Customer Reviews

Let's Sing a Song of Christmas

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fans who know bandleader Spike Jones from his raucous, bell-ringing, pistol-popping musical satires of the 1940s will be surprised by this much more sedate effort of the 1950s. There is very little of Jones's trademarked, tune-wrecking style in this; out of some three dozen songs, only three include hints of the old City Slickers silliness. That's either good news or bad news, depending on your taste, so keep in mind that much of this album is played straight. If you're in the mood for an extended program of traditional Christmas songs, you'll probably find some of your favorites here.

Most of the album is devoted to the highly listenable Jud Conlon chorus, in serious renditions. The Conlon performances and arrangements are beautiful and memorable; some of these arrangements were used almost verbatim by The Carpenters years later. Two excellent vocal groups make guest appearances. The rest of the album is not as impressive, and is self-consciously cute: vocalist George Rock does his little-kid imitation several times, and there are some uninspired cuts by a children's chorus (billed as The City Slicker Juniors). Definitely a mixed bag, but worthwhile for the Jud Conlon selections.

As a former Dr. Demento listener, I just had to have this CD, though I wasn't quite sure what to expect as far as quality. Boy, what a great surprise. The songs that are done seriously are some of the best renditions I've ever heard. The more humorous ones were instant hits with my kids. A fantastic variety of songs. If you love Christmas and have a sense of humor, you'll love this.

My parents had this album as I was growing up. My sister and I have been listening to a recording of it that my father taped for us years ago. I have been looking for this is CD format, since CD's came out. This album is all about Christmas. Adults having fun and acting like children again! It's a true sing-along.

When I was a child this album would be the first Christmas album my father would play (usually on the day after Thanksgiving).It brings up alot of childhood memories. A basement flood warped this record and it took a long time for me to find it on tape and then on CD. My father had died by that time (I swear his spirit led me to a bin at a Path Mark where the tape was sitting on TOP!) but it still is the first Christmas music I play.
Why? Because it is a great album. Unusual songs like "The First Snowfall" "Christmas in America" "The Christmas Alphabet" and "Santa Claus' Son". Plus the "Silent Night" and "Winter Wonderland" are some of the best arrangements of those songs I have ever heard. What a tremendous Silent Night.! I can not think of any other album except for A Charlie Brown's Christmas that captures the reverence, the laughter, the wonder and a child"s delight of this holiday. This is to me an essential recording and I am not just waxing nostalgic.

This is the best Christmas album for use as background party music ... It appeals to all age groups because the songs are familiar ... An especially amusing twist is "Jingle Bells" sung in Pig-Latin ... For more serious music lovers, the choral harmonies are tight and well executed in superb a cappella style ... The lullaby "Sleep Well Little Children" brings a tear to the eye when the Irish tenor sings his solo ...

What a fun and merry Christmas tape. All the traditional songs (with some twists) and some very fun songs for the kids. My favorite, "Angel in the Christmas Play," reminds me of my childhood and our Christmas programs. Buy it...Christmas music should be this fun!

Recorded in the early 50's- this nostalgic look back at Christmas past will conjure up memories of childhood at the most exciting time of year-CHRISTMAS! Spike Jones mixes humor, childrens choir's, adult singers- and who could forget-- "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth." One song in particular is quite nostalgic- the name of the tune is "Christmas in America"- it is sung with these words....its Christmas in America--in all the forty-eight--- obviously recorded before Alaska and Hawaii joined the union. This is a great CD to add to YOUR Christmas collection!

I have been looking for one of these songs for years and am thrilled to finally have found it. This is a great CD

I bought this CD for my 6-year-old grandson because he just lost his two front teeth. I thought it would be fun for him to hear this song, and I My grandson loved it! He had never heard of the song before, and had to play it for his mom. He also likes "I'm Getting Nuttin" for Christmas." We all keep telling him to be good or Santa will not bring him anything. His eyes popped when he heard this song, and he laughed at all the bad things the child did in the song. Again, I think the Spike Jones versions are the best. They are full of fun, noisy sound effects and things that appeal to kids. It's a great recording, and I'm glad I found it at a reasonable price.

Anyone who knows the zany music and antics of Spike Jones and His City Slickers might look at the cover of this album and the contents and say to him/herself "this ought to be interesting, if not a little irreverent." But then you need only read the paragraph on the reverse to know that this is not your typical offering from the clown king of bands.

It says: "Nobody took Spike Jones seriously. With his City Slickers (never instrumentally challenged, their orchestrated chaos took rare musicianship), he had best-selling records in the Forties. But he couldn't sell his "pretty, legitimate music." So in the Fifties Jones turned to Christmas, producing the profane "Jingle Bells", in pig Latin - but also recording the sacred "Silent Night", done a capella with close harmony by a legendary vocal arranger - conductor Judd Conlon. With true, serious Christmas fare, this package presents Jones's two-sided (at least) musical nature. Liner notes by Richard Carpenter of the pop duo The Carpenters."

The fold-out insert covering this original 1956 Verve vinyl album contains a listing of the contents showing the accompanying artists on each track, along with two pages of notes written in 1998 by Richard Carpenter telling us, among other things, how he and his father discovered the original album in 1956. There is also a brief paragraph on the history of the Verve label, and several more photos of Spike, including one with wife Helen and Spike, Jr.

This is just a wonderful collection of Christmas music which alternates between the happy and fun (Jingle Bells medley, My Birthday Comes On Christmas, Two Front Teeth, etc.) to the classic (Silent Night, and the various carols).

Get this and it will be among your favourite Christmas CDs for years to come.