Monday, December 21, 2015

Hi-Fi Holidays: Christmas with the Platters

The Platters - "Christmas with The Platters" (1963) - Mercury Records

Hello Friends,

We've got one of the most successful vocal groups of all time helping on the turntable as we get busy wrapping our last few presents and getting the final decorations up on the tree!

This is a great, hip record from the R&B quintet who never sounded smoother!

There's bouncing, upbeat tunes like the great "Jingle Bell Jingle", "Santa Claus is Comin' To Town", the surf rock-ish "Blue Christmas" and the blistering Spector-inspired, "Jingle Bell Rock."

The record was produced by the legendary Buck Ram who handles the arrangements and gets songwriting credit on the nostalgic, "Come Home for Christmas". His influence as an arranger is felt throughout the album especially on the string-heavy "White Christmas" and "I'll be Home for Christmas".

As far as Platters' songs go "Christmas Time" is right up there with their classic, "Twilight Time" and "Silent Night" is heartfelt, sublime & so soulful it hurts.

The only real stinker on the record is the lispy and annoying novelty-song "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth".  Ugh... No Thanks!

RATING: 4 sister susie's sitting on a thistle out of 5

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