Rockin Around the Christmas Tree [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

Brenda Lee | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 12, 1999)
• Original Release Date: October 12, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Mca Nashville
• ASIN: B00000JQMF
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #149,212 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If Brenda Lee had not recorded "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" in 1958, the holidays would not quite be the same. But for those who think that Lee's Christmas repertoire begins and ends with that beloved tune, they need to put this disc on their wish list. The Decca Christmas Recordings is a charming collection of Lee's holiday work, both known and obscure. And the range is fairly compelling. Moving from the lovably offbeat sentiments of the bayou-influenced "Papa Noel" and the angry child's take on the fat man "I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus" to more somber fare such as "Christmas Will Be Just Another Lonely Day," and the peculiar "Strawberry Snow," Lee's unforgettable vocal style leaves a perfect imprint. Her little hiccup-tinged singing voice is a hallmark of the season, making this 18-track set a true gift. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is Christmas!, December 1, 1999

By 

Marlene Woodbury (Pullman, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rockin Around the Christmas Tree (Audio CD)

I am only 30 years old but grew up listening to Brenda Lee's Chrismas songs on 8-track. Christmas would not be the same without her singing "Rocking around the Christmas Tree" or "Jingle Bell Rock." This has always been my favorite Christmas Album. I Love it!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much more than Rockin' around the Christmas tree, August 26, 2002

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rockin Around the Christmas Tree (Audio CD)

Brenda is one of those singers - just like Bing Crosby - who's most famous song is a Christmas classic, despite a vast catalog of other material. On this collection, Brenda demonstrates her skills on a wide variety of Christmas songs, although there is only one carol (Silent night).

The oldest recordings here (from 1956, when Brenda was only 11) are Christy Christmas and I'm gonna lasso Santa Claus - this song is quite amusing but also has a moral tale, as it points out that Santa is more generous to the rich than the poor. Sadly, that will always be true.

In 1958, Brenda recorded Papa Noel, a cajun-flavored song, and Rockin' around the Christmas tree. Expected to be a massive hit, it missed the charts completely, though Brenda wasn't yet in the big time. Following the multi-million selling I'm sorry in 1960, a decision was taken to try again that Christmas. This time, the song went high in the charts, not just in America, but around the world.

The remainder of these songs, except the last three (which were recorded in 1965, but remained unissued outside Japan until the release of this CD), were first released on Brenda's original Christmas album in 1964, which also included some of the earlier tracks, including (of course) Rockin' around the Christmas tree.

Some of the songs were originally popularized by other singers, including Jingle bell rock (Bobby Helms), White Christmas and Silver bells (both Bing Crosby), This time of the year (Brook Benton) and Blue Christmas (Ernest Tubb, but made even more popular by Elvis), but Brenda's vocal style makes her versions distinctive, even though the arrangements are mostly faithful to the originals. It's a marshmallow world is a brilliant song which had already appeared on the Phil Spector Christmas album, though I don't know it's origin.

What really makes this album, though, are the original songs. Apart from those recorded in 1956 and 1958, there is Christmas will be just another lonely day (a serious song written by Ray Stevens, best known for his comic songs), Strawberry snow and the slightly silly (but brilliant) The angel and the little blue bell.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this is the best holiday album ever!, November 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Rockin Around the Christmas Tree (Audio CD)

hi iam 33yrs old , i remember listening to this over and over as a kid luved it then so much that yrs ago i bought the album at a used record store . It took me 2 yrs to find it after hitting every store in philly. Now that its out on disk i will not be afraid of listening to it more and worry about wearing the album out. IF YOU DONT HAVE THIS IN YOUR COLLECTION YOU DONT HAVE A COLLECTION ! ITS FROM 1964 BUT ITS THE BEST !