Track Listing

1. Happy Holiday
2. Winter Weather
3. Sleigh Ride
4. By the Fireside
5. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
6. Jingle Bells/Winter Wonderland
7. Toyland
8. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
9. March of the Toys
10. Christmas Song
11. I Wonder as I Wander
12. O Little Town of Bethlehem
13. Silent Night
14. Hanover Winter Song
15. It Happened in Sun Valley
16. June in January
17. Whiffenpoof Song
18. Baby, It's Cold Outside
19. Nearness of You
20. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
21. Moonlight in Vermont
22. Happy Holiday

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #101877 in Music
• Released on: 2000-10-10
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

A truly inspired collection - Merry Christmas
I see what some earlier reviewers have written, not always liking the resequencing of the tracks from the two LP's that make up this collection. As I normally prefer to keep Christmas music separate from other music, I had my doubts when I bought it - an essential purchase for me, as a huge fan of Jo's music. I needn't have worried - all the songs here are ideal for the Christmas season.

The non-Christmas songs about warmth, winter, moonlight and suchlike are masterpieces which sit comfortably alongside the standard Christmas songs. Baby it's cold outside has actually become commonplace on Christmas albums, even though it was never intended to be a Christmas song. I have heard many versions of this song, including the modern duet by Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews, as well as other duets starring Maggie Whiting, Dinah Shore and Petula. Jo's magnificent rendition (with the Starlighters) is as good as any of them. Maggie's version is (just) my favorite, but they are all lovely.

The Starlighters sing Hanover winter song without Jo - no doubt this was Jo's way of thanking them, allowing them the chance to show what they could do, but I would have preferred Jo to join in. Still, there's plenty of other tracks here and the Starlighters certainly give Jo great backing on these.

Jo's lovely, warm voice is well suited to these songs, which contain mostly familiar songs to appeal to casual buyers, while including just enough obscure stuff to appeal to Christmas music fans. The nature of this album, with it's unusual mix of songs, means that it's always one of the first Christmas CD's I listen to as the season comes round - it gets you into Christmas gradually.

Jo was a very special singer, as you will realise when listening to this wonderful CD.

Wonderful winter music
I grew up listening to Jo Stafford's album"Ski Trails". This CD is a wonderful blend of winter songs from that collection as well as some holiday songs. If you enjoy Ms. Stafford's husky voice singing melodies that will have you thinking of New England, snow, a roaring fire and happy memories, then this is a must for you.

The best Christmas album in existence! SIX stars!
I've been waiting for "Ski Trails" to come out on CD ever since finding it on vinyl eight years ago, and what a pleasant surprise to discover even MORE holiday songs included here. This album is to Christmas music what "It's A Wonderful Life" is to Christmas movies -- quintessential. Adjectives that come to mind are: Romantic, jovial, sentimental, joyful, and SWINGING! Hearing "Babes in Toyland" and "Night Before Christmas" will evoke your best childhood memories, and Stafford's rendition of "Moonlight in Vermont" is easily the best version ever recorded. Most importantly, this isn't one of those Christmas albums you'll listen to each December and then put in storage. The selections from the original "Ski Trails" record are timeless standards appropriate for the WHOLE season. After the 25th, just program your CD player to skip the Christmas-specific titles and keep listening throughout the New Year!