voice is not that big, and the sound is much quieter than expected. There are brief flashes of the old Darlene Love, but though it kills me to say this, there are a few bad notes, and mostly it's just boring. I really wanted this to be great. Maybe after a few listens it will grow on me, but for now, once we get into the real Christmas season, I'll be listening to A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector.

This a Christmas album from Darlene Love. Even if you don't know her name you'll have heard her plenty at Christmas! She was one of artists on Phil Spector's 'A Christmas Gift For You' issued in 1963 (White Christmas, Marshmallow World, Winter Wonderland and Christmas, Baby Please Come Home). She also sang 'All Alone On Christmas' on The Home Alone 2 soundtrack.This is a new collection of songs that doesn't include any re-workings of the above. Neither are there any carols. Instead, Darlene has recorded new versions of 70s and 80s songs previously done by The Pretenders, Tom Petty, Jon Bon Jovie, Stevie Wonder, Billy Squires, XTC, James Brown etc. The arrangements are fairly basic - it's all about the voice!

its not that bad but a bit disappointed

Bought the dvd thinking it was one of asda xmas song not though different version only reason

Nice

very pleased - thank you