The music on this CD is wonderful, but you are better off buying Connie Francis "The Christmas Album" which has 15 tracks. All of the other Connie Xmas releases have 10, 12 or 13 tracks from her Xmas repetoire - "The Christmas Album" has the full 15 tracks so buy that one instead.

Connie's Christmas CD, whatever the title, is a classic. A beautiful compilation of Christmas songs sung by this great singer. In Connie's long career, it is a shame that she recorded only one Christmas LP. With her penchant for languages and her international fame and talent, a Christmas CD consisting of songs from around the world would have been a triumph. Just think, Connie singing Silent Night in German, Io Bambino in Italian, etc. Connie's Christmas hit, Baby's First Christmas, was not included in the original Christmas LP as the LP was recorded a few years before the hit. It has been included on some later CD compilations of her Christmas music. I believe the original Christmas LP was recorded in the summer of 1959 at the famed Abbey Road studio.

When I listened to Connie sing these Christmas songs, I was truly inspired by her singing of joy, peace and love that Christmas means to so many. This CD is a Christmas treasure.

I'm going to start the review like this: if you ever have a chance to get this christmas album from 1959 (released on cd in 1988 but hard to find), CONNIE FRANCIS - CHRISTMAS IN MY HEART, it is a must buy. Here's why:

This is a most beautiful 'crooner styled' christmas album that, like Johnny Mathis's 1958 christmas classic, JOHNNY MATHIS - MERRY CHRISTMAS, goes beyond the walls of just 'crooner' styled christmas music. It's both magical and breathtaking. Connie's voice is the best it has ever been and although I do usually like a few other female voices more, this Connie christmas album is the exception. No other female singer (or even male for that matter) could sing these beautiful songs with their masterful arrangements as great or greater than Connie. In other words, (and perhaps along with the 1966 album, KATE SMITH - THE KATE SMITH CHRISTMAS ALBUM) this is my favorite female christmas album and actually, one of my absolute favorite christmas albums ever. But this is only half the beauty of it.

The other half belongs to a very unknown yet ultra-great conductor and his orchestra, GEOFF LOVE (GEOFF LOVE AND HIS ORCHESTRA are my second favorite orchestra next to JOHNNY DOUGLAS and the LIVING STRINGS). I'm not sure who did the arrangements but man, are they awesome. However, GEOFF LOVE AND HIS ORCHESTRA play the music at it's most beautiful christmas style ever when backing a lead singer (along with PERCY FAITH who did this as well on that JOHNNY MATHIS christmas album mentioned above). From the releases I have by GEOFF LOVE AND HIS ORCHESTRA (all great), he is, like I mentioned with CONNIE'S singing above, at his best here. Everything just works perfectly.

This majectic music from GEOFF LOVE AND HIS ORCHESTRA (similar to the LIVING STRINGS and a bit of PERCY FAITH, but overall, GEOFF'S own) with CONNIE'S perfect voice along with a fabulous chorus (as good as any great chorus) is the recipe for something out of this world in terms of beautiful christmas music. And let me tell you, it is that recipe that you get here.

I mean, every song is great, from one to the next, and this would provide a perfect background for christmas music over the christmas season for yourself and any company you may have over during the holidays.

This cd contains 13 tracks, the 12 track original album and a bonus song for the cd (BABY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS) but luckily, the bonus song remains in the same style (with an added guitar) as the 12 track album so there is nothing weak in this cd release.

As for the songs from the original album itself, I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS is my favorite version (along with JOHNNY MATHIS'S version on his MERRY CHRISTMAS album), THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS (my favorite all-time version, wonderful backing chorus), WHITE CHRISTMAS (real dreamy), WINTER WONDERLAND (also real dreamy), THE CHRISTMAS SONG, O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM, and every other song are truly among my favorite versions of each of them.

Four other crooner albums you will want to get if you like this CHRISTMAS IN MY HEART album are both the JOHNNY MATHIS and KATE SMITH mentioned above, PERRY COMO - SEASONS GREETINGS (1959), and JACK JONES - THE JACK JONES CHRISTMAS ALBUM (1964). JOHNNY MATHIS is the closest in style I think, but the three others are about as powerful in their own way and kinda similar too. These are the five essential crooner christmas albums in my opinion but this CONNIE FRANCIS one and the JOHNNY MATHIS one are the most dreamiest and magical. Only the LIVING STRINGS - THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS album from 1963 would be more dreamy and magical and that's out of about 200 or more christmas albums I own. That's it. that's how great CONNIE and JOHNNY are.

So, if you want a very dreamy, magical, and most beautiful and powerful christmas album, then you should really consider this cd. It really is what the title of this review says, a 'christmas 'crooner stlyed' masterpiece.'

Connie Francis is probably my favorite female singer as far as christmas music goes. My grandmother and mother loved her and I just grew up listening to it as well. All her Chrismtas songs were just beautiful. I highly recommend it - perfect for this time of year!