Bill

I love collecting Christmas music, and I want to share my enormous collection with the world.

VA – On The First Day Of Christmas

/ Pop Vocals

July 25, 2022

# 11

VA – On The First Day Of Christmas
1992

(Originally released 1974 on CSP)

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© 1992 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.

(P) 1974, 1980 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.

Sony Music Special Products / Manufactured by Columbia Records/”Columbia” Reg. US Patent & TM Office/Marca Registrada

Genre : Pop Vocals

First off, let me say that for some reason, I like the cover.  I always have.  I don’t know why.  But when I was looking this up on Discogs.com, they have the edition from 1980 listed, and I REALLY like that cover!  A purple and pink partridge sitting in a yellow to green pear tree.  Very 70’sish.  My experience makes me believe this was a compilation originally released in 1974.  One of the production years on the back of the CD list 1974.  None of the music is newer than 1973.  I’m not sure if the cover from 1980 was the same as the one used in 1974.  But I like it better!

The CD front artwork opens up to a single fold out.  Unfortunately, there is nothing printed on it.  It’s blank.  Bummer.  The back of the fold out lists the CD title, a list of songs and performers in track order.  Then below is some copywrite and publishing information.  The back of the CD is the same as the back of the CD insert.

One thing that IS included amongst the many things that aren’t, are the letters AAD.  This refers to Analog to Analog to Digital.  That means the original recording was done with analog equipment; before digital.  And the remaster was done on an analog mixer.  And that was transferred to digital media, this CD.

Yes, I do love AAD!  ADD is better, but mostly you see AAD.  That means I’m getting classic vintage Christmas songs that were originally recorded before 1985 at the earliest, most way before that.  Then they were remastered, also probably before 1985, but they come in a clean digital format, CDs.  This is not a big deal with music from 1974, but when you’re looking for vintage Christmas songs from 1934, then it makes a big difference.

There are only 10 songs included here.  Bummer #2.

This compilation CD begins with Andy Williams singing O Come All Ye Faithful from his 1974 Christmas album, Christmas Present.  A beautiful rendition of this classic carol with back up by the Mike Sammes Singers.

The second song almost brings me to tears.  What Child Is This?  It’s my favorite Christmas song, carol or hymn, sung by Julie Andrews from 1967.  My favorite version of this song is by Vikki Carr, and I believe this has got to be my second favorite.  After a haunting flute intro, Julie Andrews delivers a slow paced, heartfelt plea.  Absolutely wonderful!

Well, the pace doesn’t stay that way for long.  Track 3 features Oh Holy Night, performed by Peter Nero on piano and the Peter Nero Singers singing in unison, from 1973.  The arrangement is very arpeggio

The oldest song on this magnificent CD is the fourth song, Silent Night, performed by the Lennon Sisters from 1959, with orchestrations by Milt Rogers.  A family group of teen and pre-teen girls, the Lennon Sisters entertained audiences on the Lawrence Welk Show for years.

The 5th song, Angels We Have Heard On High shows up on a lot of Christmas compilations, even during the album era.  Carol Lawrence & Robert Goulet deliver a vibrant and energetic performance of this beautiful carol from 1973.

Oh, Bobby Vinton!  Track 6 is the Polish Prince delivering a heartfelt Christmas wish for a Christmas Eve In My Hometown.  Bobby Vinton made this song his own in 1973.  Next to Perry Como, Andy Williams and Bing Crosby, Bobby Vinton is just as much Christmas as they are.

Ah, here’s Vikki Carr.  Track 8 features Vikki singing It Came Upon The Midnight Clear from 1971.  I think Vikki Carr has the perfect voice for Christmas music.  Soft, light and soulful.  She sings with a lot of compassion.

Now I remember why I like the cover so much.  Because I love this CD!  And the 9th song is one of the reasons why.  Carol Burnett, (yes! that Carol Burnett), singing the Mel Torme, Robert Wells classic, The Christmas Song.  Who would have ever thought Carol Burnett would do a Christmas song?  Afterall, she’s known for her comedy.  Unfortunately, it’s the only one I can find for her.  No Christmas album, that I can find, at least.  Is she a great singer, in the likes of Vikki Carr?  No, but she does a fantastic job with this one.  I definitely have it in my list of Top 500 Classic Christmas Recordings.  (Look for that list sometime in this blogs future).  This song is also from 1973.

The final cut is one of my favorite 60’s group singers, the Johnny Mann Singers with We Wish You A Merry Christmas recorded in 1967.  A jubilant, trumpet driven parade of voices.  Very kitschy.

Okay, I’m going to start with the bad news first.  There are ONLY 10 songs here.  (There are no years either, a big thing for me).

But, for a low budget Christmas compilation, this one is terrific!  I looked it up earlier, and over half of the songs on here are in my Top 500 Classic Christmas Recordings.  There is not a bad song on here.  If you like your Christmas music classic 60’s and 70’s, then you should definitely have this one.  Actually, you can find Christmas compilation CDs of this quality with many more songs, but I got this early in my collecting days, and I’m glad I did.

I give this CD :

***1/2*

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Pop Vocals

Chicago – What’s It Gonna Be, Santa?

/ Adult Contemporary

July 24, 2022

# 10

Chicago
What’s It Gonna Be, Santa?
2003

(Originally released 1998 as Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album on Chicago Records)

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This album was originally issued as Chicago #CRD-3035 (8/25/98).

This Reissue (P) & © 1998 & 2003 Warner Strategic Marketing. Warner Music Group, an AOL Time Warner Company.

# 4 – 1998 – Billboard Christmas

# 14 – 2003 – Billboard Christmas

Genre : Adult Contemporary

Finally!  The band Chicago releases a Christmas album!  I’ve been waiting a long time for this one.  But, alas, it’s from 1998.  Since I started collecting Christmas music in 1998, I always thought I must be missing something.  Where’s the Chicago Christmas CD?  Since I was focused more on buying affordable Christmas music from the 1950s and 60s, I wasn’t even aware that the group Chicago had just released a Christmas CD.

Many rock groups were releasing Christmas music in the 70’s, but not the band Chicago?  As far as collecting goes, the older, the better, right?  With digital remastering, older recordings can sound brand new.  Plus, there’s the argument between analog and digital.  Analog instruments just sound better than synthesizers.  I always look for the classic original Christmas releases from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.  Yes, I prefer digital remastering, which is very common these days.  I don’t find that it takes anything away from the original sound.  So, I had always hoped there was a vintage, early to mid 70’s Chicago Christmas album out there.  But there was not.

With that being said, I’ll take it!  (And I did!  I grabbed it right off the shelf as soon as I saw it).  Who can pass up a Christmas record by the band Chicago?

