Track Listing

1. Christmas Medley: Jingle Bells/Santa Claus Is Coming to ...
2. Sleigh Ride
3. Christmas Song
4. Glow Worm [Christmas Arrangement]
5. Christmas Feeling
6. It Happened in Sun Valley
7. Christmastime Is Here [From A Charlie Brown Christmas]
8. Good King Wenceslas
9. What Child Is This? [Instrumental] - Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
10. Silver Bells
11. Christmas Was Made for Children
12. Christmas Waltz
13. Medley: Just Look Around/Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
14. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Instrumental - Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
15. Medley: Happy Holiday/Let's Start the New Year Right/What Are You ...
16. White Christmas

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3042 in Music
• Released on: 1992-09-21
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.com essential recording
Mel Torme is so famous for writing "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)," it's surprising that he never recorded a full Christmas album before 1992's Christmas Songs. Besides that standard, Torme's own compositions here include the heartfelt "The Christmas Feeling" and "Christmas Was Made for Children." He also sings Johnny Mercer's Christmas lyrics for "Glow Worm" as well as more traditional fare. Backed by both orchestra and big band, Torme is alternately swinging and sentimental on this instant classic. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

As good as a Christmas recording gets!
Mel's recent passing has moved me to review the album, even though it's the beginning of summer. If it can be said that any artist was born to sing Christmas tunes, Mel was he. It's impossible to not get into "the Spirit" when listening to this record (I'm almost getting the feeling just thinking about this great collection). This record offers something for everyone, from traditional Christmas hymns and carols to jazzier numbers like "Glow Worm" and "Christmas in Sun Valley." Mel's unique voice and style are, not surprisingly, perfectly suited to all the songs, easily taking the listener through the entire range of holiday emotions. Even better, though, Mel conveys a sense of personal fun and enjoyment from performing these songs - what else would you expect from Mr. Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire, though! If you're looking to add one more record to your Christmas collection, this one should be strongly considered.

On the short list of "must have" CD's
"The Christmas Song" is one of my favorite holiday songs of all time. Since Mel Torme co-wrote it (with Robert Wells), I wanted the CD with Mel singing it. In case you don't know this song, it goes:

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.

Johnny Mercer wrote two verses of holiday lyrics to "Glow Worm". Mel added three more verses, and sings them on this CD. You might notice an extra verse on "The Christmas Waltz". This song was written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen. Sammy Cahn wrote the additional verse as a gift to Mel. I particularly liked "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", an instrumental played by the brass of the Cincinnatti Sinfonietta. The CD is generally very upbeat, starting out with a lively medley that gets my toe tapping. "Good King Wenceslas" is truly fabulous, done with a jazz beat and style that sounds supremely natural, almost as if the song writer intended it this way!

This CD has some light jazzy selections, but some others, such as "What Child Is This?", are done in a more traditional way. This very first Christmas CD by Mel was recorded in 1992. I found the audio quality to be very acceptable. The CD length is 60 minutes. I put this on my short list of "must have" Christmas music CD's.

A fantastic jazzy Christmas Album!
If you're looking for a jazzy Christmas CD, THIS is the one you want. Mel's awesome vocals glide over traditional Christmas carols and newer jazzy arrangements. This CD will get your feet tapping and put you in the Christmas mood! I've listened to this outside hte Christmas season and it's still a good listen! Hey, it's Mel!