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December 8, 2003
Essentials - Phillip Hampton
In a society saturated with choices, sometimes it’s nice to
receive some knowledgeable recommendations.
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It's that time of year again when I pull out my Christmas CD
collection, blow off the dust, drink some eggnog, and get in the spirit of the
season. While I try to add one or two new CDs to my collection every year,
inevitably I find myself listening to the same handful of CDs that always puts
me in the mood for the holidays. Here are some of my favorites and my nominees
for Christmas classics.
A
Christmas Album—Amy Grant, Word 1983
Okay, I'm not much of an Amy Grant fan anymore, but, as a
teenager in 1983, I've got to admit I was more than just a little bit taken with
this industry-leading artist and ultimate cross-over success. Maybe that is why
Grant's first Christmas album is still a personal favorite. Christmas often
brings a wave of sentimentality that is rare for me at any other time.
Sentimentality aside, I still think that A Christmas Album is a classic.
From the down-home warmth of “Tennessee Christmas,” penned by Grant and Gary
Chapman, to the majestic symphony of “Angels We Have Heard on High,” the album
is special because of its simplicity. It is a nice Christmas offering from
Grant before she became a megastar.
In the
Spirit—Michael
McDonald, MCA Nashville 2001
There's no arguing that Michael McDonald is probably the most
soulful singer on the planet. So, when he released his first Christmas CD in
2001, maybe some expected a blue-eyed soul reworking of familiar holiday
classics. Instead, In the Spirit is a collection of fresh holiday tunes
in McDonald's own inimitable style. The CD is not only enjoyable musically, but
the underlying song themes and the spirit in which they are sung are supremely
inspirational. “To Make a Miracle,” co-written by McDonald and Marc Harris, is
on my short list of favorites and is one of the best new Christmas songs I have
heard in a long while. This CD has quickly risen to the top of my holiday music
rotation.
Merry
Christmas—Mariah Carey, Sony 1994
ninetyandnine.com is probably the last place you would expect to see a
Mariah Carey CD review, but she earned her spot on this list with this superb
1994 Christmas album. Carey's considerable vocal abilities are in full display
on this holiday classic. From her reverent rendition of “O Holy Night” to the
soul-stirring choir favorite “Jesus, Oh What A Wonderful Child,” Carey expertly
captures the many moods of the season with both traditional and original fare.
I get the CD out every year and never get tired of it.
Handel's
Messiah: A Soulful Celebration—Quincy
Jones & Various Artists, Warner Alliance 1992
George Frederic Handel might roll over in his grave if he
heard this 1992 Quincy Jones project, but if you are a fan of black gospel music
like me, and have been supremely disappointed by most black gospel Christmas
projects, then Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration is
definitely the CD to have for your Christmas collection. The list of artists
appearing on this project reads like a Who's Who of popular black entertainers
in both Christian and secular music. While retaining the tradition and pomp of
Handel's 18th Century masterpiece, this collection simply rocks with
the soulful interpretations of this classic. You will want to stand in
reverence for the choir's rendition of the “Hallelujah Chorus,” but you will not
be able to stand still for long. It truly is a soulful celebration of the
season.
ninetyandnine.com
Ó
2003, Phillip Hampton
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Phillip Hampton is an executive editor of ninetyandnine.com,
entrepreneur, teacher, and worship leader. He leads a worship band, “Vertical,”
in Nashville. Whether directing a choir, singing at a prison service, leading
the Sunday night worship service, or simply listening to a new CD while sitting
in Nashville traffic, Phillip is no happier than when immersed in music.
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