Alabama

I have loved this album since I was little. It's just not Christmas without this cd.

Christmas Music can be so Repetitious that I make it a point to try to find "Different" Music and this Album Hit the Spot! Listen closely to the words... It will take you away...

I had purchased this CD several years ago and it had gotten scratched. I am thrilled to have another copy of it. This is the best Christmas CD that I have. It contains music for everyone from young to old.

This album has been part of our annual music for the past 15+ years. Our kids have grown up listening to this album as we decorated the Christmas tree and made Christmas cookies. Beautiful, memory filled music for us.

Song List:
1. Santa Claus (I Still Belive In You)
2. Joseph And Mary's Boy
3. Happy Holidays
4. Christmas Memories
5. Tonight Is Christmas
6. Thistlehair The Christmas Bear
7. Tennessee Christmas
8. A Candle In The Window
9. Homecoming Christmas
10. Christmas In Dixie

this is a wonderful album, but i just do not get a couple of performances. i am a big fan of tom waitts, but this is not his kind of thing. you can't growl a carol (maybe van morrison can). and it does not seem appropriate sexing up 'in the bleak mid-winter' the way chrissy hynde does. strangely enough, this version is a favourite of mine purely for the soaring guitar solo by the masterful richard thomson.

sunu charles

This CD is heartfelt and unique, with great instrumentation and good production and has a nice sampling of guest artists. But overall the Blind Boys voices are what makes it shine. They really make the songs thier own - even the ones you've heard a thousand times before - and THIER versions will stick in your head all season long.
The GREAT majority of reviewers give this CD 5 stars and many others give it 4 stars. But there are 3 or 4 people bringing the overall rating down by giving the CD 1 or 2 stars. Please ignore those reviews. One of those reviewers said the CD was overproduced and too polished, yet another reviewer said they must have used the first take on every track implying the recordings are sloppy? Contradictory and unfounded. Just click on the track samples right here on Amazon and listen - is it what you expected?
Folks, if you love the Blind Boys and/or love Christmas music with an original R&B twist (R&B in the true old-school sense of the word, not the way the phrase "R&B" is used today), then this CD is for you. If you have any idea what you're buying before you purchase (and these days it's hard not to), then buy it and enjoy.

Let me add my voice to the praise for this album. I've heard numerous versions of most of these songs and "Blind Boys" have just reset my ultimate covers for both "Go Tell it on the Mountain" and "In the Bleak Midwinter" just to name a few. Admittedly, this review is posted too late for you to get this CD for this Christmas, but trust me you will very much be enjoying the songs on this album throughout the year.

I had not heard any music by this group prior to borrowing a copy of this album - however, this is an excellent Christmas album. As you would expect from a gospel group, they focus almost exclusively on the religious aspect of the festival, the sole exception being White Christmas. There is a different guest singer on each track except the opening and closing tracks, which are without guests.

With any album featuring a variety of guests, one's favorites depend to some extent on one's opion of the various guests. For example, my favorite guest is Shelby Lynne, who does a fine duet of The Christmas song - however, it's not quite my absolute favorite track. That distinction goes to Chrissie Hynde singing In the bleak midwinter, almost as a solo track with the group providing backup harmony. It is one of my favorite carols and I get the impression that it is more popular in Britain than in America, where it turns up occasionally on Christmas albums (this one included) but is by no means common. Other favorites include I pray on Christmas (a cover of a Harry Connick Jr song featuring Solomon Burke), Born in Bethlehem (with Mavis Staples), Little drummer boy (with Michael Franti) and Joy to the world (with Aaron Neville).

This is an album with plenty of variety - they put plenty of energy into Last month of the year (no guests) and Go tell it on the mountain (with Tom Waits), which provide plenty of contrast with the slower songs.

If you are looking for a bluesy gospel Christmas album, this is certainly a good one to choose.

"Go Tell It On The Mountain"! . . . The Blind Boys Of Alabama present us all with their gifts of "Gold Frankinsence, and Myrrh" in spirit and sound. Every track on this cd is a true "gem" and will stand the test of time to last for generation after generation of listeners . . . it is 'classic" in that it defies the fads of time . . . no matter your age or musical taste preferences, these true musical artists will touch a chord in your soul that only "spiritual gospel" can stricke and resound . . .these singers create spiritual harmonics is your soul and heart.

