Great june holidays Resources

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1. Hunt says

   It was great to finally see some of the old great recordings come out on cd now. Being a collector of holiday music, & a fan of Christy’s, had me jump at the purchase of this disc. Nice to have refreshing & origional holiday songs instead of the same ones year after year. I had several of these songs on about 6 different cd’s, but to have them all together on one is great. Hopefully more of this style of great music will be re-released in the future? You can’t go wrong with this one.

   January 31, 2010, 1:32 am
2. Siraganian says

   CHRISTMAS ALBUMS JUST DON’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS. OF ALL THE CHRISTMAS ALBUMS I HAVE–THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST ORIGINAL AND BEST. CAN YOU IMAGINE ANYONE ELSE DOING THESE SONGS [LIKE "THIS TIME OF YEAR" "THE MERRIEST" "CHRISTMAS HEART" AND THE OTHER SONGS ON THIS ALBUM] OTHER THAN THE LATE AND GREAT JUNE CHRISTY

   January 31, 2010, 7:17 am
3. Reggy says

   This CD from 1961 was apparently so different when it was released that it went by without much fanfare. However, this Collectors’ Choice reissue of the Capitol LP has gotten better with age. The concept of recording NEW songs written specifically for the project rather than a collection of standards was ahead of its time, but is certainly welcome to revisit 46 years later. The songs deal with feelings people have at holiday time and good wishes. It accents blue feelings that Christmas can generate as we think of things lost and people gone from our lives. “Seven Shades of Snow” is a fascinating song with a lovely arrangement with a cello that adds lovely depth and flutes that trill, “When the lights come on I see snow red as the holly & snow green as a pine tree, Everyone I meet wears a smile just for a little while.” “The Merriest” is a delightful uptempo jazz swing track, “Friends for the loners, a song for the singers, grins for the groaners.” The opener “Christmas Heart” is a gorgeous track with Christy’s vocals oozing sweet sincerity, “For Christmas I would like to give a friend to every lonely heart, a peaceful country stream to the folks afraid to dream, that would be a start.” This set bubbles with creativity and is well worth discovering for those looking to celebrate with variety in holiday music. Enjoy!

   January 31, 2010, 1:51 pm
4. Benak says

   Having discovered June Christy only a year or so after she passed away in the early 90′s, and having had so many holiday albums and CD’s over the years, this one has to be the best. For those who long for a non-religious holiday album with sharp arrangements, witty lyrics, and superb singing need look no further! I can’t remember a holiday album with all the “stars aligned” from conception through rendition. The vocal stylizings of June Christy, probably too difficult for many other vocalists to emulate, save perhaps Sarah Vaughan or Keely Smith, explains why others simply haven’t tried to re-create this wonderful ode to the sophisticated holiday season.

   January 31, 2010, 7:42 pm
5. Gately says

   Does the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season make you more than a little blue? Have you decked the halls and trimmed the tree yet still don’t feel the warm glow of the holidays? Do all the incessantly cheerful carols and timeworn standards make you want to pull your hair out this time of year? If so, then June Christy’s 1961 holiday album should be just the gift you never knew you wanted!

   I’ve been a fan of June’s for quite some time now, and when I read that Collectors’ Choice Music was re-issuing “This Time of Year,” I immediately ordered a copy. My only familiarity with the album was her hit song, “The Merriest” which was included on some other Christmas compilation CD I already owned. I knew nothing of the other songs – production style, lyrical content, vocal styling – and was a bit worried about the lack of traditional fare on “This Time of Year.” Would I dig a seemingly non-holiday Christmas album? The short answer to that question is a resounding “YES!” Despite the omissions of “White Christmas” and “Winter Wonderland,” among other holiday chestnuts, “This Time of Year” sparkles with the spirit of the season in such songs as “The Little Star,” “Hang Them on the Tree,” and “The Merriest.” June’s voice echoes the sentiments that the holidays are not the same wonderful occasion for everyone and provides the flip side to each beloved Bing Crosby, Nat “King” Cole, and Dean Martin carol piped incessantly throughout shopping malls from Thanksgiving till December 24th!

   June sums up the theme of “This Time of Year” on the final track, “Winter’s Got Spring Up its Sleeve,” when she sings:

   “So the season makes you sad and sentimental/Memories it brings to mind are things you’d rather leave behind.”

   “This Time of Year” has something for everybody and if you’re like me and often find something lacking in the celebration of the holidays, do yourself a favor and buy this album. Give it an honest listen and I can all but guarantee June’s voice will win you over with songs of her sometimes joyous, sometimes melancholy Christmas.

