Connick Jr., Harry - "What a Night! A Christmas Album"

Connick Jr., Harry - What a Night! A Christmas Album
2008, Sony

1. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
2. What a Night!
3. Christmas Day
4. Holly Jolly Christmas
5. Please Come Home For Christmas
6. O Come All Ye Faithful
7. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies
8. Let There Be Peace On Earth
9. Winter Wonderland
10. It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
11. Santariffic
12. Jingle Bells
13. Zat You Santa Claus?
14. We Three Kings
15. Song for the Hopeful

I think my Harry Connick, Jr. Christmas collection is complete. Though honestly I didn't like this one as much at first. It took some growing time. The traditional songs are as great as they always are. I really enjoyed the jazzy version of "We Three Kings" even though, like I said, I had to warm up to it at first. I also love this version of "Winter Wonderland" with Harry's daughter singing with him. I think it's probably one of my favorite versions. I don't know how I feel about "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies" as I don't think jazz is quite the style that fits with that version. Also, it doesn't seem like the originals are as good as the ones on the previous albums (except the title track, which I love). Still worth getting, though. I just don't think it's as strong as the other two.

Useless Fact: I don't really have any facts left about ol' HCJ.

Connick, Jr., Harry - "Harry For the Holidays"

Connick, Jr., Harry - Harry For the Holidays
2004, Columbia

1. Frosty the Snowman
2. Blue Christmas
3. The Christmas Waltz
4. I Wonder as I Wander
5. Silver Bells
6. Mary's Little Boy Child
7. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
8. The Happy Elf
9. I'll Be Home For Christmas
10. I Come With Love
11. Nature Boy
12. O Little Town of Bethlehem
13. I'm Gonna Be the First One
14. This Christmas
15. Nothin' For New Year
16. Silent Night

I can't believe this isn't already on the blog. I've had access to this for years. I borrowed a friend's CD and copied it to the collection. It's only recently I got a hard copy for the vault. I like this one just as much as the other one. I especially like "Frosty the Snowman" and "The Christmas Waltz" which are probably my favorite versions of those songs. I also didn't realize how much I liked "Mary's Little Boy Child" until I heard it on this album. Not too much more to say. If you're getting this album you already know what you're in for and you will not be disappointed.

Useless Fact: Apparently almost every CD has to end with "Silent Night." It's like a law or something.

Connick, Jr., Harry - "When My Heart Finds Christmas"

Connick, Jr., Harry - When My Heart Finds Christmas
1993, Columbia

1. Sleigh Ride
2. When My Heart Finds Christmas
3. (It Must Have Been Ol') Santa Claus
4. The Blessed Dawn of Christmas Day
5. Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
6. The Little Drummer Boy
7. Ave Maria
8. Parade of Wooden Soldiers
9. What Child is This?
10. Christmas Dreaming
11. I Pray on Christmas
12. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
13. O Holy Night
14. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

This is another one of those Christmas CDs that's just a blast from start to finish. I usually don't love big band or New Orleans jazz much, but I sure love this disc. The originals are fresh and actually feel like "Christmas songs" if that makes any sense. This is another one of my absolute favorites.

Useless Fact: Okay, not really a fact about Harry Connick, Jr. but I find it odd that my mom will go all crazy about Michael Buble and not like Harry Connick, Jr. I just don't know how that's possible. They sound the same to me.