Search - Nat King Cole :: Christmas Song

A heartfelt holiday wish from one of the greats.

Mary Whipple | New England | 11/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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"

Nat King Cole And The Meaning of Christmas

Mel B. McClure | Broomfield, Colorado United States | 11/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

One of the best Holiday albums of all time

T. Gore | Neu Joisy | 12/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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"