Frank Sinatra Christmas Collection

Frank Sinatra

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 26, 2004)
• Original Release Date: October 26, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Reprise
• ASIN: B00063MC66
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,056 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

1. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

2. The Christmas Waltz

3. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

4. The Little Drummer Boy

5. We Wish You the Merriest

6. Have Yourself a Merry Christmas

7. Go Tell It On The Mountain

8. The Christmas Song

9. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

10. I Wouldn't Trade Christmas

11. Christmas Memories

12. The Twelve Days of Christmas

13. Bells of Christmas

14. An Old Fashioned Christmas

15. A Baby Just Like You

16. Whatever Happened to Christmas

17. White Christmas

18. Silent Night

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Talk about your gifts of Christmas past, The Christmas Collection is a must-have for any Sinatra-phile, right down to its family photos and one priceless shot of Sinatra swinging a golf club next to the tree wearing a Santa suit! Complete with four previously unreleased tracks (some from live TV specials) -- including two with Bing Crosby ("The Christmas Song" and "White Christmas"), the 18-song collection surveys Sinatra's holiday output and its effects are often chilling. Listening to him glide soulfully through Jimmy Webb's melancholy but romantic "What Ever Happened to Christmas?" or hearing him do his immaculate phrasing on "Silent Night" when he was visibly frail and aging in 1991 are close encounters of a Sinatra kind that are rarely captured on one album. There's also a delightful "The Twelve Days of Christmas" sung with his kids Nancy and Frank, Jr., from their 1969 record The Sinatra Family Wish You A Merry Christmas and insightful and intimate liner notes by James Ritz, not to mention those magical orchestral arrangements. Here's a five-star package to remind us that it's still Frank's world--we just rent a stable in it. Highly recommended. --Martin Keller

Product Description

It's starting to sound a lot like an Ol' Blue Eyes Christmas with this hearth and heart-warming TV-marketed collection of Yuletide favorites. On traditional carols and holiday favorites from the American popular soundtrack, no one can deliver a vocal like Sinantra!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Christmas Collection for the Entire Family ~ Frank Sinatra", October 26, 2004

By	J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Reprise and the Sinatra Family bring together a rare find "The Christmas Collection", featuring the head of the clan Mr. Frank Sinatra in fine voice for this special time of the year ~ classic arrangements from Harry Betts, Don Costa, Jack Holloran, Nelson Riddle and Dick Reynolds...with Fred Waring & His Pennsylvanians, Jimmy Joyce Singers & Orchestra and Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra...joining in the seasonal splendor are his children Tina, Nancy and Frank Jr., making this Christmas all the more special.

Performances cover several decades of Frank's career, including a few with Bing Crosby like "WE WISH YOU THE MERRIEST" and "GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN" [1964], featuring Fred Waring & His Pennsylvanians from "The Twelve Songs Of Christmas" ~ "THE CHRISTMAS SONG" and "WHITE CHRISTMAS" [1957], previously unissued from "Happy Holidays With Bing & Frank" an ABC segment from The Frank Sinatra Show with Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra, a nostalgic outing for the two crooners and Riddle...you can tell they are having a blast.

All of the Sinatra's join in with "I WOULDN'T TRADE CHRISTMAS", "THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS" and "THE BELLS OF CHRISTMAS (Greensleeves)" [1968], featuring Tina, Nancy, Frank Jr. and Dad(Frank), with Nelson Riddle arrangements from the album "The Sinatra Family Wish You A Merry Christmas", sounds like a tree trimming gathering as the Jimmy Joyce Singers & Orchestra put the final touches on the decorations...Frank seems the happiest with his children around him.

The closing bonus track of "SILENT NIGHT", the vocal recorded on August 27, 1991...orchestral was arranged and added by Johnny Mandel featuring Bill T. Miller [celeste], Al Viola [guitar], Ron Anthony [guitar], Chuck Berghofer [bass], Julie Berghofer [harp], Larry Bunker [percussion], Jim Hughart [bass], recorded and conducted by his son Frank Jr. on March 25, 2004 ~ this tender and emotional track will bring a tear to your eye...you'll remember how much we miss "Ole Blue Eyes"...they'll never be another like 'em, but we have him in our hearts...just the way it should be!

Total Time: 53:46 on 18 Tracks ~ Reprise 76542 ~ (10/26/2004)

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Nearly as Good as "Christmas Songs by Sinatra", December 19, 2006

By	J. Katz (Virginia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Bought this CD on the basis of the good reviews here. I like it, but overall, I don't think it touches the quality Frank gives us on "Christmas Songs by Sinatra."

This version relies on lots and lots of choral support -- which isn't my preferred way to hear Sinatra.

"Christmas Songs by Sinatra" contains more straight Sinatra. Also, it has more traditional songs, whereas this CD has lots of songs that I don't think Frank sings as well as the old standards.

Don't get me wrong, I think this CD is fine. But I'd recommend "A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra" and "Christmas Songs by Sinatra" IF you prefer Sinatra singing classic Christmas songs largely on his own.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sentimental Holiday Journey With Sinatra !, November 14, 2005

By	L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (fountain valley, ca United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

I bought this album a few weeks ago to check out and add to my arsenal of Holiday music. It seems to have become permanently affixed to my CD player. I cannot bring myself to replace it's slot with any other music so far. I LOVE it, and have been listening to it over and over, and it's not even Thanksgiving yet!!

Frank Sinatra's "The Christmas Collection" is a must have for the Holidays. Sinatra seems to bring everything Christmassy to this gorgeous album. It's sentimental, it captures the spirit of giving, and the warm holiday feeling. There are some real treasures here. There are several performed together with Bing Crosby. "The Christmas Song", and "White Christmas" are a couple that the two did on a TV show that aired in 1957 and was found in the vaults.

He gives this album a real homey and family feeling. He sings with Nancy, and Frank Jr. on "The Bells of Christmas", "I Wouldn't Trade Christmas" and a fun and original rendition of "Twelve Days Of Christmas". Grandaughter Angela ("A Baby Just Like You") is mentioned in song, and pays tribute to his mother as well.

"Go Tell it On The Mountain" is a beautiful rendition (With Bing),and the tenderness he puts into "Silent Night"( a bonus track previously unissued) will evoke goose bumps. Of course there's some fun as well with "Santa Clause Is Coming To Town". And I hardly have to mention Frank's voice. So familiar, recognizable, smooth and comforting.

Other songs included are "The Christmas Waltz", "The Little Drummer Boy" and "We Wish You The Merriest"(more fun with Bing). There are 18 wonderful tracks in all(see buying info for complete list), and the CD a good length, running close to an hour. An excellent quality of some of these very old recordings.
A nice booklet in included and has some informative notes relating to the recordings, and each song is listed with the original date recorded(ranging from the 50's through the 70's), and some great pix of Frank too.

You may have some of these Christmas songs on other albums, but this is Sinatra, and he does it his way. It's a sentimental holiday journey with Sinatra that you may want to listen to all year long!

A highly recommended addition to your Holiday music!
Happy Holidays To All....Laurie

also recommended:Nothing But the Best -- USPS Special Edition (includes first day cover of Sinatra stamp and rare bonus track)

here's a few more you may enjoy for the holidays;
Yule B Swingin' Too,
Harry for the Holidays,
and To Wish You a Merry Christmas