“Christmas Songs by Sinatra” – Frank Sinatra

Album: Christmas Songs by Sinatra

Artist: Frank Sinatra

Year: 1948

Genre: Popular, Traditional Pop

Grade: B+

Christmas Songs by Sinatra isn’t as lively or iconic as Bing Crosby’s famous Merry Christmas album, but it still gets the job done. At this point in Frank Sinatra’s young career, he was more adept at singing slow, gentle ballads than up-tempo ones, and so the majority of Sinatra’s Christmas renditions are stately and schmaltzy. Not that there’s anything wrong with schmaltzy, especially during the holidays. Christmas Songs by Sinatra is warm and cheerful and guaranteed to get you in the spirit — a must-have for any Sinatra fan.

NOTES & CHORDS

• Most of the tunes feature old-time string arrangements that recall Crosby’s Merry Christmas, but the best songs on the collection are the jazzy “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” and “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow,” foreshadowing Sinatra’s success with swing music in the 1950s.

• Of the slow schmaltzy tunes, Sinatra really nails the tenderness of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” The beautiful string and celesta arrangement helps, too.

• Several tracks feature contributions from the Ken Lane Singers, who somewhat ruined Songs by Sinatra for me. However, the Singers’ emphatic choirs on “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” for example, are much more appropriate.

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