In The Spirit: A Christmas Alb: Michael Mcdonald: Amazon.ca: Music

1. Angels We Have Heard On High

2. To Make A Miracle

3. Children Go Where I Send Thee

4. Every Time Christmas Comes Around

5. Peace

6. White Christmas/Winter Wonderland

7. One Gift

8. On This Night

9. House Full Of Love

10. On Christmas Morning

11. World Out Of A Dream

Product Description

From Amazon.com

In the Spirit is an appropriate name for Michael McDonald's first Christmas album because the ghosts of the Doobie Brothers are all over it. Which makes perfect sense since McDonald penned all but three of the songs in this collection. And while each make titular references to Yuletide, most of them would be at home either on a Doobies album or one of McDonald's solo discs, being that the subject matter is similar--overcoming obstacles, living in the moment, and the necessity of having deep convictions. In addition, these songs are dominated by McDonald's distinctive, husky baritone and idiosyncratic rhythmic sense, making them more his own songs than holiday classics. When McDonald does cover a traditional carol--"Angel's We Have Heard on High," "White Christmas/Winter Wonderland"--he jazzes them up and bends them into a new form until they're almost unrecognizable. No doubt the idea is to escape the clichéd treatments that others have given these timeless tunes, but as a result, they lose much of their natural beauty. The album comes alive when smooth crooner James Ingram steps up to the mic, and adds sparkle and warmth to "The Gift," even though it still sounds like a Christmas version of "Minute by Minute." --Jaan Uhelszki

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Customer Reviews

19 Reviews

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.4 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Buy This CD!, Nov 19 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: In The Spirit: A Christmas Alb (Audio CD)

Really, Really enjoyable holiday music! Can listen to this all day!

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5.0 out of 5 stars something for everyone, Oct 13 2003

By

Patty Kadlec (minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: In The Spirit: A Christmas Alb (Audio CD)

Yes, this is not your typical holiday cd.
And thank you Michael for that. It has
alittle something for everyone. A few
holiday standards, some blues, some jazz,
some gospel. The only problem I have is
his beautiful voice on the softer songs
makes me want to hear more. The hilights
for me are Peace, On This Night and
the uptempo Everytime Christmas Comes Around.
But, it is his version of Kenny Loggins new
classic, On Christmas Morning that is worth
the cost of the cd alone. When he sings
"you hold me in your arms, we watch the
snowflakes fly" --well you just have to
hear it yourself. Thanks Mike, Thanks Kenny.
Get this cd!

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4.0 out of 5 stars The title tells the story: In The Spirit, Dec 2 2002

By

Neal C. Reynolds (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: In The Spirit: A Christmas Alb (Audio CD)

Indeed, spirit does seem to have much to do with this CD. The lyrics written by Michael McDonald come very close to Christian Contemporary in spirit.

This is a good album. Only three familiar songs on it, most of the others (Dave Foster wrote one) being McDonald's own. Of these, "Peace" and "House Full Of Love" really stand out.

His cover of "Angels We Have Heard On High" is indeed good, and Bing wouldn't recognize "White Christmas".

Not likely that this will be one of the all time great Christmas albums, but it is good.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Truly Soulful Christmas
This will be short and sweet--it is now September 2002 and I still listen to a number of the selections from Michaels IN THE SPIRIT--the joyfully performed GO WHERE I SEND THEE,... Read more

Published on Sep 17 2002 by Peggy M.Johnson