*Four new recordings (15 tracks in total) *Bonus DVD - “Friends & Legends” TV special (broadcast on CBC Television earlier this year) with behind the scenes documentary on the making of Anne’s CD, “Duets” Friends & Legends with many of the duet performances from the CD.

 

By Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota)

 

Anne Murray might not be thought of in the same breath with Perry Como and Bing Crosby when it comes to singing Christmas songs, but she should be. "Anne Murray's Christmas" is the second of four holiday albums she has released (including one for Hallmark one year as their special Christmas album). Ever since she had her first big hit with "Songbird" it was clear she would be a natural to do Christmas songs. Of her various Christmas albums, this one is the most country, at least on what would have been the second side of the original record/cassette, where she sings "Born in Bethlehem," "No Room at the Inn," "Sweet Little Jesus Boy," and "Mary's Boy Child." The first side is where she does the traditional Christmas songs, both religious ("O Come All Ye Faithful") and secular ("White Christmas"). However, the song that might impress you the most beyond the obvious choices is going to be "Christmas in Killarney." Even though this is her earliest Christmas album there is more than enough here to show she is one of the singers you want to tick off on your first five fingers when you start naming solo artists that you want to have in your Christmas CD collection. Just be aware that most, but not all of these songs can be found on her superb 2001 2-CD collection, "What a Wonderful Christmas."