The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) (Third Recording, 1953-08-24; Nat King Cole with orchestra conducted by Nelson Riddle)
~ Recording by Nat King Cole
Annotation
Third Recording: Recorded at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, August 24, 1953. This was the song's first magnetic tape recording. Label credit: The King Cole Trio with String Choir (Actual artists: Nat King Cole, vocal; Nelson Riddle, orchestra conductor) Master #11726, take 11. Issued November 1953 as the "new" Capitol 90036(78rpm) / F90036(45rpm) (Capitol first issued 90036 in 1950 with the Second Recording). Correct label credit issued on October 18, 1954 as Capitol 2955(78rpm) / F2955(45rpm). Label credit: Nat "King" Cole with Orchestra Conducted by Nelson Riddle. This recording is available on the 1990 CD Cole, Christmas and Kids, as well as the various-artists compilation Casey Kasem Presents All Time Christmas Favorites. It was also included, along with both 1946 recordings, on the 1991 Mosaic Records box set The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio.
Annotation last modified on 2012-11-10 11:26 UTC.
Appears on releases
| # | Title | Length | Track artist | Release title | Release artist | Release group type | Country/Date | Label | Catalog# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official | |||||||||
| 1.9 | The Christmas Song | ?:?? | Nat King Cole | Merry Christmas To You! | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Capitol Records (imprint of Capitol Records, Inc.) | W-9028 |
| 1.6 | The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) | 3:15 | King Cole Trio | Cole, Christmas & Kids (remastered) | Nat King Cole & The Starlighters | Album + Compilation |
| Capitol Records (imprint of Capitol Records, Inc.) | |
| 1.6 | The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) | 3:15 | King Cole Trio | Cole, Christmas, & Kids | Nat King Cole | Album + Compilation |
| Capitol Records (imprint of Capitol Records, Inc.) | |
| 17.8 | The Christmas Song | 3:15 | The Nat King Cole Trio | The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio | The Nat King Cole Trio | Album + Compilation |
| Mosaic Records (US jazz reissues) | MD18-138 |
| 1.2 | The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) | 3:15 | Nat King Cole | Casey Kasem Presents: All-Time Christmas Favorites | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| EMI Music Special Markets, Top Sail Productions | 72435-71881 2-8, TSP 71901-2 |
| 2.1 | The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) | 3:10 | Nat King Cole | The Best of Christmas (Thomas Kinkade: Blessings of Christmas) | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Madacy Entertainment | TK2 50723 |
| 1.8 | The Christmas Song | 3:12 | King Cole Trio | Jazz in the Charts 097 (1952-1953) | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Documents (German, Membran Entertainment Group) | 223796-222, 978-3-86562-879-4 |
| 2.13 | The Christmas Song | 3:17 | Nat King Cole | Une anthologie 1949/1955 | Nat King Cole | Album + Compilation |
| Nocturne | CABU526 |
| 1.21 | The Christmas Song | 3:15 | Nat King Cole | The Very Best of Nat “King” Cole | Nat King Cole | Album + Compilation |
| Wagram Music (imprint/distributor) | 3319682 |
| 2.16 | The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) | ?:?? | Nat King Cole | Julemusik 2018 | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Universal (plain logo “Universal” used by Universal Music and Universal Pictures) | |
| 1.8 | The Christmas Song | 3:19 | Nat King Cole | Incomparable ! | Nat King Cole | Album + Compilation |
| Cristal Records (French label a.k.a. Cristal Publishing) | CR 301-02-03 |
| 1.3 | The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) | 3:12 | Nat King Cole | Christmas With Nat King Cole | Nat King Cole | Album + Compilation |
| FP | |
| 17.8 | The Christmas Song | 3:15 | The Nat King Cole Trio | The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio | The Nat King Cole Trio | Album + Compilation | Capitol Records (imprint of Capitol Records, Inc.) | ||
