In between there are the sumptuous classics by Bobby Helms, Brenda Lee, the Beach Boys, Elvis, and Burl Ives on disc one, balanced on disc two by more recent standards, including Bruce Springsteen's live version of "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" and John and Yoko's "Happy Xmas (War is Over)." You're not obligated to like everything here, but that's why Santa invented the forward button on your CD player. --Martin Keller

The song selection and disc split is pretty good. If you're entertaining the grandparents, put on the first disc; if you're trying to be hip and cool, put on the second disc. The first disc is primarily older classic Christmas songs, many of which are found on other compilations. The second disc contains contemporary Christmas songs, including instant classics.

Nearly all of the 36 songs have been previously released and are available elsewhere, but some of the songs are rather hard to find on CD. For instance, the Band Aid "Do They Know It's Christmas?" is on Midge Ure's Greatest Hits and an Import Christmas CD. It is otherwise difficult to obtain, as is Springsteen's classic version of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town."

The main style of music missing from these CDs, however, is the classic Motown sound - Christmas songs by Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5, the Temptations, etc. (There are also some 80's Christmas classics not inlcuded, such as Bryan Adams' "Christmastime" and Hall & Oates version of "Jingle Bell Rock" - it would be difficult to have everything included, and those songs can be found elsewhere.)

The liner notes provide a brief explanation of each song, which is somewhat interesting but not always accurate. (For instance, the notes indicate that the Beach Boys have never recorded a Christmas album in their 40 year career - a search at Amazon reveals the 1964 Christmas Album, which has been repackaged and rereleased with extra tracks.)

Notwithstanding missing the classic Motown tracks, for the price of this CD (dollar amount), it can't be beat - there's a little something for everyone, young and old alike. If you're going to buy only one Christmas compilation, this is highly recommended.


The Who's Who in the Holiday Season...Then & Now!   November 5, 2001
J. Lovins (Missouri-USA)
35 out of 38 found this review helpful

Now where else can you find all this talent on just 36 tracks and 2-CD-Set that covers five decades of "Christmas Music"...from the popular "NOW" series from Universal Music, a decision was made to release some lesser known selections from top talent from the past and present...and you know what, it works!

To clarify my above statement, many artist/musicians have released Christmas albums, but no one has ever heard as many of them on one CD..."NOW" gives you this and more...36 artists from 36 different genres such as Country, R&B, Alternative Rock, New Age, Folk, Jazz, Comedy, Reggae, Easy Listening and of course "Classic Christmas" standards.

Must make mention of the stand outs ~ "MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING"(Carpenters)..."LITTLE DRUMMER BOY/PEACE ON EARTH"(Bing Crosby/David Bowie)..."HAPPY CHRISTMAS(WAR IS OVER)"(John&Yoko)..."IT MUST HAVE BEEN OL' SANTA CLAUS"(Harry Connick Jr.)..."JINGLE BELLS"(Diana Krall)...and my personal favorite "AWAY IN THE MANAGER"(Mannheim Steamroller), you'll never come up with a better compilation for this time of the year.

Entire album will make your Holiday's a time to cherish...excellent opportunity to introduce the youngsters to some of the standard Christmas classics, and never a better time to familarize the older generation with the NOW generation!

Total 2-CD-Set ~ Universal Music 314-585-620-2 ~ (2001)


A Wonderful Christmas Album   November 12, 2001
K. Thompson (GA, USA)
23 out of 24 found this review helpful

This CD set is really quite interesting. I bought this because of the first CD, which is full of clear, great recordings of all the Christmas classics. (like Bing Crosby's "White Christmas," and Nat King Cole's must-have "The Christmas Song.")The second CD had some nice surprises too, though.
I felt the second CD was only there so that younger people would buy the set--what teenager, for instance, cares about Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, or Tony Bennett? So, they added Britney Spears, N'Sync, Joe, and other "modern" artists to appeal to everyone. While some of the songs, like Britney's, just sound like the same ol' pop songs with the words Christmas and Santa in the same-ol'-stupid-sounding lyrics, there are some jewels on this CD (like Boyz II Men's "Silent Night," John & Yoko's "Happy X-Mas," and Manheim Steamroller's (THE Christmas band) "Away in a Manger.")
Overall, I would say to anyone ("...kids from one to ninety-two...") buy this.


'Tis The Season   November 7, 2001
Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA)
21 out of 22 found this review helpful

Now That's What I Call Christmas! offers a little bit of something for every musical tastes. The two disk set runs the gamut from Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald to Shaggy and Britney Spears. The set offers classic Christmas songs like the all-time standard "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole's "Christmas Song", Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree", Gene Autrey's "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer" and "Let It Snow" by Dean Martin. Other well known songs include Bruce Springsteen's classic take on "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", the song that started the benefit song trend in the 80's, Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas" which is still a powerful and beautiful song, the odd pairing of Bing Crosby and David Bowie on the beautiful "Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth", John Lennon's "Happy X-Mas (War Is Over)", The Beach Boys' rollicking "Little St. Nick" and Paul McCartney's bright and cheery "Wonderful Christmas". Some lesser known songs standout like Diana Krall's sultry "Jungle Bells" and The Isley Brothers' "Special Gift". You can skip over such weak songs like the overplayed and inane "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer", Gloria Estefan's "Love On Layaway" and Michael Bolton's "Love Is A Holiday". As far as Christmas collections go, this one ranks right up near the top.


Strong start, weak finish   November 19, 2001
greekgirl64 (Texas Gulf Coast)
21 out of 22 found this review helpful

The first cd in this set is great! The second one starts off good, but it's all downhill from track 10 on. So first disc gets a 5, second disk gets a 2.5. Still, not a bad deal for 27 good songs. A better compilation, although more expensive, is the Billboard Christmas 5-pak or 4-pak.