Favorite Holiday CD's/Tunes 2008

cookie · December-18th-2008, 11:38 PM

I hate Christmas.
I love Christmas.
It's the perfect/worst holiday for bipolar alcoholics
(which is cool because Kenny Werner said w'---ahem, I mean, THEY, make the best jazz singers). It was a joke! Just a joke.... ('n' the truth, sometimes truth)

Fortunately, I love holiday music. LOVE it. Makes the bull more or less tolerable. It's such fun to fire up those old chestnuts for their yearly sleigh ride.

This is what I've been into this year:

Tony Bennett's Christmas CD with the Count Basie Orchestra. Whee!! LOVE the swing. I won't sing "I'll Be Home for Christmas" at anything other than a medium swing ever again. He brought so many old songs new life. I've been giving copies away and bought the edition with the Benedetto Christmas cards.

And that's the other cool thing: discovering cool yule tunes you hadn't yet heard (or as a performer, hadn't yet approached). This year I sang Charles Brown's "Merry Christmas, Baby", Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas", and Hoagy Carmichael's "White World of Winter" for the first time. I found a wonderful recording of the latter (a tune I really hadn't heard before and stumbled across on a sheet-music site) by the Air-Force Diplomats. They did it as a samba. The singer and pianist knocked me out---and they're serving our country!! Bless 'em, everyone.

Listenin' to seasonal tunes? Which ones? Buy any new recordings this year or just diggin' on the trad?

Merry whatever, yo!

Jazzooo · December-19th-2008, 01:02 AM

For you, Cookie--happy holidays!

http://www.speedyshare.com/118962471.html

Squaredancecalling Steve · December-19th-2008, 02:54 AM

Should move this to Other Music.

I have 50 Christmas and seasonal songs in my dance laptop, way too many to play at a dance, so I choose a dozen for my HOT Christmas folder and play from that. This is what this year's folder looks like:

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas -- Frank Sinatra
Holly Jolly Christmas -- Burl Ives
Jingle Bells -- Ella Fitzgerald
Jingle Bell Rock -- Bobby Helms
Merry Christmas Baby -- Charles Brown
Mistletoe and Holly -- Sinatra
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree -- Brenda Lee
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer -- Gene Autry
Run Rudolph Run -- Chuck Berry
Santa Baby -- Eartha Kitt
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve -- Ella
White Christmas -- The Drifters

Pete C · December-19th-2008, 07:29 AM

The Three Suns - A Ding Dong Dandy Christmas

Vince Kargatis · December-19th-2008, 07:56 AM

I just burned this comp for Thor's preschool teachers as gifts:

Andy Williams - "It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year " (Croon & Swoon: A Classic Christmas, 1998)
Diana Krall - "Jingle Bells" (Christmas Songs, 2005)
Johnny Mathis - "Winter Wonderland" (Croon & Swoon: A Classic Christmas, 1998)
Doug Robinson - "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (Soundtrack for a Silent Night, 2000)
Kitka - "Carol of the Bells" (Christmas Music (Magnatune Compilation), 2007)
Mel Torme - "The Christmas Song" (Have Yourself A Jazzy Little Christmas, 1989)
Sufjan Stevens - "Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance!" (Songs for Christmas vol.III: Ding! Dong!, 2003)
Brave Combo - "Must Be Santa" (It's Christmas, Man!, 1992)
Ella Fitzgerald - "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" (Have Yourself A Jazzy Little Christmas, 1989)
Leroy Anderson - "Sleigh Ride" (Croon & Swoon: A Classic Christmas, 1998)
John Fahey - "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" (A New Possibility - John Fahey's Christmas Album, 1968)
James Edwards - "What Child Is This - Greensleeves" (Christmas Music (Magnatune Compilation), 2007)
Frank Sinatra - "The Christmas Waltz" (A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra, 1957)
Jo Stafford - "Let It Snow" (Happy Holidays; I Love The Winter Weather, 1956)
Gene Autry - "Frosty The Snowman" (Croon & Swoon: A Classic Christmas, 1998)
Rosie Thomas - "Why Can't It Be Christmastime All Year" (A Very Rosie Christmas, 2008)
Marcus Roberts - "White Christmas" (Prayer for Peace, 1991)
Vince Guaraldi - "Skating" (A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965)
Louis Armstrong - "The Night Before Christmas - A Poem" (Santa Claus Blues, 1988)

Jazzooo · December-19th-2008, 09:38 AM

That's nice company to be in, thanks Vince.

cookie · December-19th-2008, 09:48 AM

Dug your track, Jazzooo Doug. Thanks, man!

bigtiny · December-19th-2008, 09:57 AM

My favorite is a Columbia album from the mid80s called "God Rest Ye Merry Jazzmen". Excellent tunes from Wynton, Dexter Gordon, et al

Of course, I'd give my left arm to hear Bill Dixon's take on "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (The Xmas Song)" =:-)

bigtiny

bostontricky · December-19th-2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

I just burned this comp for Thor's preschool teachers as gifts:

Andy Williams - "It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year "

You got that one right, V. For some reason, the "Now! That's What I Call Christmas" compilation has Johnny Mathis singing this, and his voice is reedy and light compared to Williams.

