The title of this Christmas set throws down a very large gauntlet by claiming it’s the best ever. Whether or not they are right, however, depends solely on the listener. The artist list is impressive as all get out:
Elvis Presley,
the Moonglows,
Nat King Cole,
Brenda Lee,
Fats Waller,
Frank Sinatra,
the Voices, Johnny Moore,
the Drifters, and others. But it all comes down to the music itself, and there isn’t a a filler cut on this entire disc. All 19 tracks are solid, killer versions of Christmas standards and originals. The gorgeous “White Christmas" by
the Drifters is out of time and space, the fingerpopping version of "Jingle Bells" by
Sinatra blows away
Pat Boone’s (which is also here), but they are both quite good.
Waller’s “Swingin' Them Jingle Bells,” and
Harvey Fuqua’s “Just a Lonely Christmas” by
the Moonglows come close to being top of the pack; in addition,
Presley’s "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is a perennial favorite for many. Take a listen to
Lee’s “Christy Christmas,” and
the Nic-Nacs “Gonna Have a Merry Christmas,” and see if these don’t make your feet tap and hips sway. The other fine thing about this collection is the price -- it won’t set you back much at all, making it a necessary holiday purchase for anyone interested in having a little Christmas music around during the season.