Customer Reviews

Wishes You A Swinging Christmas

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was a little girl when my parents bought this album. Little did I know that this would be the album that I use to measure all other Christmas albums. No one has come close to Ella's renditions of Christmas songs.

I wanted this disc last year, but a tight economy and a deluge of fine releases of Christmas albums prevented me from puchasing it. Already owning the original cd release, I decided to wait to buy this release until this year. Good things are worth waiting for, this album is of no exception. The 24 bit remastering of the best masters from this album refreshen the whole listening experience. The result is a surgically clean sonic marvel. The clairity of the backgrounds, including the vocalists, and the crisp tone of Ella's bell-clear voice all make for a joyful rediscovery of a masterful holiday album.

Ella never fails to deliver the goods. This is one classic Christmas CD that should be in everyone's collection, along side of Nat King Cole's, Johnny Mathis' and Bing Crosby's Christmas albums. However, I could do without two songs: 1) alternative take of "Frosty the Snowman," where she tries to sing in the manner of a four-year-old, and 2) a highly unappropriate, low-down, blues number. Regardless, I would still give it a five star rating!

Enjoyable. These are the songs you think of when you think of Chrismas. And, if you're into jazz, Ella's the person to listen to. That said, I prefer more traditional renditions. So, my ratings will be somewhat below those of Ella- or jazz-enthusiasts. Of the 18 tracks, I've rated one as excellent, four as really good, 10 as good, two as ok, and unfortunately, one as bad (the alternate "Frosty" track -- why Ella would want to hide her beautiful voice by singing like a child is beyond me). Here are my specific track ratings:

1. Jingle Bells -- 3 Stars
2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town -- 3 Stars
3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas -- 3 Stars
4. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? -- 3 Stars
5. Sleigh Ride -- 3 Stars
6. The Christmas Song -- 3 Stars
7. Good Morning Blues -- 2 Stars
8. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! -- 3 Stars
9. Winter Wonderland -- 4 Stars
10. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer -- 3 Stars
11. Frosty The Snowman -- 5 Stars
12. White Christmas -- 4 Stars
13. The Secret Of Christmas -- 3 Stars
14. Medley: We Three Kings Of Orient Are/O Little Town Of Bethlehem -- 2 Stars
15. Christmas Island -- 3 Stars
16. The Christmas Song -- 4 Stars
17. White Christmas (Alternative Take) -- 4 Stars
18. Frosty The Snowman (Alternative Take) -- 1 Star

I had the original that didn't last long enough for me.Those remastering gurus have done a good job to strech it out a little by adding a few tracks and some alternatives tracks.This is a lively CHRISTMAS cd for the whole family.I never could figured out the inclusion of the blues number,the only song that don't belong there.Everytime i put this cd on,i hear remarks saying it's perfect,it's fun but please would you skip that song?So now,after many years,i decided to record it on a cassette and guess what i did?...

This is for the person asking about Ella's religious recordings.
There is another album/cd called Ella Fitzgeralds Christmas, which is the total opposite of her swinging Christmas. The songs are sung straight with a very strong choral background. It is quite a bueatiful recording. There is also an album titled 'Brighten The Corner' which was originally released by Capitol. This finds Ella singing religious/slow gospel songs, such as 'A closer walk with thee'and'The old rugged cross' among others. I believe that some of these tracks are on a greatest hits compilation issued by Capitol. This album also has a selection of country and western tunes such as 'Misty Blue' and 'Turn the world the other way' Hope this was useful to you.
PS does anyone have copies of Ella In Hollywood or Ella In Hamburg-they are impossible to get in Australia

This is truly a masterful Christmas album. Ella is in her usual top form on this one. But it and it will quickly become difficult to listen to much else during the holidays. It ranks up there as one of my favorite holiday albums of all time (along with Dean Martin's "Making Spirits Bright."

For the person who asked the question, the extra tracks are:

13. Secret Of Christmas, The
14. We Three Kings Of Orient Are/O Little Town Of Bethlehem
15. Christmas Island
16. Christmas Song, The - (alternate take)
17. White Christmas - (alternate take)
18. Frosty The Snowman - (alternate take)

i'm curious to know the titles of the additional tracks.
i have the original but am looking for any additional christmas ella - including her "religious stuff."

anyone?

I'm sorry for the person who wrote the previous review, but the cover that's issued on this new VME CD is the actual original cover of the LP. It's a beautiful painting, and maybe it's too far from the "today taste" but that's what they did in the 60s!

Also the adding of the extra tracks (few of which were released as singles, and other were unissued on any format at this time) is a great thing for all the true fans of Ella Fitzgerald.

A still unissued-on-CD version of "The Christmas song" with Garcia Orchestra was not included on the CD and only avalible as single on vinyl (email me if you want a copy on CD).

Miky chico75pi@libero.it

This CD is my Xmas favorite in its original version. The improved sound quality may justify the higher price than the classic 'Swingin' but-but the extra tracks seem hardly worth it. (Alternate version of "Frosty" has Ella singing in a silly little girl voice. The religious tracks don't fit with the secular.) Even the cover seems a bit weird and lacking compared to the original, which is still available and highly recommended.