Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1954
The Christmas Waltz
Buy The Christmas Waltz now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
"'The Christmas Waltz'" is a Christmas song written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne for Frank Sinatra, who recorded it in 1954 as the B-side of a new recording of "White Christmas",(1954) "White Christmas/The Christmas Waltz" by Frank Sinatra [78 RPM disc label]. Los Angeles: Capitol Records CL 14174. in 1957 for his album 'A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra',(1957) 'A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra' by Frank Sinatra [album jacket]. Los Angeles: Capitol Records W 894. and in 1968 for 'The Sinatra Family Wish You a Merry Christmas'.(1968) 'The Sinatra Family Wish You a Merry Christmas' by Frank Sinatra featuring Frank Sinatra, Jr., Nancy Sinatra, and Tina Sinatra [album jacket]. Burbank: Reprise Records FS 1026.
Cahn recalls, "One day during a very hot spell in Los Angeles the phone rang and it was Jule Styne to say, 'Frank wants a Christmas song.'". Cahn resisted. "Jule, we're not going to write any Christmas song. After Irving Berlin's 'White Christmas'? The idea's just ridiculous." Styne was emphatic, however. "'Frank 'wants' a Christmas song.'"
The two met in Styne's apartment to begin work on the project, and Cahn asked the composer, "'Hey, Jule, has there ever been a Christmas waltz?' He said no. I said, 'Play that waltz of yours.' He did so," and Cahn began work on the lyrics of "The Christmas Waltz", which many other artists have also recorded.
Referring to the line that goes, "And this song of mine, in three-quarter time," Cahn writes, "You'll notice there's an impure rhyme in that lyric, 'mine' and 'time'.". He notes that another of his collaborators, Jimmy Van Heusen, would not have let him get away with such an imperfection but that Styne was not quite so rigid.
For what would become the B-side of "White Christmas", Sinatra first recorded "The Christmas Waltz" with a chorus as well as an arrangement by Nelson Riddle on August 23, 1954. On July 16, 1957, Gordon Jenkins took over the arranging, and The Ralph Brewster Singers provided backing vocal on the recording for 'A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra'. On August 12, 1968, Riddle again provided arrangements, but it was The Jimmy Joyce Singers who lent their voices to the recording for 'The Sinatra Family Wish You a Merry Christmas'.
In 1992 Mel Torm made a recording of the song for his first-ever Christmas album, for which the liner notes indicate that "Mr. Cahn wrote a new full set of additional lyrics as a personal gift to Mel."(1992) 'Christmas Songs' by Mel Torm [CD booklet]. Cleveland: Telarc CD-83315.
There was not a version of the song that reached any of the various charts in 'Billboard' magazine, however, until the 2003 holiday season when Harry Connick Jr. reached number 26 with it on the Adult Contemporary chart during a two-week stay that began in the issue dated January 3, 2004..
Covers
"The Christmas Waltz" has been covered many times over the years by a wide variety of artists, including:
*Peggy Lee - 'Christmas Carousel' (1960)(1960) 'Christmas Carousel' by Peggy Lee [album jacket]. Los Angeles: Capitol Records ST 1423.
*Doris Day - 'The Doris Day Christmas Album' (1964)(1964) 'The Doris Day Christmas Album' by Doris Day [album jacket]. New York: Columbia Records CS 9026.
*Jack Jones - 'The Jack Jones Christmas Album' (1964)(1964) 'The Jack Jones Christmas Album' by Jack Jones [album jacket]. New York: Kapp Records KS 3399.
*Bing Crosby - 'The Hollywood Palace' (ABC, 1966)[http://www.tv.com/shows/the-hollywood-palace/host-bing-crosby-and-family-1966-christmas-show-157511/]
*Pat Boone - 'Christmas Is a Comin' (1966)(1966) 'Christmas Is a Comin' ' by Pat Boone [album jacket]. Hollywood: Dot Records DLP 25770.
