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After befriending a number of expatriot Chinese on an extended visit to Malaysia in 2007, I take a keen interest in Asian culture, particularly westernized parts of Asia such as Hong Kong and Malaysia. I was unfamiliar with Hong Kong superstar Teresa Carpio, who dominated the pop scene during the 1970s and who has continued to maintain both a musical and an acting presence ever since.

A Family Christmas Album, Carpio's 2007 holiday music project, is exactly the traditional mainstream pop recording one might expect from a well-known superstar. Although there was nothing particularly novel going on here, it was impossible not to be captivated by Ms. Carpio's sweet sincerity. Though now in her fifties, Teresa Carpio's strong voice seems to be at the top of its game. The production values and point of view are major label and I am put in mind, more than anything, of Barbra Streisand, another pure and unadorned vocalist. Though perhaps more stylistically than vocally similar to Streisand, it is a fair comparison because I can easily imagine Streisand singing from this pop songbook and coming out with a similar product.

Truly a family affair, Ms. Carpio also gives the microphone to her daughters, Alexias and Serena Victoria. This is more mainstream than I usually listen to, but for old-fashioned pop charm, you can't go wrong with Teresa Carpio's A Family Christmas Album

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2008)

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From the liner notes:

Executive Producer: Andreas Panayi

Producer: Teresa Carpio

Mixing Producer: Silvester See

Engineers: KLS (Kenny) and Ming at D&M Studio

Artists: Teresa Carpio, Alexias and Serena Victoria

Arrangers and Musicians: Peter Lally, Roel Garcia, Joey V, Silvester See

Teresa Carpio

A Family Christmas Album

Artist link

Track List