Christmas Songs by Sinatra

Last updated
Christmas Songs by Frank Sinatra
Christmassongsbysinatra.jpg
Studio album by
Frank Sinatra
Released1948 (78 rpm and 10" LP)
RecordedNovember 14, 1944 – November 5, 1950
Genre
Length23:53
Label Columbia
Frank Sinatra chronology
Songs by Sinatra
(1947)		Christmas Songs by Frank Sinatra
(1948)		 Frankly Sentimental
(1949)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Christmas Songs by Sinatra is the third studio album by the American singer Frank Sinatra. It was released in 1948 as a 78 rpm album set and a 10" LP record (CL 6019) featuring a collection of eight holiday songs. A compilation album was released in 1994 including the songs released on the 1948 album (three original takes; five previously unreleased alternate takes) along with other Christmas songs from his years recording at Columbia.

Contents

Columbia reissued the album several times in later years with alternate track listings and different artwork. 1957 saw the first 12" release as Christmas Dreaming (CL 1032) with the addition of "Christmas Dreaming (A Little Early This Year)" and "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!", though the latter was dropped from later releases when the album was reissued and retitled as Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Harmony HS 11200) in October 1966. This version peaked at #42 on Billboard's Best Bets For Christmas album chart on December 21, 1968. [2]

A stylized paper craft version of the LP album with its original 1948 Christmas tree cover art is prominently featured in the official music video for Sinatra's "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!". [3] However, the 1948 version of the album did not contain the track.

Track listing

1948 78rpm 4-disc

Source: [4]

Disc 1 (Columbia)

Disc 2 (Columbia)

Disc 3 (Columbia)

Disc 4 (Columbia)

1948 10" LP record (Columbia)

Side A

  1. "White Christmas"
  2. "Jingle Bells"
  3. "Silent Night"
  4. "Adeste Fideles"

Side B

  1. "O Little Town of Bethlehem"
  2. "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"
  3. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
  4. "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town"

1994 compilation album: CD / Track listing

  1. "White Christmas" (Irving Berlin) – 3:29+
  2. "Silent Night" (Josef Mohr, Franz X. Gruber) – 3:16+
  3. "Adeste Fideles (O, Come All Ye Faithful)" (Frederick Oakeley, John Francis Wade) – 2:36
  4. "Jingle Bells" (James Pierpont) – 2:35+
  5. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin) – 2:33
  6. "Christmas Dreaming (A Little Early This Year)" (Irving Gordon, Lester Lee) – 2:57
  7. "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" (Edmund Sears, Richard Storrs Willis) – 3:31+
  8. "O Little Town of Bethlehem" (Phillips Brooks, Lewis Redner) – 3:03
  9. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" (J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie) – 2:33+
  10. "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" (Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne) – 2:35
  11. Introduction by General Reynolds, Chief of Special Services – 0:59
  12. Medley: "O, Little Town of Bethlehem"/"Joy to the World"/"White Christmas" (Brooks, Redner)/(Isaac Watts, Lowell Mason)/(Berlin) – 5:15
  13. "Ave Maria" (Franz Schubert) – 3:28^
  14. "Winter Wonderland" (Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith) – 2:03^
  15. "The Lord's Prayer" (Albert Hay Malotte) – 3:34^

+ previously unreleased alternate take

^ previously unreleased

Charts

Chart performance for Christmas Songs by Sinatra
Chart (1948–2023)Peak
position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [5] 12
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [6] 28
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [7] 58
Italian Albums (FIMI) [8] 64
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA) [9] 51
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [10] 20
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [11] 28
US Billboard 200 [12] 71

Related Research Articles

<i>The Christmas in You</i> 2005 studio album by Jill Johnson

The Christmas in You was released on 16 November 2005 and is a Christmas album from Swedish pop and country singer Jill Johnson. The album was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee in the United States. It peaked at number three on the Swedish Albums Chart.

<i>Merry Christmas</i> (The Supremes album) 1965 studio album by The Supremes

Merry Christmas is the seventh studio album recorded by Motown girl group The Supremes, and released on Motown Records in November 1965. The LP, produced by Harvey Fuqua, includes recordings of familiar Christmas songs such as "White Christmas", "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", "My Favorite Things", and "Joy to the World". Two originals, "Children's Christmas Song" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Me", were issued as a single. Neither Wilson nor Ballard sing on the original 1965 release of "Merry Christmas". They were too tired from their appearance at the Copacabana so The Andantes were used instead.