This is actually a 2003 Rhino Records re-release of the CD issued in 1998.  The original title was Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album.  (Chicago has a long ongoing practice of labeling their albums with Roman Numerals).  The cover artwork has been changed from a Christmas wreath on a dark gray door with the address of 25, to a white background with the Chicago logo in red.

Also, starting with the 2003 Rhino re-issue, the title has been changed to What’s It Gonna Be, Santa?  Actually, while reading the liner notes on the CD, this release on Rhino Records should be looked at as a new release.  With the inclusion of 6 newly written songs, this is really not a re-issue of the 1998 release.  At least not as the band sees it.

The inside booklet is a 6 page, double sided fold out that lists songs, writer credits and publishers in addition to a list of all musicians and their instruments for each song.  This is very similar to the original CD insert.  On the back side of the fold out there is a history of the recording of this, their first Christmas offering.  There is very good artwork and details included.

The original 1998 release had 14 songs.  This 2003 Rhino re-issue has 6 bonus tracks.  That’s also pretty good for a re-release that’s only 5 years older than the original.  Also, starting with the 2003 release, the track order has been changed.

If you’re familiar with the group Chicago, then you know they are a horn based rock band out of Chicago, formed in 1967.  There has consistently been about 8 members in the group throughout their existence.  Some have died, others have moved on and others came in to replace them.  They quickly moved to Los Angeles in 1968 and started the routine of playing live everywhere they could.  Their success came quickly.  Their sound was new, and their early albums sold well.

This CD opens with Winter Wonderland, a rocking song that I actually forgot was a Christmas song while I was listening to it.  Winter Wonderland is one of the 6 bonus tracks recorded in 2003 just for this re-release.

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! is a Christmas standard with the ‘Chicago’ sound applied.

The band revs it up for Jolly Old St. Nicholas.  Also recorded in 2003, it definitely has a hard rock, 2 / 4 sound.  A fantastic lead guitar comes in to play towards the end of the song and then the song fades out.

The Little Drummer Boy is one of the better tunes here.  With a repetitive snare drum intro, (as is done on many arrangements of this classic), the song progresses, slowly building, all done well with the ‘Chicago’ sound; lots of horns with intricately layered voices, all while a choir directed by Carmen Twillie, provides a gospel feel throughout.

This Christmas is one of the newer Christmas songs that appears on this CD.  Being written within the last 35 years of this recording, it is well suited to a more rock arrangement.

Next follows Feliz Navidad.  An acoustic guitar intro with Latin percussion instruments providing accompaniment throughout makes this song almost unrecognizable.  I have never heard such a unique arrangement put to this song.  I think most people would enjoy this one.

The seventh track, Bethlehem, is one of 3 originally written songs that appear on this album.  It too was recorded in 2003 specifically for this re-release.

O Come All Ye Faithful, the ninth track, is one of 5 Christmas hymns included.  All other songs are Christmas standards.  It is delivered in a soulful and softer arrangement than most of the songs featured here. But still with the Chicago horns making it a signature Chicago song.

Anticipating Chicago perform Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer was a little underwhelming.  I couldn’t imagine what they might do with this children’s favorite.  It begins with a fully layered horn section, then rocks into an arrangement that seems overworked.

The CD continues through upbeat, as well as slower renditions of Christmas standards.  Sleigh Ride is given the full Chicago treatment.

What Child Is This? opens with a soulful a cappella chorus then remains a soulful ballad throughout.

I think God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen is one of the standout songs in this collection.  What is normally a very dour song, has a wonderful swinging rock beat applied to it.  The horns and lead guitar work make this song one of the best on the whole CD.

Tracks 18 and 19 are the other original Chicago Christmas songs.  They both appeared on the original 1998 release.  Both feature a children’s chorus made up of the children of the band members.

Track 18 is a song titled Child’s Prayer.

Track 19, One Little Candle, is a minute and a half of the children singing over an acoustic guitar, the only musical instrument involved.

The last song on this 2003 release is White Christmas.  This Irving Berlin composed standard is given the classic Chicago treatment, once again, making it almost unrecognizable, at least for the first 30 seconds.  I’m not saying this is a bad thing.  Chicago uses a different approach to these songs than most arrangers who stick to the original arrangements, the way they were originally composed.

There are many reasons to own this CD.

The fact that they started with 14 songs in 1998, then added 6 newly recorded bonus tracks, makes this a Christmas CD that is just packed full of music.  A full 75 minutes of Christmas songs!  You don’t get that too often, except maybe for 2-disc compilations.

Chicago has gone out of their way to put new, fresh arrangements of Christmas classics into a rockin’  Christmas CD!  And overall, they do a great job.

If you like your Christmas to rock a little, I can highly recommend this CD.  But make sure to get the 2003 issue.  Also, if you like more contemporary arrangements of Christmas classics, you will want to include this in your Christmas collection.

That being said, I like the band Chicago.  I LOVE Christmas music.  But I don’t LOVE the band Chicago doing Christmas music.  Not as much as you might.  At least not for 75 minutes.  This is a great CD to have.  I’ve anticipated a Chicago Christmas release for so long, and I knew the ‘Chicago’ sound would be there, so I knew what I was getting into.  Oh yes, it’s a must have for me.  But I tend to gravitate to older, more ‘Classic’ Christmas music so I might include this one in a general mix.  If I know that the friends coming over prefer contemporary Christmas music over Bing Crosby and Perry Como, this is going to be the first one I pull off the shelf.

I give this CD :

****

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Adult Contemporary

Bobby Helms – Jingle Bell Rock

/ Classic Country

July 24, 2022

# 9

Bobby Helms
Jingle Bell Rock
2000

(Originally released 1970 on Certron)

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(P)©2000 KRB Music Companies Inc.  Licensed from John Kleinman and Richard Hocker.

Genre : Classic Country

Most people know Bobby Helms from 2 songs, his 1957 Top Ten hit, My Special Angel, and his 1957 Christmas classic, Jingle Bell Rock.  Played 1000’s of times every Christmas, it is a tried and true Christmas song.  No one does it better!

Bobby Helms was born in Bloomington, Indiana in 1933 and never lived far from there even after becoming more famous.  He had his Top Ten crossover hit in 1957, but Bobby Helms was truly a Country music star.  He would continue to release Country albums throughout the 1960’s but would never achieve the success of his contemporaries or past achievement with Jingle Bell Rock.

That being said, this CD is a re-issue of Bobby Helms’ only Christmas album; recorded and released in 1970.  It’s sad to say, the cover on the CD is completely different from the original LP, which I like better.  The original cover had a current picture of Bobby Helms (1970), in an oval plaque on a yellow background that features a superimposed music sheet with the songs listed on the cover.  Very 1970’s!  I wish the CD had the original cover.

