The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) - Les Brown (Doris Day, vocal)
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Woody Herman
Auld Lang Syne - Tommy Tucker Time
Christmas always has been and always will be an important holiday, but during the ?40s it took on a special meaning. For some, it meant the cessation of hostilities and a chance for a good meal; for others, it was the time... more » of the year when the pangs for a missing loved one were particularly acute. And as always, Christmas meant a celebration of spirit, family and?most importantly during that momentous decade?hope. We?ve collected 25 of the most beloved holiday-themed recordings from the ?40s for your listening enjoyment?we daresay they?ll make your 21st-century Christmas celebrations a little brighter.« less
Christmas always has been and always will be an important holiday, but during the ?40s it took on a special meaning. For some, it meant the cessation of hostilities and a chance for a good meal; for others, it was the time of the year when the pangs for a missing loved one were particularly acute. And as always, Christmas meant a celebration of spirit, family and?most importantly during that momentous decade?hope. We?ve collected 25 of the most beloved holiday-themed recordings from the ?40s for your listening enjoyment?we daresay they?ll make your 21st-century Christmas celebrations a little brighter.
CD Reviews
A trip back in time....
S. K. Peck | Cleveland, Ohio | 10/20/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A Merry 1940s Christmas is a nice collection of recordings by some of the most popular artists of the decade. Most of the selections are unique to this compilation. Here is the track listing:
1. A Merry American Christmas--Kate Smith, Orchestra under direction of Jack Miller
2. When You Trim Your Christmas Tree--Les Brown & His Orchestra, Vocal by Jack Haskell
3. Here Comes Santa Claus(Down Santa Claus Lane)--Gene Autry
4. The First Noel/Angels from the Realms of Glory--Richard Keys Biggs(played on the great organ of the Blessed Sacrament Church, Hollywood)
5. Christmas Dreaming(A Little Early This Year)--Frank Sinatra, Orchestra under direction of Axel Stordahl
6. Little Jack Frost Get Lost--Frankie Carle & His Orchestra, Vocal by Marjorie Hughes
7. Blue Christmas--Hugo Winterhalter & His Orchestra and Choir
8. Baby, It's Cold Outside--Pearl Bailey & Hot Lips Page with Rhythm Accompaniment
9. White Christmas--Charlie Spivak & His Orchestra, Vocal by Garry Stevens
10. Ol' Saint Nicholas--Doris Day with male quartet
11. Adeste Fideles(O Come, All Ye Faithful)--The Lyn Murray Singers conducted by Lyn Murray, solos by Ruth Carhart & Floyd Sherman
12. Winter Wonderland--Buddy Clark with the Girl Friends, Orchestra under direction of Ted Dale
13. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm--Les Brown & His Band of Renown
14. All I Want for Christmas(Is My Two Front Teeth)--Mary Kaye Trio, Orchestra under direction of George Wyle
15. Ave Maria--Hour of Charm All Girl Orchestra and Choir, featuring vocal solo by Jeanne and Evelyn & Her Magic Violin; under direction of Phil Spitalny
16. The Merry Christmas Polka--Dinah Shore with Jud Conlon's Rhythmaires; Orchestra under direction of Harry Zimmerman
17. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas(from the MGM Picture "Meet Me in St. Louis")--Frank Sinatra; Orchestra under direction of Axel Stordahl
18. Winter Weather--Benny Goodman & His Orchestra; Vocal by Art Lund & Peggy Lee
19. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer--Gene Autry & The Pinafores with orchestal accompaniment
20. I'll Be Home for Christmas--Jerry Wayne and vocal group with orchestral accompaniment
21. The Skaters(Les Patineurs)--Al Goodman & His Orchestra
22. The Jingle Bell Polka--The Modernaires Featuring Hal Dickinson; Orchestra under direction of Lou Bring
23. The Christmas Song(Merry Christmas to You)--Les Brown & His Orchestra; Vocal by Doris Day
24. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!--Woody Herman & His Orchestra; Vocal by Woody Herman
25. Auld Lang Syne--Tommy Tucker Time; Vocal by Don Brown, Kerwin Somerville & The Three Two-Timers
26. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?--Kay Kyser & His Orchestra; Vocal by Harry Babbitt and The Campus Kids
A very pleasant trip back to a time when the bandleader was the star and the band was called an Orchestra! Highly recommended for fans of 1940's music and vocalists."