<i>Garth Brooks & the Magic of Christmas</i> 1999 studio album by Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks & the Magic of Christmas is the second holiday album by American country music artist Garth Brooks. It was released on November 23, 1999, peaked at number seven on the Billboard 200 chart, and number one on the Top Country Albums chart. Two years after this album's release, Brooks released a reissue of this album, Songs from Call Me Claus, which contained most of the songs from this release. The only tracks which were not carried over were "White Christmas", "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen", and "Go Tell It on the Mountain".

<i>Songs from Call Me Claus</i> 2001 compilation album by Garth Brooks

Songs from Call Me Claus is a reissue of Garth Brooks and the Magic of Christmas, the second Christmas album by American country music artist Garth Brooks, and was released on September 25, 2001. The songs exclusive to this release are "Call Me Claus," "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and "'Zat You, Santa Claus?".

<i>Christmas with the Rat Pack</i> 2002 compilation album by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr.

Christmas with the Rat Pack is a 2002 musical album compiling Christmas songs by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.

<i>WOW Christmas: Green</i> 2005 compilation album by Various artists

WOW Christmas: Green is the second release in the WOW Christmas series. It is the follow-up to the platinum-selling WOW Christmas: Red album. The double-disc album features 15 new tracks that are exclusive to this release. The album peaked at #54 on the Billboard 200 chart in 2005, and at #2 on the Top Christian Albums chart. WOW Christmas: Green was certified gold in 2006 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<i>Christmas in Vienna</i> (album) 1993 live album by Plácido Domingo, Diana Ross and José Carreras

Christmas in Vienna is a 1993 live album of American soul singer Diana Ross and Spanish tenors Plácido Domingo and José Carreras, released by Sony Classical. The concert was Domingo's first in the televised Christmas in Vienna series. It was recorded on December 23, 1992, at the Rathaus in Vienna with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Gumpoldskirch Boys Choir as ensemble.

<i>Merry Christmas</i> (Bing Crosby album) 1945 compilation album by Bing Crosby

Merry Christmas is a Christmas-themed compilation album by Bing Crosby that was released in 1945 on Decca Records. It has remained in print through the vinyl, CD, and downloadable file eras, currently as the disc and digital album White Christmas on MCA Records, a part of the Universal Music Group, and currently on vinyl as Merry Christmas on Geffen Records. It includes Crosby's signature song "White Christmas", the best-selling single of all time with estimated sales of over 50 million copies worldwide. The album was certified 4× Platinum by RIAA for selling over 4 million copies in United States. The original 1945 release and subsequent re-releases and re-packages spent a total of 39 weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard pop albums chart.

<i>An Oscar Peterson Christmas</i> 1995 studio album by Oscar Peterson

An Oscar Peterson Christmas is a 1995 album by Oscar Peterson.

<i>White Christmas</i> (Rosemary Clooney album) 1996 studio album by Rosemary Clooney

White Christmas is a 1996 studio album by Rosemary Clooney. This was Clooney's third Christmas album. She had previously appeared in the 1954 holiday film White Christmas. Clooney is accompanied by a big band on the album.

<i>Christmas 25th Anniversary Collection</i> 2009 studio album by Mannheim Steamroller

Christmas 25th Anniversary Collection is a compilation album by Mannheim Steamroller. It is the group's eleventh Christmas album overall. It was released in 2009 as a double CD by American Gramaphone, and features 25 Christmas songs. It contains songs from their Mannheim Steamroller Christmas (1984), A Fresh Aire Christmas (1988), Christmas in the Aire (1995), My Little Christmas Tree (1997), The Christmas Angel: A Family Story (1998), Christmas Extraordinaire (2001), Christmas Song (2007) and Christmasville (2008).

<i>The Magic of Christmas</i> (Nat King Cole album) 1960 studio album by Nat King Cole

The Magic of Christmas is a 1960 album by Nat King Cole, arranged and conducted by Ralph Carmichael.

<i>Merry Ole Soul</i> 1969 studio album by Duke Pearson

Merry Ole Soul is a Christmas album by jazz pianist and arranger Duke Pearson, featuring performances recorded in 1969 and originally released on the Blue Note label.

