Any Major Christmas in Black and White Vol. 3
In 2009 I put up two well-received mixes of Christmas recordings from the 1930s to early “60s, calling the shebang Christmas in Black & White (HERE and HERE). And, like the football world cup, another instalment arrives four years later.
Of course, this being Christmas and the time before colour was invented, there”s a lot of cheese involved. But, hey, what would Christmas be without it? And there is much that is wonderful to make up for it, especially Ella”s take on “The Christmas Song”, and the cool jazz section in the middle (the drums on the Lionel Hampton track!). And how lovely is “The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot” by British singer Lita Roza? Also, do check out a young Aretha Franklin getting into the mistletoeing spirit of it all.
I”m not sure whether this compilation constitutes another mortar in the War on Christmas (™ Fox “News” and Britain”s Daily Stürmer). None of these songs are speaking of the Reason for the Season as embraced by the fear-mongering Tea Party demagogues: serving the Lord of Mammon by means of excess commercialism. I wonder what those idiots would make of the grinching Christmas, Not For Mother mix (link of which is live again).
I have considered doing a mix of Christmas songs that might appeal to that other bogeyman of Fox and Limbaugh, the Marxist Pope Francis; but that will have to wait till next year. Instead I”ll have another soulful seasonal mix next week, just in time for Christmas.
As ever, the mix is timed to fit on a standard CD-R and includes home-jinglebelled covers. PW in comments.
1. Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians – Ring Those Christmas Bells (1959)
2. Alma Cogan – Christmas Cards (1954)
3. Rosemary Clooney & Gene Autry – The Night Before Christmas Song (1952)
4. Ella Fitzgerald – The Christmas Song (1960)
5. Aretha Franklin – Kissin’ By The Mistletoe (1963)
6. Doris Day – Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (1964)
7. Lita Roza – The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot (1953)
8. Nat ‘King’ Cole – Toys For Tots (1956)
9. The Andrews Sisters with Guy Lombardo – Merry Christmas Polka (1949)
10. Fats Waller – Swingin’ Them Jingle Bells (1936)
11. Lionel Hampton – Gin For Christmas (1939)
12. Louis Armstrong and the Commanders – Cool Yule (1953)
13. Louis Prima – Shake Hands With Santa Claus (1958)
14. The Enchanters – Mambo Santa Mambo (1957)
15. Perry Como & the Fontane Sisters – It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas (1951)
16. Mills Brothers – Here Comes Santa Claus (1959)
17. The De John Sisters – The Only Thing I Want For Christmas (1955)
18. Harry Belafonte – Christmas Is Coming (1958)
19. Vera Lynn – I’m Sending A Letter To Santa Claus (1945)
20. Johnny Mercer – Winter Wonderland (1946)
21. Dinah Washington – Ole Santa (1959)
22. Julie London – I’d Like You For Christmas (1958)
23. Connie Francis – I’ll Be Home For Christmas (1959)
24. Frank Sinatra – White Christmas (1946)
25. The Beverley Sisters – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (1953)
26. Dick Roman – Christmas Village (1962)
27. Dickie Valentine – Christmas Alphabet (1955)
28. Eddie Fisher – You’re All I Want For Christmas (1952)
More Christmas Mixes
Any Major Christmas Favourites
Any Major 1980s Christmas
Any Major 1970s Christmas
Any Major 1960s Christmas
Any Major 1950s Christmas
Christmas Mix, Not For Mother
Any Major X-Mas Mix
Any Major Christmas Pop Vol. 1
Any Major Christmas Pop Vol. 2
Any Major Christmas Carols (in pop)
Any Major Christmas Bells
Any Major Smooth Christmas Vol. 1
Any Major Smooth Christmas Vol. 2
Any Major Christmas Soul Vol. 1
Any Major Christmas Soul Vol. 2
Any Major Christmas Soul Vol. 3
Any Major Doop Wop Christmas
Any Major Rhythm & Blues Christmas
Any Major Country Christmas Vol. 1
Any Major Country Christmas Vol. 2
Any Major Acoustic Christmas
Christmas In Black & White Vol. 1
Christmas In Black & White Vol. 2
Christmas In Black & White Vol. 3
Song Swarm: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
PW = amdwhah
just love your Christmas mixes… always a welcome distraction from the usual, overplayed stuff! Thx!
A fine addition to your ongoing series – long may they continue! Compliments of the Season to you and yours!
Oh wow, thanks for another great mix! I discovered your site this year and I can’t thank you enough for these amazing additions to my holiday music collection. Thanks so much for all the work you do on this site!
> 21. Dinah Shore – Ole Santa (1957)
Either that’s Dinah Washington, or their’s something I don’t know about Dinah Shore!
You’re right. It is now fixed (new upload, new back cover etc). Thanks for the alert.
@halfhearteddude Not only that, but I’m pretty sure this version of “Ole Santa” was on your first B&W mix! http://www.halfhearteddude.com/2009/12/any-major-christmas-in-black-and-white/
Not that I’m complaining — my holiday isn’t complete without your Christmas mixes. :)
I’ve always loved your mixes, Christmas and otherwise, but never mentioned how much I appreciate your original album art. I’m enough of a record nerd that if I download a mix that doesn’t include the original information, date, composer, etc., I look it up so it’s pretty on my iPod and iTunes. I mention this now because I’m pretty sure the shot you used for Johnny Mercer’s Winter Wonderland is from my Ernie Uszniewicz Flickr site. I feel greatly honored.
Major Dude, your mixes are always great. I love reading the little bits of history behind the songs too. Thank you for sharing these!
Impeccable taste! Joyeux Noel!
Thank you again! You’re Xmas mixes are some of my faves!!
Hi there,
I’d love to download this mix, but the upload has expired. Can you help?
Sure: https://rg.to/file/21237a3e738f8c24e6b3928afda1a867/XM-BW3.rar.html