Relationships
| bass trombone: | George Roberts (american bass trombone) (on 1953-08-24) |
|---|---|
| cello: | Cy Bernard (on 1953-08-24) Armand Kaproff (on 1953-08-24) Eleanor Slatkin (US cellist, b. Aller) (on 1953-08-24) |
| double bass: | Charlie Harris (jazz bassist) (on 1953-08-24) |
| drums (drum set): | Lee Young (40s-60s US jazz drummer, then producer/A&R) (on 1953-08-24) |
| flute: | Jules Kinsler (on 1953-08-24) Ted Nash (40s-80s US swing reedman, uncle of the other) (on 1953-08-24) Harry Steinfeld (on 1953-08-24) |
| French horn: | Vincent DeRosa (on 1953-08-24) John Graas (on 1953-08-24) |
| guitar: | John Collins (US jazz guitarist) (on 1953-08-24) |
| harp: | Ann Mason Stockton (American harpist) (on 1953-08-24) |
| piano: | Buddy Cole (on 1953-08-24) Nat King Cole (on 1953-08-24) |
| trombone: | Milt Bernhart (on 1953-08-24) Joe Howard (american trombone player) (on 1953-08-24) |
| viola: | Lou Kievman (violist) (on 1953-08-24) Stanley Spiegelman (on 1953-08-24) Dave Sterkin (on 1953-08-24) |
| violin: | Victor Bay (on 1953-08-24) Alex Beller (on 1953-08-24) Harry Bluestone (on 1953-08-24) Walter Edelstein (on 1953-08-24) Henry Hill (Violin player) (on 1953-08-24) Paul Nero (composer & jazz violinist; Born: Kurt Polnariov/Polnarioff) (on 1953-08-24) Mischa Russell (violinist) (on 1953-08-24) Paul Shure (on 1953-08-24) Felix Slatkin (on 1953-08-24) Gerald Vinci (American violinist and strings conductor) (on 1953-08-24) |
| vocals: | Nat King Cole (on 1953-08-24) |
| orchestra: | Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra (on 1953-08-24) |
| conductor: | Nelson Riddle (on 1953-08-24) |
| arranger: | Nelson Riddle |
| recorded at: | Capitol Studios (1949–1956) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1953-08-24) |
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| SecondHandSongs: | https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/530045 [info] |
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| recording of: | The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) (on 1953-08-24: cover) |
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Related works
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
| lyricist: | Robert Wells (songwriter) (in 1945-07) Mel Tormé (“The Velvet Fog”) (in 1945-07) |
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| composer: | Mel Tormé (“The Velvet Fog”) (in 1945-07) |
| publisher: | Chappell/Morris Ltd. MPL Music Publishing Inc. Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd. Sony/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP) Warner Chappell Warner Chappell Ltd. Warner Chappell Music (publisher as Warner/Chappell Music) Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty. Ltd. Edwin H. Morris & Co., Inc. (a division of MPL Communications Inc.) (from 1946 to present) |
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| referred to in medleys: | Mix 3 (The Best Xmas Party Ever!) (order: 1) Megamix 3 (It Must Be Christmas) (order: 2) Mix Three (Greatest Ever Christmas Party Megamix) (order: 2) |
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| later translated versions: | Joululaulu (Hiljaa leijaa maahan hiutaleet) Joyeux Noël Julesangen Min barndoms jul Viele bunte Päckchen クリスマスの歌 |
| later versions: | Captain’s Roastin’ Het kerstlied |
| is the basis for: | The Christmas Song |
| arrangements: | Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (lo‐fi arrangement) Rimfrostjul (The Christmas Song, "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire") (translated) The Christmas Song (arr. John Rutter) The Christmas Song (Carla Bley arrangement) The Christmas Song The Christmas Song (arr. Chris Walden) The Christmas Song (arr. Peter Knight) The Christmas Song (arr. for Béla Fleck & the Flecktones) The Christmas Song (John Zorn arr.) |
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