Written by Susie Salva
Looking for that perfect holiday stocking stuffer or Christmas gift? Look no more! Capitol/EMI Records are releasing five Christmas titles for your listening pleasure. The titles include Dave Koz’s Ultimate Christmas, A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys Christmas Album, The Chipmunk’s The Chipmunk Song, and NOW That’s What I Call Christmas Vol.4.
First off is Dave Koz’s second Christmas release titled Ultimate Christmas. The CD has been released on CD and digitally features 18 perennial holiday classics performed by four time Grammy award nominee. This saxophone extraordinaire and all around nice guy has included on the disc The Christmas Song, Winter Wonderland, Deck the Halls, O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) Hark! The Herald Angles Sing, White Christmas featuring Kelly Sweet. Please Come Home for Christmas featuring Kimberly Locke (2003 American Idol finalist) and several other popular songs of the season.
Koz will kick off the holiday season with the Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2011 on November 25th (the day after Thanksgiving) at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta, GA. Trumpeter/composer/producer Rick Braun, South African singer/guitarist Jonathan Butler and Dutch saxophone star Candy Dulfer will join Koz for the 14th anniversary tour. The four will perform hits from their respective catalogues and jam on new arrangements of holiday favorites. For all things Dave Koz go to www.davekoz.com
A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra, was originally released in 1957 and is a vital holiday classic featuring 14 cherished Yuletide recordings sung by Ol’ Blue Eyes including The Christmas Song, Silent Night, Jingle Bells, I’ll be Home for Christmas, O Little Town of Bethlehem, The First Noel, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and more. The album’s White Christmas and alternate version of The Christmas Waltz were arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle. Presented with all the warmth, good cheer and best wishes at his command, here are the songs Christmas as only Frank Sinatra sings them. (from the album’s original sleeve).
The Beach Boys Christmas Album produced by Brian Wilson was originally released in 1964. Among the classic album’s 12 festive tracks are five Beach Boys originals – Little Saint Nick, The Man with all the Toys, Santa’s Beard, Merry Christmas Baby and Christmas Day – as well as holiday standards infused with The Beach Boy signature California pop style, including Frosty The Snowman, White Christmas, and more. A 40-piece orchestra accompanies The Beach Boys’ world-famous harmonies on this evergreen album.
The Chipmunk’s The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late) is a modern holiday classic, known and loved in households worldwide. It, along with 15 other Chipmunks carol standouts, including Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane), Jingle Bells, It’s Beginning to look a lot like Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, Deck the Halls, White Christmas and more are featured on Christmas With The Chipmunks an essential collection for every holiday season.
The world’s best-selling, multi-artist album series, NOW That’s What I Call Music!, will release NOW That’s What I Call Christmas! Vol. 4.
NOW That’s What I Call Christmas! Vol. 4 features 36 festive holiday tracks, among them 18 standards and originals from many of music’s top stars, including Rihanna, Sheryl Crow, Colbie Caillat, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Toby Keith, Darius Rucker, Brian McKnight (featuring Vince Gill), Kelly Rowland, Sean Kingston, Lady Gaga featuring Space Cowboy, Britney Spears, Michael Bublé, Diana Krall, and Maroon 5, as well as 18 evergreen favorites by legendary artists, including Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Dean Martin, Burl Ives, Bobby Helms, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, Alvin And The Chipmunks, Bing Crosby and David Bowie, James Taylor, Sting, Celtic Woman, Norah Jones, Band Aid, and Mannheim Steamroller.
The NOW series boasts an amazing array of musical talent and puts these great artists all in one place playing some of the most beloved Christmas songs in one collection. Where else can you get Lady GaGa and Elvis Presley on one CD?? This year NOW That’s What I Call Christmas! Vol. 4 features a ‘Special Caroling Edition’ which include liner copy with the song lyrics for each track on the album. This disc is a must have for the holiday season with a little taste of pop and all the classic standards by legendary musicians on one album with two discs.
The NOW That’s What I Call Music! Series debuted in the U.S. in 1998 after the brand had been a multi-platinum international success for 15 years. The series has generated sales exceeding 200 million albums worldwide, including more than 77 million copies in the U.S. For more on the NOW music series please go to: www.nowthatsmusic.com
