Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (1944)

If there is one must-own Christmas album, Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song is the one to have. The album gets its title from the classic song, penned in 1944 by the legendary Mel Tormé specifically for him. As part of the Nat Cole Trio, Nat King Cole first recorded and released the carol in 1946, subsequently recording The Christmas Song four more times. The most enduring rendition remains his 1961 solo version, originally included on his album, The Nat King Cole Story and later added to a reissue of his album, The Magic of Christmas. This collection was later retitled The Christmas Song, and has retained that title to this day. The track was covered by countless artists, often attempting, but never quite reaching the original, among them: Christina Aguilera, Herb Alpert, Thomas Anders (yes, that one...), Stevie Wonder, Babyface, Justin Bieber & Usher, Michael Bolton, Toni Braxton, Garth Brooks, James Brown, Doris Day, ermmm... Michael Bublé, Celine Dion, The Carpenters, Chicago, Charlotte Church, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bob Dylan, Gloria Estefan...

*** takes breath ***

...Connie Francis, Aretha Franklin, Judy Garland, Whitney Houston, The Jackson 5, *NSYNC, New Kids on the Block, Alexander O'Neal, Des O'Connor, The Partridge Family, CeCe Peniston, LeAnn Rimes, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Sedaka, Jessica Simpson, Frank Sinatra (incl. also a virtual duet with Nat King Cole), Donna Summer, The Supremes, James Taylor, The Temptations, Luther Vandross, ....

Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (1944)



Lyrics:

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,
Jack Frost nipping at your nose,
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir,
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe,
Help to make the season bright,
Tiny tots with their eyes all a-glow,
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.

They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh,
And ev'ry mother's child is gonna spy,
To see if reindeer really know how to fly.

And so I'm offering this simple phrase,
To kids from one to ninety-two,
Although it's been said
Many times, Many ways
Merry Christmas to you.

And so I'm offering this simple phrase,
To kids from one to ninety-two,
Although it's been said
Many times, Many ways
Merry Christmas to you.