The CD insert is, uh, well, missing.  There is no inside artwork to speak of.  Even the back of the CD cover is blank.  The back of the CD artwork is sparse as well.  Songs are listed, but no writer credit, recording dates or publishers.  This is not unusual for low budget re-releases.

On top of that, the original LP contained 12 songs.  This CD re-issue has only 10.  Bummer!  Missing two songs!

Okay, you gotta love Bobby Helms if you’re gonna like this CD.  Recorded in 1970, this is Classic Country.  Pedal steel guitar is the predominant instrument, and the lead guitar is Classic Country as well.

But maybe it’s Bobby’s voice.  Not a little twangy, a lot twangy!  I’m sorry.  Bobby Helms certainly gave it a good effort, but I think his twangy Country voice fell out of favor in the Country music circles as Country music moved more mainstream in the 1960’s.

All songs are contemporary Christmas songs from the 20th century.

The CD opens with the title song, Jingle Bell Rock, but this is NOT the one from 1957.  I don’t blame him.  There’s more to the life of a Country star than one song from 13 years prior.  This is a new recording done for this LP’s release.  It’s not bad.  The swing is there.  The voice is the same.  But it has a more modern Country arrangement, with the pedal steels.

Here Comes Santa Claus is a vibrant, pedal steel version of the Christmas classic.  This is not that bad either.

The third track, White Christmas, is full of Country twanging, so be prepared.

The whole ensemble does a pretty good job with Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer.  The pedal steel carries the song and Bobby’s voice is well suited to this Johnny Marks classic.

Jingle Bells follows and it’s an upbeat version with more bells and orchestration than most of the others.

Winter Wonderland is another song that is justly complimented with the pedal steel, and Bobby’s voice is well suited to this song.  I like the subtle differences in the vocal arrangement than you normally hear.

Silver Bells is another one that doesn’t seem to fare well with the southern Indiana dialect that Bobby possesses.  It is nicely backed up by a female chorus that oohs and aahs throughout the song.

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus follows, and then Christmas Time In My Home Town follows that.  This is a Christmas song made famous by Charley Pride, and it was originally written as a Country Christmas song, so it makes sense to include it here.  It’s different than your normal Christmas song, so it’s a nice diversion from the other Christmas standards that don’t seem to go over as well.

The CD closes with Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.  I think they may have saved the best for last.  Everyone is doing a great job on this one.  The pedal steel is terrific, and Bobby’s voice is in fine form.  This is a Classic Country Christmas classic.

Overall, if I had to compare Bobby Helms the Country star to any other Country star, I would have to pick Gene Autry.  If you like Gene Autry, this is not that different.  Both had a very twangy sound to their voice and the orchestrations found on their music has a Western Swing feel to it.

I respect Bobby Helms for staying out there even if he wasn’t charting many albums.  I like Classic Country Christmas, and you kind of have to go out of your way to find it.  So, when I play Classic Country Christmas from the 1950’s through the 1970’s, this fits in just fine.  With only 10 tracks, it’s not going to come up that often.  So, unless you’re looking for every Country artist that put out a Christmas album in the 60’s, you can maybe pass on this one.

As I said earlier, the fact that there’s two songs missing is not good.

I give this CD :

**

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Classic Country

Mormon Tabernacle Choir – Joy To The World

/ Choral

July 24, 2022

# 8

Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Joy To The World
2002

(Originally released 1970 on Columbia Masterworks)

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© 2002 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. / Originally released 1970, (P)1977, 1980, 2002 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. / Manufactured by Sony Music Entertainment Inc. / “Legacy”, and “SONY CLASSICAL” Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm Off. Marca Registrada. / This package consists of previously released material.

Genre : Choral

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is one of America’s longest standing choirs, having been in existence for over 150 years.  Now named The Tabernacle Choir At Temple Square, the choir was formed in 1847 in the Salt Lake Valley in Utah.  (For blog references, they shall be referred to as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir).

This CD is a re-issue of an album originally recorded in 1969 and released in 1970 as Joy To The World.  The original LP included 12 songs and the CD re-issue contains 3 bonus tracks.  The title is unchanged, but the cover artwork has changed.  The original cover shows the gilded angel on top of the steeple of the Tabernacle surrounded by a dark background.

The CD insert contains good information.  It lists the songs by track title, length of song, writer’s credit, and recording dates.  It includes Orchestra, Organist, and Conductor.  The bonus tracks come with the same detailed information.  Also, much information about engineers, production, etc.  Also included are the dates and release numbers for all the re-releases.  I like it when you get solid information about the recordings, so that is a bonus here.

As stated earlier, this album was recorded in 1969 at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake, Utah.  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs a Christmas concert every year at the Tabernacle in addition to over 70 concerts a year all around the world.  They also have one of the longest, continuous radio programs in the country.

This release features Richard P. Condie conducting the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble & Percussion with Dr. Alexander Schreiner playing the massive, 11,623 pipes, pipe organ.  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir averages 360 members.

The CD starts out with a grandiose recital of the title track, Joy To The World.

Track 2 features The First Noel, which starts out quietly, building much louder as the song progresses.

Deck The Halls starts with a snare drum intro, (reminiscent of The Little Drummer Boy), with a few, light female voices that build into a full chorus.

Carol Of The Bells is a perfect hymn for the Tabernacle choir.  The quiet undertones that define the song are represented here with bells and soft voices that build into a crescendo and then quietly start over again.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel starts with the male voices delivering a haunting request to come and rejoice while the female voices join in until the full choir is involved.  The carol builds and builds until it is fully engulfed in a shouting invitation to Come, Come, Rejoice !  A wonderful carol.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s reputation has always been highly regarded and that’s due to their long standing relationship with the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble, Percussion & Orchestra, conductors Eugene Ormandy and Richard P. Condie.

On most songs, Richard P. Condie directs the orchestra and choir in what starts out as a soft introduction, with most songs building into a full orchestra and choir that ends with all voices shouting their invitations to come celebrate.

All songs featured on the original LP are Christian hymns, except for number 6, We Wish You A Merry Christmas.  The song starts out with full orchestration, then abruptly ends while female voices start a cappella followed by the orchestra that slowly comes in to finish the song in typical Philadelphia Brass style.

The rest of the CD, like most of the songs throughout, features large orchestral beginnings with full choir support.

The final song on the original LP is Silent Night.  This iconic Christmas hymn starts quietly with bells and slow, soft harmonies.  It stays this way all the way through with voices as the predominant sound heard.  Orchestrations are there, but more subtle and complimentary to the voices that drift softly through the song.

This CD re-issue includes 3 bonus tracks.  The first two, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and The Christmas Song, are from their 1977 Christmas LP, White Christmas.  Eugene Ormandy does an excellent job of leading the Philadelphia Orchestra through mellow renditions of both selections.  The orchestrations on these bonus tracks is a little different because it does not feature the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble, so the string section is more prevalent.

