(2021) Blackmore's Night - Winter Carols [Deluxe Edition]


Review:
Originally released in 2006, this 2021 version has been carefully remastered and contains these four tracks that were previously unavailable in this format: “Here We Come A-Caroling”, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and “Silent Night”.  Additionally, ‘Winter Carols’ includes a remastered version of their timeless Christmas single “Christmas Eve.”
Ever wonder what Christmas carols sounded like back in time when the finest form of transportation was by horse and wearing armor was a hip fashion statement? Well then, the second release of 2006 by Blackmore’s Night, Winter Carols, may offer some insight. As with their previous efforts, the music on Winter Carols is of the Renaissance-inspired folk variety. And while the majority of the songs are traditional compositions, there are also a few originals, including “Winter (Basse Dance),” which includes some simply gorgeous acoustic guitar doodling by once Fender Strat/Marshall amp abuser Blackmore. Elsewhere, songs such as “Hark the Herald Angels Sing/Come All Ye Faithful” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” would sound splendid sung around the campfire — if it were still the 15th century.  — AMG





Track Listing:
Disc 1:
1 Coventry Carol
2 Deck the Halls
3 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
4 O Christmas Tree
5 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing / O Come All Ye Faithful
6 I Saw Three Ships
7 Winter (Basse Dance)
8 Ding Dong Merrily on High
9 Ma-O-Tzur
10 Good King Wenceslas
11 Simple Gifts (Lord of the Dance)
12 We Three Kings
13 Wish You Were Here (2021)
14 Emmanuel
15 Christmas Eve
16 We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Disc 2:
1 Crowning of the King
2 Here We Come A-Caroling
3 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
4 O Little Town of Bethlehem
5 Silent Night
6 Christmas Eve (2013 Version)
7 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing / O Come All Ye Faithful (Live from Minstrel Hall)
8 Emmanuel (Live from Minstrel Hall)
9 We Three Kings (Live from Minstrel Hall)


Media Report:
Genre: folk, pop
Country: USA / UK
Format: FLAC
Format/Info: Free Lossless Audio Codec, 16-bit PCM
Bit rate mode: Variable
Channel(s): 2 channels
Sampling rate: 44.1 KHz
Bit depth: 16 bits