What a set of pipes, who else could belt out a song like that (besides Sinatra)?

walto · December-19th-2008, 10:35 AM

I thought that on most compilations Williams sings that one and Mathis does "Chestnuts Roasting."

Vince Kargatis · December-19th-2008, 10:46 AM

Yeah, I think Williams' is the most common, and Mathis's voice is "reedy and light" compared to most anyone, right?

I do like his "Winter Wonderland" as above, the epitome of cheerful mall music. That Croon and Swoon comp is great.

bostontricky · December-19th-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walto

I thought that on most compilations Williams sings that one and Mathis does "Chestnuts Roasting."

No, no. For "The Christmas Song", Nat King Cole. Or Mel Torme, I guess.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

Yeah, I think Williams' is the most common, and Mathis's voice is "reedy and light" compared to most anyone, right? I do like his "Winter Wonderland" as above, the epitome of cheerful mall music. That Croon and Swoon comp is great.

I dunno what was up with that compilation. They nailed most of the tracks, but no Andy Williams, and no Phil Spector tracks either. "Winter Wonderland"? I'm looking for a clip of Garrett Morris from the first season of SNL. I'll take him, thanks.

Can Mathis sing "Silver Bells", or am I missing who defines that song?

Jazzooo · December-19th-2008, 11:28 AM

Here's another freebie--if you like it, add it to your rotation with my compliments.

We Three Kings: piano/arr by Doug Robinson; Peter Erskine, drums; Dave Carpenter, bass; Bob Sheppard, tenor sax

http://www.speedyshare.com/237271548.html

The first one, in my response to Cookie, features the same players doing my arrangement of Joy To the World. Here is the link again:

http://www.speedyshare.com/118962471.html

Ho, ho.

abarzell24 · December-19th-2008, 11:39 AM

the yellowjackets have a nice christmas album as well

Gentle Giant · December-19th-2008, 11:40 AM

Hate holiday music with a passion, but I invite and encourage folks to check out a brand-new recording streaming on Brian Wilson's website of Brian doing Mel Torme's The Christmas Song.

And if you like that, and love heavenly vocals:

Chris D · December-19th-2008, 11:45 AM

Did an all-vinyl cookie exchange soundtrack a couple of weeks back using in part or all of...
"God Rest Ye Merry Jazzmen," Dexter!
Kinks, "Father Christmas"
C Berry, "Run Run Rudolph"
John Fahey, "The New Possibility"
"A Motown Christmas," especially Tempts "Silent Night" and "Rudolph, Stevie and the J5.
Spector's "A Christmas Gift to You" (no, not a new trial!)
Waitresses, "Christmas Wrapping"
Run DMC, "Christmas in Hollis"
Art Hodes' solo holiday LP on some label out of Michigan
Roches on the Messiah excerpt and others (but never Frosty, pukey juvenalia here)
Ella's Verve LP
Christmas with Nat King Cole
Guaraldi of course (side 1 as people arrived).
Spruce, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" (B side of "My Hometown")
John McCutcheon, "Detroit, December" (from the really nice "Winter Solstice," not to be confused with the Windham Hill thingy)
Linda Russell, "Sing We All Merrily: A Colonial Christmas"
Kenny Burrell, "Silent Night"
Queen, "Thank God It's Christmas"
Charles Brown, off some Charly comp
Louis, "Zat you, Santa Claus?"

walto · December-19th-2008, 11:47 AM

Quote:

No, no. For "The Christmas Song", Nat King Cole. Or Mel Torme, I guess.

OK, I'm gonna go look. One second.....

walto · December-19th-2008, 12:01 PM

Alright, I'm back with the goods. Here we go.