The final cut on the CD is Hallelujah Chorus from “Messiah”, by George Frideric Handel.  As in most arrangements of the piece, the sound is big!  Jerold Ottley directs the Columbia Symphony Orchestra and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir from 1980.  The different voices are layered in opposing harmonies and the 11,623 pipes of the Tabernacle organ are front and center.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir have released many Christmas albums throughout their existence, starting in 1957.  (Look for more Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas CDs in this blogs future).  It is always good to have the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in your Christmas collection.  As far as choral music goes, no organization has produced more Christmas albums in America than the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and only in England perhaps, would you find choirs older than 150 years.  That being said, as I compare this to other Tabernacle Choir Christmas CDs I have, the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble & Percussion adds more instrumentation than just a regular orchestra might, so the sound is bigger.  Other Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas CDs are usually performed over symphonies, such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, so the music is less grandiose.  They have probably made more Christmas albums with the Philadelphia Orchestra than any other orchestra.

This is a good Mormon Tabernacle Christmas CD to have.  I like the structure of the songs and the choir does an excellent job of taking you through all the emotions that a merry Christmas can evoke.

I like to listen to various artists when I listen to Christmas music, and I probably wouldn’t put this on and listen to it from start to finish, but it is an excellent CD to mix in with other carols and traditional songs.  If you like the old choirs of England, you will probably enjoy this as much.

I give this CD :

*** ½ *

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Choral

VA – A Big Band Christmas

/ Big Band

July 23, 2022

# 7

VA – A Big Band Christmas
1988

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© 1988 CBS Records Inc. / (P) 1988 CBS Records Inc./Manufactured by Columbia Records/CBS Records Inc./”Columbia” is a trademark of CBS Inc. except in Canada where it is a trademark of CBS Records Canada Ltd.

Genre : Big Band

Boy oh boy!  Can CD covers be a little deceiving.  You cannot judge a CD by its cover, but many times you HAVE to judge a CD by its cover.  (More on that later elsewhere in this blog).  When I went to pull this CD off the shelf to review it, I thought, “Oh, here is another of those non-descript Big Band studio orchestras doing a Christmas record.”  I have many of those.  Non-descript Christmas CDs that don’t list a band or performers because they are cranked out in studios that just record, record, record.  A great job if you can get it, but I like to collect classic, vintage, unique Christmas records from all genres.  And non-descript studio orchestras are nothing to brag about.

With that being said, I was WRONG!  I have so many Christmas CDs that, yes, it is hard to remember everything about a CD just by looking at the front cover.  Especially compilation CDs of which this is one.  But this is one of those great compilation CDs to have.  The CD features original songs, original artists and original recordings of some of the best Big Bands and singers of the 1940’s and 1950’s.  All the greats are here.  Great singers.  Great bands.

As I said, I find the CD cover to be a little deceiving, but the insert contains a list of songs with the orchestra leaders, and the lead vocalists in addition to writer credits.  I had to research the recording dates.  The back of the CD insert is a duplicate of the inside information without writer credits.  So, you get singers, band leaders and writers on what appears to be a low budget CD.  Sometimes that information is hard to come by.  This compilation CD offers 13 tracks.

The CD opens with one of the best Christmas songs ever recorded.  Doris Day performing the classic The Christmas Song, written by Mel Torme and Robert Wells.  Recorded in 1946 with Les Brown & his Orchestra, Doris Day gives this song her wonderful, pillow soft treatment.  Yes, I am a big Doris Day fan.  I think she was the best female Big Band singer of all time.  Hey, we all have our favorites.  Doris Day took this song all the way to #12 in 1947 on the Billboard Pop charts.  (Look for Doris Day’s Christmas CDs elsewhere in this blogs future).

Track 2 features Russ Morgan, his chorus and his big band performing I Want You For Christmas, from 1937.  Gotta love it!

The CD follows with Mildred Bailey singing I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm with Red Norvo & his Orchestra.  1937.

Number 4 has Artie Shaw & his Orchestra playing There’s Frost On The Moon with Peg LaCentra handling the vocals, all from 1936.

Track 5 features a more orchestral arrangement with White Christmas performed by the accomplished trumpeter, Harry James & his Orchestra.  Harry’s lead vocalist is Marion Morgan.  A very soft treatment to the biggest selling Christmas song of all time.  1946.

The next song that follows is one of my favorite Christmas songs of all time, a jumping number called Winter Weather.  Benny Goodman gives this classic a jumping arrangement with the great Peggy Lee & Art Lund sharing vocals.  This song shows up on a lot of Christmas compilations, whether Big Band or Classic Christmas songs.  This is a classic that is still played on the radio during the Christmas season.  Big Band Christmas doesn’t get any better than this.  Peggy Lee took this all the way to #24 in 1942.

Track 7 is a unique Christmas song.  It’s really just a winter song, but fills in at Christmas just fine.  Little Jack Frost is performed by Frankie Carle & his Orchestra featuring Marjorie Hughes on vocals from 1947.  There are not that many cover versions of this song.  I only have one other that isn’t performed by Marjorie Hughes.  I am very familiar with the song as I have a lot of Big Band Christmas collections, and this is really the only version of the song most people will be familiar with.

Lester Lanin & his Dance Orchestra show up on track 8, performing a very upbeat rendition of the Johnny Marks classic, Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer from 1959.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town is given the old collegiate treatment by The Kaydets, the vocal choir of Sammy Kaye’s orchestra. This is one of my favorite Big Band Christmas songs.  1952.

Track 10 is one of the more recent songs recorded.  Tex Beneke, the original crooner with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, was by 1965, fronting his own big band, and had been since around 1948.  Here we get an instrumental version of the Leroy Anderson classic, Sleigh Ride.  Tex presents a very swinging arrangement that is far removed from the traditional arrangements you hear for Sleigh Ride.

Lester Lanin returns with a swinging version of Christmas Night In Harlem, a song most people know from Louis Armstrong.  Lester Lanin was the premier dance orchestra leader by the late 50’s.  This Christmas song is from 1959.

Tex Beneke returns, again from 1965, with a lush arrangement of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.  Tex takes the lead vocals on this, backed up by a chorus of female voices.  Tex Beneke has a unique tenor voice that gave the Glenn Miller Orchestra it’s best vocals.  This song features Glenn Miller type arrangements throughout.

