As I prepared to make a few notes about this “new” album, I took a look at the date on which it was released…and am still in disbelief that The Christmas Album was released almost 20 years ago!  Time flies, and yet this recording still sounds as fresh as the day it was released.  While you might expect a Manhattan Transfer recording to feature four-part vocal harmonies and jazz, they reached a bit beyond and enlisted the great Johnny Mandel to handle orchestrations and arrangements, and what you end up with is a beautifully warm and lush holiday recording that transcends musical boundaries.  The rockers and headbangers probably would never warm to it, but it is one of those nice “family” discs that, thanks to the Mandel/Tim Hauser production, can sound lush without straying into sappy Muzak.  Even Tony Bennett pops in for a guest appearance on “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)”.  What really impressed me was the disc opening with the lesser known “Snowfall,” a wintery song penned by Claude Thornhill decades ago.  And, the album closes with the Lennon/McCartney “Goodnight.”  As with any ManTran album, the harmonies are smooth, and each of the members gets their turn in the spotlight.  Warmly recommended!