Customer Reviews

Big Band Christmas

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've had this for a few years now and it's one I play often. I enjoy it so much I researched the tracks since there aren't any liner notes. Here's some background on this great disc:
The Christmas Song-Les Brown & Doris Day, this 8/29/46 recording went to #12 on the charts in 1947.
I Want You For Christmas-Russ Morgan, this Brunswick recording dates from 10/20/37.
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm-Red Norvo & Mildred Bailey, this Brunswick single was recorded 1/8/37 and went to #11 on the charts.
There's Frost on the Moon-Artie Shaw & Peg La Centra, another Brunswick release, recorded 10/30/36, hit #10 on the charts.
White Christmas-Harry James & Marion Morgan. This dates from 10/22/46.
Winter Weather-Benny Goodman with Peggy Lee & Art Lund, recorded 11/27/41. Climbed to #24 on the charts in 1942.
Little Jack Frost Get Lost-Frankie Carle & Marjorie Hughes, recorded in 1947.
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer-Lester Lanin & His Orchestra. Lanin was a leading bandleader for NY/East Coast society affairs. This recording is from his 1959 "Christmas Dance Party" LP for the Epic label.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town-Sammy Kaye & the Kaydets, this dates from 1952.
Sleigh Ride-Tex Beneke, this is from a recording made by the alumni of the Glenn Miller band in 1965. Beneke, Ray Eberle and The Modernaires with Paula Kelly all participated, and the album was called "Christmas Serenade in the Glenn Miller Style."
Christmas Night in Harlem-Lester Lanin, another cut from his 1959 album.
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas-Tex Beneke, another track from the 1965 album.
Happy Holidays-Elliot & Cathy Lewis with Ray Noble, probably the least likely track to make it to CD. This comes from a 78 album called "Happy Holidays: A Musical Story" recorded in 1947 but not released until 1949. An early concept album it told the story of a couple's romance over the course of 8 sides on a 4
(78rpm) record set. Elliot Lewis was a major player in radio-actor, producer, director & writer. CBS dubbed him "Mr. Radio." Cathy was his wife, a well known actress herself.
A good companion disc to this is Christmas on the Bandstand, and that one DOES come with liner notes.

You will not be dissapointed with this CD. As the title suggests, this is the great big band christmas sound that you're after. Every cut is a keeper. Listen to the samples and you'll see what I mean. Buy it, you'll like it!

You won't find any "overplayed" selections on this CD. However, because most of the songs are holiday favorites, you will feel the coziness of home at Christmas time. A recent liking to winter weather songs earned "There's Frost On The Moon," "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm," "Little Jack Frost Get Lost" and of course "Winter Weather" favorite positions. If you like big band or vintage Christmas melodies, then this is a "must have" holiday CD. One negative aspect of the CD - no liner notes - was taken care of by another reviewer when he posted the recording dates. In addition, although there are no sacred songs, the festive sounds certainly make up for it. If you can purchase this CD for $10 or less, you won't be disappointed! A good bottle of scotch, a roaring fire and this CD will warm you on a chilly winter's night.

This is an awesome Christmas cd. It has wonderful old big band christmas songs on it by the original artists. If you like that old big band sound, you must by this cd! You won't be dissappointed!

I picked this up for two reasons: I love big band music and I love Christmas music. And while I have to admit a few of the tracks are less than spectacular, usually because they are performed by a typical "swing" band and not a "big" band in the true sense of the word, they are nonetheless good enough that one's Christmas spirit and musical interest will not be compromised. Some of the tracks are very dynamic and jump right out at you. Those are the ones I like the most and it is also where the good starts to far outweigh the bad. My critical standard is sound quality and a few of the tracks are a little "hissy", but again, nothing is bad enough to deter from the overall enjoyment. The last track is one of those "down homey, singers wish their listeners a Merry Christmas" kind of track, where I get a little uncomfortable imagining what was going on, but like I said, as uninteresting as that is to me, there is still more good about this recording than bad. Although I would have preferred some modern big band Christmas music (Thad Jones, Sherrie Maricle, Gordon Goodwin, Maria Schneider), this will do fine until I track something like that down.

I purchased a few Big Band Christmas CDs last year, and this is the one I listen to the most. Some of the other CDs I tried have a slower overall tempo, but the song choices on this album are toe-tapping, upbeat, and fun. I find that I enjoy the tracks that are not the typical Christmas songs, especially "I Want You For Christmas", "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm", "Frost On the Moon", "Winter Weather", and "Little Jack Frost Get Lost". I love how this disc brings to life a time gone by. I am excited to get this one out again this year and play it with the kids.

Had been searching for a great 40's Christmas album for ages - I LOVE IT! Would be great if this cd was re-mastered - it's fantastic! If you love 40's music - don't vacillate - BUY IT!

Arrived on time and as pictured so I would buy from this seller again!