What I love about collecting Christmas music is finding unique songs that only show up in one or two places.  The final song on this wonderful compilation of Big Band Christmas songs is one of those songs.  Popular duo of the radio era during the 40’s, Cathy & Elliot Lewis perform a song called Happy Holidays.  This is not the same Happy Holidays that future pop singers would cover.  With orchestrations by Ray Noble, the ‘song’ is really Cathy & Elliot Lewis having a romantic conversation about all the wonderfulness of the Christmas season.  Between the spoken passages is a choir adding texture and softness.  A one point a baritone voice sings God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen for one verse.  It sounds remarkably like Thurl Ravenscroft, but I haven’t found confirmation on that.  It’s quite long, especially for Christmas songs.  It times out at 6:15.  It’s from 1947.

As I mentioned earlier, this CD contains some of the best Big Band Christmas songs ever recorded.  Swinging numbers that are great to dance to.  (If you know how to dance like it’s 1937).  And unique Big Band Christmas songs you won’t find on the average Big Band Christmas compilation.  If you can find this CD, I highly recommend it.  There are only 13 songs on it, and there are a lot of 2-disc compilations that contain a lot more songs, but you won’t get too many duplicates of songs with this one in your average collection.

I give this CD :

****

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Big Band

Guy Lombardo and The Royal Canadians – Sing The Songs Of Christmas

/ Children's Choir

July 23, 2022

# 6

Guy Lombardo and The Royal Canadians
Sing The Songs Of Christmas
2007

(Originally released 1960 on Capitol)

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Sing The Songs Of Christmas originally released in 1960 on Capitol as SKAO-1443.

Sing The Songs Of Christmas original album art © 1960 Capitol Records, Inc.

This compilation (P) 2007 EMI Music Special Markets. Additional design © 2007 DRG Records Incorporated. Manufactured by EMI Music Special Markets.

# 24 – 1967 – Billboard Christmas

Genre : Children’s Choir

Guy Lombardo was an Italian bandleader from Ontario Canada.  His father was a performer and had his children take music lessons so as to accompany him in his live performances.  The children formed their own group while still in high school.  The Royal Canadians featured Lombardo brothers throughout most of its existence.  Having started in the 1920’s, they performed what was then called ‘sweet music’, as opposed to jazz, which was called swing.  Other band leaders of the time that played traditional dance music were Paul Whiteman, Ozzie Nelson and Lawrence Welk.

The Royal Canadians had their own unique sound.  A sound that never really changed throughout their career.  Guy Lombardo was adamant about staying with the tried and true formula that made them a success.  A strong woodwind section is the predominant sound you hear.  Lots of brass too.  The Royal Canadians were a big draw everywhere they played and sold over 100’s of millions of records.

This CD re-release was issued in 2007 and features original artwork on the cover and a copy of the original back cover artwork in the CD insert.  (Those are both pluses when the re-issue features original artwork).  The CD insert also lists the songs and features lyrics to them as well.  This album was originally marketed as a ‘sing-along’ with Guy Lombardo and The Royal Canadians.  It was recorded live at Town Hall with the children’s choir of St. Patrick’s Parish in Stoneham, Massachusetts in 1960, and features over 100 children’s voices.  The Royal Canadians performed there every year and when Guy Lombardo wanted to do another Christmas album in 1960, he was openly welcomed to record that album at St. Patrick’s.  The original LP contains 13 songs and the CD re-release includes 4 bonus tracks.

As common with a lot of Guy Lombardo albums, all the songs feature a spoken introduction of the song title followed by the music playing.  Also common to many Guy Lombardo recordings is the placement of a live audience behind the music; giving the listener the sense that they are right there in the ballroom watching the whole performance live.  True that this WAS recorded live, the crowd noise present on the recordings would not be there during the actual performance and is very similar to the crowd noises present on my other Guy Lombardo CDs.  These recording techniques were added in later during post production.  Personally, I prefer that they weren’t there.  They’re not fooling me.  Live albums are fine, but to reproduce a live feeling during post production is kind of cheesy to me.  Many critics would agree.  But Guy Lombardo had a style, and this was part of it.

The album opens with an extended introduction by Guy Lombardo.

The first song is It Came Upon A Midnight Clear and features Guy Lombardo’s long time male vocalist, Kenny Gardner taking the lead vocal while the 100 children voices sing behind him.

The second song, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing has a nice introduction with the orchestra before the voices begin.  Kenny Gardner and the children do a wonderful job with this arrangement.

The first half of the record is traditional Christmas hymns and the second half features traditional Christmas songs written in the 20th century.

The 8th song, Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer, has a very upbeat, vibrant tone to it.  Kenny Gardner opens it up and the children follow.  To me, it is one of the standout songs on here.

The rest of the album continues the fun with upbeat arrangements of traditional Christmas songs.

Track 12 opens with a slightly extended introduction by Guy Lombardo, thanking you for attending this Christmas concert before moving into a soulful rendition of Silent Night.

The original album ends with We Wish You A Merry Christmas, a 38 second exuberant Christmas Greeting!

The CD release artwork says it includes 2 bonus tracks, but there are 4 songs that were not included on the original LP.  I can only guess that at one time, other re-issues were released before this CD version and included 2 more songs recorded at St. Patrick’s.  Listings of official re-issues after 1960 are hard to come by.  I know there were some, because it was in 1967 that this LP charted on the Billboard Christmas charts.

The first of the bonus tracks features the Royal Canadians along with the children’s choir singing Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town.

The last song to feature the Children’s Choir of St. Patrick’s Parish is White Christmas.

The CD closes with 2 additional bonus tracks, neither of which feature the children’s choir nor were recorded at St. Patrick’s.  The first of these, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, is an instrumental by the Royal Canadians.

And what Guy Lombardo Christmas album wouldn’t be complete without his signature song, Auld Lang Syne.  This version of Auld Lang Syne is one of the best I have in my entire music collection.  I have quite a few.  Most are short, quick renditions, or are taken from radio broadcasts, but this is a great two minute version that doesn’t feature any vocals.

Guy Lombardo was about as big as it got in the 1930’s and 1940’s.  Having a Guy Lombardo Christmas CD in your collection is almost a right of passage; if not just for the song Auld Lang Syne, which always comes in handy on December 31st at 11:59.  If you like music of the 40’s, yes, you need some Guy Lombardo.  Now, this CD IS Guy Lombardo And The Royal Canadians at their best, but does feature a children’s choir.  And it was recorded in 1960.  So, technically not from the 1940’s, but the Royal Canadians sound never changed, so all of the Royal Canadians music sounds like the 1940’s.  I think the children’s choir gives this CD another place outside of regular Guy Lombardo music.

Most people will not be grabbing this one off the shelf too quickly when they start their Holiday music listening, but if you like children’s choirs, then this is a good one to have.  It’s vintage 1960’s Christmas children’s choir, absolutely right up there with Norman Luboff’s Children’s Choir (Look for that one later in this blogs future).

