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VA – Christmas Carousel

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October 12, 2022

# 18

VA – Christmas Carousel
1998

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©1998 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. / (P) 1972, 1974, 1996 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. Manufactured By Sony Music Special Products. / “Sony” Reg. U.S. Patent & TM Office Marca Registrada

Genre : Pop Vocals

The artwork on this CD is very typical of budget Christmas compilations.  The front cover is pleasing with yellow Christmas trees all aglow on a dark blue background.  A list of the songs included wrap around the edge of the CD in a clockwise order.   The back cover artwork features a numerical track listing, performing artists and the songs writers under the titles.  Time signatures follow the writer credits.  And a few songs list the orchestra leaders.

The front cover opens into a two page, single-fold layout.  The back of the layout is the exact same as the back of the CD.  No new information included.  It would have been nice to have recording dates listed in one of these two places.  The cover opens up to, uh, well… nothing.  Blank on both sides.  Bummer.  But here again, not unusual for budget Christmas CD’s.

Let me start off with what’s best about this compilation CD of Christmas music.  It is really good.  It features original Christmas songs by some of the best Pop singers of the 60’s and 70’s.  Andy Williams, Robert Goulet / Carol Lawrence, Jim Nabors and Julie Andrews.  It also features some great groups and singers that you may not find in your own Christmas collection.  The Dustin Tracy Singers, John Davidson, Vikki Carr and Mike Douglas.  (Yes, THAT Mike Douglas.  I have both of his Christmas albums; from 1968 and 1979.  Look for reviews of those in this blog’s future).

This CD features traditional Christmas hymns and secular Christmas songs everyone will be familiar with, albeit maybe not by these singers.

One of my favorite stand out songs on here is the first one, Deck The Halls by the Dustin Tracy Singers.  People familiar with this blog will already know how much I enjoy harmony groups from the 60’s and 70’s singing Christmas songs.  The Dustin Tracy Singers, Ray Conniff Singers, Singers Unlimited and Mike Sammes Singers are just a few.

Another favorite is The First Noel by Mike Douglas with Frank Hunter & his Orchestra from Mike’s 1967 Christmas album, My Kind Of Christmas.  Believe it or not, as great as a talk show host as he was, rivaled only by Johnny Carson, he was an awesome tenor.  An excellent singer!

Another great tenor was John Davidson.  Presented here is John singing O Come All Ye Faithful from his 1969 Christmas album, My Christmas Favorites.

When people ask me, “With so many Christmas songs, what’s your favorite Christmas song?”, I almost always respond with What Child Is This? by Vikki Carr.  It’s on here as well.  It is the most beautiful, soulful and somber rendition of this song that I’ve heard.  It’s not just Vikki’s vocals, but the instrumentation that accompanies it that makes it so special to me.  You sit quietly by the window on Christmas Eve, with the Christmas tree filling the room with its lights and tinsel, and you think of what this night means to you while listening to Vikki Carr singing What Child Is This? and see if tears don’t come to your eyes.  (It’s doing it to me right now while I type this).

Now, the bad stuff about this CD.  There really is only one thing wrong with this CD.  And that is, there are only 10 songs.  It’s not uncommon for the many, many Christmas compilations that are released every year to feature only 10 – 12 songs, but since most songs on here are great to listen to during the Christmas season, and because they did such a great job of song selection, doubling the number of songs would have certainly doubled the pleasure.

This Christmas compilation features Christmas songs from the last decade of the classic Christmas era.  These are not contemporary arrangements you find in today’s collections.  There are no synthesizers or wailing electric guitars or heavy bass lines.  These were done at a time when full orchestras performed the songs and singers came in and gave it their best.

If you’re looking for budget Christmas CDs to get your collection started, skip over this one and get one that features the same kind of artists but has more songs.  There are many that do.  If you are given a copy of this as a gift or see it at a yard sale, cherish it.  Put it in your collection and listen to it during the Holidays.  You won’t be disappointed.

I do have to take points off for only having 10 songs and very minimal information included in the notes, so

I give this CD :

**1/2*

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Ray Charles – The Spirit Of Christmas

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October 10, 2022

# 15

Ray Charles
The Spirit Of Christmas
1997

(Originally released 1985 on Columbia)

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(P) 1985 Ray Charles Enterprises (except “Baby It’s Cold Outside”).  All original recordings licensed from Ray Charles Enterprises. This Reissue/Compilation (P) & © 1997 Rhino Entertainment Company.