On one of them:

Humperdink, White Xmas
Bennett, Have yourself...
Streisand, Favorite things [that's an xmas song???]
Simon and Garflooful, Star Carol
Williams, Most wonderful time
Mathis (with Percy Faith Orch), Xmas song
Nabors, Sleigh Ride [and does Gomer ever have a weird voice]
Aretha, Winter Wonderland
Mike Douglas {yeesh}, Silent Night
Kostelanetz with st. Killians kiddles, We wish you a merry xmas

Got another one that's all Burl Ives.

Then here's one,

Autry, Here comes Santa
Crosby, White Xmas
Drifters, I saw mommy fondling Santa
Lettermen, Oh xmas tree
Mahalia, Silent Night (way better than Mikey)\
Pat Boone, 1st noel
Lou Monte, O Come all ye
Crosby, Deck the Halls
Autry, Oh little town of B-hem
Mahalia, Hark the Herald
Clooney, It came upon
Lettermen, It feels like xmas
Autry, Up on the house top
Miracles, My fave time of the year
Crosby, Jingle Bells
Letermen, 12 days of xmas
Bing & Frank, God rest ye from this album
Villy Vaughan, Auld Lang Syne

And finally,

Ray Charles, Xmas time
Jimmie Rodgers, Lil shepherd
Drifters, white xmas
Donny Hathaway, This xmas
The Cadillacs, Rudolf
Glen Campbell, I'll be home for xmas
Haggard, winter wonderland
Vandross, May xmas bring you happiness
Jackie Wilson, Deck the halls
Redding, Merry xmas, baby

clinthopson · December-19th-2008, 12:23 PM

XM/Sirius Real Jazz channel is doing a good job of fitting in jazz versions of those dogs.

steve(thelil) · December-19th-2008, 11:00 PM

The only traditional Holiday song I still like is "Mistletoe Belt"

Vince Kargatis · December-20th-2008, 07:05 AM

One track I really love is the performance of Monk's "A Merrier Christmas" by Steve Lacy, Mal Waldron, and Irene Aebi on the RCA/Novus comp A Merry Jazzmas. I find it very pretty, quite enchanting, though not one for Aebi-haters.

Since it's oop, and a pretty unique Christmas track (I think there's one other performance, by Benny Green on another comp), I'll put it up:

http://kargatron.net/mp3/Lacy-AMerrierChristmas.mp3

bostontricky · December-20th-2008, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

though not one for Aebi-haters.

Why are you dragging Uli into this?

shrugs · December-20th-2008, 12:57 PM

shrugs · December-20th-2008, 12:58 PM

Herb Wong's Mistletoe Magic lp's have some good cuts too.

patricia · December-20th-2008, 01:29 PM

Mahalia Jackson made a really nice Christmas album that I have been playing every year since my girls were little.
They both, on their own, bought their own copy, so I guess it is part of their memories of Christmas at home.

Right now I am playing a record that is very nice. It is Christmas Is - Memorable songs of Chiristmas by great artists of our time.
Yes, it is kind of hokey. It has a cut by Barbra Streisand, Jo Stafford, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, The Carpenters, Julie Andrews, Any Williams, The Hillside Singers, Doris Day, Bing Crosby, Patti Page, Vikki Car, Judy Garland and the Mills Brothers.
It puts me in the right frame of mind for the season, since I tend to get the Christmas spirit around the 27th otherwise.

Gentle Giant · December-20th-2008, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bostontricky

Why are you dragging Uli into this?

shrugs · December-20th-2008, 07:27 PM

Mingus · December-20th-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patricia

Right now I am playing a record that is very nice. It is Christmas Is - Memorable songs of Chiristmas by great artists of our time.
Yes, it is kind of hokey. It has a cut by Barbra Streisand, Jo Stafford, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, The Carpenters, Julie Andrews, Any Williams, The Hillside Singers, Doris Day, Bing Crosby, Patti Page, Vikki Car, Judy Garland and the Mills Brothers.

I WOULD RATHER DIE.

(Mahalia Jackson on the other hand... :-)

Mingus · December-20th-2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shrugs

Thank You Shrugs.

Merry Christmas to you.

-Mingus

patricia · December-20th-2008, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mingus

Thank You Shrugs.

Merry Christmas to you.

-Mingus

Love it!!!
Thanks and MERRY CHRISTMAS to you!!!

The compilation I mentioned is not the only music I play during the Chrismas season. It just happened to be the one I was listening to when I posted.

And Mingus, I also have Nat King Cole The Christmas Song, Hagood Hardy A Very Special Christmas, Jimmy Smith Christmas Cookin, The Mills Brothers Merry Christmas, The Glenn Miller Orchestra In The Christmas Mood and The Nutcracker, also by the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
I said that the compilation I mentioned earlier was hokey.