Customer Reviews

A Merry Christmas with Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters

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Although Christmas music has been around for humdreds of years, it's popularity now owas a lot to Bing Crosby and (to a lesser extent) the Andrews sisters, with the outstanding and extremely popular Chrismas songs they recorded in the 1940's.

This is a sample of their Christmas music. They only recorded six Christmas songs together, all included here, the rest of the tracks featuring one or the other.

The duets are Jingle Bells (their most famous Christmas duet), Twelve days of Christmas (a song which has inspired many parodies, some of which are extremely funny, but this is still the best straight version of the song I've come across), Mele Kalikimaka (a Hawaiian song), Santa Claus is coming to town, Here comes Santa Claus and Poppa Santa Claus.

Bing sings seven solo tracks - these are identified in the Amazon[.com] track listing and are generally slower than the other songs, although Christmas in Kallarney is a very upbeat song. The slow songs provide a nice contrast to the songs featuring the Andrews sisters (with or without Bing), which are mostly bright, uptempo songs.

Most of the Andrews sisters tracks without Bing feature Guy Lombardo, including Christmas Island, a million selling single for them. Christmas candles is a really beautiful song which is much slower than usual for the sisters and it's great to hear.

Some reviewers suggest some of the songs are dated, but how many modern songs will still sound modern in sixty years time? Many of the greatest Christmas songs were written in the thirties and forties. The versions here are still as enjoyable as any more modern versions - and I also enjoy those. As to the obscure songs, they merely add to the enjoyment. Not every song can become a standard.

This collection is not a comprehensive collection of their music, and you can find most (maybe all) of these tracks on their other albums, but this is a very convenient and highly entertaing collection with a great mix of songs and styles.

As a collector of Christmas music - I LOVE the fact that this album is loaded with "non-traditional" songs. It's not the same old stuff that every artist puts on a Christmas album, yet the songs sound distinctly "Christmassy". Bing's voice is like a big velvety cloak that wraps you in Christmas spirit, and the energetic vocals of the Andrews Sister's will have you tapping your toes. This collection is classic and timeless, and evokes images of a simpler time. It will be a much-played selection in my Christmas collection. In fact - I think I'd better go order more as gifts or my sister might try to swipe it from me!

The fun thing about this CD is that most of the songs are not traditional Christmas songs, which get so over-played during the holidays. So these cuts add a fresh dimention to your holiday mix if you drop this CD into your random CD carosel.

MCA (Decca) can be sure of brisk sales when Christmas rolls around simply by virtue of owning the rights to the music of Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters, two of the more prominent names that spring to mind when thinking about Pop Christmas tunes. It all began in the early 1940s when Decca released their 78 rpm album No. A-403 containing five records (Silent Night, Holy Night b/w Adeste Fideles, White Christmas b/w God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, I'll Be Home For Christmas b/w Faith Of Our Fathers, and Let's Start The New Year Right b/w Danny Boy - all by Bing with John Scott Trotter & His Orchestra and Max Terr's Mixed Chorus, and two included in this compilation, Jingle Bells b/w Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town billed to Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters With Vic Schoen & His Orchestra.

The A-side of that last single charted at # 19 in 1943 and # 21 in 1947, while the B-side scored at # 22 in 1947 on Decca 23281. Other single releases involving Bing and the girls did not fare as well insofar as the charts are concerned, but that in no way lessens their eternal appeal. In 1949, on Decca 24658, came Here Comes Santa Claus b/w The Twelve Days Of Christmas, with the A-side coming two years after Gene Autry scored a # 5 Country/# 9 Pop with it, followed by returns to the charts in 1948, 1949 and 1950. Also in 1950, Bing and The Andrews turned out Decca 27228 which combined Mele Kalikimaka, now heard almost every year, with Poppa Santa Claus. On all these releases the backing orchestra was that of Vic Schoen's, who did most of the Andrews Sisters' hits.

Without Bing, the sisters had Christmas Island go to # 7 in 1946 b/w Winter Wonderland on Decca 23722, billed to The Andrews Sisters with Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians. The A-side charted again at # 20 in 1947 and # 26 in 1949, while the flip made it to # 22 in 1946. The same pairing then took The Merry Christmas Polka to # 18 in 1949 b/w Christmas Candles on Decca 24748. In 1950, Jing-A-Ling, Jing-A-Ling b/w Parade Of Wooden Soldiers (not included) came out on Decca 27242, and on Decca 27251 they had I'd Like To Hitch A Ride With Santa Claus b/w The Christmas Tree Angel, all four sides with Vic Schoen's orchestra.

