20th Century Masters - The Christmas Collection: The Best of Bing Crosby

by Bing Crosby

Overview

This edition in Universal's discount-priced compilation series 20th Century Masters/The Christmas Collection is actually a re-titled reissue of the 1999 collection The Very Best of Bing Crosby Christmas, itself a single-disc distillation of the two-CD set The Voice of Christmas/The Complete Decca Christmas Songbook. It is an excellent 18-track album sampling Crosby's holiday-related recordings made between 1942 and 1956, ranging from religious efforts like "Silent Night" to a medley of traditional carols ("Deck the Halls," "Away in a Manger," and "I Saw Three Ships"); World War II-era seasonal standards such as "I'll Be Home for Christmas"; and, finally, a restored version of the original 1942 recording of "White Christmas." (The song was so popular that Crosby had to re-record it in 1947 because the first master recording was wearing out; ironically, it's the later version, more commonly used since then, that is better known.) There are plenty of Christmas compilations by Crosby, who remains best remembered for his holiday recordings; this is the best single-disc one, released at an attractive price.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/23/2003
Label:	Mca
UPC:	0008811323226
catalogNumber:	000038702
Rank:	574

Tracks

1. It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
2. Adeste Fideles
3. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
4. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
5. That Christmas Feeling
6. Christmas Carols: Deck the Halls/Away in a Manger/I Saw Three Ships
7. Jingle Bells
8. Silent Night
9. Christmas Is A-Comin'
10. The First Noel
11. I'll Be Home for Christmas
12. Here Comes Santa Claus
13. The Christmas Song
14. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
15. Silver Bells
16. Sleigh Ride
17. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
18. White Christmas

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bing Crosby   Primary Artist,Vocals
Andrews Sisters   Vocals
Ken Darby Singers   Vocals
Ken Lane Singers   Vocals

Technical Credits

Gene Autry   Composer
Leroy Anderson   Composer
Irving Berlin   Composer
Mel Tormé   Composer
Buck Ram   Composer
Franz Gruber   Composer
Johnny Burke   Composer
J. Fred Coots   Composer
Ray Evans   Composer
Kim Gannon   Composer
Haven Gillespie   Composer
Walter Kent   Composer
Jay Livingston   Composer
Johnny Marks   Composer
Mitchell Parish   Composer
Carol Richards   Contributor
James Van Heusen   Composer
Robert Wells   Composer
Meredith Willson   Composer
Frank Luther   Composer
Vartan   Art Direction
Victor Young & His Orchestra   Contributor
Frederick Oakeley   Composer
John Francis Wade   Composer
Joseph Mohr   Composer
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow   Composer
William Sandys   Composer
Jeff Alexander Choir   Contributor
Traditional   Composer
Buddy Cole & His Orchestra   Contributor
John Scott Trotter & His Orchestra   Contributor
Jud Conlon's Rhythmaires   Contributor
Max Terr's Mixed Chorus   Contributor
Vic Schoen & His Orchestra   Contributor
Oakley Haldeman   Composer
F.B. "Wig" Wiggins   Liner Notes
Simon Rady & His Orchestra and Choir   Contributor
James Pierpont   Composer