Hang up the stockings and let’s have a holiday today.
I mentioned just two weeks ago in my #365AOTD 345, that I have two favorite Christmas albums. One is the discs I spoke about a fortnight ago, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The other, and I may like it a smidge more, is today’s present under the tree, “Merry Christmas” by Andy Williams.
If you could only pick one Christmas crooner out of a line-up, Bing, Sinatra, Como, Cole, Martin and Tormé, which would it be? Well, you guessed it, my selection is Andy Williams. I’d take him over all of those great names each and every time. That’s EVERY time. He is my guy. I heart Andy and absolutely LLLLOOOOOVVVVVEEEEE his hit holiday record, “Merry Christmas.” Growing up, we listened to a handful of LPs each and every Christmas. The one that was my favorite and has stuck with me the deepest is this one. For me, it’s not the holidays without Andy Williams. There is obviously an emotional connection to the fond memories of yesteryear with this one. But I also just enjoy the hell out of this album. Let’s take a closer, Christmas morning look at it.
Side one was always my most preferred side. It features a half-dozen modern tunes that swing, stroll and soar, and is a little more user friendly than side two. The opening Sleigh Ride might be favorite number on the whole fruitcake. I can’t tell you how much I dig Andy singing Sleigh Ride. Next up is the slower, but endearing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. The gay and cheery pair of Winter Wonderland and Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! always make me smile. What has become a holiday number, My Favorite Things, follows. As I just mentioned in #365AOTD 352, “The Sound of Music,” My Favorite Things is one of my favorite things. Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings… The deep track from the first side of the vinyl is Christmas Holiday. Written by Craig Vincent Smith, one of Andy’s Good Time Singers from “The Andy Williams Show.” Speaking of deep tracks, Mr. Smith composed one for the Monkees called Salesman. Naturally I am aware of this Monkees’ tune. I give it a shout out in my #365AOTD 167. You can also check it out here. I’m getting off topic again. Wait, it’s Christmas!
Flip the album over, you get a more serious side of Andy’s Christmas LP. With the exception of Silver Bells and the hit single Do You Hear What I Hear?, Some Children See Him, Little Altar Boy, Mary’s Little Boy Child and The Bells of St. Mary’s highlight what a great singer Andy was. Lest we forget. These songs are tender and beautiful.
Do you remember the Simpson’s episode called “Bart on the Road?” Bart, Martin, Milhouse and Nelson depart on an auto adventure. The best part is Nelson becomes all excited and acts like a school girl when they see his favorite singer, Andy Williams. Well, I may not get all kinds of crazy for Andy like Nelson, but I have the most sincere regard for Andy Williams, especially his Christmas music and his career. I was saddened at his passing two years ago and made that year’s Christmas CDs in honor of him. Lastly, Williams has been a part of my Christmases as long as I can remember. I take great comfort in listening to Andy year after year. This Christmas morning has been a little extra special because of it. 🙂
365, Album of the Day 2014 