The Christmas Song [Extra tracks]

Nat King Cole

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 27, 2005)
• Original Release Date: September 27, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B000B19AUE
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,317 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) [1961 Version]

2. Deck the Hall

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. Cradle in Bethlehem

11. Away in a Manger

12. Joy to the World

13. First Noel

14. Caroling, Caroling

15. O Come All Ye Faithful

16. Silent Night

17. Nat's Introduction

18. Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) - Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole

19. Nat's Christmas Wishes

20. Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) [1946 Version with Strings] - King Cole Trio

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

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

Product Description

No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: COLE,NAT KING
Title: CHRISTMAS SONG
Street Release Date: 09/27/2005
Domestic
Genre: XMAS VOCAL

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A heartfelt holiday wish from one of the greats., November 18, 2005

By	Mary Whipple (New England) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Singing traditional Christmas songs with dignity and feeling, this Nat King Cole holiday album gloriously captures the spirit of the season. Without fireworks, improvisations, catchy rhythms, or unusual variations, Cole gives us songs full of love in his relaxed and unpretentious style. Accompanied by two orchestras and choruses, which are directed by Ralph Carmichael, Cole still manages to keep his style simple and the songs "clean," sometimes slowing the lyrics in order to make them more expressive of the meaning.

"The Christmas Song," written by Mel Torme has always been Cole's biggest Christmas hit, beautifully sung to an accompaniment of piano and strings. "O Holy Night," with a 27-string orchestra, maintains its sense of quiet awe, instead of becoming loudly triumphant (as it is in many other recordings), while "Adeste Fidelis," sung partly in Latin, speaks to the listener on a personal level and invites him/her to "come, let us adore him," instead of demanding it. The jaunty "I Saw Three Ships" and "The First Noel" are sung with an a capella chorus, and two less-recorded songs, "A Cradle in Bethlehem," from England, and "Caroling, Caroling," written in the US by A. E. Burt add new songs to the Christmas repertoire.

The orchestra and choruses here, while large, are used to highlight Nat King Cole's vocal interpretations, instead of making their own statements, and the use of bells, bell lyre, flutes, and harp often add depth to the background while adding emphasis to the lyrics. Traditional and restrained, Cole's album honors the season and its message, an album one could listen to all day without tiring. Mary Whipple

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nat King Cole And The Meaning of Christmas, November 14, 2006

By	Mel B. McClure "archerbard" (Broomfield, Colorado United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have been buying Christmas albums for years and never really took the time to look at this one, my mistake. It is a classic, and should be in everyone's collection. Nat King Cole really brings out the meaning of Christmas, joy and wonder, in the variety of songs he sings, his smooth exquisite voice and phrasing are the best.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Holiday albums of all time, December 17, 2006

By	T. Gore "old_sckool" (Neu Joisy) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I will admit that Christmas music has become rather "annoying" as every year it seems that Chirstmas starts earlier and earlier. The radio stations already started going to all Christmas music, 24/7 on Nov 1st, and that way to early. Talk about spoiling the season, yet there is one Christmas album that I never tire of, and that Nat King Coles masterpiece "The Christmas Song" With so much holiday music to choose from, espically with many of todays artist releasing more "modernized" Christmas albums, this one still should be in everyones collection, even if you are to young to remember Nat. This classic was released in 1961, and even though I didnt start listening to it til the late 70's, it still is not only a great "Christmas" album, but a fantastic album overall, its even great if its not the season. Nat's smooth voice is a perfect fit for this laid back Chrismas Classic, and its I cant recommend it enough for not just fans of Christmas music, but to fans of Hip Hop and RnB. ENJOY