A Vintage Christmas Cracker

• Artist: Various Artists
• Release Date: November 11, 2003
• Type: Collection (various artists), Compilation (best of), Christmas
• Genre: Holiday

Review

This two-disc, 47-track collection of vintage Christmas songs recorded between 1915 and 1949 is a true treasure, featuring more undisputed seasonal classics than you can shake a wreath at, all drawn from the original mono 78s. Included are such timeless gems as Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" (Frank Sinatra's version of the song is also here), Judy Garland's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song," Gene Autry's "Here Comes Santa Claus," and Spike Jones' "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth," as well as rarer delights like Fats Waller's "Swingin' Them Jingle Bells," Bessie Smith's "At the Christmas Ball," and the Andrews Sisters' "Christmas Island." It all adds up to a wonderful set that puts most contemporary Christmas collections to shame. Since it is drawn from 78s, some of the selections are on the time-worn and scratchy side, but that's not really a large drawback, since it only adds to the sweeping sense of holiday history this anthology imparts. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
White Christmas (Lyrics)	Irving Berlin	John Scott Trotter, Bing Crosby	(3:07)
Savoy Christmas Medley		Ray Noble, New Mayfair Dance Orchestra	(3:28)
Christmas Carols -- Vocal Gems: Intro -- Once in Royal David's City/Goo		London Church Carol Choir, Berkeley Mason	(4:23)
The Santa Claus Express	Abner Silver, Sherman	Henry Hall, BBC Dance Orchestra, Dan Donvan & Chorus	(3:09)
Say It with Carols: Intro -- The Mistletoe Bough/Good King Wenceslas/Li		Billy Mayerl	(2:40)
Christmas Bells at Eventide		Gracie Fields, Ray Noble, New Mayfair Dance Orchestra	(2:50)
The Fairy on the Christmas Tree		Three Sisters, BBC Dance Orchestra, Henry Hall	(2:56)
Winter Wonderland	Dick Smith, Felix Bernard	Alan Kane, Lew Stone & His Orchestra	(2:58)
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town	Haven Gillespie, John Frederick Coots	Harry Reser's Orchestra	(2:46)
I'll Walk Alone (Thru Every Christmas)	Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn	Dinah Shore, Meridith Wilson, American War Dept. Armed Forces Radio Service Orchestra	(2:51)
'Twas the Night Before Christmas	Ken Darby, Clement C. Moore	Fred Waring & His Pennsylvanians, The Glee Club	(7:14)
Swingin' Them Jingle Bells	J.S. Pierpont	Fats Waller & His Rhythm	(3:01)
Coventry Carol	Traditional	Elisabeth Schumann, Herbert Dawson	(2:43)
Noël		Armand Bernard, Gustave Bret, Georges Thill	(4:09)
Sleep, My Saviour, Sleep	Sullivan Baring-Gould	Celebrity Quartette	(3:06)
Christmas Message to the Empire		H.M. King George V	(3:08)
The Christmas Dinner	Max Miller	Max Miller, Ronnie Munro, Mayfair D.O.	(2:45)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Lyrics)	Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin	George Stoll, Judy Garland	(2:50)
Christmas Night in Harlem	Mitchell Parish, Raymond Scott	Johnny Mercer, Jack Teagarden, Paul Whiteman Orchestra	(3:27)
Mary Had a Baby, Yes, Lord	Traditional	Lawrence Brown, Paul Robeson	(2:14)
Silent Night (Lyrics)	Joseph Mohr, Franz Xaver Gruber	Max Terr's Mixed Chorus, John Scott Trotter, Bing Crosby	(2:44)
A Charles Dickens Christmas...	Bert Lee	Bransby Williams	(4:39)
Auld Lang Syne	Robert Burns, Traditional	Peter Dawson, New Mayfair Orchestra, Ray Noble	(2:58)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (Lyrics)	John Frederick Coots, Haven Gillespie	Vic Schoen & His Orchestra, Bing Crosby, The Andrews Sisters	(2:43)
The Christmas Song	Mel Tormé, Robert Wells	Johnny Miller, Nat King Cole, Oscar Moore	(3:14)
Uncle Mac's Christmas Carols: Unto Us a Boy Is Born/Here We Come A-Wass		Derek McCulloch, Leslie Woodgate, St. Brandon' CDS Choir Bristol	(7:08)
The Kids Go Carolling		Harry Hemsley	(3:30)
The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot	Tommy Connor, Michael Carr, Jimmy Leach	Peter Yorke and His Orchestra, Arthur Tracy	(3:03)
O Little Town of Bethlehem	Phillip Brooks, Lewis H. Redner	Herbert Dawson, Master Dennis Barthel	(3:05)
Adeste, Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful)		John McCormack, Harry Macdonough, Victor Orchestra, Reinald Werrenrath, William Hooley, William H. Reitz, Walter B. Rogers	(4:00)
At the Christmas Ball	Fred Longshaw	Bessie Smith, Fletcher Henderson, Joe Smith, Charlie Green	(3:23)
Jingle Bells	J.S. Pierpont	Ernie Caceres, Tex Beneke, Glenn Miller & His Orchestra, The Modernaires	(3:25)
The Cradle Song of the Virgin	Martin Luther	Song Spinners, Dick Haymes, Victor Young & His Orchestra	(2:54)
I'm Sending a Letter to Santa Claus		Phil Cardew & His Orchestra, Gracie Fields	(3:04)
On a Christmas Tree	Stanley Damerell	Debroy Somers & His Band, Dan Donovan	(3:09)
I'm Spending Christmas with the Old Folks	Tommy Connor	Arthur Young, Vera Lynn	(3:11)
All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth	Donald Gardner	George Rock, Spike Jones & His City Slickers	(3:11)
Here Comes Santa Claus	Oakley Haldeman, Gene Autry	Gene Autry	(2:33)
White Christmas (Lyrics)	Irving Berlin	Frank Sinatra, Axel Stordahl & His Orchestra	(3:24)
Winter Wonderland (Lyrics)	Felix Bernard, Dick Smith	Perry Como, Satisfyers, Russ Case & His Orchestra	(2:31)
Christmas Island (Lyrics)	Lyle Moraine	Guy Lombardo, The Andrews Sisters	(2:37)
The Merry Christmas Polka	Paul Francis Webster, Johnny Burke	Harry Zimmerman, Dinah Shore, Jud Conlon's Rhythmaires	(2:37)
I'll Be Home for Christmas (Lyrics)	Kim Gannon, Walter Kent, Buck Ram	Bing Crosby, John Scott Trotter	(2:55)
O Sanctissima (O Holy One)	Traditional	Richard Tauber	(3:10)
Lullay, My Liking	Gustav Holst	Celebrity Quartette	(2:49)
Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht (Silent Night)		Comedian Harmonists	(3:33)
The Miner's Dream of Home		Peter Dawson, Ray Noble, New Mayfair Orchestra	(3:16)

