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Sadly, most Christmas albums ('albums'- boy, does THAT date me!) by popular performers of recent decade are typically shallow and unthoughtful compilations with myriad references to Santas' trysts with mommy, rockin' around ole' tannenbaum, or too strict rehashes of stories of Rudolph (by now even the Red-Nosed one's demise at the maniacal driving of Grandma are overdone). So, when I heard Kenny Vance (admittedly my favorite performer and one whom, along with Dion and Bobby Darin, I must credit with restoring my love for the music of my youth) was going to do a Christmas CD, I had fears of the worst. Darin had released a beautiful work called "The 25th Day of December". It was highly religious in content. Dion's Christmas album went the other more secular route, and except for a few cuts, was a disappointment. Kenny's 'Mr. Santa', also follows Dion's format, HOWEVER there is not a weak song on the disc, and each and every cut should elicit some fond lost holiday emotion in those who recall the Christmas seasons of the 1950's and early 1960's. Kenny Vance's (and Johnny Gale in his arrangements) respect for the era is evident in treatment of songs in which you WILL hear a fresh and nearly magical presentation of sounds you loved by the Skyliners, Chuck Berry, The Heartbeats (or Shep & the Limelites, if you prefer), The Orioles, Charles Brown, et al. Vance and Gale's own original material -"Mr Santa", "Doo Wop Christmas" and the light-hearted tribute to youthful memories "Christmas on My Block" are fully top-notch as well..
Condition:NEW. Brand New Factory Sealed
TRACK LISTINGS
1. YOUR MY CHRISTMAS PRESENT
2. MR. SANTA
3. DOO WOP CHRISTMAS
4. PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
5. MY (CHRISTMAS) VOW TO YOU
6. BLUE HOLIDAY
7. WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEARS EVE?
8. HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
9. WHITE CHRISTMAS
10. CHRISTMAS ON MY BLOCK
11. RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER
12. RUN RUN RUDOLPH
13. AFTER NEW YEARS EVE
14. I'LL BE HOME (FOR CHRISTMAS)
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