SIMPLY A GEM...I LOVE THIS ALBUM!

Review Score: (10/10)
New Edition's 1985 'Christmas All Over The World' album is a concise, well put together collection of six bubblegum holiday tunes by members Ronnie DeVoe, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ralph Tresvant. As a fan of Pop and R&B music, and as a big admirer of the New Edition "vibe" since the late 1980s, I cannot recommend this album enough. Let's get to the music:

We open up with "Give Love On Christmas Day", produced by Richard Rudolph (husband/producer of the late, great Minnie Riperton and father of Saturday Night Live's Maya Rudolph), and Michael Sembello ("Maniac" from Flashdance). On this song, lead singer Ralph Tresvant turns out an excellent vocal performance, and while every member gets a spoken part of the song, Bobby Brown appears to be making his last appearance with New Edition on this album; he isn't featured on any of the other songs.

"It's Christmas All Over The World" is my favorite song on the album, and it is also the title track. Reminiscent of a David Foster-esque/Chicago style 80's power ballad, this song features Ralph T's delicate tenor, and a soaring falsetto chorus section by Ricky Bell. I can't get enough of this song.

On the third track "Happy Holidays To You", (also produced by Rudolph/Sembello), Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe get to shine with lead vocals (that sound really good, actually!), and they sound really great here.

"All I Want For Christmas (Is My Girl)" follows in the tradition of songs like "Cool It Now" and "Count Me Out", since it is produced by Vincent Brantley and Rick Timas, two producers who were largely responsible for the sound of New Edition on their 1984 self-titled effort, and 1985's 'All For Love' album.

"The Joy Of Christmas" was a song written and produced by Ralph Tresvant and Ricky Bell, and sounds really angelic. So does the last song, "Singing Merry Christmas", a perfect way to close this short and sweet album.

Yes, the music on this album sounds dated indeed...it is very 1980s in feel. But, if you don't mind taking a trip back to that decade, when the coolest shows for kids on television were the Transformers, Knight Rider, and the Smurfs, then I enthusiastically invite you to add this to your Christmas collection. This is one extremely consistent album -- every song is top notch. 'Christmas All Over The World' for me is simply a gem. I love this album...

Thanks for reading!

C.H.R.

More Reviews:

• Huh??