The Christmas season is special . .and in truth it is all too short . . . but there ARE several "christmas albums" which i listen to and enjoy throughout the year, regardless of the month or season or "temperature on the thermometer": the one is The New Christie Minstrels' "Merry Christmas" . . . another John prine's Christmas album . . . and now, "Go Tell It On The Mountain" by The Blind Boys Of Alabama! :)

Don't wait for the holiday season to near to get a copy of this album . . . and don't delay until the department stores begin decorating with reindeers and snowflakes . . . get it now . . get it anytime of the year . . and put it on your cd player and just let their soulful harmonies engulph you in wave after wave until you find yourself a part of the flow . . . you will find it's Christmas all year long . . every day . . . and if you're like me, you'll go out and get yourself more and more albums by these men who have "real talent" . . "real abilities" . . and "real gifts" . . .

I give my thanks to The Blind Boys of Alabama for this album and for all of their recordings . . . American . . and "world" music . . . owes them a debt of gratitude for the treasures they have created and made permanent on recording after recording . . . long after these men have departed . . and long after all of us have vacated this world, these tracks will be listened to and appreciated and enjoyed by countless not yet born . . .and THEY TOO will be grateful to The Blind Boys Of Alabama for leaving these tracks behind . . .

I hope that they record many many more albums yet to come . . . but for now, i am happy to have this "Christmas All Year" album from them, "Go Tell It On The Mountain"! :)

Alabama is one of the best! "I'm in a hurry" picks up my pace in life! Great musics!!!

Alabama is a awsome cd it has all its greatest hits, the delivery was fast and they packaged it great so came in one piece. I went to a local store in town they said they would order the cd for me it has been 6 months, I found it here at amazon and I had it within three days great.

I absolutely love Alabama. This CD of 20 greatest hits is really wonderful. If you are a fan of theirs, I would recommend it.

I wasn't very thrilled with this CD. I like upbeat and traditional music, even when it's a variety version, but this didn't fit the bill. This CD is very slow and I only really like one song. I'm a huge fan of Alabama but this one had to go.

If you are a fan of Alabama, this is a definite "must" for your collection. I had some Alabama music on cassette tape and when my new vehicle did not have the capability to play cassettes, I needed Alabama back in my car!

I can't review it, it was back ordered last year and I never have received it.

If you enjoy Alabama...then please DO treat yourself to this CD! We have experienced many happy moments during Christmases past listening to their original Christmas CD with 'Thistlehair, the Christmas Bear'...this one is as easy listening and as pleasant..if not even more so! I've already purchased several to give as gifts in early December 2008...just so family and friends can enjoy it as well!

I like this album, especially the song called "The Blessings", in which a man sings about how he is blessed to have a wonderful family and a generally wonderful life.

I operate an online radio station on live365.com that is temporarily playing Christmas music and have added this to the playlist (www.live365.com/stations/allenkep67).

Was not aware they had a second Christmas CD and am very glad to get it.

Helps round out my Alabama collection. Shipped & received in good condition. Nice job in handling my order.

I purchased this without hearing first based on a review in The Absolute Sound magazine. I do not like it at all. I know the Blind Boys have recorded some nice stuff in the past so I took a chance with this. This is not my taste at all.

Had to give a shoutout to the great cover art, which looks like a weathered sign, and matches the rugged red clay harmonies on the record. Backed by the best musicians you'll hear anywhere (as a keyboard player, I would sell my soul to the devil for Allen Toussaint's skills), the Blind Boys deliver a powerful gospel record. I had initially feared that the record would consist of overly-familiar songs and arrangements, but everything here sounds fresh, even "Down by the Riverside." Their version of Toussaint's "Make a better world" is a highlight.

Formed 70 years ago with only Jimmy Carter remaining from the original group, these guys continue to provide joyfull uplifting music. This Soul/Gospel/Jazz influenced collection is helped along by being recorded in The Big Easy with assistance from Allen Toussaint,Hot 8 Brass Band ,the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and a hot rhythm section.
Any one who enjoys good music will enjoy this recording.

