I’m digging into the archives this year to highlight a handful of holiday records I’ve enjoyed throughout life. Some of these I’ve owned only on CD, but otherwise, playing the vinyl (where available) brings back a lot of memories from holidays past, when our families all got together for festivities. Loading up the record changer for an evening’s worth of music was standard practice back in the day.
I realized two things while compiling this list. First, that some of the recordings haven’t aged so well, but others I have grown fonder of over time. And second, that while I’ve picked up some favorites later in life, the music I heard in my younger years is among the music I’m the most fond of in the holiday genre. I have highlighted some of these in past articles for Copper, but this year’s version looks more in depth at these titles, with links to Discogs for more information.
Various Artists: Jingle Bell Rock
(Time Life The Rock ‘n’ Roll Era series; vinyl, cassette, CD)
https://www.discogs.com/master/641906-Various-Jingle-Bell-Rock
Early in the CD era, I subscribed to the Time Life The Rock ‘n’ Roll Era series to build a library of “oldies.” As expected, these could be hit or miss, and sound quality often wasn’t the best, but Jingle Bell Rock was an unexpected surprise. It compiles many of the holiday classics we’ve come to know over the years, some in their original versions (like Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas,” and so on), along with other stylized covers by popular groups in the 1950s and ’60s like Jan and Dean, Diana Ross and the Supremes, and others. Many of the songs on this set became favorites of mine over the years.
Various: ¡Something Festive!
(1968; A&M Records SP-19003; vinyl only)
https://www.discogs.com/master/632787-Various-Something-Festive
In the 1960s, it was common for retail outlets to team with record labels to release compilations through their stores. The B.F. Goodrich tire company was no exception, as this A&M Records release was sold through the Goodrich stores. This LP, never officially released on CD (beyond a poor-sounding gray market version), features ten tracks from A&M artists, including two from the Tijuana Brass. Of these, a few were released only on this compilation, like Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66’s “The Christmas Song,” Pete Jolly’s “It’s the Most Wonderful Time,” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by the Baja Marimba Band. Other acts here include the We Five, Liza Minnelli, Burt Bacharach, and Claudine Longet. Aside from being a compilation that many are fond of, this is a great cross-sampling of A&M’s roster in 1968. Luckily, these are still commonly found on Discogs, so it’s not impossible to score a clean or even a sealed copy for a very reasonable price.
Various Artists: A GRP Christmas Collection
(1988, GRP Records GR-9574; CD, vinyl, cassette)
https://www.discogs.com/master/346814-Various-A-GRP-Christmas-Collection
Our local jazz radio station began playing some of the then-current releases on GRP Records (the label run by Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen) back in the mid 1980s, and I liked a few of the songs enough to start buying some of the albums. As their roster of artists became larger, they soon had enough talent on the label to put together a compilation of holiday music. The result was the 1988 album A GRP Christmas Collection.
While they were primarily a digital label, they released some of their recordings on vinyl. I do not have a vinyl copy of this project, but have had the CD since it was first released. Like many of these types of compilations, I usually cherry pick the songs I like, and I found quite a few I have enjoyed over the years. David Benoit’s “Carol of the Bells” is a favorite, and he has recorded this arrangement a few times over his career (one of them prior to joining GRP). Kevin Eubanks provided a very unique arrangement of “Silver Bells” that makes it my favorite on the disc, yet the vinyl version excludes this one for timing purposes, which is a shame. Other artists here include Yutaka, Eddie Daniels, Daryl Stuermer, the Chick Corea Elektric Band, and Dave Grusin. GRP released two more compilations in this series in later years.
Various: The Best of Christmas
(1968; Capitol Records STBB-2979; vinyl, reel, 8-track, cassette, CD)
https://www.discogs.com/master/598108-Various-The-Best-Of-Christmas
My folks had this 2-LP Capitol set, which was a sampling of the artist roster of Capitol back in the day. Musically, it has a few highlights, but there are many others I find rather tedious to listen to. Some of my favorites here are Dean Martin’s “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” Lou Rawls’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” Peggy Lee’s unique arrangement of “I Like a Sleighride (Jingle Bells),” and despite being full-on schmaltz, Jackie Gleason’s “Late in December” is a dreamy instrumental featuring what is likely the cornet of Bobby Hackett (as he and Gleason recorded a series of “mood” albums around that time). Honestly, this would have made a good single LP release if only the highlights were included. Still, this set was a fond memory from the past.
Arguably, if one enjoys music from the lounge era of Capitol, the Christmas Cocktails series on the Ultra-Lounge label (a Capitol/EMI subsidiary) is better-curated and despite questionable mastering (I find some of them overly bright), is often a better listen.
Carpenters: Christmas Portrait
(1978; A&M Records SP-4726; vinyl, cassette, CD)
https://www.discogs.com/master/84977-Carpenters-Christmas-Portrait
The copy to buy of this release is the original LP version from 1978, which I’ve owned since it first came out. The problem with most Carpenters records is that later releases have been remixed, or had new parts recorded, or even mastered questionably with a lot of glassy digital reverb (like the Christmas Collection 2-CD package). The original LP version was briefly available on CD in Germany in 1985, until they were recalled by the label. Instead, a “Special Edition” was released as its worldwide replacement, which intermixed songs from their second holiday LP, An Old Fashioned Christmas. (That album essentially being leftovers from the same sessions which feature the remaining vocal tracks by Karen Carpenter – released after her passing – connected by longer instrumental and choral sections.)