# 42 – 1985 – Billboard Country

Genre : Pop Vocals

Ray Charles was born in 1930 in Albany, Georgia, and became blind during childhood.  Ray developed an interest in music at school.  Ray Charles’ main contribution to popular music is simply, Ray Charles invented Soul music.  His combination of Gospel rhythms and secular lyrics led to the creation of Soul music in the mid-fifties. 

After achieving success in the early days of Rock & Roll, he started to put secular lyrics to Gospel rhythms and Soul music was born.  After years at Atlantic Records, Ray jumped ship to ABC / Paramount.  They offered him more control and had more money than Atlantic Records, so they were able to spend more money promoting him.

In 1962, Ray Charles released the album Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music in which he covered Country standards and exposed Country music to people who never really listened to it before.  Ray would continue to feature Country influences in his music for the rest of his career.

This is Ray Charles’ first Christmas album, originally released in 1985.  The cover on the CD reissue is the same as was used for the original 1985 release.  The artwork on the back of the CD is a blown-up picture from the original album back cover artwork but in shades of dark gray and features a numerical track listing.

The CD artwork folds out to a 2-part fold out that features the original back cover artwork just as it did on the back of the 1985 album.  Inside the fold out lists the original Columbia catalog number, production and recording location.  Included on the left side is a numerical track listing with writers and arranger notes.  That’s always a plus.  On the right side lists the musicians and reissue notes. Another plus.

Also included is a personal note from Torrie Dorrell from Rhino Records Children’s Division thanking all her staff that produce children’s music for Rhino Records Children’s Division.  On the far-right bar of the inside fold out is an information panel promoting the charity The Kids Are Alright?

Overall, the album features Ray on electric piano aided by a strong brass section.  The average listener will be familiar with about half the songs included.  The others are more obscure, including 4 that I think were written for this album specifically.   They are That Spirit Of Christmas, All I Want For Christmas (a different song than the one made famous by Mariah Carey), Christmas In My Heart and Christmas Time. 

Most of the songs, familiar and unfamiliar, have the Ray Charles flavor added, whether that be a faster tempo or more syncopated delivery of the lyrics.  With the brass instruments taking a front seat on most songs, the album has a very jazzy feel to it.

One of the more unusual arrangements on here is the first song, What Child Is This.  It starts off with a traditional arrangement and then suddenly changes the tempo into a very jazzy, horn driven song.

My personal favorite is the title song, That Spirit Of Christmas.  This song was prominently featured in the Chevy Chase blockbuster National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and just hearing the song, anyone familiar with the movie, will immediately envision Chevy Chase stuck in the attic watching old family movies of his past Christmases.

Included as a bonus track on the CD reissue is Baby It’s Cold Outside, a duet Ray did with Betty Carter in 1961.

I like Ray Charles.  He was a phenomenal entertainer who overcame many hardships and obstacles in his life and changed music forever with his soulful jazzy take on familiar songs.  With that being said, if you’re looking for a Christmas CD that will please a house full of friends and family, this may not be it. 

As I said earlier, this CD features a few songs most people will not be familiar with and those that they are familiar with do not stick to the original arrangements and feature a jazzy feel to them with a lot of brass.  This CD mixes in well with an eclectic playlist that features traditional Christmas songs along with more contemporary versions of Christmas standards.

But like I said, I like Ray Charles and this album features one of my favorite Christmas songs, That Spirit Of Christmas.

I give this CD :

*** ½ *

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Engelbert Humperdink – A Merry Christmas With Engelbert Humperdink

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July 26, 2022

# 12

Engelbert Humperdink
A Merry Christmas With Engelbert Humperdink
(Unknown)

(Originally released 1980 on Epic)

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(P) 1980 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. Manufactured By Sony Music Special Products/ “Sony” Reg. U.S. Patent & TM Office Marca Registrada 

Previously released as Epic Records #JE 36765

Genre : Pop Vocals

Engelbert Humperdink was born Arnold George Dorsey in 1936 in India.  His family moved back to England after WW II.  He has recorded under the names Arnold Dorsey, Gerry Dorsey and in 1965, he changed his name to Engelbert Humperdink, the same name as the German opera composer from the 1800’s.

He did not have much success recording under the name Gerry Dorsey, and taking the advice of his new manager, he changed his name.  Starting in 1967, the hits started flowing.  His first, Release Me, from 1967, is the song most people know him for.

This is Engelbert’s second Christmas album.  The first was Christmas Tyme, released in 1977.  A Merry Christmas With Engelbert Humperdink was originally released in 1980.  It is unknown when this CD version was released.

