Hi-Fi Holidays: A Jolly Christmas

Frank Sinatra - "A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra" (1957) - Capitol Records

Hello Friends,

We're kicking off our Holiday festivities tonight with some Ol' Blue Eyes on the turntable. 

Incidentally, we're also celebrating the Chairman on the Board's birthday today (December 12th)-- he would have been 98!

A Jolly Christmas is Sinatra's second holiday album and first holiday record for Capitol. With the chorus and orchestra arranged and conducted by frequent Sinatra collaborator, Gordon Jenkins, the record tows the line between the jazzy-sentimentality of Sinatra's earlier records and the light-hearted corniness of some his late 50's, early 60's recordings. 

Its a record of two sides.  Side One being the "fun" side with secular classics like "Jingle Bells", "The Christmas Song", "Mistletoe & Holly", "I'll Be Home for Christmas", "The Christmas Waltz" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas".

Side Two is the more religious side with carols like "Silent Night" & "Adeste Fideles".

Both sides are good, but be forewarned merrymakers, this is not exactly a swinging Christmas record. The songs and arrangements are excellent, but the tone is mellow and contemplative.  Tiki T. and I are enjoying this one admiring our newly decorated tree while enjoying a glass bottle of wine or two!

Frank Sinatra - The Christmas Waltz

Happy Birthday you big goomba! 

RATING: 4.5 oh by gosh by gollies out of 5

The Night We Called It a Day

Frank Sinatra - Where Are You? (1957)

Hello friends!

Feeling a little lonely this evening?  Feeling like the world has beat you down?  Do you just not care anymore?

Well then, you've come to the right place! 

On tonight's "Vinyl in the Valley", we're pouring our scotch & sodas on the stiff side while our favorite blue-eyed crooner woos us with some of his most melancholy ballads.

Now be warned, this is ain't the upbeat, globe-trottin', swingin' Sinatra style that we've come to know and love.  This is the morose, end-of-his-line torch singer who goes home to a dark apartment-- smelling of booze and stale cigarettes-- with two dollars left in his pocket, some dame's number illegibly scribbled on a book of matches and with enough personal regrets to keep him sleeping 'til Tuesday!

Where Are You?-- which was later re-released as The Night We Called It A Day-- is a lesser-known LP from Sinatra's incredible Capitol Years.  Here, the orchestra is conducted by Gordon Jenkins (a departure from frequent Sinatra collaborator, Nelson Riddle) whose lush arrangements only accentuate the loneliness and fragility heard in the great singer's voice.  From the longing strings on the opening title track to the bluesy, yearning closing number-- "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home?"-- this is some heartbreaking shit!

RATING:
5 too many drinks after 'last call' out of a possible 5