*The Lettermen - 'For Christmas This Year' (1966)(1966) 'For Christmas This Year' by The Lettermen [album jacket]. Los Angeles: Capitol Records ST 2587.
*Robert Goulet - 'Robert Goulet's Wonderful World of Christmas' (1968)(1968) 'Robert Goulet's Wonderful World of Christmas' [album jacket]. New York: Columbia Records CS 9734.
*Robert Goulet & Carol Lawrence - 'The Great Songs of Christmas: Album Eight' (various artists, 1968)(1968) 'The Great Songs of Christmas: Album Eight' [album jacket]. New York: Columbia Special Products CSS 888.
*David Rose - 'The David Rose Christmas Album' (1968)(1968) 'The David Rose Christmas Album' by David Rose [album jacket]. Los Angeles: Capitol Records ST 2583.
*Nancy Wilson - 'The Capitol Disc Jockey Album - December 1968' (various artists, 1968)(1968) 'The Capitol Disc Jockey Album - December 1968' [album jacket]. Los Angeles: Capitol Records 4656/4657.
*The Lennon Sisters - 'The Joyous Songs of Christmas' (various artists, 1971)(1971) 'The Joyous Songs of Christmas' [album jacket]. New York: Columbia Records C 10400.
*Sammy Cahn - 'An Evening with Sammy Cahn' (1972)(1972) 'An Evening with Sammy Cahn' by Sammy Cahn [album jacket]. New York: Laureate Records LL 604.
*The Osmonds - 'The Osmond Christmas Album' (1976)(1976) 'The Osmond Christmas Album' by The Osmonds [album jacket]. New York: Polydor Records PD 2-8001.
*The Carpenters - 'Christmas Portrait' (1978)(1978) 'Christmas Portrait' by The Carpenters [album jacket]. Hollywood: A&M Records SP 3210.
*Johnny Mathis - 'Christmas Eve with Johnny Mathis' (1986)(1986) 'Christmas Eve with Johnny Mathis' by Johnny Mathis [album jacket]. New York: Columbia Records FC 40441.
*Andy Williams - 'I Still Believe in Santa Claus' (1990)(1990) 'I Still Believe in Santa Claus' by Andy Williams [CD booklet]. Nashville: Curb Records D2-77350.
*Mel Torm - 'Christmas Songs' (1992)
*Meredith D'Ambrosio & Hank Jones - 'Mistletoe Magic: Holiday Jazz Improvisations' (various artists, 1993)(1993) 'Mistletoe Magic: Holiday Jazz Improvisations' [CD booklet]. Hollywood: Quicksilver QSV 4008.
*Kathie Lee Gifford - 'Christmas with Kathie Lee Gifford' (1993)(1993) 'Christmas with Kathie Lee Gifford' by Kathie Lee Gifford [album jacket]. Burbank: Warner Special Products/Heartland Music OP 2722/HL 3046.
*Anita O'Day -'Christmas Songs' (various artists, 1993)(1993) 'Christmas Songs' [CD booklet]. New York: Milestone Records MCD-9211-2.
*Margaret Whiting - 'A Cabaret Christmas' (various artists, 1993)(1993) 'A Cabaret Christmas' [CD booklet]. New York: DRG Records 91415.
*Brecker Brothers & Steve Khan - 'Jazz to the World' (various artists, 1995)(1995) 'Jazz to the World' [CD booklet]. New York: Blue Note Records CDP 8321272.
*Oscar Peterson - 'An Oscar Peterson Christmas' (1995)(1995) 'An Oscar Peterson Christmas' by Oscar Peterson [CD booklet]. Cleveland: Telarc CD 83372.
*Rosemary Clooney - 'White Christmas' (1996)(1996) 'White Christmas' by Rosemary Clooney [CD booklet]. Concord: Concord Records CCD-4719.
*Scott Hamilton - 'Christmas Love Song' (1997)(1997) 'Christmas Love Song' by Scott Hamilton [CD booklet]. Concord: Concord Records CCD-4771-2.
