Track Listing

1. Jingle Bells
2. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
3. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Frank de Vol, Ella Fitzgerald
4. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
5. Sleigh Ride
6. Christmas Song
7. Good Morning Blues
8. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
9. Winter Wonderland
10. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Frank de Vol, Ella Fitzgerald
11. Frosty the Snowman
12. White Christmas

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #102863 in Music
• Released on: 1989-07-11
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
It'd be hard to imagine a happier wish than the one this jazz vocal legend wishes her listeners on this urbane-yet-homey collection of holiday favorites. The First Lady of Song recorded these tunes in 1960, at the peak of her interpretive powers. As such, she puts her singular stamp on everything from a sultry vamp like "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" to the sweet and cozy "The Christmas Song." Even potentially shopworn standards like "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" sound fresher when they're coming from Ella Fitzgerald. --David Sprague

Customer Reviews

Get Ready to Swing Through the Holidays
There truly is no better Christmas album than this 1960 recording. It puts me in the mood for Christmas even in July (and I do listen to it then). Ella has never sounded better, and this is without a doubt the swingingest Christmas album ever. The first two numbers, "Jingle Bells" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," set the tone for an upbeat and jazzy Christmas season. "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" is also ample. But when one hears "Sleigh Ride" I defy anyone still to be a grinch! Throw this CD--along with "An Oscar Peterson Christmas" and the Nat King Cole Christmas album--into the player, and you're all set for the holidays.

Excellent CD!
If you want a smooth, swinging ride into the holiday season, check out this CD. The first track,"Jingle Bells," is my favorite. Ella keeps her voice strong, fluid and simple. The jazz big band sound supports the lyrics and joins her in her trip. I own several Christmas CD's, and this one is the best.

Swinging Yuletide Cheer
This is no solemn religious Christmas music. This is Ella at her Christmas finest in a festively jazzy collection of swinging and be-boppin' Christmas classics including, Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Sleigh Ride and Let It Snow. This is a great CD to acquaint young ones to Ella Fitzgerald and to the swing and big band sounds of jazz. Don't be surprised if they start singing along!

She slows it down, but just a bit, on a few sultry selections including Good Morning Blues, What Are You Doing New Year's Eve, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, White Christmas and The Christmas Song.

A great selection of classic and festive Christmas songs, Ella's articulate lyrics and her sultry swinging vocals make this CD a great addition to any Holiday music collection.