Although I'm a collector of most of the older classic Christmas albums, this CD ranks high on my list of spiritual holiday music and is destined to become a treasured holiday classic in the years to come. It was originally released under the title "Star Bright"

Vanessa's interpretations of some classic spiritual Christmas songs such as "What Child is This", "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", "Do You Hear What I Hear/Little Drummer Boy", "Angels We have Heard on High" and the "First Noel" are soulfully jazzy. A very upbeat medley of "Go Tell it on the Mountain/Mary had a Baby" produced by David Foster adds a somewhat contemporary gospel sound which will give you chills and also remarkebly illustrates her extended vocal range. Her solemn rendition of "Gracious Good Shepherd" features her daughter in a vocal solo and allows the listener to really feel the reason for the season.

Every song beautifully captures true spirit of the Christmas season. This CD will warm your heart.

I'M LOOKING FOR THE VERSION OF GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN THAT WAS PLAYED ON THE RADIO IT WAS SAID TO BE ON HER STAR BRIGHT CD BUT THAT IS A DIFFERENT VERSION CAN ANYONE HELP ME FIND THE RIGHT VERSION

This is a charming album to give as a gift or play while putting up your holiday decorations. While everyone else is screaming and yelling their holiday songs, Vanessa Williams actually chose to SING. Her voice is rather plain really. I don't mean that as a negative thing. It's just that vocally her voice is very straightforward and simple. She's no Jesse Norman (an african american opera star) but for what she sings, her voice is effective enough.

Gracious Good Shepherd is the sweetest song on the album. Vanessa sings it and all the other songs that tell the Good News with reverence. She does not tend to over sing tunes like many singers do these days. For those of you that have trouble hearing lyrics, Vanessa's diction is quite clear. The words do not get lost in the music. I reccomend it for your holiday music library. This album is appropriate for all ages.

Parents, purchase with confidence.

Vanessa's distinctive sound is that it is well cultivated,
a beautiful tone, perfect articulation, like a polished pearl.
However sometimes these arrangements seem a little artificial,
sometimes obviously Kenny G, or George Benson, (I'll Be Home
for Christmas) or like it was pulled from the soundtrack of
The Lion King (Do You Hear What I Hear. Sometimes her vocal
phrasing sounds too much like she is borrowing from Al Jarreau,
while the band sounds like studio musicians who have used the
same riffs over and over on other album projects.

I do like her rendition of "What Child Is This", "The First
Noel", and her tastefully jazzy "Angels We Have Heard On
High". These arrangements are fresh and interesting all the
way through.

Overall this is still a pleasant album, though I would like
to have heard Vanessa challenge herself more, on range and
interpretation.

Had this CD years ago and had to get it again. I love her flavor on the Christmas classics. Has me humming and bumping in the car.