None of those 1950 cuts made any charts, but the A-side of the last release was a # 22 in 1950 for Bing and his sons as part of a medley called A Crosby Christmas (Parts 1 & 2) on Decca 9-40181. Under the billing Gary, Phillip, Dennis, Lindsay and Bing Crosby (with The Jeff Alexander Choir and John Scott Trotter & His Orchestra), the youngest, Lindsay, sang I'd Like To Hitch A Ride With Santa Claus. The following year, in 1951, Fran Allison (of Kukla, Fran & Ollie TV fame) had a # 14 hit with the B-side shown as (Sweet Angie) The Christmas Tree Angel.

Several of the cuts here are by Bing alone, with Happy Holiday, done with The Music Maids and John Scott Trotter, coming out as the flip of his September # 2 hit Be Careful, It's My Heart. You have to think that, had this been released as an A-side closer to Christmas it too would have charted. From 1947 we get O Fir Tree Dark, written by Ken Darby and done with the Victor Young orchestra and The Ken Darby Singers, which came out as the B-side of Decca 24144 b/o The Christmas Song (not here), and from 1950 comes Looks Like A Cold, Cold Winter, with the Sonny Burke Orchestra and The Lee Gordon Singers, which was the B-Side to his # 24 hit A Marshmallow World (also omitted here) on Decca 27239.

In 1951, with Trotter and Judd Conlon's Rhythmaires, Bing cut Christmas In Killarney, a year after hits by Percy Faith & His Orchestra and Dennis Day, b/w It's Beginning To Look Like Christmas (which was a hit that year for Perry Como) without chart success, and from 1955 we get four sides done with Buddy Cole & His Orchestra - The First Snowfall (also involving Judd Conlon's Rhythmaires) which was the flip of The Next Time It Happens (not here) on Decca 29777, and Is Christmas Only A Tree? which came out on Decca 29790 b/o Christmas Is A-Comin' (another omitted here).

Even so, simply a great seasonal compilation with excellent sound, contents discography, and four pages of liner notes written by E.B. (Wig) Wiggins, American Representative of the International Crosby Circle, mixed with several more vintage photos.

My mother used to play this in the tape version when I was young. We played it EVERY Christmas thereafter until we wore the tape out. Now, at 24, I have my own house, and I miss the old songs. They really made Christmas special. So, I downloaded the mp3 version for quicker access. Nostalgia is much in the eye of the beholder. For those of us who grew up to this music, this brings back wonderful memories. I would assume that my Great grandmother and/or grandmother got my mother hooked, as she (my mother) is only in her mid 40's. I would definitely recommend this even if you've never heard it before.

This may not be the season to review a CD called A Merry Christmas with Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters; but it's so well done and sweet I couldn't resist. The sound quality is rather good given the age of these recordings; and the artwork reflects good judgment.

Bing Crosby starts the track set with his "Happy Holiday;" the big band arrangement shines like gold! Bing never misses a beat and neither do the ladies! SMILE "Happy Holiday" gets a solid, upbeat melody with a tempo that goes faster than the traditional song. "Jing-A-Ling, Jing-A-Ling" by The Andrews Sisters feature the sister act harmonizing to perfection on a marvelous Christmastime number. The bells in the background enhance the beauty of the musical arrangement.

"You're All I Want For Christmas" gives us Bing's vocals in the spotlight while the lush musical arrangement uses the strings to great advantage. The chorus in the background harmonizes well to support Bing's act. Great! "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" gets the royal treatment from Bing and The Andrews Sisters; this tune never sounded better! The tempo is sped up somewhat and it works well for this number. This is definitely the strongest version of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" that I've ever heard!

"Jingle Bells" is one awesome tune when Bing and The Andrews Sisters bat this straight out of the ballpark; and listen for Bing on "Christmas In Killarney." "Christmas In Killarney" is a song I really like and the melody is quite good. "Winter Wonderland" is perfect when The Andrews Sisters deliver it with heart and soul, too.

"Mele Kalikimaka" is a Hawaiian Christmas song that gets the royal treatment from both Bing and The Andrews Sisters; this charming tune is timeless and sweet. The CD ends with "Christmas Island;" this tune makes the perfect ending for such a nostalgic, fine album that truly captures the spirit of Christmas in timeless, beautiful ballads sung by exceptionally talented artists.

This is a must-have for fans of Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters; and fans of classic pop vocals will also enjoy this album anytime of the year! I know I will!

I am a Christmas Music fan! I simply love all the songs and the feeling it creates. This record is no exception.

You cannot beat this CD for classic Holiday music. A return to a simpler, kinder time Bing Crosby and The Andrew Sisters capture the warmth and spirit of the Christmas Season.

I love this CD. I listen to it every year. Its a perfect Christmas CD that I will treasure for years.

I got this for my parents, they were happy as can be. Old songs, favorites, all in Bing's Sultry voice.

what more could I ask for?
and there you have it.