Very Special Season, A

構成数 : 1枚
合計収録時間 : 00:57:26
Personnel: Colin Green (Spanish guitar); Fiona Hibbert (harp); Mark Berrow, Peter Oxer, Mariej Rakowki, Tim Gold, Benedict Cruft, Rose Furniss, Perry Montague-Mason, Alison Kelly , John Evan Jones, Jim McCleod, Mike de Saulles, Wilfred Gibson, Iain King, Manon Derome, Sophie Langdon, Cathy Adams, Eddie Roberts , Caroline Barnes, Gillian Cohen, John Bradbury , Thomas Bowes , Roger Garland, Patrick Kiernan, Rita Manning, Sonia Slany, Jackie Shave (violin); Donald McVay, Peter Lahe, Robert Smissen, Diana Carrington, Sue Wright, Dai Emanuel, Liz Watson, George Robertson , Ivo Jan van der Werff, Sheila Holdsworth, Brian Howkins, Justin Ward, Martin Hooley, Stephen Tees, Nick Barr, Andrew Parker (viola); Bobby Winn, Sally Ann Ewins, Jonathan Snowden (flute); Bob Sydor, Philip Todd (clarinet); John Anderson Concert Orchestra , John Anderson , Dick Morgan, Katie Clemmow (oboe); David Chatterton, Stephen Maw (bassoon); John Barclay, Guy Baker, Gerard Presenter, Tony Fisher , Guy Barker (trumpet); Pete Beachill, Malcolm Griffiths (trombone); David Stewart , Patrick Jackman (bass trombone); Owen Spade, Graham Read (tuba); Hugh Seenan, John Rooke, Nick Busch, Jeff Bryant, Jim Rattigan, Frank Lloyd , John Pigneguy (horns); David Hartley (piano); Simon Chamberlain (synthesizer); Stephen Henderson , Ben Hoffnung, Jim Lawless, Mick Doran, Gary Kettel, Alasdair Malloy, Ralph Salmins (percussion); Shining Light Junior Choir (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Humberto Gatica. Recording information: Electric Lady, New York, NY; Oly;mpic Studios, London, England; The Carriage Houses Studios, Stamford, CT. Photographer: Albert Watson . Arrangers: Chris Boardman; Sylvester Rivers; Jack Hayes; Jeremy Lubbock; John Altman; Lalo Schifrin; Alan Lindgren; Mark Portmann ; Nick Ingman. Diana Ross' 1994 Christmas album, A Very Special Season, easily ranks among the diva's best of the '90s. Instead of opting for hip arrangements aimed at pleasing a younger, jaded audience, all the songs on this set are classically arranged with lush orchestrations, resulting in a truly timeless holiday album, not unlike what one would have expected from the crooners and sirens of yesteryear. The songs are all lovingly produced, and Ross effectively wraps her silken pipes around each tune with utmost sincerity. The album consists mostly of Christmas standards, including "White Christmas," "The Christmas Song," "O Holy Night," "Ave Maria," and "Silent Night," as well as covers of Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Chirstmastime" and John Lennon's "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)." Also included are inspirational songs that are traditionally not thought of as holiday tunes but fit perfectly, such as the Burt Bacharach/Hal David composition "What the World Needs Now" and a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed," as well as "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" and "Amazing Grace." For fans of timeless, old-fashioned Christmas music, as well as fans of Diana Ross, this lovely holiday album, available only as a European import, is an absolute must, and a reminder of just how beautiful, when done well, holiday music can be. ~ Jose F. Promis