Christmas Songs Made in America: Favorite Holiday Melodies and the Stories of Their Origins [Hardcover]

Albert J Menendez (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1999

"Christmas Songs Made in America" is a treasury of stories about Christmas songs and their origins. Chronicling time from the Civil War to the depths of the Great Depression, Al and Shirley Menendez have created the most comprehensive guide to our nation's most-loved seasonal songs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...set up in an easy-to-read format and will be a warm addition to any holiday library and a great gift. -- Union City Messenger, October 20, 1999

...the book is a valuable musical resource -- Knoxville News-Sentinel, December 12, 1999

The Menendezes have the answers, and the stories will help you enjoy Christmas music more than ever. -- The Brazosport Facts, December 3, 1999

This neat little book...includes the lyrics and a short history of 45 Christmas songs composed by U.S. citizens... -- Easton Star-Democrat, December 3, 1999

This one's a keeper... -- Denver Post, November 28, 1999

From the Inside Flap

From the music of "Jingle Bells" and "White Christmas" to "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "Away in the Manager" to "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas" and "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth," Americans have placed their stamp on the holiday season. But where did these songs that Americans use to celebrate the season come from? How or why were these songs written? And why have they continued to define what Christmas is to so many of us? These are some of the questions Albert and Shirley Menendez tackle in this charming book about the origins of forty-five "Christmas Songs Made in America."

For decades, songwriters and lyricists have used popular, folk, rock, sacred, and country songs to clebrate the season's heartfelt cheer. Some were written for Broadway, others for Hollywood. Some entertained children, others set a romantic mood. Some grew out from the chains of slavery, others from the joyous freedom of faith. If there's a story to tell about a Christmas song, you're likely to find it here.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 165 pages
• Publisher: Cumberland House Publishing (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581820461
• ISBN-13: 978-1581820461
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #745,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a marvelous idea for a book!, December 17, 1999

By 

John O'Neill (Alpharetta, GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Christmas Songs Made in America: Favorite Holiday Melodies and the Stories of Their Origins (Hardcover)

I just stumbled upon this book and snatched it up. It is a wonderful little collection of anecdotes about the origins of 50 of America's most famous Christmas songs from "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" to "White Christmas". It includes stories about how the songs were written and recorded, comments on definitive recordings, the lyrics, and also some wonderful illustrations.

Lovers of Christmas music, this book is for you.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HOLLY JOLLY INFORMATIVE & FUN, April 26, 2001

By 

Internet Diva (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Christmas Songs Made in America: Favorite Holiday Melodies and the Stories of Their Origins (Hardcover)

A great stocking stuffer as a gift for Christmas, as well as a super reference book for not only teachers, but as pre-introductory information for a choir's Christmas concert, or for any Christmas carol lover who happens to forget the words alot. ;) Learn about those who write the songs that make the entire world sing at Christmas!!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Minister looking for Stories for Christmas Eve Service, January 10, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Christmas Songs Made in America: Favorite Holiday Melodies and the Stories of Their Origins (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful book, but it is limited to American Christmas songs and it main focus is non-religious songs. There are only eight stories about Traditional religious carols, and about five spirituals. Still I loved the stories, such as the one about the history of White Christmas, although I could not use it in my Christmas Eve service.