Perry Como - "Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music" (1956) - RCA Victor
Hello Friends,
Well friends, like they say, Christmas just ain't Christmas until you hear Perry Como croon a few classic holiday standards on the ol' holiday turntable.
This LP has been a staple in the Tugent household since little Ned was about knee-high. It's an all-time classic and may have been in more Catholic households than those records of famous JFK speeches.
Side One contains songs from Como's 1953 sessions with bandleader Mitchell Ayres and has definitely more of a "modern" feel (i.e. "Twas the Night Before Christmas", "C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S", etc.) The songs on Side Two date back to 1946 & 1947 with Como being backed by Russ Case and his orchestra and reek of nostalgia (i.e. "That Christmas Feeling", "I'll Be Home For Christmas", etc.)
Each and every song is solid; even Como's take on the otherwise awful "12 Days of Christmas" is pretty tolerable here.
The singer is in fine form throughout. His velvety voice and casual, no-fuss phrasing remind us of a simpler, more relaxed time. A time far less cynical than today. A time when it seemed like everyone had a certain spring in their step in the days and weeks leading up to Christmas. A time when it seemed like the house smelled like fresh pine and warm baked cookies for the entire month of December. When every wrapped present posed a universe of possibilities. A time when Christmas Eve had a quiet electricity and an air of mystery surrounding it.
They don't make 'em like they used to friends, that's for sure!
Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!
RATING: 5 saving us all from satan's power out of 5
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