<i>Give Me Your Love for Christmas</i> 1969 studio album by Johnny Mathis

Give Me Your Love for Christmas is the third Christmas album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis and was released by Columbia Records on October 13, 1969. The oldest song selected for this project was the 1934 classic "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", which meant there were not the traditional hymns that could be found on his previous Christmas outings. He did, however, cover several other contemporary Christmas favorites along with a few new and lesser-known songs, such as the title track, which was a reworking of an unreleased recording of his from 1961, and "Christmas Day", which came from the then-current Broadway musical Promises, Promises. New versions of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "The Little Drummer Boy", which he also recorded in 1963 for his previous Christmas LP, Sounds of Christmas, made the final track list here as well.

<i>Twelve Songs of Christmas</i> 1963 studio album by Jim Reeves

Twelve Songs of Christmas is an album by Jim Reeves released in the US in 1963. It was Reeves' first and only Christmas-themed release. The album was released by RCA Victor in stereo (LSP-2758) and mono (LPM-2758) respectively. The album was first released in South Africa as Merry Christmas from Jim Reeves as an eleven-track album. "Silver Bells" was recorded in July 1963 to create the twelve track US album released in 1963. The album charted for 10 weeks peaking at #15 on Billboard's Christmas Records album chart.

<i>Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music</i> 1946 studio album by Perry Como

Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music was Perry Como's first Christmas album, originally issued by RCA Victor as a 78 RPM album set in 1946. The original release included "O Little Town of Bethlehem" which was replaced in 1947 by Irving Berlin's famous song "White Christmas". This album, along with Como's later stereophonic Christmas albums, Season's Greetings from Perry Como and The Perry Como Christmas Album, from 1959 and 1968 respectively, are among the best-selling Christmas albums of all time. RCA has reissued Merry Christmas Music on LP, tape and compact disc several times.

<i>The Classic Christmas Album</i> (Andy Williams album) 2013 compilation album by Andy Williams

The Classic Christmas Album is a compilation album by American pop singer Andy Williams that was released by Sony Music Entertainment on October 8, 2013, and includes selections from his first three solo holiday LPs, The Andy Williams Christmas Album, Merry Christmas, and Christmas Present.

<i>40 Christmas Classics</i> 2014 compilation album by Andy Williams

40 Christmas Classics is a digital compilation album by American pop singer Andy Williams that was released on October 31, 2014, and includes all of the songs from his first three solo holiday LPs, The Andy Williams Christmas Album, Merry Christmas, and Christmas Present. Three tracks not originally appearing on holiday albums by Williams are also included: "My Sweet Lord" from his 1971 album Love Story, "Amazing Grace" from his 1972 album Alone Again (Naturally), and the Latin Catholic Prayer version of Franz Schubert's "Ave Maria", which Williams recorded in honor of Senator Robert F. Kennedy just days after his funeral in 1968.

<i>Blue Christmas</i> (Jimmy Barnes album) 2022 studio album by Jimmy Barnes

Blue Christmas is the twentieth studio and first Christmas album by Scottish Australian musician Jimmy Barnes, released on 25 November 2022 through Bloodlines. Speaking on his motivations to release a Christmas album, in a press statement, Barnes said, "One of the greatest surprises I ever got from our children was when they all snuck away into the garage and secretly recorded themselves singing carols for me. On Christmas morning, when I awoke, they proudly gave me the recording and sat eagerly waiting for me to listen to it. That year I received lots of great gifts from various family members, but that recording had me weeping like a baby. It was the most beautiful gift I ever got. This album is my gift back to the kids, the grandkids and everyone out there who just wants to sit and sing with their family on Christmas. These songs take me back and they remind me why I'm here right now. I hope they do the same for you."

References

  1. ↑ Christmas Songs by Sinatra at AllMusic
  2. ↑ "Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 80, no. 51, December 21, 1968, p. 69. worldradiohistory.com
  3. ↑ "Frank Sinatra - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Frank Sinatra Vevo. November 19, 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  4. ↑ Albin, Steve (14 November 2021). "Frank Sinatra - The Columbia Years — 1942 - 1946". www.jazzdiscography.com. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  5. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Frank Sinatra – Christmas Songs by Sinatra" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Frank Sinatra: Christmas Songs by Sinatra" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Frank Sinatra – Christmas Songs by Sinatra". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  9. ↑ "2021 52-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. December 31, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Frank Sinatra – Christmas Songs by Sinatra". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Frank Sinatra – Christmas Songs by Sinatra". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Frank Sinatra Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.