The cover artwork has not really changed with this re-release, except for the image that appears on the CD takes up the whole album front on the cover from 1980.  The CD insert is a single fold out, but there is no inside information. Bummer.  The back of the fold out lists the artist and album title followed by a numerical track listing with time signatures.  Below are producer credits, production credits and release information typical of all recordings.  The artwork on the back of the CD is the same as the back of the insert.

There are 10 songs included here, the same as the original release from 1980.  There are no bonus tracks; and the track order has been kept the same as the original release.

Even though there are only 10 songs on here, this is a pretty good Christmas CD.  I think Engelbert Humperdink has a terrific voice and his record sales in the 70’s prove that many other people thought so too.  Out of the 10 songs on the CD, 4 are in my Top 500 Classic Christmas Recordings.

The orchestrations on all songs are by Jimmie Haskell & his Orchestra.

The CD begins with O Come All Ye Faithful, a wonderful Christian hymn originally composed by John Francis Wade and translated into English by Frederick Oakeley.  This is a soulful, endearing version of this old carol.

Track 2 is Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.  A cheery rendition of this Christmas classic.  All songs on this CD feature a pleasing chorus providing background harmonies.  I can find no information on who the choir is, but they sound terrific.  This is one of the better songs on this release, and probably familiar to many of you.

The newer Christmas classic, Blue Christmas, is performed soulfully, and there is that great chorus again!

There are 5 Christian hymns on this CD, and Away In A Manger, the fourth track, is one of them.  The song opens with a beautiful, light piano solo that features wonderfully throughout.

O Little Town Of Bethlehem begins with the chorus declaring “Bethlehem”, then moves into a quiet interpretation of this Christian hymn.  Another one that is in my Top 500.

The 6th track is the only medley featured here.  The music doesn’t stop between songs, so this was recorded as a 3-song medley.  The first of the three, We Three Kings Of Orient Are, begins with a brass introduction that plays throughout.  Trilogy, as it’s called in the track listings, takes a softer turn with The First Noel.  Silent Night finishes the medley off.

The 7th song, the Christmas classic, Winter Wonderland, has a slightly Country flavor to it.  I say that because of the style of the lead guitar.  A very popular Engelbert Humperdink Christmas song, you will still hear it played on the radio during the holiday season.

Mary’s Boy Child is one of my favorite modern Christmas hymns.  Here Engelbert, backed up by the choir, does a terrific job.

Oh my….the 9th song.  God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.  It has such a wonderful a cappella intro, chorus only, singing the first stanza.  One of the best arrangements of this song I have ever heard.

The CD closes with what must be my most favorite modern hymn, The Lord’s Prayer.  When I think of this song, I think of Andy Williams, who covered it on his 1974 Christmas album, Christmas Present.  Here Engelbert Humperdink does a fantastic job of delivering a heartfelt rendition, backed by the chorus, eventually turning into a loud crescendo of instruments and voices.

I think the orchestra leader, Jimmie Haskell, has done a terrific job of using modern instruments along with a traditional orchestra to give the music a modern flavor.  You can tell it’s not 1954, and all the instruments play together beautifully.

As I stated in the opening remarks, this is a great Christmas CD to have in your collection.  If you think you might like Engelbert Humperdink singing Christmas carols, then I would recommend this Christmas CD.  His first, from 1977, (just 3 years prior to this one), features 4 medleys that contain many carols each, out of 10 songs total.  That means you’re getting many Christmas songs, but just 1-minute versions of each.  Here, you only get 10 songs, but you get 10, 3 minute + Christmas standards.  Go for this one instead.

Engelbert Humperdink does a really good job on all songs.  The orchestrations are traditional arrangements, so you’ll be familiar with all those, and the unknown chorus puts on the finishing touches to produce a short but sweet Christmas CD.

I give this CD :

***1/2*

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VA – On The First Day Of Christmas

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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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Tony Bennett – Snowfall – The Christmas Album

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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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Mitch Miller And The Gang – Holiday Sing Along With Mitch

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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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Harry Simeone Chorale – The Little Drummer Boy

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July 15, 2022

# 1

Harry Simeone Chorale
The Little Drummer Boy
1988

(Originally released 1959 as Sing We Now Of Christmas on 20th Fox)

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(P)©1978 PolyGram Records, Inc.

Manufactured and Marketed by PolyGram Records, Inc.

# 1 – 1964 – Billboard Christmas

Genre : Pop Vocals

Harry Simeone was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1910.  Aspiring to be a concert pianist, and after attending Juilliard, his first big job came as an arranger for Fred Waring.  Later on, he and his wife moved to Hollywood and Harry started producing movie music for Paramount Pictures, and later radio and TV for NBC.

In 1958, Harry Simeone was approached by Twentieth-Century Fox Records to record a Christmas album.  This is THAT album. 

