Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas

by Ella Fitzgerald

Overview

Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas is a charming, warmly humorous -- and yes, swinging -- set of classic Christmas tunes. The program is familiar, from bouncy singalongs like "Jingle Bells" to slinky ballads like a downright sexy "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," but Fitzgerald treats each song with exactly as much respect as it deserves. And so Frank Loesser's "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" is wistfully romantic and Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne's "Let It Snow" is kittenishly enticing. As always, Norman Granz's production avoids the schlock that drowns some holiday sets. This is as good as jazz Christmas albums get.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/23/2022
Label:	Destination Moon / Forced Exposure
UPC:	8055515234039

Tracks

1. Jingle Bells
2. Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
3. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
4. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve
5. Sleigh Ride
6. The Christmas Song
7. The Secret of Christmas
8. Good Morning Blues
9. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
10. Winter Wonderland
11. Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer
12. Frosty the Snowman
13. White Christmas
14. We Three Kings of Orient Are
15. O Little Town of Bethlehem

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ella Fitzgerald   Primary Artist,Vocals
Frank DeVol & His Orchestra   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Frank DeVol   Primary Artist,Conductor
The Russell Garcia Orchestra   Primary Artist
Frank DeVol Orchestra   Primary Artist,Ensemble,Orchestra

Technical Credits

Frank Loesser   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Johnny Marks   Composer
Hugh Martin   Composer
Jimmy Rushing   Composer
J. Fred Coots   Composer
Irving Berlin   Composer
Jack Rollins   Composer
Count Basie   Composer
Eddie Durham   Composer
James Pierpont   Composer
Lyle Moraine   Composer
Dennis Drake   Digital Remastering
Richard Seidel   Preparation,CD Preparation
Val Valentin   Recording
Jule Styne   Composer
James Van Heusen   Composer
Phillip Brooks   Composer
Phil Schaap   Research,Tape Vault Research
Mel Torme   Composer
Norman Granz   Producer
Mitchell Parish   Composer
Haven Gillespie   Composer
Leroy Anderson   Composer
Frank DeVol   Composer,Recording Arranger
Felix Bernard   Composer
John Henry Hopkins, Jr.   Composer
Ralph Blane   Composer
Dick Smith   Composer
Sammy Cahn   Composer
Seth Rothstein   Preparation,CD Preparation
Robert Wells   Composer
Herman Leonard   Cover Photo,Photography
Chris Thompson   Design,Art Direction
Steve Nelson   Composer
Francis Paudras   Photography
Lewis Redner   Composer
Anita Paudras   Cover Photo,Photography
Richard B. Smith   Composer
John Larkin H. Hopkins   Composer
Walter Rollins   Composer

Editorial Reviews

Ella Fitzgerald was always able to breathe new life into the most standard of standards. So it's no surprise to find her putting a fresh twist on the well-honed seasonal favorites. Singing soft or swinging hard, Fitzgerald fluffs up "Frosty the Snowman" and heats up Count Basie's "Good Morning Blues." This recording can stand proudly alongside Ella's other classic Verve sides.

barnesandnoble.com

This audiophile CD reissue of Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas record (originally on Verve) brings back a lightweight but enjoyable set of Christmas cheer. Fitzgerald, backed by an orchestra conducted by Frank DeVol and an occasional vocal group, seems to have a good time on straightforward versions of such songs as "Jingle Bells," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "Winter Wonderland" and "Frosty the Snowman." No surprises occur but the music is certainly joyful. --All-Music Guide

Scott Yanow