Best Christmas CD by James Taylor

Every year Christmas albums hit the store shelves by many of your favorite artists. Back in 2004, James Taylor produced a holiday collection for Hallmark which was practically free with the purchase of holiday cards. This is one of my favorite Christmas carol collections and I would like to share the beauty of the songs with you. You might be able to find these downloads online or contained in a more recent Taylor album.

l. Winter Wonderland. Just like the classic but with great background sleighbells and other acoustic accompaniments. James Taylor's soulful R&B sound is classic and makes this Christmas carol standard hop.

2. Go Tell It On the Mountain. It is nice to see that religion and faith have a place in a holiday album. James Taylor and Dave Grusin sing this one.

3. In the Bleak Midwinter. This old favorite has been brought back to life in the last few years and the song was featured on a TV holiday special in 2007. It turns the holly-jolly happy feelings upside down and gives the holiday a soulful feeling. A great song when caught in a winter snow storm.

4. Baby, It's Cold Outside. This song features Natalie Cole alongside Taylor. It is a contemporary version and sexy with the two chit-chatting back and forth.

5. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. A classic favorite for the kids.

6. Jingle Bells. Not the usual melody. James Taylor jazzes this up with a staccato downbeat.

7. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On the Open Fire). This was written by Mel Torme and Robert Wells. This features Toots Theilemans on the harmonica.

8. Deck the Halls. Larry Goldings helps add oomph with the harmonium.

9. Some Children See Him. This is my favorite written by Wihla Hutson and Alfred Burt. With just piano and strings as a background, James reminds us that the Christ child can be recognized in any color. The melody is haunting and beautiful and a compassionate diversity lesson for children and adults.

10. Who Comes This Night. This song sounds like it was taken from "Amahl and the Night Visitors" passion play.

11. Auld Lang Syne. New Year's Eve cannot be forgotten either in this collection of holiday favorites. It is a nice afterthought to add it.

One of my all-time favorites by James Taylor, which is included with his later published Christmas albums, but unfortunately not on this give-away is "River" which was written by Joni Mitchell and on her "Hits" CD. James Taylor does it quite differently and it is a sad lament for those who feel low during the holidays. "I wish I had a river I could skate away on."

There was offered a bonus track that could be downloaded at www.jamestaylor.com to this album. It is nice to see the artist was as genuinely authentic and giving as the songs he sang. This was truly a spiritual gift to us who are believers and is the gift that keeps on giving.