NAT KING COLE
The Christmas Song (Capitol)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson


I'm a well known grinch when it comes to Christmas music. I just don't want to hear it, most of the time. The immediate and unquestionable exception is any Christmas song sung by Nat King Cole. Cole had the most moving voice in the world, and the conviction with which he sang Christmas songs makes the heart of a grinch like me grow three, four, even five sizes.

The focal point of this collection is "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" which begins and ends the CD. The song was written by a young Mel Torme and Bob Wells, and Torme presented the song to Cole during a break in a May 1946 King Cole Trio gig in Los Angeles. Cole wanted to record the song with a string section, but Capitol wouldn't hear of it, wanting the trio to keep their cred with the jazz fans. After recording it once as a trio, Cole convinced the label to allow him to do it his way, which he did on several occasions over the years. There are three versions on this disc, the first recorded in 1961 (which is the one we've all heard year after year), one recorded in 1998 with daughter Natalie singing it as a duet with the voice of her late father, and one at the end of the disc that isn't mentioned in the track listing.

Between these three recordings there are 15 other Christmas classics, each one likely to give you that little buzz you may not have experienced since childhood. Oh, and the 24-bit sound is exquisite throughout. After sifting through quite a stack of Christmas releases, this recommendation is very easy to make. Now if I can just avoid having this newfound Christmas spirit ruined by other Christmas releases... like this Mary-Kate and Ashley CD. Ah, Nat, sing me away.

Track List:

The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) * Deck The Hall * Adeste Fideles * God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen * O Tannenbaum * O Little Town Of Bethlehem * I Saw Three Ships * O Holy Night * Hark! The Herald Angels Sing * A Cradle In Bethlehem * Away In A Manger * Joy To The World * The First Noel * Caroling Caroling * O Come All Ye Faithful * Silent Night * Nat's Introduction * The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) (with Natalie Cole) * Nat's Christmas Wishes

© 1999 - DJ Johnson