Critic's Review
Aaron Badgley, All Music Guide
Christmas albums are tricky things, because the artist is tackling a listener's past memories and emotions of Christmas. The most successful Christmas albums are those in which the artist does not tamper with the songs too much. On this album, Andy Mackay and his friends (known as the Players) present an album of traditional Christmas carols. Mackay does not deviate from the traditional arrangements with these songs, and he also has picked some classic songs that are not heard that often on Christmas albums ("While Shepherds Watched," "Past Three O'Clock," and "Once in David's City," to name three). This adds to the originality of the entire package. It is an instrumental album, which means this is the perfect CD to have in the background during Christmas festivities. Phil Manzanera basically acts as the executive producer, and thus does not play on the album. This is more or less a solo Andy Mackay album, and a good one. Fans of Christmas music will truly love this album. The combination of brass instruments and strings produces a beautiful sound. Fans of Mackay might be a bit surprised with this one but, again, it is a rewarding album.
