The greatest singer of the 20th century. His ability to strike a
chord with people across the world and across every generation was
utterly unique. The "voice" or "ol blue eyes" sang in a rich and
textured yet soothing tone and it always seemed as if he was
singing for you alone. It was as if he understood how you felt. His
sadness was your sadness; his joy was your joy. He sang of every
possible human emotion in such a way that every person could
identify with it. He also had an ability to turn otherwise ordinary
songs into something worthwhile. Emotionless lyrics were given life
and meaning through Sinatra's injection of vocal magic. His
yuletide output is equally stunning and on first glance it's easy
to cherry pick the favourites such as 'Mistletoe and Holly', 'Have
Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Jingle Bells etc. coming as they
do at a time where he is arguably at his very best, the Capitol
Record years of the 1950's .
The fact that Sinatra could never outdo Bing Crosby in topping
the poll of the favourite Christmas albums lists of the late 1940's
and 1950's is perhaps testament to the latter's supreme Christmas
feeling inducing credentials. Even so, Sinatra produced two major
Christmas albums that are worthy of note. The first in 1948 'The
Sinatra Christmas Album' contained the old Schubert composed
classic 'Ave Maria' which no matter what people say is a Christmas
song. With the help of the US Military Choir and arranged by Axel
Stordahl Sinatra's rendition of the carol is spine tinglingly
magnificent. It actually commands your silence. On his second
Christmas album 'A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra', released in
1957, it's another carol 'It Came Upon A Midnight Clear' that has
Sinatra conjuring up an oceanic sense of goodwill to all. This
lovely carol penned in the mid-19th century by an obscure country
pastor by the name of Edmund Spears is beautifully performed by
Sinatra and reminds us once again as to the true meaning of
Christmas.
Sinatra was well able to mix the Christmas carols with those of
a more contemporary nature and right up to the late seventies and
eighties is singing new versions of Christmas songs such as 'The
Bells of Christmas' and 'Christmas Memories' (the former being sung
with his son Frank Jr. and daughters Tina and Nancy). However, as
is often commented elsewhere Sinatra's voice at this stage was
thinning out in general quality despite retaining its mesmerising
qualities. Regardless you can be sure when it's time to spin those
Christmas discs come December 1st Frank Sinatra Christmas songs
will be in the mix along with those other festive greats.
Frank Sinatra's Christmas Singles
1944: White
Christmas
1946: Silent Night,
Jingle Bells
1947: Christmas
Dreaming (A Little Early This Year)
1950: Let It Snow!
Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
1954: The Christmas
Waltz
1957: Mistletoe and
Holly
1963: Have Yourself
a Merry Little Christmas
1964: I Heard the
Bells on Christmas Day, We Wish You The Merriest
1968: Whatever
Happened To Christmas
1975: A Baby Just
Like You