At first glance, the Gunter Kallmann Chorus looks like a German version of the Ray Conniff singers, all clean cut and smiling as they heartily sing out their phonetically precise English lyrics to international pop hits. But its "Gunter Kallmann Chorus", with Orchestra and Bells.

Yes, Gunter Kallmann has the bright idea to accompany his cheery singers with a string orchestra and an ensemble of bell ringers. Throughout every number, the bells tinkle away in harmony to the melody. They never go away. It is possibly the most consistently irritating sound in the archives of space age pop

This album, in a nutshell, is an experience! The chorus sings their heart out, complete with German accents and tones. In the middle of one medley, the chorus sings the soft, reverent tones of Silent Night, then burst into Ding Dong Merrily On High with all the force of an oompah band!

The orchestra swings, one moment lush and full of strings, then getting down and funky with the bassline coming across loud and clear. Throughout most of the album, the arrangements tend to favor the orchestra member on glockenspiel, chimes, or bells. It's cute at times, annoying most of the time.

By the end of the album, you want to shove those bells down someone throat. The standout track is song number one We Wish You A Merry Christmas / Jingle Bells / Where Did My Snowman Go?. We Wish You begins in a rather Teutonic way, then switches into smooth 70s mode. It then switches into a bells blazin' version of Jingle only to be followed by a funky cover of Where Did My Snowman.

It's a mini opera and sets the tone for the rest of the album handsomely. Other favorite tracks on this album include Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer / Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Once In Royal David's City / The Holly And The Ivy is an epic, Happy Holiday / I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, and Mistletoe And Holly / Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow.

This type of album is the type that I strive to find while searching the vinyl bins of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Most of the time, I fall real short. It's a testament to the King Of Jingaling who keeps coming up with these amazing albums.

Different than a lot of other Christmas music you hear to11day and the classics that get played. Nice change. Still sounds modern.

Release date: 1970

Rating: ****

Reviewed By Verus Ferreira