• Artist: Julie Andrews
• Flags: Christmas
• Type: Christmas Album
• Rating:
• Styles: Show Tunes, Christmas, Holiday
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Review

Julie Andrews' first musical undertaking since the soundtrack for The Sound of Music, and her first non-soundtrack recording in four years, was this seasonal album, originally issued by Firestone (the tire company) and later picked up by RCA Victor. Andrews seemed to have drawn on a Church of England hymnal for her selections, some of which were unfamiliar to American ears or at least unfamiliar in these versions. "Angels From the Realm of Glory," for example, had a tune famous from Gloria in Excelsis Deo, with Andrews singing "come and worship" in place of the melismatic "gloria" part. André Previn earned his co-billing on the record, taking instrumental versions of "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" and "Greensleeves (What Child Is This?)," featuring himself on harpsichord, and offering unusual arrangements that sometimes suggested the Hollywood movie scores for which he was known. "Sunny Bank (I Saw Three Ships)," for example, had passages that would have fit as accompaniment to a Western, and the chart for "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" was anything but traditional. Along with Andrews' song choices and her proper, if warm, vocals, the result was an appealing but somewhat formal Christmas album. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
Joy to the World		Isaac Watts, Lowell Mason	Julie Andrews	(2:56)
Irish Carol		Traditional	Julie Andrews, Julie Andrews	(3:19)
O Little Town of Bethlehem		Phillip Brooks, Lewis H. Redner	Julie Andrews, Julie Andrews	(2:46)
Deck the Halls		Traditional	Julie Andrews, Julie Andrews	(2:26)
Angels from the Realms of Glory		Traditional	Julie Andrews, Julie Andrews	(2:33)
The Lamb of God			Julie Andrews, Julie Andrews	(3:27)
Away in a Manger		Traditional, James Ramsey Murray	Julie Andrews, Julie Andrews	(3:32)
Sunny Bank (I Saw Three Ships)			Julie Andrews, Julie Andrews	(2:29)
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear		Richard Storrs Willis, Edmund Hamilton Sears	Julie Andrews, Julie Andrews	(3:15)
Greensleeves (What Child Is This?)	...		Julie Andrews, Julie Andrews	(3:06)
The Bells of Christmas		Traditional	Julie Andrews, Julie Andrews	(3:01)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen		Traditional	Julie Andrews, Julie Andrews	(3:05)
Wexford Carol			Julie Andrews, Julie Andrews	(3:46)
Jingle Bells		J.S. Pierpont	Julie Andrews, Julie Andrews	(3:04)

Credits

André Previn (Arranger), André Previn (Harpsichord), André Previn (Performer), André Previn (Liner Notes), Julie Andrews (Vocals), Julie Andrews (Main Performer), Julie Andrews (Performer), Dick Baxter (Digital Engineer), Dick Bogert (Engineer), Dick Bogert, Chick Crumpacker (Digital Producer), Neely Plumb (Producer), Don Wardell, Don Wardell (Digital Coordinator), Ken Whitmore (Art Direction)