I give this CD :

***

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Children's Choir

Vince Guaraldi Trio – A Charlie Brown Christmas

/ Jazz

July 23, 2022

# 5

Vince Guaraldi Trio
A Charlie Brown Christmas
1988

(Originally released 1965 on Fantasy Records)

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(P) 1988, Fantasy, Inc. © 1950, 1952 United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

# 13 – 1987 – Billboard Christmas

Genre : Jazz

Vince Guaraldi had already established himself as an accomplished jazz pianist in the 50’s after having grown up around other jazz performers in his family.  He honed his skills in the bands of Cal Tjader and Woody Herman in the 1950’s.

In 1963, Vince Guaraldi was approached by Lee Mendelson to compose some music for a Peanuts documentary that was being produced.  Vince Guaraldi quickly agreed.  The music was produced and released.  The documentary was filmed but was not released.  But this formed a partnership between Vince Guaraldi and Lee Mendelson that would have lasting effects forever in the minds of children and adults alike for all time to come.

When it came time to produce A Charlie Brown Christmas for televised release, of course Vince Guaraldi was onboard.  In reality, the music was composed and recorded before the television special was drawn.  Charles Schultz drew the cartoon from inspiration from listening to the music.

The album did not chart on the Billboard charts until 1987, reaching as high as 13 on the Christmas chart.  The CD re-issue has continued to chart every year on both the Christmas charts and the Pop charts.  It was certified 5 times platinum in 2022.

The artwork on the CD is a little different from the original artwork on the LP.  Very similar; the Christmas tree is drawn differently, and some of the characters on the cover have had their images reversed.  But it is a very good and very close representation of the original.

The CD insert contains a list of musicians and a short endorsement of Vince Guaraldi.  The back of the insert lists the songs with writer credits.  The track listing is the same as the original release that contained 11 songs.  There is one bonus track included on the CD release starting in 1988 and more bonus tracks on releases starting in 2006.

The CD opens with O Tannenbaum.  A soulful rendition of the German version of O Christmas Tree.

The second track, a traditional Christmas hymn called What Child Is This, was recorded at the same time as the other songs, but did not appear in the TV special.

The 3rd track, My Little Drum, is one of 6 songs Guaraldi wrote for the soundtrack album.  It’s kind of not right to say that because as stated earlier, the songs were chosen and recorded before anything was drawn.  My Little Drum features the choral voices of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Children’s Choir of San Rafael, outside of San Francisco.  To me, the arrangement seems to be influenced by The Little Drummer Boy.  Throughout the song, the children’s voices maintain a monotonic cadence supplemented with a left hand piano bass chord, also monotonic.

The 4th track features Linus And Lucy.  Everyone knows this song!  And everyone knows from where they know this song.  This has to be one of the most popular Christmas songs ever written.  All over the world, people know this as the song that plays over the classic dance scene in the special.  Written in 1963 as the overall theme for the original Peanuts documentary that never aired, it was a defining song of what would influence Vince Guaraldi throughout the recording of the Christmas special album.

Linus And Lucy is followed by an instrumental version of the TV special’s opening sequence, Christmas Time Is Here.  A more haunting version than the one with vocals, this is a fantastic contrast to the song that played right before it.

Following the instrumental version of Christmas Time Is Here, is the vocal performance.  Once again featuring the voices of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Children’s Choir of San Rafael.  This is the OTHER song everybody knows, and where they know it from.

If all that was not enough, Skating plays next.  Another classic from the TV special.  A Vince Guaraldi original, it was written early on in the beginning of the recordings.  Playing over the scene with Lucy and Snoopy skating, you can just vision the scene as the song plays.

The 8th track follows.  Hark! The Herald Angels Sing closes out the TV special.  The children have discovered the true meaning of Christmas and gather around Snoopy’s doghouse and in unison sing this perfect carol.

Christmas Is Coming is another original number.  This should be familiar to everyone.  A longer, jazzier piece, the first part and the middle part is used also for dance scenes of the special.

If my recollection serves me right, the song Fur Elise is the song Schroeder is playing when Lucy approaches him to inquire if he knows how to play Jingle Bells.  Not a Christmas song, but a wonderful inclusion from the special.

The original album closes with The Christmas Song, the classic written by Mel Torme and Robert Wells.  This song was not included in the TV special.

The CD version from 1988, which is the one I have in my collection, features one bonus track.  Purposely titled Greensleeves, this version of What Child Is This is a longer version than appears on track 2.

I’m telling you, there is not a bad song on here!  THIS IS A MUST HAVE FOR ALL CHRISTMAS COLLECTIONS.  You should have this, then you can entertain your friends, your family and even yourself with classic Christmas songs that will take you back to childhood.  That being said, I think most people enjoy some of the songs a lot, and others they would probably pass on.  This may not be a Christmas CD that you put on and listen straight through, but it contains classics that need to be in every collection.

Vince Guaraldi died of a sudden heart attack in 1976 at 47 years of age.  Otherwise, there would have been much more ‘Charlie Brown’ music to have come from him.

I give this CD :

*****

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Jazz

Chuck Wagon Gang – Christmas With The Chuck Wagon Gang

/ Sacred

July 23, 2022

# 4

Chuck Wagon Gang
Christmas With The Chuck Wagon Gang
1994

(Originally released 1954 as Joy To The World on Columbia Records)

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©1994 Sony Music Entertainment Inc./ Sony Music Special Products Manufactured by Columbia Records/”Columbia” & “Sony” Reg. U.S. Patent & TM Office/Marca Registrada Previously released as #CK 57182

Genre : Sacred

This should be a treat for many of you all!  If you like to collect Christmas music, and you like to collect vintage Christmas music, this is one for you.  Now, in all fairness, it is “old timey, sacred” music.  Originally recorded and released in 1954 as Joy To The World by the Chuck Wagon Gang; a group that was and still is known for performing sacred music.  The Chuck Wagon Gang, which is still active today and tours regularly, is still a family group.  They started in the mid 30’s as a family group led by “Dad” Carter, (no relation to The Carter Family) and 3 of his children.  They were very popular and well known in the country music circles.  They signed to Columbia Records early in their career and set a record for being with the label for 39 years.  At one point, they were Columbia Records best-selling artists!

Their music is what I classify as Original Country, accompanied only by acoustic guitar.  Their song selection is Sacred.  Christian hymns, traditional mountain gospel and similar.  I like it!  It’s vintage Country Christmas music.

So, on to the CD.  As stated earlier, this was originally released as Joy To The World in 1954 with 8 songs.  It was re-issued in 1965 as Christmas With The Chuck Wagon Gang, with 2 additional songs.  This CD is a re-release of the 1965 LP.

The CD opens with Joy To The World, with terrific harmonies layered over a slow, temporal acoustic guitar.  If you listen closely, you can clearly hear each of the four voices singing slightly different harmonies.

