If all you know about Christmas music is Frank, Dean and Bing, or Andy, Perry and Johnny, or Rosemary, Doris and Judy, then you are in for a surprise.  There was a lot of wonderful Christmas music produced during the Classic Christmas Music Era, (1946 – 1976), and this compilation has some of the best selections of Christmas music.

This CD wants to combine the “cool” side of Christmas with smoky lounges filled with strangers having a good time and “making the scene.”  Lounge music is a nod back to years that have gone by.  It is the place where you go but you don’t listen to the current music of the day, but rather some of the older songs of a generation that lived before yours.

There are familiar songs on here, and there are familiar singers on here, but there will be a lot that you are not familiar with.

This CD is the 3^rd in a series released by Capitol Records through their Ultra-Lounge imprint.  I have the other two as well, so you can look for reviews of those in this blog’s future.

The artwork is simple but colorful.  The cover of the CD has a picture of a martini glass with a blue cocktail in front of a red Christmas ornament.  The CD title superimposes the graphics, and all are set upon a white background.  An Ultra-Lounge banner runs across the top.

The back of the CD features a snowman on skis with a bottle of scotch in one hand and a walking cane in the other.  He looks like he has been in the lounge for a little while.  To the left is a numerical track listing with performing artists.  Again, a black bar runs across the top and reads “file under “Lounge” “.

The CD cover comes out and opens along a single fold-out that features a blue background that fades to white as it goes up the CD.  Superimposed over the background is a numerical track listing.  Half the songs are listed on the left, and the other half are listed on the right.  Below each song title are performer credits and below that are writer credits.  If necessary, below some song titles are production and copyright notices.

The back of the CD cover features a drawing of a pin-up girl wearing a Santa hat while carrying a bag of toys.  The image appears over a white background.  The only text on the back of the CD cover is production credits for this compilation.

This CD contains the kind of Christmas songs that add a lot of variety to an otherwise common Christmas playlist.  All the songs are 20^th century Christmas standards with a few surprises thrown in.  There is one from Bing, and there’s one from Nat too, but most artists appearing here are not your average Christmas carolers.

The CD begins with one of those surprises.  Baby, It’s Cold Outside is a duet featuring Carmen McRae and Sammy Davis Jr.  This is great because neither Carmen McRae nor Sammy Davis Jr. recorded a Christmas album, together or individually.  So, any Christmas music for either of them is welcome.  This duet was recorded in 1960.  Jack Pleis & his Orchestra provide the small jazz group instrumentation.

Bing Crosby’s contribution to this compilation is the 2^nd song, Frosty The Snowman.  In typical fashion, Bing Crosby delivers a perfect Christmas song.  This was recorded in 1962 and comes from his Christmas album, I Wish You A Merry Christmas.  The orchestra is unknown as well as the chorus.  The arrangement is light with a small orchestra present.  The melody glides along accented with flutes and light guitar chords.  I think I have all of Bing Crosby’s Christmas output and 1962 was the first time he recorded this song.

Lena Horne contributes Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town as the 3^rd song.  Lena does a terrific job with the lyrics as the Big Band swings in the background.  It has a Count Basie sound to it, but I don’t think it is Count Basie.  And it is a very jazzy arrangement that suits Lena Horne’s vocal styling very well.  Unfortunately, I do not have a year or a name for the orchestra.  I have Lena’s Christmas album from 1966, but this is not on it.  And I’ve looked over her singles and I can’t find it there either.

Jingle Bells, the 4^th song, sung by Johnny Mercer, is the oldest song on here.  It was recorded in 1947 and features Paul Weston & his Orchestra and the vocal chorus The Pied Pipers.  This group of folks worked together a lot throughout the 1940s.  The song features a Big Band arrangement.  Johnny Mercer wrote a lot of standards.  He also helped start Capitol Records, and although he wasn’t known as a singer, he released many albums.  The Pied Pipers really carry this song with their tight harmonies.

One of the best songs on here is the 5^th song, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! by Wayne Newton.  Wayne Newton recorded three Christmas albums, and this was on the first one from 1966.  Wayne Newton was 24 years old when he recorded this, but he sounds 14, but he always did.  The song features a smooth, traditional arrangement from Perry Botkin, Jr. and Wayne Newton delivers a convincing strong delivery.

The 6^th song is not a common Christmas song; at least how much it shows up on other Christmas compilation CDs.  Nancy Wilson has done a super terrific job with a Jazz orchestral arrangement from 1963.  O. B. Masingill & his Orchestra provide the lush arrangements.  Perhaps I am so familiar with this because it is in my Top 500 Classic Christmas Recordings.

