V/A - Headin' For The Christmas Ball CD (Bear Family)

This 2020 compilation from Bear Family Records is a nostalgic collection of 31 Christmas-themed Lindy Hop-Jitterbug-Boogie-Jive and Easy Listening rarities of the years 1940-1967! Among them the title song Christmas Ball, as well as the B-side of the rare 1951 Coral single of the Georgie Auld Orchestra with the great singer Bill Darnel, never before on CD! Knuckles O'Toole & The Brigadiers’ version of Jingle Bells is also included, as well as New Year's goose bumps classic Auld Lang Syne in the worn version by Guy Lombardo, and the famous version of the classic Sleigh Ride in the interpretation of orchestra leader Leroy Anderson, also known from the movie 'Polar Express'! Besides The Andrews Sisters there are more ladies with their great voices, above all the stunning Dinah Washington, the crooner lady Dorothy Collins and last but not least Kay Martin, who makes it quite slippery and erotic. They are joined by Jerry Lewis, Cary Grant and Mickey Rooney, three movie stars from Hollywood's golden era with their really rare recordings!

As always, part of the concept is to focus on rare recordings that are not found on every Christmas collection. Accordingly, you should definitely get the previous 'Season's Greetings,' because then you can listen to all the CDs one after the other staying in Christmas fever. Some of the tracks are on CD for the first time. For example both sides of a single by the Georgie Auld Orchestra with the fantastic singer Bill Darnel, which was released on Coral at that time containing its title song Christmas Ball, as well as the B-side, It Ain't Snowin' Outside. Some exotic components come from The Surfers with Hawaiian sounds and The Enchanters with a mix of doo wop and mambo! For a laugh, the CD also contains a series of novelty recordings, from well-known and unknown greats like Barry Gordon, The Lennon Sisters and Kay Martin. Who remembers the touching Christmas movie classic with James Stewart? This film tempted us to involve some top movie stars with their comedic talents from Hollywood's golden era: Cary Grant, Mickey Rooney and Jerry Lewis! Rare recordings, but listen for yourself! Of course, the CD also comes with liner notes for each song, rare photos and many illustrations in the 24-page booklet!

Tracks:

1 Georgie Auld ; His Orchestra feat. Bill Darnell - Christmas Ball

2 Louis Prima ; His Orchestra - Shake Hands With Santa Claus

3 Bill Bronson's Overtones with The Tommy Ferguson Trio - Christmas Is On Its Way

4 Roy Milton ; His Solid Senders - Christmas Time Blues

5 Jo Stafford - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

6 Knuckles O'Toole ; The Brigadiers - Jingle Bells

7 The Andrews Sisters - Jing-A-Ling, Jing-A-Ling

8 Benny Goodman ; His Orchestra feat. Peggy Lee - Winter Weather

9 Georgie Auld ; His Orchestra feat. Bill Darnell - It Ain't Snowin' Outside

10 Leroy Anderson ; His "Pops" Concert Orchestra - Sleigh Ride

11 Art Mooney ; His Orchestra - The Christmas Choo Choo Train

12 Lawrence Welk's Little Band feat. Janet, Brian, Cubby ; The Lennon Sisters - Outer Space Santa

13 Barry Gordon - Zoomah, The Santa Claus From Mars

14 Fred Waring ; The Pennsylvanians with The Glee Club - Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer

15 Dorothy Collins - Mister Santa

16 Cary Grant - Christmas Lullaby

17 Mickey Rooney - Susie, The Snow Girl

18 Kay Martin ; Her Body Guards - Come On Santa, Let's Have A Ball

19 Kay Martin ; Her Body Guards - Santa's Doing The Horizontal Twist

20 Dinah Washington - Ole! Santa

21 Ramsey Lewis Trio - Christmas Blues

22 Dave King ; The Keynotes - Hotta Chocolata

23 Tina Robin - Winter Wonderland Cha Cha

24 The Enchanters - Mambo, Santa, Mambo

25 The Surfers - Here Comes Santa Claus In A Red Canoe

26 Louis Armstrong - Christmas In New Orleans

27 Noël Chiboust Et Son Orchestre, feat. Django Reinhardt - Noël Blues

28 Jerry Lewis - I've Had A Very Merry Christmas

29 Johnny Otis ; His Orchestra - Happy New Year, Baby

30 Ramsey Lewis Trio - What Are You Doing New Years Eve

31 Guy Lombardo ; His Royal Canadians - Auld Lang Syne