*Don McLean - 'Christmas Dreams' (1997)(1997) 'Christmas Dreams' by Don McLean [CD booklet]. Santa Monica: Hip-O Records HIPD-40074.
*Natalie Cole - 'Christmas with You' (1998)(1998) 'Christmas with You' by Natalie Cole [CD booklet]. Kansas City: Hallmark Cards, Inc. 695XPR1145. & 'The Magic of Christmas' (1999)(1999) 'The Magic of Christmas' by Natalie Cole [CD booklet]. New York: Elektra Records 62433.
*George Shearing - 'Christmas with the George Shearing Quintet' (1998)(1998) 'Christmas with the George Shearing Quintet' by George Shearing [CD booklet]. Cleveland: Telarc Jazz CD-83438.
*Michael W. Smith (duet with Sandi Patty) - 'Christmastime' (1998)(1998) 'Christmastime' by Michael W. Smith [CD booklet]. Brentwood: Reunion Records 10015.
*Beegie Adair - 'Jazz Piano Christmas' (1999)(1999) 'Jazz Piano Christmas' by Beegie Adair [CD booklet]. Brentwood: Green Hill Productions 5148.
*Tommy Flanagan - 'An Uptown Christmas' (various artists, 1999)(1999) 'An Uptown Christmas' [CD booklet]. Plattsburgh: Uptown Records UPCD2733.
*Helen Reddy - 'The Best Christmas Ever' (2000)(2000) 'The Best Christmas Ever' by Helen Reddy [CD booklet]. Philadelphia: Select Media Concepts CD-1006.
*Barry Manilow - 'A Christmas Gift of Love' (2002)(2002) 'A Christmas Gift of Love' by Barry Manilow [CD booklet]. New York: Columbia Records CK-86976.
*Harry Connick Jr. - 'Harry for the Holidays' (2003)(2003) 'Harry for the Holidays' by Harry Connick, Jr. [CD booklet]. New York: Columbia Records CK-90550.
*Clay Aiken - 'A Clay Aiken Christmas' (NBC, 2004) & 'All Is Well' (2006)(2006) 'All Is Well' by Clay Aiken [CD booklet]. New York: RCA Records 88697-02699-2.
*Dianne Reeves - 'Christmas Time Is Here' (2004)(2004) 'Christmas Time Is Here' by Dianne Reeves [CD booklet]. New York: Blue Note Records 73344.
*Jane Monheit - 'The Season' (2005)(2005) 'The Season' by Jane Monheit [CD booklet]. New York: Epic Records 77711.
*Toni Tennille - 'Christmas with the Pops' (Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, 2006)(2006) 'Christmas with the Pops' by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra [CD booklet]. Cleveland: Telarc 80226.
*Tony Bennett - 'A Swingin' Christmas (Featuring The Count Basie Big Band)' (2008)(2008) 'A Swingin' Christmas (Featuring The Count Basie Big Band)' by Tony Bennett [CD booklet]. New York: Columbia Records 732250.
*Kristin Chenoweth - 'A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas' (2008)(2008) 'A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas' by Kristin Chenoweth [CD booklet]. New York: Sony Music Distribution SNYC 34256.
*Mindy Gledhill - 'Winter Moon: Songs for Christmas' (2011)(2011) 'Winter Moon: Songs for Christmas' by Mindy Gledhill [CD booklet]. Provo: Mindy Gledhill 5070195.
*She & Him - 'A Very She & Him Christmas' (2011)(2011) 'A Very She & Him Christmas' by She & Him [CD booklet]. Durham: Merge Records 50424.
*John Travolta - 'This Christmas' (2012)(2012) 'This Christmas' by Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta [CD booklet]. Universal City: Hip-O Records 001762402.
*Susan Boyle - 'Home For Christmas' (2013)
Notes
References
*
*
Category:Songs with lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Category:Songs with music by Jule Styne
Category:Frank Sinatra songs
Category:American Christmas songs
Category:1954 songs
Buy The Christmas Waltz now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1954