And the nostaligia continues...
Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 11/18/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A Merry 1940's Christmas features twenty six great songs by some of the best artists of the 1940s. This CD is sure to please everyone who enjoys classic Christmastime vocals; and I can't believe it's not currently in print!
The CD starts with the famous Kate Smith performing "A Merry American Christmas." This charming tune uses the brass well as Kate Smith sings this to perfection. Kate's excellent diction bolsters her performance, too. Gene Autry also does his classic "Here Comes Santa Claus (Down Santa Claus Lane)." The melody is sweet and Gene Autry delivers this upbeat tune without a superfluous note! Love the bells and percussion! Moreover, listen for a young Frank Sinatra singing "Christmas Dreaming (A Little Early This Year)." The strings enhance the natural beauty of "Christmas Dreaming (A Little Early This Year)" and Frank never sounded better!
The hits keep coming. Listen for Pearl Bailey and Hot Lips Page on "Baby, It's Cold Outside." Their banter during this great number makes it nothing short of perfect. Dinah Shore and the Rhythmaires perform a lovely rendition of "The Merry Christmas Polka;" and Frank Sinatra returns to sing a splendid "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas."
We also get Gene Autry's " Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" which was a big hit for him when others considered it too "corny" to record; and the CD ends with a charming interpretation of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" with Kay Kyser & His Orchestra; Harry Babbitt sings this last number to perfection. I have to wonder why I haven't heard more of Harry Babbitt.
Of course, there are some additional numbers that stick to the more religious themes of Christmas. We get "Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful)" and "Ava Maria."
The liner notes have great artwork and the essay by Joseph F. Laredo is very informative. Great!
Overall, anyone who enjoys classic Christmastime vocals will cherish this album for years to come. I highly recommend this CD of classic holiday tunes.
"
Pure Pop.
Jiggs | In my mind's eye, USA | 11/15/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a true 1940's collection. It features several things I've never seen elsewhere. The whole thing is pleasant and not the same few 1940's Christmas songs. If you like nostalgia and warmth at Christmas, this will enhance the season."
Classic
Aaron M. Molina | Duluth, MN United States | 01/11/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love the old time feeling of this CD. Go back to the old days where the Christmas music was honest and real. I'm a Christmas music freak and this CD is perfect for me."
Not quite THAT good
J. C Clark | Overland Park, KS United States | 12/01/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Remember those Firestone LPs from the 60s? They featured a mishmash of performers and styles, including some older recordings, available only at your local dealer. We got a new one every year, and played them until the grooves vanished. I loved the eclecticism and variety! But not every cut on every LP.
I purchased this to get "Here Comes Santa Claus", one of the treasured Christmas memories of my childhood, and a song certain to vanish from school programs, if it hasn't already. This is not an easy-to-locate performance, so for that alone I am happy. There are a number of other charming and delightful goodies here, and no Bing is OK by me; I have him in spades elsewhere. One cut on a CD like this would be redundant for most people I think.
But I don't get why the instrumentals and generic choir pieces were included. I realize every such compilation CD is going to spark wonder, but these are weak. I have far better performances of sacred Christmas music elsewhere; hearing them performed in these wheezy and sonically limited performances adds nothing. I would happily have traded them for a track or two by the Andrews Sisters or something by Perry Como, who recorded many delightful Christmas tunes.
Small issues. Overall, a nice package. I heard several wonderful new things and was reintroduced to several others. If not perfect (and that's what 5 stars means to me) it is a darn fine collection!"
Track Listings (25) - Disc #1