Customer Reviews

Rockin Around the Christmas Tree

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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!

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.

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 !

This is one of my favorite christmas records growing up.
Every year I have personal tradition of starting my christmas music playing by playing this record first. I had the CD version with only ten songs. This CD has all twelve of the original songs plus three songs that were added after this record was made plus three songs that Brenda Lee recorded when she was younger, Two were recorded when she was eleven years old! I'm gonna lasso Santa Claus is an adorable song about a little girl who wants to bring chrismas joy to everyone. Of course Johnny Marks "Rockin around the christmas tree" and Bobby Helms "Jingle Bell Rock" are pure classics. "Christmas will be just another lonely day" soars with its orchestral acompaniment.

Brenda Lee is probably one of the most understated talents of rock history. Her voice, as showcased here, is at it's richest. Her Christmas standard "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" is timeless with that incredible Boots Randolph sax screaming in the background. The albums arrangements are classic Brenda with great string sections and the dated but wonderful vocal accompaniment. You'll love the playful "Marshmallow World" and wonder how "Christmas Will be Just Another Loney Day" did not become a hit right along side "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." Early sessions are included along side of those tracks featured on her "Merry Christmas from Brenda Lee" album such as "Papa Noel" and "I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus." These selections display Brenda's incredible, raw talent that earned her the name "Little Miss Dynamite". A must for your Christmas music collection!!!

Brenda Lee's Christmas songs have been a part of my holiday celebrations for over 30 years. My children look forward to singing the tunes every year while decorating our tree and opening gifts. I too looked for years for copies of the original "A Brenda Lee Christmas" and was thrilled to find a CD a few years back, but it was an incomplete recording of my favorites, No "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", and no "Frosty" It is wonderful to finally add this to my collection!

A classic album with memorable Christmas songs by a classic and wonderful recording artist. "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" brings back a lot of holiday memories ("Home Alone," anybody?).

My mother had the Brenda Lee Christmas album on 8-track tape and I grew up listening to her songs. They bring back such wonderful Christmas memories from my childhood. I have always especially loved The Angel and the Little Blue Bell...such a wonderful story in that song. My little girl also loves the song now. I was so excited to find these songs as mp3 downloads. Wonderful classic Christmas tunes!

It's wonderful to have this excellent material available again, but MCA dropped the ball--except for two tracks, everything here is mono, although most of it was widely available in true stereo on vinyl. Somebody fell asleep at the wheel here!

This is a great CD. But of course all Brenda's are. If you aren't in the Christmas mood, put this CD on and you'll feel the spirit of Christmas right away. The Angel And the Little Blue Bell will be sure to give you a tingle. I just love this song. Although I like the standards, it is nice to have fresh songs like Strawberry Snow and Marshmallow World. Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without the dynamic Christmas music provided by The One and Only, Brenda Lee!