Credits

Muriel Brunskill (Contralto (Vocal)), Gracie Fields (Whistle (Human)), Arthur Young (Novachord), Nat King Cole (Piano), Paul Robeson (Vocals), Tom Stacks (Vocals), Three Sisters (Vocals), Richard Tauber (Tenor (Vocal)), John McHugh (Tenor (Vocal)), Reinald Werrenrath (Baritone (Vocal)), Geehl (Arranger), Oscar Moore (Guitar), Georges Thill (Vocals), Norman Allin (Bass (Vocal)), Dinah Shore (Vocals), Herbert Dawson (Organ), Henry Walford Davies (Arranger), Alan Kane (Vocals), Derek McCulloch (Introduction), William H. Reitz (Chimes), Bessie Smith (Vocals), Billy Mayerl (Piano), Leslie Woodgate (Introduction), Charlie Green (Trombone), Peter Dempsey (Liner Notes), Bing Crosby (Vocals), George Rock (Vocals), Gracie Fields (Vocals), Master Dennis Barthel (Soprano (Vocal)), Harry Macdonough (Tenor (Vocal)), The Modernaires (Vocals), Nat King Cole (Vocals), Ray Noble (Orchestra Director), Gustave Bret (Organ), Lawrence D. Brown (Piano), Berkeley Mason (Organ), Dan Donavan (Vocals), William Hooley (Bass (Vocal)), Mason (Arranger), Johnny Miller (Bass), The Glee Club (Vocals), Elisabeth Schumann (Vocals), Fletcher Henderson (Piano)