I wish the could have also found room for the [i]12 Songs...[/i] version of "The Secret of Christmas", as that one is (IMO, at least) much better than the Columbia one.

Incidentally, and for anyone who didn't already know, [i]12 Songs of Christmas[/i] actually was reissued on CD a couple years ago, as part of a limited import-only "Christmas Edition" of Sinatra's [i]Nothing But the Best[/i] compilation.  Unfortunately, the original cover art isn't part of the package and the sound quality isn't all that hot. 

Speaking of Der Bingle, this is completely O/T but did anyone else see this amazing story about the vintage World Series telecast that was found in his old wine cellar?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/sports/baseball/24crosby.html?src=mv

Chip:

I recently found this on Amazon:

Christmas Album Bing Crosby - Polygram CD -

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Album-Bing-Crosby/dp/B0000047KL/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_i

According to the Customer Reviews: 

This 1971 album was originally titled "A Time To Be Jolly" and features the Jack Halloran Singers and the Les Brown Orchestra. It's been reissued under various titles. The one I got from Amazon is called "Bing Crosby Christmas Album" put out by Polygram. This is the entire original album, no tracks missing as is often the case with a lot of budget releases. Great album at a very low price.

The original track listing for this album (as you know) was as follows:

Side One
A Time To Be Jolly
Intro. "Some Children See Him" I Sing Noel
Intro. "Come Dear Children" 'Round and 'Round The Christmas Tree
Intro. "All On A Christmas Morning" The First Family Of Christmas
The Song Of Christmas

Side Two
A Christmas Toast
Intro. "Caroling, Caroling" And The Bells Rang
Intro. "Bright, Bright The Holly Berries" Christmas Is
Intro. "We'll Dress The House" When You Trim Your Christmas Tree
Christmas Is Here To Stay

Original Artwork - front of album



The listing at Amazon is:

1.The Song Of Christmas 2:59

2.I Sing Noel 2:48

3.Christmas Is 3:10

4.The First Family Of Christmas 3:09

5.And The Bells Rang 2:40

6.A Christmas Toast 2:50

7.A Time To Be Jolly 2:08

8.Round And Round The Christmas Tree 2:34

9. When You Trim Your Christmas Tree 3:06

10. Christmas Is Here To Stay! 4:07  The 'new' cover is different....anyone on the blog get the Amazon CD?  Is it worth the purchase?  Seems like a bargain. Thanks. Jim Allen Bergen County

Chip:

Thanks, as always, most appreciated...keep up the great work!  I have been revamping my digital and vinyl Christmas collection with your recommendations...hope to contribute some new insights as well.

Regards,

Jim Allen
Bergen County, NJ

I am very fortunate to have "A Time To Be Jolly" on vinyl in NM condition.

Chip already knows this and I think a few other members may too, but I prefer vinyl over CD's  This is a great LP.  I think I had posted the artwork in another thread and the back of the album jacket has a picture from one of Bing's Christmas Specials.

I'm glad that Chip chose to use this album to add to "A Time to be Jolly" to the 4th hour. of The WPIX Yule Log.

Chip,

Yes, mine is the Daybreak release from 1971.  I actually came across it when I was searching specifically for Bing's version of "I Sing Noel" and in my searches, it always brought up the 1994 Polygram CD "The Bing Crosby Christmas Album"  I can't remember exactly how I found that the original release was "A Time To Be Jolly" but after I found the correct title I believe I either came across this by accident at a Thrift Store or it was on eBay.  Either way, it was NM condition.

I can't find the thread now as I'm not sure I'm the one who started it, but in the thread I believe I posted the artwork and asking if anyone knew what year the photo on the back may have been taken as it looked like it was from one of the Christmas Specials that Bing and his family had done.  I remember you mentioning that you contacted one of Bing's sons (I don't remember which one) and asked him if he remembered when the picture was taken.

Hi Chip,

I vaguely remember you stating it was Nathaniel but wasn't sure.

