Christmas Songs

Mel Torme | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 21, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000003D3E
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,424 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As good as a Christmas recording gets!, June 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Christmas Songs (Audio CD)

Mel's recent passing has moved me to review the album, even though it's the beginning of summer. If it can be said that any artist was born to sing Christmas tunes, Mel was he. It's impossible to not get into "the Spirit" when listening to this record (I'm almost getting the feeling just thinking about this great collection). This record offers something for everyone, from traditional Christmas hymns and carols to jazzier numbers like "Glow Worm" and "Christmas in Sun Valley." Mel's unique voice and style are, not surprisingly, perfectly suited to all the songs, easily taking the listener through the entire range of holiday emotions. Even better, though, Mel conveys a sense of personal fun and enjoyment from performing these songs - what else would you expect from Mr. Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire, though! If you're looking to add one more record to your Christmas collection, this one should be strongly considered.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On the short list of "must have" CD's, December 1, 2003

By 

cyclista (the Midwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christmas Songs (Audio CD)

"The Christmas Song" is one of my favorite holiday songs of all time. Since Mel Torme co-wrote it (with Robert Wells), I wanted the CD with Mel singing it. In case you don't know this song, it goes:

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.

Johnny Mercer wrote two verses of holiday lyrics to "Glow Worm". Mel added three more verses, and sings them on this CD. You might notice an extra verse on "The Christmas Waltz". This song was written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen. Sammy Cahn wrote the additional verse as a gift to Mel. I particularly liked "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", an instrumental played by the brass of the Cincinnatti Sinfonietta. The CD is generally very upbeat, starting out with a lively medley that gets my toe tapping. "Good King Wenceslas" is truly fabulous, done with a jazz beat and style that sounds supremely natural, almost as if the song writer intended it this way!

This CD has some light jazzy selections, but some others, such as "What Child Is This?", are done in a more traditional way. This very first Christmas CD by Mel was recorded in 1992. I found the audio quality to be very acceptable. The CD length is 60 minutes. I put this on my short list of "must have" Christmas music CD's.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic jazzy Christmas Album!, December 7, 1999

By 

Rhoderic Cajiuat (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christmas Songs (Audio CD)

If you're looking for a jazzy Christmas CD, THIS is the one you want. Mel's awesome vocals glide over traditional Christmas carols and newer jazzy arrangements. This CD will get your feet tapping and put you in the Christmas mood! I've listened to this outside hte Christmas season and it's still a good listen! Hey, it's Mel!