   Isn’t it nice to know you’re not the only one who feels a little blue this time of year?

   February 1, 2010, 12:56 am
6. Duran says

   excellent investment….the extras that come with the set are well worth it. Recommended highly

   February 1, 2010, 7:00 am
7. Errickson says

   Even though this black-and-white 1942 musical is viewed favorably by film historians when compared to its partial full-color 1954 remake, White Christmas, I think the original feels more dated and marginally less engaging perhaps because the pairing of Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire does not generate as much fun as one would hope. Given that each is a legend in his own right and they are bound to another legend, Irving Berlin, the result is too lightweight for its own good despite the prominent showcase given to the composer’s songbook, most famously “White Christmas”, which was first introduced in this film. It is also likely the only film to inspire an international hotel chain.

   Crosby and Astaire play entertainers Jim Hardy and Ted Hanover, partnered professionally but finding themselves in a romantic predicament when Ted steals away Jim’s fiancé, Lila. Jim takes the rejection in stride and decides to quit the act to start a Green Acres-like existence on a Connecticut farm. However, since show business is still in his blood. Jim decides to convert the farmhouse into an inn and nightclub but keeps his operation open only during the holidays. That way, he gets to relax for the remaining 350 days of the year. Ted re-enters the picture when he is jilted by Lila and finds himself in a drunken stupor dancing with Linda Mason, an aspiring singer-dancer whom Jim hires to perform at the inn. More romantic complications ensue until the inevitable happy ending, but the story is purely incidental compared with the songs.

   Director-producer Mark Sandrich (Top Hat) keeps the story turns light enough to allow the performers to shine in their individual numbers. “White Christmas” is introduced as a duet between Crosby and Marjorie Reynolds (although her voice is dubbed albeit seamlessly by Martha Mears). Other standouts include “Easter Parade”, “Lazy” and “Happy Holiday”. Astaire gets to shine on the firecracker-popping “Say It with Firecrackers” and a nice duet with Virginia Dale on “You’re Easy to Dance With”. Unfortunately, Dale is given short shrift in the story as Lila, while the unjustly forgotten Reynolds plays Linda with unforced charm. The movie is not without a few duds, most notably the minstrel number, “Abraham”, performed by Crosby and Reynolds in blackface.

   The three-disc 2008 DVD package contains the Special Edition 2006 DVD which offers an informative commentary track from film historian Ken Barnes sprinkled with archival remarks from Astaire, Crosby and Crosby’s longtime music director, John Scott Trotter. Less interesting is the 45-minute documentary, “A Couple of Song & Dance Men: Ava Astaire McKenzie in Conversation with Ken Barnes” in which Barnes and Astaire’s daughter converse in a most mechanical manner. There is also a seven-minute short about the film’s musical numbers narrated by Barnes, “All Singing – All Dancing”, as well as the original theatrical trailer. Disc Two provides a colorized version of the film as well as a featurette on how far colorizing technology has come. Disc Three is an audio CD with Crosby and Astaire performing the twelve numbers on the soundtrack.

   February 1, 2010, 12:54 pm
8. Aster says

   This movie has long been a Christmas tradition in our family. Even our children, now grown, have made it part of their families’ tradition. I was very excited when I saw on Amazon that it was available in color. I ordered it right away and couldn’t wait for it to arrive. Seeing it in color for the first time was like seeing a new movie. We watched it New Years Eve, which was a great way to start off the year. I’m hoping next year we’ll be watching another Christmas classic in color, “Christmas in Connecticut”.

   February 1, 2010, 7:09 pm
9. Cisneros says

   This was suggested to us after the purchase of White Christmas. The story lines are a little similar, but definitely distinct enough. My wife actually likes it better than White Christmas, which has been the family favorite for years. DVD quality, packaging and picture were first rate. Highly recommended to expand your Christmas holiday collection.

   February 2, 2010, 1:45 am
10. Ingram says

    Every home should own this DVD. Great movie, we watch it over and over again.

    February 2, 2010, 7:33 am
11. Tenny says

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    February 2, 2010, 1:00 pm
12. Murphree says

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    February 2, 2010, 7:44 pm
13. Rideout says

    This watch simply looks amazing! I’ve received a lot of compliments for this watch. I was a bit disappointed when I received the watch since the picture doesn’t truly represent the actual color. It’s darker & a bit more on the blue violet side but I got used to the color after wearing it for a week. Also, the watch is thicker than most watches. Aside from that, I still wear it everyday.

    February 3, 2010, 1:52 am
14. Blume says

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    February 3, 2010, 7:00 am
15. Edwards says

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    February 3, 2010, 1:04 pm

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