Some time ago, record labels started repackaging Christmas songs from the late 1950s to the early 1960s that traditionally did not make it onto Christmas compilations due mainly to the fact that they were not performed by traditional Pop singers or known orchestras.  During the Classic Christmas Music Era, everyone released Christmas songs.  If they didn’t want to record a whole album, at least they would release a single or two.  This CD is one of what has become a common occurrence of combining Christmas songs from artists that were more Rock & Roll based.

Most songs are from the years between 1958 and 1965, with a few from the 1990s thrown in by artists whose careers were more active in the 1950s and 1960s but didn’t release Christmas music until later in their career.  These are Christmas songs performed by artists that everyone should be familiar with, and there are a few surprises as well.  All songs are secular Christmas songs, and all are from the 20^th century except one.

The CD artwork is kind of sparse.  The CD cover shows a picture of a red 1957 Chevy Bel Air from the driver’s side back rear while carrying a newly bought Christmas tree tied to the roof and sitting in a snow-covered parking lot.  The CD title runs across the top in red letters.

The back of the CD shows the same car from the same angle but more of the front driver’s side is shown.  To the left of the back cover is a numerical track listing featuring performing artists.  Towards the bottom are typical CD release notes and copywrites.

The back of the front cover is blank, so no need to take that out to gain any further information.  We have track titles and performing artists credits, but no writer credits or years of recordings.

The CD begins with The Beach Boys’ Little Saint Nick from 1963.  This is a Classic Beach Boys Christmas song that is still played often on the radio every season.  It features a Rock arrangement accompanied by the Beach Boys’ layered harmonies.  If you’re not familiar with the song, it describes Santa Claus as a hip cat from up north with a souped-up sled not unlike the hot rods that were popular in the early 1960s.

The 2^nd song, Jingle Bell Rock, is performed by Bill Haley And His Comets from 1958.  It features the Christmas Rockabilly classic with a robust arrangement.  Because Bill Haley was one of the first Rockabilly artists on the scene in the mid-50s, this song is perfectly suited for him.  The song opens with the saxophone sound that The Comets were known to have in all their songs.  Bill Haley has an unmistakable voice, and it lends itself to this song very well.

Jan & Dean crank it up for the 3^rd song, Frosty The Snowman, recorded in 1962.  Jan & Dean were Surf sound pioneers similar to The Beach Boys and this song showcases their Doo Wop vocal style that was popular in the early 1960s.  The traditional lyrics are accompanied by a rocking arrangement featuring Surf guitar.

The 4^th song, Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) is presented by Dion and is featured on his Christmas CD from 1993.  Dion was a popular singer in the late 50s and early 60s and had a bunch of big hits at that time, but by 1965, his career was coming to a close.  Dion does a great job with this Christmas classic made popular by Darlene Love in 1963.  Due to current recording techniques of the 1990s, the song does not sound like it’s from the early 1960s, but the arrangement does try to replicate the sound of the early 60s with a rocking tempo accompanied by the obligatory saxophone.

Ricky Nelson delivers a rousting version of Jingle Bells from 1958.  Once again, the arrangement is produced with traditional Rock instruments as opposed to orchestral instruments.  Ricky Nelson was in his TV and recording heyday in 1958 and delivers a fast-paced version of this Christmas classic.

The 6^th song, I Told Santa Claus, is presented by Fats Domino from his 1993 Christmas CD.  Even though it is from 1993, Fats Domino stays true to his signature sound, and this actually sounds like it could be from the late 50s.  Fats Domino’s voice is in fine form and the song has a swinging melody similar to his earlier records.  It sould be considered an original Christmas song and describes Fats Domino asking Santa Claus to bring his favorite girl to put under the Christmas tree, and if so, Fats Domino would ask the girl to marry him.  It’s a cute Christmas song and because it stays true to Fats Domino’s style, it is a very likable Christmas song.

The 7^th song is Blue Christmas, performed by Bobby Vee and featured on his Christmas album from 1962.  Ernie Freeman & his Orchestra provides traditional, lush orchestral arrangements that are unlike most of the other rock-based arrangements found on this CD.  Bobby Vee delivers a solemn vocal performance of this familiar Christmas song.  The lush instrumental passage featured in the middle part of the song gives it a soft somber feeling.  All is backed up with a nice chorus that gives the song a warm Christmas glow.

Charles Brown presents a newer version of his original Christmas classic, Please Come Home For Christmas.  I’m not sure when this song was recorded and since Charles Brown could have retired from the royalties from this song alone, considering it was his signature song, without some confirmation as to when this may have been recorded, it would be hard to guess.  It is very similar to the original, but you can tell his voice is a little older than in 1960 when the original was recorded.  If you’re not familiar with the song, it is a soulful ballad asking for his love to Please Come Home For Christmas.  This version features the same piano driven arrangement accompanied by bells and chimes as with the original.  Most people would not know or care that this is a different version.  It sounds as good as the original.

The Ventures are represented here with their Surf instrumental version of Sleigh Ride.  This unusual arrangement of a Christmas Classic comes from their 1965 Christmas album.  It is a guitar driven Surf classic!  On their 1965 Christmas album, The Ventures would borrow from another big hit of the late 50s or early 60s as the intro and background melody to the Christmas song they were recording.  This song, Sleigh Ride, borrows from their own hit, Walk, Don’t Run from 1960.

The CD closes with another Beach Boys song from their 1964 Christmas album, the song Merry Christmas, Baby.  The song features the instrumental arrangements that gave the Beach Boys their sound.  The vocals are classic Beach Boys with layered harmonies that made them famous.  This is not the same song as the other Merry Christmas, Baby, covered by many artists.  This was written by Brian Wilson for their Christmas album.  It follows the classic boy – girl break up song lyrics popular in the early 1960s but presented against the backdrop of the Christmas season.

This is a very short CD, even as Christmas compilation CDs go. Since most songs feature fast tempo arrangements and there are only ten songs, the whole thing takes only 25 minutes to complete.  When I first got this CD, there weren’t that many 1950s Rock & Roll Christmas compilation CDs out there.  Nowadays, these songs can be found on many other compilation CDs.

The songs featured here are fun to have in your collection, but this is probably not going to be the first CD you reach for at the start of the Christmas season.  There is only one song on this CD that is on my Top 500 Classic Christmas Recordings list, Little Saint Nick, by The Beach Boys.  I have Charles Brown’s Please Come Home For Christmas on the list, but it is the original from 1960, not the one on this CD.

If you’re looking for something different to add to your Christmas music collection, this would be a fun one to search out, but like I said earlier, there are many compilations of similar and same songs to choose from.  And if you don’t really care for the lush Christmas CDs that are mostly released, then you should seek this out.  This will put more Rock in your Christmas music collection.

I give this CD :

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