Customer Reviews

Here Comes Santa Claus

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

 

 

Gene Autry was responsible for keeping one of the world's greatest Christmas traditions alive the "Hollywood Christmas Parade", when bad times surfaced and needed some assistance financially...it was Gene who came to the rescue as Johnny Grant (Honary Mayor of Hollywood) did whatever it took to keep the parade the class-A Holiday event from going under...drawing approximatley one million spectators along the parade route each year, Hollywood's biggest single-day event and the kick off for the Holiday Season...this was all from Gene's generous support and giving spirit.

The year was 1946, on a Thanksgiving weekend and a Gene rode tall in the saddle, and Santa Claus was right around the bend, heard the children excited chants of "HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS"...and a song was born from Gene and co-written by Oakley Haldeman...recorded on August 28th, 1947 and became an instant hit. Then in 1949 songwriter Johnny Marks composed a tune from a poem - "RUDOLOPH, THE RED-NOSED REINDEER" many artist turned down the chance to record this classic, but Ina Autry, Gene's first wife loved the song and felt the children would love it too...she was right...and the rest my friends, is history.

By 1969 Gene's version of "RUDOLPH" had sold 6,500,000 copies and was the all-time top selling single for Columbia Records (the 1957 version, recorded for Gene's Challenge label, is included here)..."RUDOLPH" ranks as the second favorite Christmas song right behind Irving Berlin's "White Christmas".

Varese Sarabande and Gene share with fans old and new these popular Christmas songs recorded in the late '50s and early '60s...hope you enjoy them and they bring you wonderful memories with many happy returns from "America's Favorite Singing Cowboy" - GENE AUTRY!

Total Time: 45:20 on 16 Tracks...Varese Sarabande VSD-6034...(1999)

I was very upset when this CD arrived. I was under the impression that these were the "original recordings" of Mr. Autry's Christmas records. They have been re-recorded and by no means are they bad.......their just NOT THE ORIGINALS! I want the original Columbia recordings. I gave it 2 stars because he does sound great....again just not the originals!

There isn't a more special way for me to celebrate Christmas, than with Gene Autry singing Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer in the background. These are the classic recordings that generations of children grew up with. This album has all of my favorite recordings that have become classics. Now that I have my own children, I want them to have the same wonderful memories as I did.

A must have for your Christmas collection (along with Bing Crosby's White Christmas). A true gem from the golden age of Christmas classics. Listening to this CD brings back all of my childhood memories of Christmas. It reminds me of the excitement of waking up Christmas morning to find a stocking full of candy and a tree brimming with presents. I look forward to sharing this music with my children to create the same warm, happy feelings I have of Christmas time.

This is a compilation of Christmas songs that Gene Autry recorded for his own record label after he left Columbia Records. Seven of the songs here are re-recordings of songs he previously recorded for Columbia. In most cases, they are not quite as good as the originals, but they are still very good. The arrangements are slightly different, and a few of them have commentaries by Gene before or after the songs. Notable original songs include the novelties "Buon Natale", "Nine Little Reindeer" and "Santa's Coming in a Whirlybird". The latter two feature Mel Blanc as the voice of Rudolph! And then there's the 13 minute long "The Story of the Nativity", which is Gene telling the story of the birth of Jesus to his "nephew". Sure, it's kind of corny, but I found it to be quite moving. While these recordings aren't as essential as Gene's Columbia recordings, they are still quite good and I would recommend this CD.

A time of innocense, a reminder of growing up with smiles and adventure. Better than meditating!

I grew up listening to Gene Autry's Christmas songs especially Buon Natale and Nine Little Reindeer. I am thrilled to have these songs again to listen to this Christmas. Every time I hear the songs, I remember sitting in the living room by our Christmas tree with my older sister, just listening to the same songs for hours. This is a CD to treasure.

I loved this CD. I bought it because when my brother and I were little kids we always listened to a Gene Autry Christmas record while decorating the Christmas Tree. I just had to find a Gene Autry CD for me and my daughter to listen to while decorating ours.

This Christmas Album is the best of Gene Autry's recorded Christmas songs. I have loved the song "Sleigh Bells" for as long as I can remember. I loved it for years when singing Christmas Carols but never realized that my favorite actor, singer, entertainer and cowboy was the one who wrote this wonderful classic until I became a avid Gene Autry fan. For a treat for people of all ages, this one is highly recommended for some good old fashioned Christmas Spirit! Not to mention that your kids will love "Santa's Coming in A Whirlybird".

I had a cassette tape years ago with the song, "Santa's Coming in a Whirlybird" on it. This CD has the exact same version of that song as well as many more great Gene Autry Christmas tunes. It's a bargain, and it arrived before Christmas, which really surprised me.