Merry Christmas Wherever You Are

Amazon.com
George Strait is one of country music's GQ cowboys and leading male vocalists, and his first Christmas record is probably in every country holiday collection. This one won't be. Strait sounds about as engaged here as a perennial bench sitter on the hockey team. The CD mixes standards with middling originals, and Strait's puzzling choices of covers ("Jingle Bell Rock" at this stage of the game?) are only exacerbated by the likes of a story called "Noel Leon," about a guy who leaves his Christmas lights up all year round. Of course there's a sad side to the tale. You expect more from a guy who can emulate George Jones and find the writers who make even the most commercial work personable and memorable. Finally, what was he thinking when he covered "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth"? Talk about getting caught in a whiteout. --Martin Keller

Tracks:

I Know What I Want For Christmas
Old Time Christmas
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
Jingle Bell Rock
Merry Christmas (Wherever You Are)
All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)
The Christmas Song
Noel Leon
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Santa's On His Way

Amazon.com

George Strait is one of country music's GQ cowboys and leading male vocalists, and his first Christmas record is probably in every country holiday collection. This one won't be. Strait sounds about as engaged here as a perennial bench sitter on the hockey team. The CD mixes standards with middling originals, and Strait's puzzling choices of covers ("Jingle Bell Rock" at this stage of the game?) are only exacerbated by the likes of a story called "Noel Leon," about a guy who leaves his Christmas lights up all year round. Of course there's a sad side to the tale. You expect more from a guy who can emulate George Jones and find the writers who make even the most commercial work personable and memorable. Finally, what was he thinking when he covered "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth"? Talk about getting caught in a whiteout. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews:

GreatStrait.......2007-01-04

I love George Strait and it was great to have one of his Christmas CD's.

Loved it.......2005-12-28

I got this cd off of ebay for christmas and I loved it. I thought it was alot better than "...strait to you" was. I love "Noel Leon" and George's version of "The Christmas song".

CHRISTMAS with George Strait.......2005-08-22

Helps round out my G.S. collection. This CD was received in good condition & arrived in a timely manner. Good job all the way around.

Merry Christmas Wherever You Are.......2003-12-21

George is my favorite Country artist and has been for years and years. I have his first Christmas CD which is great but I agree with others that he really outdid himself on this one. His voice gets even better....if that's possible....and in my opinion he gets better looking :-) He's 51 and looks gorgeous! Keep up the good work, George and Merry Christmas wherever you are!

Never trust the critics.......2002-12-06

I didn't pick up George Strait's second Christmas outing until this year when it was consigned to the budget bin. I had ready too many negative reviews from the music experts. Well my faith has been restored and in fact I enjoy this outing better than "Merry Christmas Strait to You". The main reason? George's voice. On his first holiday release he hadn't yet developed his wonderful mature singing style - the relaxed sound and confident phrasing. He has turned into one of the most gifted vocalists in the business. He makes it sound effortless.

Also the material on this outing is for the most part superior to the songs on his first outing. "I Know What I Want for Christmas" is an easy going country-swing number that recalls his recent hit "Go On". "Old Time Christmas" and "Santa's On His Way" both recapture the sweet innocence of Christmas as viewed through the eyes of youth. Another reason I had steered clear of this outing was the inclusion of "All I Want for Christmas" - "uh oh" - but George presents it in a very straight forward "swing" style and it works beautifully. "Let It Snow" and "The Christmas Song" are both presented in warm arrangements and George's voice and phrasing are perfect. While there's nothing very special in the versions of "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Rudolph" presented here they are certainly listenable enough. The only track I could do without is "Noel Leon" which doesn't fit the with mood or feeling of the rest of the outing. It won't having jumping to hit the skip button but maybe another original or traditional cover might have been a better choice.

Still, all in all an excellent release from Strait and now, at budget price, a painless purchase.

Music Album:

Music Album