Christmas Portrait is the gem among the two records. It plays like a variety show, breezing through a long list of songs with many of them presented as medleys which flow really well together. The instrumental parts may be a little old-fashioned, but that is part of this record’s charm. Note that the version of “Merry Christmas, Darling” differs from the single mix, and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” is a completely different recording, up-tempo, unlike the down-tempo jazzy single from years earlier. I won’t bother listing any songs here, as the album touches on 28 of them.
Jack Jones: The Jack Jones Christmas Album
(1964; Kapp Records KS-3399; monaural and stereo LP, CD)
https://www.discogs.com/master/757679-Jack-Jones-The-Jack-Jones-Christmas-Album
One could argue that Jack Jones’ records on Kapp were the most consistent of his career. Given all the Autotuned vocalists and AI slop out there today, hearing a singer with an easily recognizable style who can nail the notes perfectly, backed by jazz-flavored instrumental arrangements, is refreshing. This album introduced “My Favorite Things” as a holiday classic, effectively compartmentalizing it away from The Sound of Music score. I only just discovered this record a few years ago, but didn’t realize until then that it filled a hole in my collection that I didn’t know I had. It’s as warm and inviting as a fuzzy winter sweater.
Brian Setzer Orchestra: Boogie Woogie Christmas
(2002; Surfdog Records; CD, LP)
https://www.discogs.com/master/81340-The-Brian-Setzer-Orchestra-Boogie-Woogie-Christmas
This was available on vinyl a few years ago, but I’ve owned the CD since it was first released, being a fan of Setzer’s music (and the Stray Cats) since he and the Cats first hit the scene in the early 1980s.
What frustrated me about Boogie Woogie Christmas at the time is that four different retailers each had their own version with a different bonus track on each one. Luckily, a Japanese EP featuring “Luck Be a Lady” included all four of those tracks, and I then had all the bonus tracks in one place.
Setzer’s foray into rockabilly-flavored big band started after the Stray Cats went on hiatus, along with a handful of solo albums. This album was his fifth studio album with the band, and the first of three holiday recordings. It features their rendition of Les Brown’s arrangement of the “Nutcracker Suite,” an original by Setzer (“So They Say It’s Christmas”), and some lesser-known songs like “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus” by Leon René, and “Cactus Christmas” by Mike Himelstein. I once said of his first album that his Orchestra was the most fun you could have with your clothes on, and this record gives me not a single reason to change my mind!
While Setzer doesn’t tour his big band every year, he still periodically does an end-of-year tour and presents an unforgettable holiday show. He does include a few of the Stray Cats hits and popular solo songs (“Stray Cat Strut” combined with “The Pink Panther Theme” is always a highlight), but the highlight is on the holiday music. We’ve seen his holiday show twice. If you’re not in the Christmas mood when you arrive at the show, you certainly will be when you leave!
Shorty Rogers: The Swingin’ Nutcracker
(1960; RCA Records LSP-2110; LP, CD)
https://www.discogs.com/master/326227-Shorty-Rogers-The-Swingin-Nutcracker
This is another Santa’s sack full of fun – the music is, like, nutty! If you cross Shorty Rogers with the "Nutcracker Suite," it sounds exactly like you’d imagine it. Not only that, it’s a perfect excuse to hear some of the best jazz musicians on the West Coast in his ensemble (Bud Shank, Bill Holman, Pete Jolly, Conte Candoli, Frank Rosolino, Mel Lewis, and many others). If you want to sample the entire album, listen to the first track, the “Like Nutty Overture (Finale),” as it touches on some of the arrangements to follow. All of the songs have altered titles like “The Swingin’ Plum Fairy,” “Six Pak” (for “Trépak”), “Flowers for the Cats (Waltz of the Flowers),” just perfect for the hip swingin’ vibe of this record. The arrangements are clever and full of good humor, and a good diversion from the usual Christmas songs that get played over and over again.
Click here for a playlist of the album.
Peggy Lee: Christmas Carousel
(1960; Capitol Records ST-1423; LP, cassette, CD)
https://www.discogs.com/master/496694-Peggy-Lee-Christmas-Carousel
Like they say about relationships, “It’s complicated.” That’s the story of this LP. Peggy Lee originally released this record in 1960, and features the aforementioned “I Like a Sleighride (Jingle Bells).” The performances on the rest of this record are just as good. Aside from a few expected popular holiday songs, Lee includes a handful of her own songs like “Don’t Forget to Feed the Reindeer,” “The Christmas Riddle,” “The Tree,” and the title track, along with “The Star Carol” by Alfred Burt and Wihla Hutson.
Here's where things get complicated. In 1965 Capitol released Happy Holiday, which features some of the songs from Carousel, yet adds three more that weren’t on that original release. Over the years on LP and CD, Capitol would repackage these songs in various forms.
My favorite reissue (not on vinyl) is the Christmas Carousel CD reissue from 1990 (CDP 594450), as it includes four extras as bonus tracks along with a Toys For Tots public service announcement. In more recent years, Capitol released another compilation, Ultimate Christmas, as a single CD or 2-LP set, rounding up 22 Capitol-era tracks in one place. I have not heard this set, however, so I cannot vouch for the mastering or pressing quality.
That’s all Santa Rudy has in the bag this year! Next month, I’ll take a deep dive into one of the music industry’s most successful (and longest-performing) instrumentalists. Don’t hit the eggnog too hard in the meantime!
Header image: taken at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, during their ENLIGHTEN outdoor light snow and holiday exhibits.
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