Silent Night is performed soulfully with acoustic guitar.  This music has a wonderful gospel feel to it.  Even in their Christmas songs, The Chuck Wagon Gang has a gospel sound.

The First Noel is one of my favorites of the whole CD.  A wonderful rendition of a classic Christian hymn.

The 5th track is a non-traditional Christmas hymn, In The Garden.  It is well known as a traditional sacred song.  It is one of two songs that did not appear on the original LP, but were included in the first re-issue in 1965.  I like that they included it on their Christmas LP.  It may not be a true Christmas hymn, but when you spend time listening to Christmas hymns, a lot of sacred songs fit in really well.

The 7th song, O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles), is one of the stand out selections throughout the whole CD.  I’m not exactly sure as to what makes this so special.  It’s a straight ahead traditional everything; song selection, musical arrangement, vocal arrangement; but it’s very soulful and just the perfect song to play on Christmas morning.

The rest of the CD is filled with similar, acoustic guitar led, traditional Christmas hymns performed with conviction and compassion.

The CD closes out with the other song from the 1965 re-issue, In The Sweet Forever.  Also, a non-traditional Christmas hymn, it is a great way to finish this CD.  It presents itself much more upbeat than the other selections presented here, the harmonies are more call and response structured.  Classic gospel music from the mid 60’s.

As I’ve said throughout this blog, one of my goals is to collect as much of the oldest Christmas music as I can.  This CD is technically from 1954, performed by a group that started in 1935 and whose sound did not change much in 20 years.  So, you get a Christmas CD with a very old-time Country sound.

That being said, this CD will not appeal to most listeners today.  Yes, it is authentic; yes, it comes across as real; performed by a family gospel group that was dedicated to professing their faith.  The instrumentation is bare; solo acoustic guitar.  If you like Original Country, circa 1930’s music, and you like to collect Christmas music, you definitely need to have this in your collection.  Otherwise, keep this one on the shelf during Christmas parties.  Best saved for family times, a quiet morning or afternoon on Christmas day, sitting by the window watching the snow fall.

I give this CD :

***

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Sacred

Tony Bennett – Snowfall – The Christmas Album

/ Pop Vocals

July 22, 2022

# 3

Tony Bennett
Snowfall – The Christmas Album
1994

(Originally released 1968 on Columbia)

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© 1994 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. / Originally Recorded 1968 & Released 1994. Originally Released 1968 Sony Music Entertainment Inc./”Columbia” Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. Marca Registrada.

# 10 – 1968 – Billboard Christmas

Genre : Pop Vocals

What can I say?  It’s Tony Bennett!  This is Tony’s first and only Christmas album produced during the first part of his career.  Of course, Tony Bennett would come out of the shadows in the 90’s and 2000’s to restart a career that has defied anything that had come before.  Afterall, Tony is in the Guinness Book of Records for being the oldest person to release an album of new material.

Anthony Dominick Benedetto was born in Queens, New York in 1926.  Growing up poor and losing his father at age 10, Tony was surrounded by Italian immigrant family members that helped him get a start in the music business.  Starting to perform at 13, he set upon his desire to be a professional singer.  Having to drop out of school to help support his family, Tony Bennett was then drafted into the Army towards the end of the war.

After the war, he resumed his singing career, getting his first recording contract in 1950 at age 24.  His first few singles were #1 hits, and his career was off to a good start.  Tony Bennett quickly became a voice to contend with amongst the likes of already established singers like Perry Como, Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby.

Tony Bennett released many albums on Columbia throughout the 50’s and 60’s.  He focused more on jazz arrangements rather than straight ahead pop arrangements.  His biggest hit “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was released in 1962.

During the British Invasion of 1964, Tony found it more difficult to attain hits and his career was starting to fade.  Still, he released many albums throughout the 60’s on the Columbia Label.

When you look at Tony’s career along with the other standard singers of the day, he differentiated himself from the others through his jazz stylings.  His Christmas album, Snowfall – The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, is no different.  Switching musical directors from Ralph Sharon in 1965, this Christmas LP features the orchestrations of Robert Farnon.

The cover of this CD re-issue is different than the original LP.  Original artwork features a watercolor of Tony Bennett from the left side that takes up the whole image with a smaller watercolor of Tony looking up to the falling snow placed at the bottom.  The current artwork has been used on CD re-issues since the start of this one from 1994.

The original album features 10 tracks, and this CD has one bonus track.  The CD insert is very good!  Included in a 3-part fold out, are track listings with writers and publishers.  Original orchestra and choir members are listed by name, listed by instrument.  You don’t find that too often on a CD re-issue of something that was originally released in 1968.  Also included are supervisors, engineers, producers, etc.  So, I have to give the artwork and information guys kudos for their efforts.  The only information missing is recording dates.

Comprised of Christmas standards, the album opens with My Favorite Things, from “The Sound Of Music”.  Although not really a Christmas song by lyrical content, by Tony Bennett including it on his Christmas album, he made it so.  It presents a strong opening for this album.

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) features a more traditional, lush arrangement with Tony giving it a classic treatment.  This is one of 4 songs on the album that were recorded in London England.

It always seems that some songs are more suited to one singer than another, and initially I thought Tony Bennett singing Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town would not be a song that would suit his vocal stylings as well as other performers, but here he does a great job of communicating the child-like sentiments that the song evokes. Even allowing himself to chuckle child-like while delivering the lush, big band arrangement.

A medley of Christmas songs follows with lush orchestrations and a vocal choir that sounds eerily like the Percy Faith Singers.  The CD liner notes include a list of the choir personnel but does not name them as the Percy Faith Singers and I cannot find any verification on that, but they do have that Percy Faith sound.

The 5th track features a song titled Christmasland, written by Dennis & Brian Farnon, Robert Farnon’s brothers who were also orchestra leaders.  I believe this song was written specifically for this album for it doesn’t show up on any of my other Christmas CDs.

The 6th song, a medley of I Love The Winter Weather / I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm is another song recorded in London and one of the stand out selections on this LP.  The arrangement combines the two songs so that the opening selection also closes the song.  A very nice arrangement and one of my personal favorites of this CD.

White Christmas is probably one of Tony Bennett’s more popular Christmas songs, appearing on many Christmas compilation CDs.  It features a big band arrangement over traditional orchestral arrangements.

The final song on the CD is the title track, Snowfall.  The song was originally the opening track on the LP and why it was moved to the end of the re-release is anybody’s guess.  The CD’s track order is the same as the original album, except for this one change.  Originally written as an instrumental by Claude Thornhill, lyrics were added later by Claude Thornhill’s wife Ruth. 

