Our Review
First Christmas succeeds in capturing a traditional sound I remember from my own youth, and a sound that I don't often hear. Whenever I hear this sound, I believe I am listening to someone in my own age group. The musicians are Gary Prim, David Combs, and Stan Moon, who I am guessing are forty-somethings like myself. Their sound is primarily made with piano, keyboard and guitar, and is reminiscent of some of the effects produced by Richard Carpenter in the seventies.
This is very soft, light music. But not in the new age sense, because it doesn't have that "ethereal" sound. It is more of an easy-listening or pop variety of soft and light.
Combs & company chose to include King of Kings Is Born, a composition by Charles Joseph Combs, David's father. I am glad they did, because it turned out to be the highlight of the record. There are some other nice inclusions, particularly There Is a Song in the Air, a tune I had never heard on a Christmas record.
Light but with just a hint of nostalgia for the childlike wonder of Christmas, First Christmas achieves its goal.
--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2000)
No More
Gary Prim David Combs, Stan Moon
First Christmas
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Artist site
Label: Combs Music
Length: 39 minutes
Genre: New Age
Release: 1989
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen |
| The First Nöel |
| Silent Night |
| It Came Upon the Midnight Clear |
| There's a Song in the Air |
| Hymn to Joy |
| O Little Town of Bethlehem |
| Happy Christmas Bells |
| Gentle Mary Laid Her Child |
| What Child is This |
| King of Kings Is Born |
| Away in a Manger |
| O Come All Ye Faithful |
| Angels We Have Heard On High |