Originally released as a two-record set, under the title “Sing We Now Of Christmas / Merry Christmas Carols With Organ & Chimes” in 1959, this album has been re-released many times throughout the years; 1959 (as a single disc LP), 1963, 1966, 1973, 1978, 1981 and 1988.  All of the re-releases feature only the first LP of the two-record set, retaining the original track order.

Starting with the first reissue in 1963, the title was changed to “The Little Drummer Boy / A Christmas Festival”.  The cover art on the CD version first appeared on an LP in 1978, and the album first appeared on CD in 1988, the year of this copy.  I also have original copies of the LPs from 1959 and 1963.

The Harry Simeone Chorale released albums of popular songs, Broadway tunes and sacred songs as well as Christmas records.  This is the first of their Christmas releases.  They released 5 Christmas albums between 1959 and 1980.  (I know I have the one from 1963, The Wonderful Songs Of Christmas.  Look for it sometime later in this blog’s future).

This album is composed primarily of medleys.  7 of the 10 tracks are medleys.  The orchestrations are beautiful and lush.  Full symphony.  The Harry Simeone Chorale comprises 25 adult mixed chorus singers featuring great spoken parts by an unknown baritone and an unknown soprano.  I’ve looked at the artwork on my CD, and the LPs I have, and there is no information as to who the soloists are.

I like the traditional approach of the orchestral arrangements and the voice arrangements as well.  As choral groups go, The Harry Simeone Chorale is one of the great ones, the kind of choral group that set the standard for future choral groups to follow.

The CD’s track order is exactly as the original LP release, which I love.  When I collect CD’s to add to my collection, it’s always a bonus to get the original artwork, and the original track order.  The CD’s artwork contains a single fold over with the track listing on the left side and a small endorsement on the right.

We start off with the title track Sing We Now Of Christmas, as the first song of a 5-song medley.  I don’t think the songs in the medleys are recorded in one recording session.  They have their own start and finish.  So, songs of about 1 to 1 ½ minutes, pushed together to make the medley.  Not a negative here.  Everything blends together very well.  The original LP, and this CD, contain 31 beautiful choral hymns familiar to most people. 

The second track, a great handclapping ‘revival’ arrangement, Go Tell It On The Mountain, is a standout track featuring the lead baritone.

As I stated earlier, most of the productions are BIG.  25 male and female voices tracking over the top of big, grandiose symphonic arrangements.  Going by his bio I’ve read, I think Harry Simeone would have done the musical arrangements himself in addition to the choral arrangements.

Tracks 3, 4 and 5 are all medleys of Christian hymns.

Track 6, O’Holy Night has always been one of my favorite Christmas hymns.  A large vocal introduction followed by a fantastic rendition by our featured soprano while an orchestra that features brass horns that comes in for the big finish.

The 7th track, is The Little Drummer Boy.  With the classic arrangement, heard for the first time here, the song The Little Drummer Boy went on to make this LP a landmark album during the classic Christmas music era.  The song is mainly a cappella with some bells for accent.

A classic in all terms, so great a song that Rankin/Bass made a TV show of it in 1968 that still plays every year at Christmas.  The Little Drummer Boy, written by Katherine K. Davis and Henri Onorati with additional writing credit to Harry Simeone, was released as a single in 1958 with Die Lorelei as the B-side, a song from the 2nd disc included in the original LP, and reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 .  The Little Drummer Boy saw single releases every year throughout the 60’s, reaching as high as number 1 from 1964 – 1968.

Another of my favorites, also an a cappella masterpiece, Rise Up Shepherds, is part of a medley on track 8, featuring a wonderful baritone voice that appears throughout the album.  I wish I knew who it was, but I haven’t found any information on any of the featured vocalists.

The ninth track, (also a medley), starts with Ding Dong (Merrily On High) which itself starts with a huge arrangement of brass, then an introduction by our featured baritone again, and a fantastic choral of voices.

The Album finishes with a 3 song medley, Silent Night / Adeste Fidelis / A Christmas Greeting which presents a great finish.  Silent Night features a wonderful vocal by the lead soprano, then glides into an a cappella rendition of Adeste Fideles.  Absolutely beautiful.  The last of the 3 song medley features a song called A Christmas Greeting.  A 50 second Christmas wish from The Harry Simeone Chorale.

There is not a bad selection on this album.  I can highly recommend it into your Christmas collection.  First, in 1959, it set the standard for large choral Christmas arrangements.  Second, it presents 31 wonderful choral hymns that everyone will be familiar with.  And third, there is not a bad song on here.

I give this CD :

*****

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