The Christmas Song
Nat King Cole
Capitol SW 1967
1962
This is probably my favorite Christmas album of all time, although there are many others that I prefer musically. I like Cole fine (particularly during his jazz period) but he's far from my favorite crooner. I love this record because my parents had it and it is the first Christmas record I remember listening to. I have to admit that as a child I was not all that happy with it. It doesn't have any of the kiddie Christmas songs I loved back then. "Deck the Hall" was the only song on it I really liked. Fortunately I'm not a kid anymore and I mostly can't stand those kiddie songs unless they've been rocked up. I have not even thought about trying to acquire some of those children's albums I liked as a kid, but this one I was happy to track down. I actually have two of them. This is my original which I bought used, but it has a little wear so when Capitol reissued it I bought a new one just to have a perfect copy. I listen to both however. The new one sounds great, but I like the warmth of the old one as well even with its crackles and pops which reminds me of my parents' old copy which was pretty beat up by the time my sisters and I got done playing it to death every Christmas. This album is a reissue of Cole's 1960 album "The Magic of Christmas" but with the substitution of Mel Tormé and Robert Wells' great classic "The Christmas Song" in place of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" which seems like a generous trade to me. The reissue also has superior cover art. Cole recorded the song multiple times in his career dating back to 1946 but this generally is regarded as the definitive version. I have never roasted a chestnut but this song evokes the feeling of Christmas in me more than any other. Ralph Carmichael's orchestral arrangement is relatively restrained and I would miss it if it wasn't there. Cole's vocal is incredibly rich and warm and he also adds a nice piano solo in the break. For me it is the perfect Christmas song and I never get tired of hearing it. It is such a great song that the rest of the album pales in comparison but it is still mostly engaging. "Deck the Hall" has a lot of energy and almost swings in spots. "Adeste Fideles" is one of my favorite tracks although I could do without the chorus. Cole sings it with authority even in the Latin part. He sings "O Tannenbaum" in German which I prefer to the English version. I've never liked the song much, but his voice makes it compelling for me. I don't really like "O, Little Town of Bethlehem" either and Carmichael's sappy arrangement doesn't help any. Cole sings it beautifully but I still find the song dreary. The album bounces back with a lively version of "I Saw Three Ships," I even like the support of the chorus for once. Side one concludes with "O Holy Night" which shows off Cole's vocal skills to great effect. I've never been able to sing the song myself, but he handles it with ease although I do find the chorus obtrusive. Side two opens with "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" which Cole's graceful vocal rescues from Carmichael's heavy-handed arrangement. "A Cradle in Bethlehem" is the least famous Christmas song on the album and deservedly so. I loathe it and off the top of my head I think this is the only recording of it that I have. It is slow and devotional and no matter how prettily Cole sings it I'm never going to like it. "Away in a Manger" is also devout and sappy, but I find it more palpable because it is a better song. "Joy to the World" is appropriately jubilant and is one of my favorite tracks. "The First Noel" suffers from a really heavy arrangement but Cole's vocal is fabulous, one of his best on the album. I'm not a fan of the song but this is one of the best versions I know. Carmichael redeems himself with a stirring arrangement of "Caroling, Caroling" which is an easy lay up for Cole. This is another one of my favorite songs on the album. It concludes with "Silent Night" which could have been written for Cole it suits him so well. It is such a lovely and delicate performance, I find it much more moving than most versions of the song. It brings the album to a tender and satisfying conclusion. I react much differently to this album than I did when I was a kid especially since I'm now older than Cole was when he recorded it. I really appreciate the feeling and depth that Cole brings to this music. It is way too religious for my taste but I still love it although I would love it more with a few more secular carols. It does have a pleasing consistency of tone and sound and if you are an adult and like Christmas I don't see how you won't like it. I don't really like Christmas anymore myself and I still love this record. Recommended to people whose idea of a nice Christmas is good company and a tasty cocktail.
