Includes newly recorded, original songs, and music by Sam Phillips and Grant-Lee Phillips just for the soundtrack, plus opening theme song 'Where You Lead I Will Follow' by Carole King & Louise Goffin. Other artists include Joey Ramone, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Yo La Tengo, XTC and more. Rhino. 2002.  (less)

then, with the advent of stereo technology, Mantovani re-recorded it in stereo in 1958, and THAT version of the album went on to chart *four* more times! Yet, that later stereo version (and when you think about it, how can you listen to the sweeping sound of Mantovani in anything but stereo?) has NEVER been on CD, and the mono version has only been on CD overseas in an inferior-sounding version. So, we re really restoring a perennial holiday favorite here; includes gorgeous versions of Adeste Fideles ; Hark, the Herald Angels Sing ; God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen ; White Christmas ; Good King Wenceslas ; O Holy Night ; The First Noel ; Joy to the World ; Silent Night, Holy Night ; O Tannenbaum ; Midnight Waltz ; Nazareth ; O Little Town of Bethlehem , an...  (less)

the generous reverberation of a cathedral acoustic with little more than a tasteful though austere organ accompaniment. The repertoire isn't just conservative, traditional hymns and carols. One is harmonized by Ralph Vaughan Williams, and there are a number of contributions by contemporary composers Thomas Adès, Judith Weir, and John Tavener, all of which are probing, sincere, even personal examples of their art (and some are daringly liberated, harmonically speaking). The downside for some listeners--at least on repeated hearings--is that the entire service is heard, sermons and all. Others may take this in the spirit of a Paul McCreesh liturgical reconstruction, with congregational singing included. --David Patrick Stearns  (less)