Target Stores have had a country and a more general Christmas album for each of the last several years available at only $5 or $6.

A Country Christmas '99 has two traditional tunes by artists I had not previously heard, but who ought to have nice careers ahead of them, given the right material and producers. Alecia Elliot's "What Child Is This" is gorgeous. Is it the best version ever ? Probably not, but I can't think of a nicer one offhand. Rebecca Lynn Howard's "The First Noel" is a little unusual, but it works.
The CD opens with Martina McBride does a pleasant, though not extraordinary, "I'll Be Home For Christmas." George Strait picks things up with the cute "Christmas Cookies," maybe my favorite this season (and it appears this is the only place this song appears !) Kenny Chesney's "Just Put A Ribbon In Your Hair" is the reason I say maybe on the just mentioned George Strait tune - I really like this one !
Mark Wills does a slow "New Star Shining" - the song doesn't grab me so much, but I really like his voice. Chelly Wright has a slower or more mellow rendition of "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" than some... but I'm not complaining, this one's real nice ! Mindy McCready's "Santa Baby" is wonderful... not a match for the Ertha Kitt or Madonna versions, but close, and I'm glad she did it. I think this one will grow on me.
"New Years Eve 1999" by Alabama - can they do no wrong ? What a sound ! Interesting lyrics on this one too... Sara Evans performs "O Come All Ye Faithful" - I like her voice her as always, but this is another arrangement that I need to grow into, I guess... Reba McEntire closes it out with "This Is My Prayer For You."

This year instead of a second CD of miscellaneous pop (which I had been calling Target's "variety pack" as opposed to country only), they got soul !
Kirk Franklin has a version of "O Come All Ye, Faithful" whish is not quite gospel, but close, and lovely... Dru Hill turns in "This Christmas" - with feeling AND funk... Boyz II Men let it go with "Let It Snow" - terrific harmonies, nice voice, simple instrumentation... Ready for some real blues ? "Merry Christmas Baby" by K-Ci & JoJo is unlike any other version of this I've heard. I love it - the voices, the piano, all of it ! - but I'm glad at the same time it's part of a compilation *L*... Jesse Powell gives a mostly traditional reading of "The Christmas Song" - but it's got touches of its own - Jesse's voice and phrasing, and some interesting sax work... I like Profyle's "Make Sure You're Home," dance beat and all, but without close and repeated listenings, you almost miss that it's a Christmas song...The Boys Choir Of Harlem does "Little Drummer Boy" - man, I hope they pay whoever picks these selections well... "I'l Be Home For Christmas" is done here by Vanessa Williams. Her own CD is quite lovely - see my review... Brian McKnight sings "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" - starts out sounding much like Nat King Cole. A different Christmas song I'd heard by McKnight had vocal gyrations I called "a tad excessive" - not this time around - here the vocal tricks work perfectly. I love the harmonica on it too *S*... Stevie Wonder closes this CD out with a lively "What Christmas Means To Me" - great way to end it... or start it, this is another CD you could put on repeat - or, you could put the Dillards CD on next....

A Country Christmas '98 is worth having just for Tracy Byrd's rendition of "No Room" - one of our new favorites. Other fantastic songs include Colin Raye's "I'll Be Home For Christmas," Reba McEntire's "This Christmas" (and I'm no Reba fan), Vince Gill with "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" by Trisha Yearwood. Gary Allan's "(It Must Have Been) Ol' Santa Claus" is the "novelty" number here - and it's a lively one that'll have you tapping your feet and smiling. "Light Of The World" by Mark Chesnutt. Steve Wariner does "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow." There are other songs by Randy Travis and Lee Ann Womack. I got copies of this for several friends.

This one is what you might call Target's "variety pack." Looking at the artist list in almost any years' Target CD, one suspects there will be quite a few which won't appeal. The neat thing is that artists you may be unfamiliar with, or whose other work you have not cared for, often do a great job on some Christmas tunes. A lot of people dismiss the Spice Girls, for instance. I don't think they ought to be; in any case, they do "Sleigh Ride" justice. "Christmastime In Tinseltown (Again)" by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is a neat swing tune / big band sound. Brian McKnight sings a pretty "The First Noel" - pretty, but the vocal gyrations are a tad excessive - not my favorite version of this tune. Is there anything Sarah McLachlan does that's not gorgeous ? I'm not sure, but "Song For A Winter's Night" is another great one - written, incidentally, by Gordon Lightfoot, who Carmen and I got to see perform last year. Loreena McKennitt's fine voice and Celtic styling is perfect for "Good King Wenceslas". Meredith Brooks does "Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer." Even Hanson's contribution, "What Christmas Means To Me" is interesting - if for no other reason than to contast it to early Jackson Five fare. Backstreet Boys sing "Christmas Time." Everclear does an interesting "Santa Baby" - though not as much to my liking as the old Eartha Kitt version, or Madonna's take on it on the first A Very Special Christmas. Michael W. Smith has a big audience - and I do like his voice - but his "The Happiest Christmas" just does not grab me. So what is the best tune on the CD ? They saved the best for last - the one I've not mentioned yet, and to call this "best" alongside of performances by McLachlan and McKennitt as well as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's tune is really something ! The winner is: Deana Carter performing "Carol Of The Bells." By the way, only two of these eleven songs are available on other U.S. releases.

Here's the 1997 pair from Target: Christmas With The Stars, whose highlights are Toni Braxton singing - breathing *S* - "The Christmas Song"... Vanessa Williams - "Baby, It's Cold Outside"... Kenny G doing "The Chanukah Song" which I like on it's own merits, and because it is one of the few Kenny G tunes that doesn't sound like all the others (okay, stop throwing things at me, Kenny G fans... I like him, but they do sound the same)... Natalie Cole with "The First Noel," and Amy Grant's "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" which is plain enough - okay, bland - even with the choir behind her... but I love her clear voice... New age fans and non-fans alike - you'll love George Winston's take on "Carol Of The Bells" - just him at the piano... who needs bells, real or synthesized?... also Elton John's lively "Step Into Christmas"... Barry Manilow's pretty tune "Because It's Christmas (For All The Children)"... Boyz II Men's "Let It Snow"... John Secada with "O Holy Night"... and not last, but least, is one by Shania Twain.

Country Christmas My favorite song on this one is "Merry Christmas Darling" by Neal McCoy... Merry Christmas, Darling... Bryan White's "I'll be Home For Christmas" is nice, despite a voice remniscent of the young Wayne Newton (remember "Danke Schoen"?)... Although Kevin Sharpe doing "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" doesn't sound anything like Johnny Mathis, he uses a few of Johnny's vocal devices - listen and you'll understand what I mean... the instrumentation is gorgeous, and he's got a very pleasant voice - he ought to sing it straight... like I should discuss anyone's singing voice *L*... The "O Holy Night" offering here is by Martina McBride - the first half is unaccompanied vocal only - then with beautiful accompanyment... too bad she didn't do all accompanied... Dwight Yoakam does "Silent Night"... wish his intrumentation was more like I'm used to hearing with him... Jeff Foxworthy gives us the novelty tune, "Redneck 12 Days Of Christmas""... Travis Tritt gives a rocking rendition of "Silver Bells." It stinks... Other artists included are Clay Walker, Mila Mason, and Anita Cochran.

Remember, the stores' exclusive collections from prior years are ocassionally available in some stores - or through classified ads, garage sales or used CD stores.