What's GOOD?
Which ones are the keepers?
1. Mariénne Kreitlow: Beautiful Illusion, © 2007 ©2007 Marienne Kreitlow (Living Song, BMI)
- cdbaby.com/cd/marienne3 (Not kitchy, not catchy, with excellent musicianship and production. Her rendition of the traditional church hymn "Immortal, Invisible" (God only wise) is THE best I've ever had the pleasure to hear. If you like Norah Jones, you'll love Mariénne Kreitlow!)
2. Mean Mary: Ding Dong Day, © 2008 Mary James
- cdbaby.com/cd/meanmary2 (If you like Alison Kraus, you'll love this song!)
3. Squirrel Nut Zippers: Christmas Caravan, 1998 - (From Chapel Hill, NC and self described as a "hybrid-stew of Southern roots traditions, blues and jazz," if you like Brian Setzer, The Stray Cats and Rockabilly stylings, this is your album. Incorporating humor with excellent musicianship, it's bound to be a holiday favorite!)
4. Michael Allen Harrison: Journey Home, © 2002 MAHRecords
- cdbaby.com/cd/mah20 (A signature Steinway artist on his 1898 Steinway piano, his musicianship and expression is uniquely American, and incorporates authentic era folk instruments. A heartwarming compilation.)
5. Rick Henretty: A Cold Harbor Christmas, © 2003 Rick Henretty
- cdbaby.com/cd/henretty (Excellent musicianship and production of traditional carols and hymns! Easy on the ears, and relaxing.)
6. Rising Moon Ensemble: Christmas in the Finger Lakes, © 2006 FingerLakes Multimedia/Rising Moon Ensemble
- cdbaby.com/cd/risingmoonensemble (If you enjoy the smooth sounds of "Space Music," "New Age," and Windham Hill Records artists, and the Renaissance Faire, this is your cup of tea! Some arrangements are typical of Mannheim Steamroller. You'll LOVE this CD!)
7. Rob Highfill: Nude on a Tricycle, © 2008 Rob Highfill
- cdbaby.com/cd/robhighfill (If you enjoy Weird Al Yankovic, Frank Zappa and Dr. Demento, you'll enjoy this off-beat humor album with a Christmas season flavor.)
8. Robert Earl Longley: Yuletide, © 2005 Robert Earl Longley
- cdbaby.com/cd/longley3 (A predominately flamenco-influenced style classical guitar with additional instrumentations. Enjoyable, and well worth hearing!)
9. Robert Fugo: Santa Brought Me Cats, © 2006 Robert J. Fugo
- cdbaby.com/cd/robertfugo (A tastefully, musically well-produced humorous Christmas story-song, a-la Grandma Got Run Over by A Reindeer... only much, much better, and much more classy!)
10. Roberta Flack: Christmas Album - Autographed!, © 1997 RSJ LLC
- cdbaby.com/cd/robertaflack2 (Need anything else be said? Worth it alone for her authentic, hand-signed signature!)
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