Cliff At Christmas - Cliff Richard

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money

Advantages:	lovely christmassy songs
Disadvantages:	he has re mixed a lot of them

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Mum has always been interested in Cliff since I can remember and we were brought up on how in the 60s she would wear her cardigan back to front as a low backless top as they could not afford a proper one.

A few years ago my mums dream came true and she went to see Cliff in his musical. They had really posh seat and my step father was not impressed when mum all of sudden turned into a school girl of the 60s and started to scream and shout. Mum always said it was her dream come true and does not know what over come her, but we all have dreams and crushes as kids and parents still have them too.

Well what better Christmas Present could I get her other than Cliff at Christmas. I bought this today from good old Woolworths together with 3 other different cds for Christmas presents and currently they have a buy one get the other half price. I will give you some tips on this later.

The CD Cover
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Blue edged border with a picture of cliff leaning again a silver post, wearing a sky blue jumper and white clothes. In the background is snow and Christmas Trees.

The front cover has the words Cliff at Christmas on op and at the bottom it states some of the songs that are included.

The back of the cover lists all the songs and the website for anyone to go and visit.

The songs
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This cd consists of 17 tracks, 8 new ones and 9 Christmas favourites from Cliff. However beware if you are looking for the traditional versions they are not as he sings them in his own way and most are a gospel type song.

1) Have yourself a merry Christmas, this track is like the original but in a slower blues mode.

2) Mistletoe and Wine, another favourite for all you cliff fans that he released a few years back.

3) Walking in the Air, this is a little slower than the original in the snowman.

4) Little town of Bethlehem, I was expecting the traditional version and was suprised at his twist on this song.

5) Marys born child, again he has slowed down the music and every word is crisp and clear.

6) Let it snow, I love anything to do with snow, but this is a classic and his singing and modern techniques makes this a warm song.

7) Saviours Day, what can I say, another Cliffs classic which is still the same as the day he recorded this.

8) Christmas is quiet, this is one that I have not heard before but it is quite good. Not my favourite on the track though.

9) White Christmas, this is a remixed version of the song.

10) Silent Night, again cliff brings a twist into what is expected to a be a traditional song.

11) Santas list, this is Cliffs new song for this year and the words are as ever brilliant.

12) When a child is born, this 70s song always remind me of its orginal singer and I do not think that anyone can touch old Johnny Mathis.

13) Come to us, another song that has been edited and dubbed and music added.

14) The Christmas song, By nearly getting to the end of this cd, I am now finding that all the new songs are beginning to sound the same, sorry Cliff.

15) We should be together, a bit of a slow one and the title tells you all.

16) Winter wonderland, Walking in a Woollies Winterland, whoops I mean Winter Wonderland. Brilliant song, not as fast as the original but good.

17) The millennium prayer, this is the one that started all the controvesy off a couple of years ago with the bbc regarding his age but this is one of my favourites.

Now as I said before the songs that he has sung before are the same as they were but the versions of new Christmas songs is more of a gospel feel to it, so if your looking for traditional ones, be warned.

I found this cd to be very calming and comforting even though i have bought it for my mum, it is something I could sit down to and chill to after a hard days work. When you are listening to the songs, it gives you a warm feeling and really gets you into the Christmas spirit.

What I really like about this meaning is that the songs that he has sung before have a meaning to it. His new single for this year, Santas List is no exception so when you hear this on the radio, do not hum to it, listen to the words. They are all about war.

I am not a Cliff fan by no means but he is one of the ones who still goes for the Christmas rush which most of us can remember. I must admit a few years ago when he brought out Millennium Prayer and BBC would not play it was so cruel just because of his age.

So what about his age, I do not really care because no matter how old he is, he can still sing better songs with meanings than half the crap that is out there today on the market.

He is of the old school and in all of the songs, you can his distinctive voice.

Which ages would you recommend this to?
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i would say to any ages as it is not in your face and even if you do not like the man himself, this would be lovely in the background on Christmas Day.

Included in this CD is a pamphlet which is situated inside the CD cover and there are all the lyrics to all of the songs.

This is currently running out of stores like mad and I had to wait for the delivery of this into the store.

Advice if you go to Woolies for this. If you buy 4 cds like I have, put the two dearest ones together like I did which were £15 each and you get one for £7.50.

Then put the two cheap ones together which were £12 and you get one for £6, total savings £13.50. However if you take all four to the checkout you will only get the two cheapest ones at half price which would make a saving of £12. lol stop laughing at me now, ok, I have money now but I cannot resist a bargain.

The Price of this in Woolies was £12.99. Now it is cheaper in other stores but by using it in the buy one get one half price, I paid £6.50 for this. Great deal and beware again Woolies was jam packed with Christmas Shoppers yesterday.

Also at Woolies at the moment they were either giving away posters/calendar/christmas card if you bought this. But this is only whilst stock lasts.

Oh well I must carefully but this back in its cover as afterall it is my mums christmas pressie, lol, karen...

See there is another tip,! You know what I mean.

Happy hunting.
If you like Cliff or this Cd then go to WWW.cliffrichard.org.

Karen :0)