As a Blind Boys fan, it's not surprising that I enjoy this CD but having their vocals combined with New Orleans-style music makes this special. I highly recommend this.

This HAS to be The Blind Boys of Alabama's best work yet! The album is full of amazing talent, including the Hot 8 Brass Band, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band and even Allen Toussaint. My favorite song is "Free At Last," which I just saw them do on Conan O'Brien last week. If you're looking for a Blind Boys' record to buy this is the one - you won't be disappointed, I highly recommend it.

This is a great collection for fans who can never get enough of this great group of performers.

I enjoyed listening to this CD very much. I bought it for one particular song that was on it, and after listening to it, realized that I actually enjoyed all of the songs.

I have not listened to Alabama for a while and I had forgotten how good they are. I know they don't write all their songs, but Angels Among Us
made me cry. Randy has one of those voices that you just can't help but love. Thank you, alabama, and please continue to entertain me.

Out of this collection by Alabama, the song Angels Among Us is the BEST!!!! I heard this at a funeral one time and at some other events. If you enjoy a song with so much power,this is the one and the C.D. you should own in your collection! THANKS ALABAMA!!!

Very nice collection of songs. Angels Among Us is great.

Just a great album, very accomplished and inspirational. If you like the Blind Boys you'll lobe Ben Harper.

This is a great album. Their version of "Pictures of Jesus" is one of the more perfect songs I've ever heard.

I've listened to this CD many times, never get tired it, and find it esspecially uplifting listened to on a Sunday Morning, Amen!

Ben Harper, the Road Warrior in the flesh lays down some truly spiritual and inspirational music with some of the greats of the Gospel world. All it took was one listen and I was hooked. Easily the most accessible and easy to listen to of Harper's work. Fans of gospel, country, alternative rock and blues-rock alike should definitely pick this one up. The vocals, especially on "Wicked Man" might even conjure some memories of Little Feat for some. Great album. The world needs more like this one.

What a combo! Ben Harper, road warrior, jam master and granola hero, teams up with the ageless grammy award winning gospel warriors.....this has the potential for 2 outcomes: 1) something that just flat out won't work or 2)something very very special.

Well.....it is option #2!!!!

With old southern standards and brand new originals, the crew reaches deep into gritty southern soul roots and captures the ghosts of the past. You can feel the emotion and passion in each song. You almost think you are in a tiny church somewhere smack in the middle of the Mississippi delta!

I recommend this for any lovers of gospel music. I also do the same for any lovers of classic sould r&b.

This is one special collection for return on the 80's years.
Optimal to listen in the car.

What I wanted was a strong assortment of Alabama hits. I got it.

I'm a huge Alabama follower and have no regrets with buying this album.
Excellent group, awesome music and lyrics and enjoyable listening.
I'd resommend this album for any country fan.

Please note that this is a straight re-issue of a previous compilation (For the record - 41 number one hits) with a different title and packaging.

41 number one hits (and they've had a 42nd since then) on the American country charts is an impressive record by any standards. They've also had a lot of other hits which came close. One of my favorite Alabama songs, Pass it on down, peaked at number two, therefore didn't make this collection. Their debut single, My home's in Alabama, only peaked at number 16 and also misses out. I'm not complaining really, but it would be nice to see another compilation - perhaps it could be called Not the number one hits (it would contain a lot of quality songs, and would be better than most Greatest hits collections).

What you get here is three songs recorded especially for this album, one of which made number one when eventually released as singles, together with all those 41 hits.

Alabama were always the champions of the blue collar workers, most clearly illustrated on Forty hour week, in which they pay tribute to all those who keep America going. It's a great song, but there are several others I like even better. One of my favorites, In pictures, is a cover of a song first recorded by Linda Davis. It is about being so busy working that you don't see much of your family except in pictures. Tennessee River, another of my favorites, was Alabama's first number one. Hank Williams Junior did a great cover of it for his Rowdy album, which is one of his best albums. My favorites also include Old flame, Feels so right, Mountain music, Song of the south and Hometown honeymoon - but most of the other songs are not far behind.

