http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2002-2006 by the authors Thu, 14 Sep 2006 17:21:03 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/09/091304.php#comment-441789 I only heard it once, on the radio some time in the 1980's. It was a scratchy recording of Mel Torme singing "The Christmas Song" in what sounded like a small club (you can hear people). It sounded like nothing we have come to know as the song. It was "jazzy" and scat oriented with all of those strange jazz signatures and timing. I would love to find out if this is available. I love the fact that this is the songwriter, and his head heard a much different song than the one that Nat King Cole interpreted. Anyone know about this "recording" and its availability? ]]> 441789@blogcritics.org Thu, 14 Sep 2006 17:21:03 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/09/091304.php#comment-388055 me encanta la musica de nat king cole en especial la de navidad en espaņol la cual tuve el inmenso placer de oir solo una vez en la casa de alguien que no conozco y que nunca volvere a ver quizas me gustaria por favor saber donde y como la puedo obtener ella lo compro en margarita venezuela era una trilogia del artista gracias de antemano ]]> 388055@blogcritics.org Tue, 13 Jun 2006 22:00:31 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/09/091304.php#comment-286029 I love Nat King Coles,"Christmas song"! I just sink into the x-mas mood when ever I hear it. His voice just sooths your worries and makes you appreciate the beauty of the song and time of year! ]]> 286029@blogcritics.org Fri, 9 Dec 2005 13:30:41 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/09/091304.php#comment-101124 Thanks for sharing this impressive discography. ]]> 101124@blogcritics.org Tue, 30 Nov 2004 18:42:29 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/09/091304.php#comment-101109 that's some serious discographical research Fred, thanks! ]]> 101109@blogcritics.org Tue, 30 Nov 2004 17:00:00 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/09/091304.php#comment-101108 Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I can now concede that F90036 was initially issued in 1949, and, at that time, DID house the original 1946 version. Capitol introduced the 90000 series then for it's Christmas run, and contiued re-issuing the series for the next few years. Initially, copies began with a "54" prefix before the "F" was introduced. My copy, evidently, is a 1953 issue of the series, whereas the newly recorded Riddle version was substituted for the original. ]]> 101108@blogcritics.org Tue, 30 Nov 2004 16:56:37 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/09/091304.php#comment-100720 1946 Capitol 311 (78 RPM) 981 "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" (Wells - Torme) THE KING COLE TRIO; With String Choir Vocal By; King Cole 987 "In The Cool Of Evening" (Nat Cole) THE KING COLE TRIO Instrumental 1948 Capitol 15201 (78 RPM) 981;Y "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" (Mel Torme - Robert Wells) THE KING COLE TRIO; With String Choir Vocal By; King Cole 2213; Z "Laguna Mood" (Nat Cole) THE KING COLE TRIO Instrumental 1953 Capitol F90036 E. H. Morris; ASCAP 45-11726 "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" (Mel Torme - Robert Wells) THE KING COLE TRIO With String Choir Vocal by Nat "King" Cole M. Witmark & Sons; ASCAP 45-4754 "(All I Want For Christmas Is) My Two Front Teeth" (Don Gardner) NAT "KING" COLE, And His Trio, With The Starlighters Vocal Group With Instrumental Accompaniment 1953 Capitol EAP 1-9026 THE CHRISTMAS SONG Nat "King" Cole F1-9026 1. "The Christmas Song; (Merry Christmas To You)" (Mel Torme - Robert Wells) 2. "Mrs. Santa Claus" (Fulton - Steele - Houle) Orchestra Conducted by Nelson Riddle F2-9026 1. "Frosty The Snow Man" (Steve Nelson - Jack Rollins) With The Singing Pussy Cats 2. "Little Christmas Tree" (Mickey Rooney) Orchestra Conducted by Pete Rugolo 1954 Capitol F2955 Edwin H. Morris; & Co., Inc.; ASCAP - 3:12 45-11726 "The Christmas Song; (Merry Christmas To You)" (Mel Torme - Robert Wells) NAT "KING" COLE; with Orchestra Conducted; by Nelson Riddle Vocal with; Orchestra M. Witmark & Sons; ASCAP - 2:30 45-4754 "(All I Want For Christmas Is); My Two Front Teeth" (Don Gardner) NAT "KING" COLE; and His Trio; with The Starlighters; and Orchestra Vocal Group; with Instrumental; Accompaniment 1956 Capitol F3561 E. H. Morris; & Co., Inc.; ASCAP - 3:12 45-11726 "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" (Mel Torme - Robert Wells) NAT "KING" COLE; with Orchestra Conducted; by Nelson Riddle Vocal with; Orchestra Shap. Bernstein; & Co., Inc.; ASCAP - 2:31 45-11685 "The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot" (Carr - Conner - Leach) NAT "KING" COLE; with Orchestra Conducted; by Nelson Riddle Vocal with; Orchestra 1962 Capitol LP SW-1967 (STEREO) SW1-1967 "The Christmas Song" (Mel Torme - Robert Wells) NAT KING COLE Music Conducted By Ralph Carmichael Above is the breakdown of issues of the song that were released in Nat's lifetime, taken from there original sources, showing all label info. I must concede now that there were actually FOUR separate recordings of the song. After (finally!) locating my copy of Nat's 1962 LP, I can say that that recording is all original to itself. My earlier statement was based on having only the tail end of the recording to compare to at the time. The differences are subltle, but they are there. There seems to be an error noted on the LP, where Pete Rugulo (along with Charles Grean) got credit for the arrangement, ...unless he in deed arranged it and Nelson Riddle conducted. There was also a Mono version of the LP issued in 1962 (I don't have it) on Capitol, which most likely contain a Mono mixdown of the Stereo. Or could they have used the Riddle version??? The pre-supposed 1949 release is also no earlier than from 1953. That is concluded by me because of the fact that the release (Capitol F90036) contains publisher and ASCAP info on the label, something that Capitol records didn't start doing until mid-late 1953. I would *guess* that it was issued to coincide with the EP. It shoud aso be noted that the latter flip side of "The Christmas Song", "The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot" was originally issued on Capitol F2616 in 1953 as the flip side of "Mrs. Santa Claus", a track from the EP. ]]> 100720@blogcritics.org Sun, 28 Nov 2004 09:25:52 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/09/091304.php#comment-100521 Over the past few years, I've been fascinated with all the different variations of Nat's song. The way I have it figured so far is that there are three separate versions recorded by Nat. Of course there's the original 1946 released version on Capitol 311 (master #981), crediting the King Cole Trio, with "string choir", with "In The Cool Of Evening" on the flip. Apparently there's also a version without strings, but I still haven't found evidence that it was released in 1946, or held back from release then and released at a much later date. As I understand it, it was Charles Randolph Grean who supplied the string choir. The third recording (master #11726) came along in 1953 on an EP (Capitol EAP 1-9026), and a single release in 1954 on Capitol F2955, flipped with "...My Two Front Teeth". This is the one where Nelson Riddle conducted. That same version was re-released using a different flip side ("The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot") in 1956 on Capitol F3561. Capitol's numbering system altered slightly, dropping the "F" from the catalogue number, and continued re-issuing the song with that number (3561) from then on. Only the label styles changed with the years. There's also an odd pressing on Capitol F90036 (mistakingly) crediting the King Cole Trio (as on the 1946 issue), but possibly introducing the third recording (master #11726). The flip side of this was "My Two Front Teeth", the same as on the 1954 release. This release credited Nat "King" Cole on that side. This record supposedly dates from 1949, which would put the Riddle issue back a couple of years. Since it does credit the King Cole Trio then, Riddle's involvement is not mentioned. When the song was put to stereo on the LP, as far as I can hear, Nat's vocal and Riddle's track remained the same. It was Ralph Carmichael's Orchestra that was added to the already existing track to give it a stereo mix. I've played the two tracks side-by-side, and all of Nat's vocals are identical (to my ears). It is only the added strings that make the difference to stereo. ]]> 100521@blogcritics.org Fri, 26 Nov 2004 17:54:40 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/09/091304.php#comment-33990 I totally agree vsheridan. Every time I hear it the hair on the back of my neck still rises to the occasion. Thanks Nat for having a beautiful voice as well as taste. ]]> 33990@blogcritics.org Wed, 24 Dec 2003 16:32:05 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/09/091304.php#comment-33981 nat king cole's the christmas song, is probably the best christmas song of all time. well, at least in my heart, mind and soul. ]]> 33981@blogcritics.org Wed, 24 Dec 2003 12:46:18 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/09/091304.php#comment-32060 I'm not normally real big on Xmas, musically or otherwise (my favorite yuletide carol is by Adam Sandler, hint hint), but I do appreciate brilliant songcraft when I hear it. My girl Carmen McRae did a magnificent version of Mel's tune, which is available as a bonus track to the CD of her great 1961 Billie Holliday tribute, Lover Man. Recommended (nothing against NKC, although I prefer his jazz stuff to his pop stuff). ]]> 32060@blogcritics.org Tue, 9 Dec 2003 22:15:32 EST