Perhaps the greatest treat on this compilation is the song Do You Believe In Santa Claus.  Performed like a children’s song, it features Thurl Ravenscroft.  If you know the name, then you know Thurl Ravenscroft’s biggest claim to fame is that he was the voice of Tony the Tiger for Frosted Flakes cereal for over 40 years AND he sang the song You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch in the MGM TV Special.  He did a few records, mostly Children’s records, in the late 50s and throughout the 1960s.  His voice is unmistakable with the deepest bass you will ever find.  You must hear this song; it is one of the most unique Christmas songs I’ve ever heard.  Billy May provides the orchestrations and The King Sisters provide choral harmonies, but for the life of me, I can’t find any other information on this record.  Not knowing the year is what bugs me.  It sounds like the mid-50s to me.

The song asks the listener if they believe all the tales of what Santa can do, and in the end reveals that he, himself, IS Santa Claus.  The song must be heard to be understood.  This is high on my list of Top 500 Classic Christmas Recordings, (although the list is not arranged from best to worst).

Peggy Lee delivers one of the most sensual renditions of White Christmas I’ve ever heard.  Yes, I wrote “sensual”.  I didn’t think the song could be sung with such emotion, but Peggy Lee does.  This was recorded in 1960, a little past her prime years, but nonetheless, this is a great Christmas song.  Once again, Billy May & his Orchestra provide the lush string arrangement.

The 11^th song is another hidden gem, and unfortunately, I know very little about it.  What I know is A Marshmallow World is performed by Ray Anthony & his Orchestra.  Ray Anthony was a major player in the lounge scene in the mid-60s.  Long after the Big Band era had died down, Ray Anthony was still producing records featuring large, big bands.  So, this song swings really well.

What I don’t know is who is singing this song and what year it was recorded.  I know I would be familiar with the singer’s name if you told me, but there were so many girl singers out there, that it’s hard to pinpoint her voice.  (I’m a little out of practice).  But she sings in a slow, soulful manner that has a smoky sound to it.

The whole recording sounds like 1941.  The way the vocals don’t start until almost a minute into the song, the style in which all the instruments are arranged, and the sound of the recording.  It has the same sound as all the other Big Band records of the early 1940s.  But it’s Ray Anthony, and in 1941 & 1942, he was still in Glenn Miller’s band.  Perhaps 1945 or 48?

Another unusual Christmas arrangement exists in Julie London’s vocals on I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm.  I guarantee you have never heard this song sung this way before.  Julie London was one of the last torch singers of the era and she makes it known why in this Christmas standard.  The pace is about one fourth of what is normally heard.  The song is usually up-tempo, but here it is about as slow as you can possibly get.  Very unique.   The music is provided by a small jazz trio that is arranged in a sparse manner, and you can hear every note.  This is a perfect example of Lounge Music.

Track 14, Buon Natale (Means Merry Christmas To You) is one of Nat King Cole’s most popular Christmas songs, next to The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You).  It has a rollicking rhythm that mimics Italian culture.  The arrangement puts you right in the middle of the village square.  It was recorded in 1959, orchestra unknown.  Bummer.  But I think when Nat King Cole recorded it, it was a newly written song.

The CD closes with June Christy singing a fantastic original, albeit unusual, Christmas song, Sorry To See You Go.  It doesn’t mention Christmas, nor does it mention Santa Claus by name, but it is a loving tribute to Santa Claus.  What makes it unusual is that because Santa’s name is not mentioned, it’s easy to believe that she is talking about a boy.  But upon close listening to the lyrics and the clues hidden within, it is obvious who she is sorry to see go.  It’s a great Christmas song because it is very well produced, and it is very unique.  Pete Rugolo handles the small orchestra that swings well.  Pete Rugolo was June Christy’s orchestra director for most of her career.  (Look for a review of June Christy’s Christmas album from 1961 in this blog’s future).

This is a great CD of Christmas music that may be a little different than what most people have in their collections.  Maybe that’s because out of the 15 songs, there are 4 originals.  3 of those 4 are in my Top 500.  You almost have to go out of your way to seek out this kind of Christmas music.

This CD should not disappoint.  It has something for everyone except the hard rockers.  Wonderful Christmas standards are presented and played by great singers and orchestras that exhibit the very essence of Christmas music.  Put this on for your friends and watch them nod in agreement, then watch as they listen to the original songs and their curiosity peaks.  Like me, I bet they like the original songs the best.

I give this CD :

****