Rating:
Genre: Holiday
Release Date: 09/23/2008

Verve Records had several producers and DJs remix a set of classic holiday songs from the label's impressive back catalog and the result was the album called Verve Remixed Christmas, and this set serves as a companion to that volume, containing the untouched mixes of the songs in their original versions. Remixed or no, there are some pleasant treats here, including Jimmy Smith's funky big-band soul-jazz approach to "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," Nina Simone's stunningly intimate phrasing on "I Am Blessed," and Louis Armstrong's classic "What a Wonderful World" (is this really a Christmas song? No matter, it's great.) One could argue that none of these sides really needed to be remixed, and the proof of that is certainly here, but listening to this set in conjunction with the remixed versions is a lot of fun, and quite fascinating at points.

~Steve Leggett, All Music Guide

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Nina Simone - Piano
Nina Simone - Vocals
Count Basie - Piano
Ella Fitzgerald - Vocals
Shirley Horn - Vocals
Mel Tormé - Vocals
Dinah Washington - Vocals
Don Sickler - Producer
Hal Mooney - Producer
Frank DeVol - Arranger
Frank DeVol - Conductor
Louis Armstrong - Vocals
Billie Holiday - Vocals
Norman Granz - Producer
Milt Gabler - Producer
Kevin Reeves - Mastering
Bob Shad - Producer
Bob Thiele - Producer
Hollis King - Art Direction
Vincent Soyez - Photography
Dahlia Ambach Caplin - Producer
Andy Kman - Production Coordination
Sachico Asano - Graphic Design
Todd C. Roberts - Producer
Jimmy Allen Smith - Organ
Jimmy Allen Smith - Arranger
Jimmy Allen Smith - Leader

Christmas Eve and Other Stories
    Trans-Siberian Orchestra / CD / 1996
The 25th Day of December
    The Staple Singers / CD / 1962
Rejoyce: The Christmas Album
    Jessica Simpson / CD / 2004
Merry Christmas with Love
    Clay Aiken / CD / 2004
Christmas with Peggy Lee
    Peggy Lee / CD / 2006

Release Date: 09/23/2008
Genre: holid