Wonderful Christmas

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Annotation

75 Essential Christmas Classics

Annotation last modified on 2012-12-11 12:32 UTC.

Tracklist

1▶CD
2▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Sleigh Ride
Leroy Anderson & His Orchestra2:50
2Deck the Halls
producer:
Lee Gillette
lead vocals:
Nat King Cole (in 1960)
conductor:
Ralph Carmichael (in 1960)
arranger:
Edith Bergdahl and Nat King Cole
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-03 (number: 20), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-20 (number: 23), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-27 (number: 25), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-13 (number: 29) and Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-06 (number: 45)
recording of:
Deck the Halls
lyricist:
Thomas Oliphant (musician, artist and author)
composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
is based on:
Nos Galan (Talhaiarn, “Goreu pleser ar Nos Galan”)
Nat “King” Cole1:08
3Santa Baby
vocals:
Eartha Kitt (on 1953-10-05)
orchestra:
Henri René & His Orchestra (on 1953-10-05)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
RCA Victor (in 1953), Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Aug 5, 2004 – Oct 1, 2008) (in 1953) and Sony Music Entertainment (NOT FOR RELEASE LABEL USE! company owned by Sony Corporation of America since Oct 1, 2008; operates worldwide except in JP) (in 1953)
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-03 (number: 19), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-27 (number: 24), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-20 (number: 27), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-13 (number: 30) and Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-06 (number: 49)
recording of:
Santa Baby (on 1953-10-05)
writer:
Joan Javits, Anthony Springer (Tony Springer) and Philip Springer
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, Hello Mr. Wilson, Tamir Music, TM Music Ltd., Warner Chappell and Warner Chappell Music (publisher as Warner/Chappell Music)
Eartha Kitt3.53:24
4Blue Christmas
engineer:
Thorne Nogar
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Elvis Presley (“The King of Rock and Roll”) (on 1957-09-05)
double bass:
Bill Black (US bassist/leader for Elvis/Bill Black's Combo) (on 1957-09-05)
drums (drum set):
D.J. Fontana (on 1957-09-05)
electric guitar:
Scotty Moore (American guitarist and recording engineer) (on 1957-09-05)
piano:
Dudley Brooks (on 1957-09-05)
background vocals:
The Jordanaires (southern gospel group) (on 1957-09-05) and Millie Kirkham (on 1957-09-05)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
RCA Victor (in 1957), Sony Music Entertainment (NOT FOR RELEASE LABEL USE! company owned by Sony Corporation of America since Oct 1, 2008; operates worldwide except in JP) (in 1957) and Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Aug 5, 2004 – Oct 1, 2008) (in 1968)
recorded at:
Radio Recorders Studios (Santa Monica Blvd. location since 1949) in West Hollywood, California, United States (on 1957-09-05)
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-03 (number: 21), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-27 (number: 27), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-20 (number: 29), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-13 (number: 31) and Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-06 (number: 50)
cover recording of:
Blue Christmas (on 1957-09-05)
writer:
Bill Hayes (songwriter) and Jay Johnson (songwriter of “Blue Christmas”)
publisher:
Anglo-Pic Music Co. Ltd., Bibo Music Publishing, Inc., J. Albert & Son Pty. Ltd., PolyGram International Publishing, Inc. (renamed Universal PolyGram International Publishing, Inc. circa 1998), Universal PolyGram International Publishing, Inc. (existed only since ca. 1998) and Universal Polygram International, Inc.
Elvis Presley3.52:09
5Christmas Is a Feeling in Your Heart
recording of:
Christmas Is a Feeling in Your Heart
lyricist:
Joe Darian
composer:
George Kleinsinger
publisher:
Chappell & Co., Inc. (USA), ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
Andy Williams42:47
6I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
The Lennon Sisters2:05
7I’ll Be Home for Christmas
producer:
Voyle Gilmore
cello:
Cy Bernard and Armand Kaproff
double bass:
Nathan Gangursky and Jack Ryan (jazz bassist)
guitar:
Allan Reuss
harp:
Kathryn Thompson (harpist)
piano:
Bill Miller (pianist)
viola:
William Baffa, Louis Kievman (violist), Paul Robyn and Dave Sterkin
violin:
Walter Edelstein, David Frisina, Joe Livoti (violinist), Joseph Quadri, Sol Kindler, Nicholas Pisani, Lou Raderman and Mischa Russell (violinist)
choir vocals:
The Ralph Brewster Singers (on 1957-07-17)
lead vocals:
Frank Sinatra (American singer and actor, “Ol’ Blue Eyes”)
orchestra:
Gordon Jenkins & His Orchestra (on 1957-07-17)
conductor:
