The Christmas Song [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Nat King Cole

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 24, 1999)
• Original Release Date: September 1963
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00000JPM5
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,755 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #28 in	Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Classic Vocalists
  #65 in	Music > Jazz > Traditional Jazz & Ragtime
  #73 in	Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday > Pop Vocal

Track Listings

1. The Christmas Song (1961)

2. Deck The Halls

3. Adeste Fideles

4. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

5. O Tannenbaum

6. O, Little Town of Bethlehem

7. I Saw Three Ships

8. O Holy Night

9. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing

10. A Cradle in Bethlehem

11. Away In a Manger

12. Joy to the World

13. The First Noel

14. Caroling, Caroling

15. O, Come All Ye Faithful

16. Silent Night

17. Nat's Introduction

18. The Christmas Song-Natalie and Nat Duet

19. Nat's Christmas Wishes

20. Christmas Song [Alternate Take]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Countless singers have recorded the now-famous title track to this 14-song collection, but none have explored its evocative nuances as fully as the man who first brought it into our living rooms--Nat King Cole. Then again, his honeyed throat and refined delivery allowed him to make just about any song his own--even ubiquitous carols such as "O Holy Night" and "Adeste Fideles." Cole's gift--the thing that made him beloved by grandmas and jazzbos alike--was his ability to conjure images so vivid, you need only close your eyes in order to see, say, a snow-swept town square ("Caroling, Caroling") or that holy scene from 2,000 years ago ("Away in a Manger"). --David Sprague

Amazon.com

Like Bing Crosby's "White Christmas," Nat Cole's "The Christmas Song" stands as one of two or three pillars of holiday music. This collection of songs and greetings includes another technologically induced daughter-father duet on Mel Torme's classic hit as well daddy Cole's 1961 version of the tune. Fans of both Natalie and her dad will put this on the top of their wish lists. Two previously unreleased tracks--"God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" and "O Come All Ye Faithful"--will prompt a lot of lovers of Christmas music to fall in love again with Cole's incomparable style and timeless voice. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nat King Cole "Christmas Song" still ultimate X-mas offering, November 23, 1999

By	Les Fishman (New York) - See all my reviews

Ah yes, "chestnuts roasting on an open fire"...... what a feeling of Holiday spirit invoked by just that line alone! Aside from the classic title track, Mr. Cole's versions of some of the most well-loved Christmas tunes are all superb. O Come All Ye Faithful, The First Noel, O Holy Night, Joy To The World, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Deck The Hall, Silent Night,.........the list goes on. If you don't already have this recording, get it; this is an absolute MUST HAVE!

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas without Nat!? What's that about?!, November 22, 2000

By	C. E. Miles (O'Fallon, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It just can't be Christmas until you've heard Nat King Cole sing "The Christmas Song". I can't begin to tell you how many times I have heard the songs contained on this CD, but I can tell you they never get old. There is just something about them, and the way Nat sings them that keep them new. Nat King Cole was one of the greatest vocal talents we have ever known, and the fact that he saw fit to lay down these wonderful holiday standards for us to enjoy year after year, is indeed a treat. Sure these songs and carols have been around forever, but isn't that what Christmas is about; tradition, and familiarity? I you haven't got this CD yet, what are you waiting for? Pick it up today, I promise you won't be disappointed.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for any Nat King Cole fan..., December 14, 2001

By	Ken Claassen (Norman, OK USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

... but a delight for others as well!

Before I begin, let me say that I am one of those people who could sit and listen to Nat King Cole's voice for hours on end. He has one of those voices that makes you relax no matter what kind of mood you happen to be in at the moment.

That said, I've listened to a lot of songs by Mr. Cole, and I don't believe he is in finer voice on any other album he ever did than on "The Christmas Song." Most people have heard Nat's rendition of the title cut ("Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..."), but there are a lot of other superb tracks on this CD as well. My favorite is his stirring rendition of "Adeste Fidelis" (for those who don't know, that's "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful" in the original Latin). Nat sings the entire song in the original language, and it gives me chills every time I hear it.

Another song Nat tackles in its original language is "O Tannenbaum" ("O Christmas Tree" in the orginal German for you non-linguists out there). Along with Christmas classics such as, "Deck the Halls," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "O Holy Night," "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," "Away in a Manger," "Joy to the World," "The First Noel," and "Silent Night," there are several selections which are hard to find on other CDs. Among these are the cheerful "Caroling, Caroling" and Nat's jaunty rendering of "I Saw Three Ships." Finally, the soothing and thoughtful "A Cradle in Bethlehem" is a perfect lullaby for getting your keyed-up little ones to sleep on Christmas Eve. Though not the final song on the disk, it would have made a perfect conclusion, IMHO.

This is a masterwork, plain and simple, and a must-have for your Christmas collection. Buy it. Trust me. You won't be disappointed.