I'm going to upload that Mel Torme Christmas album with the studio version of the song.... but I won't keep you in suspense! He does include that snippet at the end in that version, too!
"Although it's been said, many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you." This is a timeless holiday classic! And this live version of the song is special, too. Mel's studio version is more in line with other versions of the song, including a string arrangement. For this live show Mel performed with a small ensemble: James Dupre on bass, Richard Shanahan on drums and Al Pellegrini on piano. For several songs Mel took over on piano while Al played clarinet, as is here on The Christmas Song. The performance was at the Crescendo Club in Hollywood, Dec. 15, 1954. And I love the piano on this version! The bass is so subtle, the clarinet a nice touch. And what can you say about the Velvet Fog? Mel's voice is so smooth, and I like the way he slides around a bit on some notes, as at the ending. ATTN Matt! I have downloaded a Mel Torme Christmas album that includes his original version of The Christmas Song. It includes several other good holiday tunes, and many do indeed get jazzy. I'll upload it for you. It would be worth a listen for his take on Good King Wenceslas alone!
Excellent! Thank you, Kim! I really appreciate all the music and cheer the year 'round, and I absolutely will be keen to hear the full Mel Christmas album and react to at least a couple tunes on there (indeed, I really like the carol "Good King Wnceslas," so that should be fun ... and my riffing brain always wants to say, "but was Wenceslas really that good? I'm not so sure..."😁😆)
@@mattsnider2667 Well, I'll tell ya... with Mel's version, Ol' King Wenceslas is very good indeed! I think you'll enjoy some of the jazzier versions of some of the tunes on the Christmas Songs album. I need to listen to it more, but it is uploaded for you. BTW--I was checking: This live version of The Christmas Song seems to be the first time Mel recorded it! The song was written in 1945. In 1946, Nat King Cole recorded it and went on to rerecord it several times. After Mel's live version was released in 1955 (remember, this Mel in Hollywood CD is a reissue of an album called At the Crescendo way back when!), he himself went on to record the song several times, too. I downloaded (and also uploaded to the Christmas folder for you) his first studio recording from a 1961 album called My Kind of Music. Turns out, instead of being a compilation with the original version of the song, the album Christmas Songs from 1992 was Mel's first Christmas album with his last recording of The Christmas Song. So this live version is actually Mel's "original." Confused? Then I won't even tell you about a version he did with Judy Garland with an extra verse at the beginning! 😛😜🤪
The lyrics here seem to include a snippet from "Here We Come a-Wassalin'," I wonder if that was a feature of this live-performance specifically.
I'm going to upload that Mel Torme Christmas album with the studio version of the song.... but I won't keep you in suspense! He does include that snippet at the end in that version, too!
Loving the Christmas music.
Another great vocal performance! Love the Clarinet! Pluto!!
"Although it's been said, many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you." This is a timeless holiday classic! And this live version of the song is special, too. Mel's studio version is more in line with other versions of the song, including a string arrangement. For this live show Mel performed with a small ensemble: James Dupre on bass, Richard Shanahan on drums and Al Pellegrini on piano. For several songs Mel took over on piano while Al played clarinet, as is here on The Christmas Song. The performance was at the Crescendo Club in Hollywood, Dec. 15, 1954. And I love the piano on this version! The bass is so subtle, the clarinet a nice touch. And what can you say about the Velvet Fog? Mel's voice is so smooth, and I like the way he slides around a bit on some notes, as at the ending.
ATTN Matt! I have downloaded a Mel Torme Christmas album that includes his original version of The Christmas Song. It includes several other good holiday tunes, and many do indeed get jazzy. I'll upload it for you. It would be worth a listen for his take on Good King Wenceslas alone!
Excellent! Thank you, Kim! I really appreciate all the music and cheer the year 'round, and I absolutely will be keen to hear the full Mel Christmas album and react to at least a couple tunes on there (indeed, I really like the carol "Good King Wnceslas," so that should be fun ... and my riffing brain always wants to say, "but was Wenceslas really that good? I'm not so sure..."😁😆)
@@mattsnider2667 Well, I'll tell ya... with Mel's version, Ol' King Wenceslas is very good indeed! I think you'll enjoy some of the jazzier versions of some of the tunes on the Christmas Songs album. I need to listen to it more, but it is uploaded for you. BTW--I was checking: This live version of The Christmas Song seems to be the first time Mel recorded it! The song was written in 1945. In 1946, Nat King Cole recorded it and went on to rerecord it several times. After Mel's live version was released in 1955 (remember, this Mel in Hollywood CD is a reissue of an album called At the Crescendo way back when!), he himself went on to record the song several times, too. I downloaded (and also uploaded to the Christmas folder for you) his first studio recording from a 1961 album called My Kind of Music. Turns out, instead of being a compilation with the original version of the song, the album Christmas Songs from 1992 was Mel's first Christmas album with his last recording of The Christmas Song. So this live version is actually Mel's "original." Confused? Then I won't even tell you about a version he did with Judy Garland with an extra verse at the beginning! 😛😜🤪