Novelty

Comedy For Christmas?  Why not.  This is not one of those crude, X-rated Christmas compilations.  Rather it is a good, albeit small, collection of Novelty Christmas records released throughout the Classic Christmas Era.  All songs saw national release and 4 charted on Billboard’s Singles chart.

The cover features a picture of a snowman dressed as a stand-up comedian standing in front of a microphone.  To the right of the picture is a list of artists and songs included. The artwork on the back has the CD title and a numerical track listing.

The cover opens on a single fold-out.  There is good information included.  A numerical track listing with writer and arranger credits, production notes and publishing years are included and take up both sides of the inside cover.  You usually don’t see this kind of detail included in low budget Christmas compilations.  The back of the cover is basically blank red with a small PolyGram Records copywrite at the bottom.

Most of the songs on here are entertaining but not what someone thinks of when they think of Christmas music.  The CD begins with The Twelve Gifts Of Christmas.  It is a humorous take on The Twelve Days Of Christmas and was recorded in 1963 by Allan Sherman.  It went to number 5 on Billboard’s Christmas chart that year.

Louis Armstrong’s ‘Zat You Santa Claus? is one that shows up on a lot of Swing and Big Band Christmas compilations and may be familiar to many.  Louis Armstrong’s band is The Commanders, and this was recorded in 1953.  It is the oldest song on this compilation.

The third song is Nuttin’ For Christmas from 1955 and features 6-year-old Barry Gordon with Art Mooney & his Orchestra.  It went as high as number 6 on Billboard’s Singles chart that year.  Other artists such as Stan Freberg and Spike Jones would go on to do cover versions of it as well.  The version on this CD is the one that charted the highest.

Ray Stevens is represented here with his original composition, Santa Claus Is Watching You, from 1962.  It placed # 45 on Billboard’s Singles chart.

The same guy that had the smash hit The Monster Mash in 1962, Bobby “Boris” Pickett, quickly followed that with Monster’s Holiday just in time for the Christmas season.  It sounds very much like The Monster Mash but with different lyrics.

Of the other songs included, not all may be suitable for a general mix of friends and family that spans generations.  Older folks may not appreciate the adult humor in Santa Doesn’t Cop Out On Dope, by Martin Mull from 1977.

One of the funniest ones included here is Bob & Doug McKenzie, Twelve Days Of Christmas.  If you were a fan of SCTV in the 1980’s you will appreciate this very much.

There was a comedy duo in the 50’s and early 60’s by the name of Mike Nichols & Elaine May.  Their records were comprised of honest conversations between a man and a woman that would eventually break down into a neurotic, hysterical rant of humorous proportions.  Their contribution to this Comedy For Christmas compilation is Merry Christmas, Doctor, from 1962.  I find it hilarious.

These are all novelty Christmas records.  Although one or two may have adult themes, there is ABSOLUTELY NO foul language to be found.  These are all good, clean fun Christmas songs.  Only ‘Zat You Santa Claus? and Nuttin’ For Christmas are in my top 500 Classic Christmas Recordings.  They are more legitimate Christmas releases while the others were and are intended for humor only.

The average person would not go out of their way to add this CD to their Christmas music collection.  I think most people are looking for traditional Christmas songs for their Christmas music collections.  Those familiar with this blog know that I collect all kinds of Christmas music.  This is one of those ‘other kinds’.  It’s hard to imagine a time when someone would say, “Hey, let’s put on that funny Christmas CD that is less than 30 minutes long”.  If you enjoy an eclectic Christmas music collection, you should include some novelty Christmas selections in it, but there are similar releases that contain a lot more songs.  Look for those.  But beware, the Bob Rivers’ collections are not like this.  They are more adult than what is found here.

I give this CD :

***1/2*