In honor of
Capitol Records' 75th anniversary, A Capitol Christmas presents some of the
most cherished holiday classics from Capitol's vast catalog and legendary
artists. Available now digitally, on CD and as a double LP housed in a gatefold
package, the 24-track album brings together beloved Christmas songs from Frank
Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Bing Crosby
and many more. Liner notes by compilation producer Jay Landers tell the story
of each song in beautiful detail.
The historic Capitol Records Tree will light up tonight at
sundown for the 58th time, signifying the start of the holiday season in
Hollywood. Designed by Ollsen Lighting and featuring more than 4,373 bulbs, the
tree has been a part of the Hollywood skyline each December since 1958.
A timeless collection of some of the biggest songs and
artists in the holiday canon, A Capitol Christmas is sure to get listeners in
the mood for the holidays and serve as the perfect soundtrack to their yuletide
festivities all season long. Fittingly, the album opens with Capitol's first
homegrown superstar, Nat King Cole, and his stereophonic version of "The
Christmas Song," arranged by Ralph Carmichael in 1961. It is bookended
with a splendid rendition of Cole's ubiquitous seasonal standard featuring the
1999 virtual duet with his daughter, Natalie Cole. Cole's jazz combo the Nat
King Cole Trio is included with the novelty tune "All I Want For Christmas
(Is My Two Front Teeth)." It's impossible to overstate the importance of
Frank Sinatra to Capitol Records and he is showcased on the album with the
exquisite "The Christmas Waltz" and "Have Yourself A Merry
Little Christmas," considered the definitive version of the three he
recorded. Both songs were originally released on his 1957 holiday album, A
Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra. Fellow Rat Packer Dean Martin delivers his
trademark croon on evergreens "Winter Wonderland" and "I've Got
My Love To Keep Me Warm." Having recorded a dozen holiday themed albums,
Bing Crosby became synonymous with Christmas. His Christmas single for Capitol,
"Do You Hear What I Hear," a call and response arrangement with the
Ralph Carmichael Singers, became a worldwide hit.
Singer, songwriter and actress Peggy Lee spent an
illustrious 30 years on Capitol and the selections of hers span her tenure at
the label. The gentle "A Christmas Spell," arranged by her
then-husband and frequent collaborator, guitarist Dave Barbour, was originally
released as a single in 1949. "Like A Sleighride," Lee's jazzy
adaptation of "Jingle Bells," is from her sumptuous 1960 holiday
album, Christmas Carousel. No holiday collection would be complete without the
seductive duet, "Baby, It's Cold Outside," of which continues to be
recorded by scores of artists year after year. The version here features
Capitol Records co-founder Johnny Mercer, the world-class songwriter and
recording artist, along with Margaret Whiting. Mercer's swinging "Santa
Claus Is Coming To Town" from 1947 shows off his croon alongside the vocal
stylings of the Pied Pipers. Whiting also makes another duet appearance, this
time alongside singing cowboy star Jimmy Wakely on the sterling "Silver
Bells."
In 1967, The First Lady Of Song Ella Fitzgerald recorded a
collection of non-secular standards for Capitol, Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas,
arranged and conducted by Ralph Carmichael. Her soaring versions of "The
First Noel" and "Away In A Manger" are both included. A Capitol
Christmas features many other delightful holiday tunes including Nancy Wilson's
symphonic "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?," Lou Rawls' soulful
"Merry Christmas, Baby," Jackie Gleason's orchestral instrumentals of
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" and "I'll Be Home For
Christmas," and Bob Atcher's tropical-tinged "Christmas Island,"
among several others.
A CAPITOL CHRISTMAS CD/DIGITAL TRACK LISTING
1. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) - Nat King
Cole
2. The Christmas Waltz - Frank Sinatra
3. Winter Wonderland - Dean Martin
4. I Like A Sleighride (Jingle Bells) - Peggy Lee
5. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Margaret Whiting & Johnny
Mercer
6. Christmas Island - The Dinning Sisters with Bob Atcher
7. The First Noel - Ella Fitzgerald
8. White Christmas - Jo Stafford
9. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - Nancy Wilson
10. Merry Christmas, Baby - Lou Rawls
11. Silver Bells - Margaret Whiting & Jimmy Wakely
12. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Jackie Gleason
13. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Frank Sinatra
14. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Dean Martin
15. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Johnny Mercer
16. The Christmas Spell - Peggy Lee
17. (All I Want For Christmas Is) My Two Front Teeth - Nat
King Cole and His Trio
18. (Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With The Bag - Kay
Starr
19. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Jackie Gleason
20. I'd Like You For Christmas - Julie London
21. The Merriest - June Christy
22. Away In A Manger - Ella Fitzgerald
23. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Bing Crosby
24. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) - Nat King
Cole & Natalie Cole
A CAPITOL CHRISTMAS LP TRACK LISTING
SIDE A
1. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) - Nat King
Cole
2. The Christmas Waltz - Frank Sinatra
3. Winter Wonderland - Dean Martin
4. I Like A Sleighride (Jingle Bells) - Peggy Lee
5. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Margaret Whiting & Johnny
Mercer
6. Christmas Island - The Dinning Sisters with Bob Atcher
SIDE B
1. The First Noel - Ella Fitzgerald
2. White Christmas - Jo Stafford
3. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - Nancy Wilson
4. Merry Christmas, Baby - Lou Rawls
5. Silver Bells - Margaret Whiting & Jimmy Wakely
6. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Jackie Gleason
SIDE C
1. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Frank Sinatra
2. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Dean Martin
3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Johnny Mercer
4. The Christmas Spell - Peggy Lee
5. (All I Want For Christmas Is) My Two Front Teeth - Nat
King Cole and His Trio
6. (Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With The Bag - Kay
Starr
SIDE D
1. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Jackie Gleason
2. I'd Like You For Christmas - Julie London
3. The Merriest - June Christy
4. Away In A Manger - Ella Fitzgerald
5. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Bing Crosby
6. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) - Nat King
Cole & Natalie Cole
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