I can't say for sure, but I think it was Nathaniel  who told the news networks when they let everyone know that Bing had passed away, in 1977 but 33 years is a long time to think back.  So I admit I could be wrong and it may even have been Harry.

It's good to know that Nathaniel is doing well and still active in the golf industry.

I agree too that "A Time To Be Jolly" was Bing's best Christmas album.  Also the Duet with David Bowie "The Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth" was one of Bing's better Christmas songs.

Thanks Chip for refreshing my memory.

I do remember seeing Bing's children in the background at one point, and that is where I might be getting confused from, but again 33 years is a long time and I was only 19 at the time.  I'm not even sure if it was from the same press conference or not.  My memory ain't what it used to be lol.  But for some reason, if I were to be in a name that tune contest and only heard 2 or 3 notes from the actual record, I could immediately identify the song and artist.  Especially music from the mid to late 1950's and early 1960's.

I do vaguely remember what Kathryn said at the news conference after his death, just needed to see in it writing to refresh my memory.  I think too that somewhere there is the last picture ever taken of Bing and it was from the round of golf he had just finished before he had his heart attack.

Thanks again.

Hi all, first post. I spotted this thread but never saw any followup reviews. While I realize that many here focus on Ray Conniff or Mantovani, for me, nothing quite says Christmas like Bing Crosby. Being a sucker for all things Bing I just had to have this and I thought that I might hit the highlights.
Track 1. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas- IMHO this is Bing's finest vocal performance. He has an incredible command of his vocal skills here.
2. Rudolf- A lot of fun here with Ella Fitzgerald. Not usually my favorite song but this time I'll make an exception.
3. Just what I wanted for Christmas- great song, glad to have it.
4. Jingle bells- not much to say here, it's jingle bells. Nothing special but nothing poor either.
5. Christmas carol medley-well done, Bing in great voice again.
6. O come all ye faithful- great job, just sounds similar to other versions that I already have.
7. Here comes santa clause-Excellent. Another outstanding vocal performance with the addition of Peggy Lee.
8. White world of winter- not bad (Bing did not record a bad Christmas song) but not my favorite track. Definitely has a 70's sound to it.
9. The secret of Christmas-see #8
10. Go tell it on the mountain- this track has been widely available on Sinatra's stuff. Frank's voice really overpowers Bing on this one.
11. White Christmas- I have several versions of this one by Bing. So many in fact that I can't keep track. Bing might be most famous for this one but it is also the most overplayed one.
12. It's Christmas time again-great song but it's not going to hit the billboard charts.
13. The Christmas song-excellent, so happy to have the full length version of this song.
14. Silver bells-again with Ella but I prefer the version on Best of and Voice of Christmas. Not sure who the duet is with, maybe one of the Andrews sisters?
15. Jingle Bells (fast Version)-decent but again as with #4 it's just Jingle Bells. Now if you want to hear a version that will knock your socks off go check out The Puppini Sisters, best version ever.
16. Sleigh ride- pretty standard version.
17. We wish you the merriest- again with Sinatra, see #10
18. Silent night-Bing does a great job on this. It's impressive how he is able to convey the sense of reverence some of these tracks deserve.
19. The little drummer boy/Peace on earth-w/ David Bowie. Great SQ however the greatest disappointment on the album because they chopped off the entire beginning/introduction. Their conversation might have been staged but I still miss it. If you want the full version of this song you can find it on Bing Crosby's Christmas Classics (2005 version).
In summary, tracks 1, 2, & 3 are my favorites but as a collector of all things Christmas and Crosby I'm thankful to have the unreleased material. If you own very little of Bing's Christmas music I would highly recommend his Voice of Christmas set over this one. It contains more of my favorites including Snow and Count your Blessings. Now if we could just get the studios to finally release a true soundtrack for White Christmas with Rosemary Clooney, Bing, and Danny Kaye all together.

Edit: I may have inferred this but never actually stated that the overall sound quality on all the tracks is absolutely superb, especially considering the age of the songs.