Gordon Jenkins (on 1957-07-17)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Capitol Records, Inc. (not for release label use; US company behind the “Capitol Records” imprint) (in 1957) and Capitol Records, LLC (not for release label use! fka Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) (in 2002)
cover recording of:
I’ll Be Home for Christmas (on 1957-07-17)
lyricist:
James Kimball Gannon
additional writer:
Buck Ram
composer:
Walter Kent
publisher:
Chappell Music Ltd., Edward B. Marks Music Co. (founded originally as J. Stern & Co. in 1894, renamed in 1919), Gannon and Kent Music Co., Piedmont Music Company, Warner Chappell and Warner Chappell Music (publisher as Warner/Chappell Music)
sub-publisher:
ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
Frank Sinatra33:11
8Jolly Old St. Nicholas
cover recording of:
Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
additional lyricist:
Vaughn Horton
lyricist:
Emily Huntington Miller
composer:
James Ramsey Murray
arranger:
Vaughn Horton
is based on:
Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
Chet Atkins with Anita Kerr Singers2:14
9The Christmas Song
recording engineer:
Fred Plaut (on 1961-06-29)
cornet:
Nat Adderley (on 1961-06-29)
double bass:
Bob Cranshaw (on 1961-06-29)
drums (drum set):
Walter Perkins (Chicago jazz drummer) (on 1961-06-29)
guitar:
Mundell Lowe (on 1961-06-29)
piano:
Norman Simmons (on 1961-06-29)
tenor saxophone:
Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis (jazz saxophonist) (on 1961-06-29)
vocals:
Carmen McRae (on 1961-06-29)
cover recording of:
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) (on 1961-06-29)
lyricist:
Robert Wells (songwriter) (in 1945-07) and Mel Tormé (“The Velvet Fog”) (in 1945-07)
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. and Edwin H. Morris & Co., Inc. (a division of MPL Communications Inc.) (from 1946 to present)
Carmen McRae3:57
10Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
Ray Conniff Singers2:29
11Don’t Forget to Feed the Reindeer
recording of:
Don’t Forget to Feed the Reindeer (on 1960-06-19)
lyricist and composer:
Peggy Lee (jazz vocalist)
Peggy Lee2:47
12He’s a Chubby Little Fellow
Gene Autry2:53
13Baby’s First Christmas
recording of:
Baby’s First Christmas
writer:
Benny Davis (US vaudeville performer and songwriter) and Ted Murry (pianist, lyricist and songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated)
Connie Francis2:28
14This Time of Year
recording of:
This Time of the Year
writer:
Hollis and Owens (American songwriter and record producer)
Brook Benton2:27
15Christmas Heart
June Christy2:58
16Frosty the Snowman
cover recording of:
Frosty the Snow Man
writer:
Steve Nelson (US songwriter who co-wrote “Frosty the Snowman”) and Walter E. Rollins (songwriter)
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, J. Albert & Son Pty. Ltd., Warner/Chappell North America Limited (formerly incorporated as Marmalade Music Ltd., from 1968/09/19–1999/11/09), Chappell & Co. (in 1950) and Hill and Range Songs, Inc. (publisher) (on 1950-06-02)
Jimmy Durante with Roy Bargy and His Orchestra3:00
17Christmas Island
orchestra:
Frank De Vol Orchestra (on 1960-07-15)
conductor:
Frank De Vol (on 1960-07-15)
arranger:
Frank De Vol
recorded at:
Columbia Studios in New York, New York, United States (on 1960-07-15)
recording of:
Christmas Island (on 1960-07-15)
lyricist and composer:
Lyle Moraine
Ella Fitzgerald2:20
18Cool Yule
recording of:
Cool Yule (on 1953-10-22)
additional lyricist:
Eric Kornfeld
lyricist and composer:
Steve Allen (US actor, musician & comedian)
Louis Armstrong42:56
19It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
background vocals and choir vocals:
Jud Conlon’s Rhythmaires (on 1951-10-01)
lead vocals:
Bing Crosby (on 1951-10-01)
orchestra:
John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra (on 1951-10-01)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations)
recording of:
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (on 1951-10-01)
lyricist and composer:
Meredith Willson (in 1951)
publisher:
Frank Music Corp., Kobalt Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd, Meredith Willson Music LLC, MPL Communications Australia and MPL Music Publishing
Bing Crosby4.652:46
20December
Kay Starr3:21
21Happy Holiday (instrumental)
Jackie Gleason2:35
22Christmas Is Coming
Harry Belafonte1:40
23What Child Is This?
The Brothers Four3:49
24Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
choir vocals:
Mitchell Ayres and His Chorus
vocals:
Perry Como (US pop singer & TV personality, 1912–2001)
orchestra:
Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra
recording of:
Rudolph, the Red‐Nosed Reindeer (on 1953-05-21)
lyricist and composer:
Johnny Marks (American songwriter)
publisher:
Chappell & Co Ltd., Chappell Music Ltd., Warner Chappell, Warner Chappell Music (publisher as Warner/Chappell Music), Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019), St. Nicholas Music Publishing Co. (on 1949-05-09) and St. Nicholas Music Inc. (from 1950 to present)
arrangement of:
Rudolph, the Red‐Nosed Reindeer (for voice, choir and orchestra, Elms)
Perry Como2:48
25The Skater’s Waltz
Mantovani3:01
3▶CD