The Christmas Album, Vol. 2

AMG Review of The Christmas Album, Vol. 2

William Ruhlmann
All Music Guide

Neil Diamond's first Christmas album, released in 1992, was a million-seller, but even so, it seemed a little bit soon to be releasing another one only two years later. Not that it much matters which Christmas season you release a Christmas album in. Working again with producer Peter Asher, Diamond addressed 15 seasonal songs that hadn't made it onto the first album, sometimes coming up with unusual arrangements, such as a barbershop quartet version of a medley of "Deck The Halls" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and a reggae version of "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" complete with exhortations to children everywhere. But, especially toward the end of the album, Diamond took a more traditional approach, singing some of the more religious Christmas songs with an orchestra and chorus.