Alabama wrote nearly all their own material, but they did occasionally record covers. Apart from In pictures, the only one to qualify for this collection is Touch me when we're dancing, previously recorded by the Carpenters. This is a wonderful collection that may not appeal to the critics, but the fans love it, and it's not difficult to see why.

This compilation is great, except for the fact that half a dozen of some of the most popular songs are the shorter radio versions, not their extended album versions that most people are probably familiar with.

Here's a run-down of the differences that I've noticed:

1. Removed from the beginning of Mountain Music the harmonica solo and the old man talking about climbing the mountain. Drum solo also removed.
2. Removed the truck sounds from the start and finish of Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler).
3. Cut the two fiddle solos from Dixieland Delight and the fadeout is much shorter, cutting off much of the chorus at the end.
4. Cut the fiddle solo from If You Wanna Play in Texas.
5. Almost two whole minutes stripped from the end of She and I.

There may be more, but these were the most obvious for me.

While including the original radio versions may seem fine to some, others of us are most familiar with the extended-length album versions and the short versions just don't sound right. Also, I feel that a career compilation ought to include the full versions of songs. There's just something that feels less "complete" about this set, at least to this picky listener.

The reason for including the shorter, radio versions is obvious: it's so that RCA could fit three new songs in (new, at least, in '98, when this compilation was first released). Those three songs are quite good and enjoyable, but they put them on to sell the compilation, at the expense of some of the more popular classics.

Aside from the half-dozen shortened songs, this is an otherwise great CD set. As stated, this is a re-release of 98's For the Record set that was available until recently. It may've been digitally remastered; I'm not sure. The songs sound very clear and powerful, even the oldest ones.

This is a very nice CD set with simply terrific music and audio quality, but know what you're buying. Some of the songs are not the versions that you know by heart and very likely will annoy picky fans. If, however, you aren't picky, are new to Alabama, or have the extended versions of the affected songs, already, then this is a nice set that'll provide you with the essential hits of the greatest country band ever.

I have loved this album since I was little. It's just not Christmas without this cd.

Christmas Music can be so Repetitious that I make it a point to try to find "Different" Music and this Album Hit the Spot! Listen closely to the words... It will take you away...

I had purchased this CD several years ago and it had gotten scratched. I am thrilled to have another copy of it. This is the best Christmas CD that I have. It contains music for everyone from young to old.

This album has been part of our annual music for the past 15+ years. Our kids have grown up listening to this album as we decorated the Christmas tree and made Christmas cookies. Beautiful, memory filled music for us.

Song List:
1. Santa Claus (I Still Belive In You)
2. Joseph And Mary's Boy
3. Happy Holidays
4. Christmas Memories
5. Tonight Is Christmas
6. Thistlehair The Christmas Bear
7. Tennessee Christmas
8. A Candle In The Window
9. Homecoming Christmas
10. Christmas In Dixie

I was really impressed with this set because it's more than just another re-release of the old songs. Alabama is my all time favorite band. It's disappointing though to keep finding 'New' Cd's released that are just the old hits with a new label. The 'Farewell Tour' CD, for example, wasn't a live recording of the tour, but just a few of the old hits put out again on cd.

This set is NOT another disappointing republish. It includes a very nice booklet inside the case, with history of the band, and a bit of history about each song, what the inspiration behind it was, etc. It includes many of the great hit songs you've heard before, but even these are older recordings in some cases, slightly different from what you've heard on "For the Records" or other recent albums. There are also several songs that most people have never heard performed by Alabama before (old recordings, medleys, etc.), and some that the fans will recognize, but only from concerts or other rare performances.

In the end, if you're looking for a CD that has all of Alabama's biggest radio hits on it, buy "For the Records" (Also known now as The Essential Alabama). If you're already an Alabama fan who wants something deeper, this is the set to get.

Great set! Alabama is kickin'; I saw them in the Circle Star, they were fantastic.
AGP

I purchased this for my brother. He has a mental handicap and has epileptic seizures. He loves the group Alabama and plays their music almost all day. His enjoyment means a lot to us. This would be considered his pot of Gold

I gave this to my father-in-law for Christmas and he loves it. For the price I payed for the three cds compared to buying them separately it was a great deal!

This group was in its heyday when I was in high school. I love listening to all the old songs again! This is a great collection!