Track Listing

1. Jingle Bells - Tex Beneke, , Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
2. Sleigh Ride - Griffin, Merv & The Martin Men, Freddy Martin & His Orchestra
3. Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town - Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
4. It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas - Kate Smith
5. Snowfall - Claude Thornhill & His Orchestra
6. Let Is Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra
7. Winter Wonderland - Ralph Flanagan Orchestra,
8. Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt, Henri René & His Orchestra
9. All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth - Oliver Jones, Spike Jonze,
10. Parade of the Wooden Soldiers - Larry Clinton & His Orchestra
11. Silver Bells - Dick Contino, The Fontane Sisters, The Fontane Sisters, ,
12. (There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays - Mitchell Ayres, Perry Como, Ray Charles Singers
13. White Christmas - Sammy Kaye & His Orchestra,
14. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Ann-Margret, Al Hirt, Ann-Margret Hirt
15. Santa Claus Came in the Spring - Benny Goodman, Benny Goodman
16. Christmas Song - Carmen McRae, Carmen McRae
17. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Hilton Ruiz
18. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Dinah Shore
19. Feliz Navidad - José Feliciano
20. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - Charlie Spivak & His Orchestra
21. Auld Lang Syne - Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39470 in Music
• Brand: RCA
• Released on: 1999-10-12
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Customer Reviews

Very Good, but...
I'm glad this album came out, I've worn out the tape I had with 2 hard to find songs that are on this collection-Sleigh Ride by Merv Griffin backed by the Freddy Martin Orchestra, and Silver Bells by the Fontane Sisters. The album is enjoyable, with the exceptions of Baby, It's Cold Outside by Ann Margret & Al Hirt-too light & fluffy for my taste, the version done by Johnny Mercer & Margaret Whiting is the best(in my opinion anyway), The Christmas Song by Carmen McRae-Nat King Cole's version is the greatest, and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer by Hilton Ruiz-the original version by Gene Autry is the most popular. Otherwise, a fun holiday collection to get you in the mood for shopping, gift wrapping, decorating, etc. etc.

A really good 40's big band era Christmas!
This is the third nostalgia type Christmas collection I've reviewed this year, the others being "The Spirit Of Christmas Past" and "Have A Nostalgic Merry Christmas", both from Living Era. This one centers solely on the big bands and vocalists of the '40's and as such, is highly enjoyable. Another reviewer pointed out that there are better versions of some of the songs here, and I agree. The true classics in this collection include: Kate Smith singing Meredith Wilson's "It's Beginning To Look Like Christmas"; Claude Thornhill's "Snowfall"; Spike Jones' "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth"; Larry Clinton's "Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers"; Jose Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad"; and, of course, Guy Lombardo's "Auld Lang Syne". However, it's great to hear the big bands like Glenn Miller, Freddie Martin, Tommy Dorsey, Sammy Kaye, Benny Goodmon, and Charles Spivak with their versions of mostly familiar Christmas songs. Likewise with the vocalists such as Vaugn Monroe, The Fontane Sisters, Perry Como, Ann-Margaret, Carmen McRae, and Dinah Shore. And I quite enjoyed Hilton Ruiz' piano on a jazzy, boogie woogie type rendition of "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer", even if Gene Autry (who actually saved Rudolph from extinction after all the pop singers including Bing turned the song down) sang the definitive version.

Well, the upshot is if you enjoy big band music and '40's era vocalists, you'll like this.

Best compilation so far!
I love Christmas music and own several albums, cassettes and, yes, even CD's. This is my favorite compilation to date. It's upbeat, fun and happy. It really puts me in the spirit of the holidays and I love singing along in the car (okay, I rock out a little, too, but don't tell the other drivers). I highly recommend this CD!