Once again, in my opinion, some songs are performed better by other artists, and here, Snowfall, which traditionally has a very lush arrangement, is better suited to a softer, female voice.  I think Doris Day did the best job with the vocals than anyone else.  Not to say Tony Bennett doesn’t do a good job here, he does.  He gives it his signature style and delivers one of the softer arrangements of this LP.

The CD release includes one bonus track, the song I’ll Be Home For Christmas, performed live on MTV’s The Jon Stewart Show from 1994.  This was when Tony Bennett’s career saw a resurgence among younger listeners who had never heard of him before.

I like Tony Bennett.  He has a unique voice, and he prefers more jazzier arrangements of the standards than other singers such as Perry Como, Andy Williams or Bing Crosby.  He does a great job here with his first Christmas offering.  (Tony Bennett would produce 2 more Christmas CDs later, one in 2002 with the London Symphony Orchestra and another in 2008 with the Count Basie Big Band.  Look for those sometime later in this blog’s future).

As for me, Tony Bennett is one of the best singers of Pop Standards and I find his Christmas selections very welcoming during the Christmas season.

I give this CD :

*****

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Pop Vocals

Mitch Miller And The Gang – Holiday Sing Along With Mitch

/ Pop Vocals

July 17, 2022

# 2

Mitch Miller And The Gang
Holiday Sing Along With Mitch
1999

(Originally released 1961 on Columbia Records)

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© 1999 Sony Music Entertainment Inc./Originally released 1958, 1959, 1961, (P) 1999 Sony Music Entertainment Inc./Manufactured by Columbia Records/”Columbia,” “Legacy” Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. Marca Registrada.

#1 – 1961 – Billboard Pop Albums

Genre : Pop Vocals

Mitch Miller was a prolific arranger, producer and record executive. Simultaneously, he was a top executive at Columbia Records, produced records for them featuring his choral group The Gang and had his own TV show on NBC. 

Mitch Miller was born in Rochester, NY on the 4th of July in 1911.  After high school and college, he moved to New York and played in various music groups throughout the 40’s.  He spent most of his time in orchestras as opposed to big bands which were also very popular at the time.  Throughout most of his career he was known as more of a producer, but with his musical knowledge, he entered the record business as an A&R man in the late 40’s.  An A&R man is the person that goes out looking for talent and is responsible for signing an artist to the record label.  Some guys lead orchestras that are then discovered by A&R men who sign them to a record deal.  Mitch Miller did it all.

After arriving at Columbia Records in 1950, he was able to start the careers of some of the biggest artists of the 50’s; Percy Faith, Ray Conniff, Johnnie Ray and Frankie Laine, while also working with Columbia’s biggest female stars, Doris Day, Jo Stafford and Dinah Shore.  If they were on Columbia in the 50’s and 60’s, Mitch Miller was there.

Mitch Miller also produced his own records.  Starting in 1950, he put together a male chorus and named them The Gang.  Mitch Miller arranged the music with an orchestra he put together and arranged the voices in the choir.  They have what I would describe as a collegiate sound.  Perhaps that’s because it was comprised of only males, but also, all voices sing at the same time singing the same melodies.  Not like layered voices and vocal arrangements found in other choirs.  This gave The Gang it’s own unique sound.  And everything was produced in a manner that allowed listeners at home to join in.  Hence the term ‘Sing–Along’ used throughout his album releases.

In 1961, he was presented with his own TV show on NBC, called…Sing Along With Mitch.  It was basically the records he was known for producing, being presented on TV for viewers at home to see the choir in action and …Sing Along With Mitch!  They even scrolled the lyrics at the bottom of the screen to make it that much easier.  (This is not to be confused with the sing along cartoons with the bouncing ball that were also popular in the 1960’s).

Difficult to imagine here in the 21st century, but Mitch Miller And The Gang were very big on record and on TV during their time.

Mitch Miller – Wikipedia

Holiday Sing Along With Mitch is the second Christmas album Mitch Miller produced with The Gang.  The first, Christmas Sing–Along With Mitch was released in 1958.  (Look for it sometime later in this blog’s future).

Released in 1961, it easily went to #1 on the Billboard Pop charts.  It charted every year from 1961 to 1968, appearing on the Christmas charts for the first time in 1963 and usually charting in the Top 20.

This CD, released in 1999 on Sony Music Entertainment Inc., includes original art work on the cover.  The original LP features 13 songs and the CD re-issue includes 3 bonus tracks, 2 from his first Christmas album in 1958 and one from a Columbia compilation LP released in 1959.  The artwork includes a 6 page booklet with the song titles and lyrics to all the songs, including the bonus tracks.

All songs are popular Christmas standards as opposed to traditional Christian hymns.  Quite a few singles were released, the first being Must Be Santa with a song called Christmas Spirit on the B-side in 1960 and again in 1961 with a song called Be A Santa on the B-side.  Neither of these B-side songs appeared on Mitch’s Christmas albums. (Bummer!)  As said, a total of 6 singles were released from this LP, but none charted on the Billboard Hot 100 nor the Christmas charts.

The album begins with Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town, and as stated earlier, goes through all the classic Christmas songs known at that time.  All the favorites are here.  Frosty The Snowman, Sleigh Ride, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Twelve Days Of Christmas, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, Jingle Bells and 9 more.  Most of the musical arrangements are very similar and feature an organ / accordion taking front stage throughout.  It was the Mitch Miller sound.

Some of the standout selections, and my favorites, include Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town, Frosty The Snowman, The Twelve Days Of Christmas and Must Be Santa, with Sleigh Ride being one of the best selections on the whole album – classic 60’s Christmas stuff here.

The album does tire easily if you’re not a big Mitch Miller fan.  I like it because, well, I love the classic Christmas albums of the Classic Christmas Era, and this is one of them.  It definitely evokes the Christmases of the late 50’s and early 60’s.  Fun music for fun times getting together with all your friends for a little eggnog and singing Christmas songs around the fireplace.  Afterall, this was 1961.

2 of the 3 bonus tracks, Deck The Halls and Silent Night (both from the first Christmas LP in 1958) feature female voices in the choir.  The third, Auld Lang Syne, is from the 1959 album Season’s Greetings, a Columbia Records compilation album featuring most of the Columbia recording stars of the day.

Mitch Miller was regarded highly throughout the music industry.  He helped many recording artists reach their greatest successes and achieved his own greatness with well over 40 albums throughout his career.  He released 2 Christmas albums during that time, this is the second and last one released.

I will recommend this CD reissue if you want to have an inclusive collection of Classic Christmas albums from the Classic Christmas Era.  But most people will be satisfied with the occasional Mitch Miller And The Gang songs that appear on CD compilation releases of 1950’s and 60’s Christmas pop standards.

I give this CD

*** ½*

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Pop Vocals