18 Songs, 50 Minutes

EDITORS’ NOTES

This 18-track collection gathers the best of the best of Bing Crosby’s holiday recordings onto a single disc. Drawing on his prime recording years of 1942 through 1956, it reaffirms the crooner’s status as the 20th century’s greatest interpreter of Christmas songs. The album does a fine job at balancing traditional carols with modern standards and child-friendly novelty numbers. Whether the mood is reverent (“Adeste Fideles,” “Silent Night”), inspirational (“I Hear the Bells on Christmas Day”), nostalgic (“I’ll Be Home for Christmas”), or whimsical (“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”), Crosby infuses the material with the easygoing warmth and charm that made him a favorite for generations and continues to win him fans. The Andrews Sisters add verve and sparkle to “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “Jingle Bells," and “Here Comes Santa Claus.” A restored version of Bing’s original 1942 recording of “White Christmas”—included here instead of his better-known 1947 version of the tune—is a particular highlight. Track for track, this is the most concise and satisfying Crosby Christmas package available.

EDITORS’ NOTES

This 18-track collection gathers the best of the best of Bing Crosby’s holiday recordings onto a single disc. Drawing on his prime recording years of 1942 through 1956, it reaffirms the crooner’s status as the 20th century’s greatest interpreter of Christmas songs. The album does a fine job at balancing traditional carols with modern standards and child-friendly novelty numbers. Whether the mood is reverent (“Adeste Fideles,” “Silent Night”), inspirational (“I Hear the Bells on Christmas Day”), nostalgic (“I’ll Be Home for Christmas”), or whimsical (“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”), Crosby infuses the material with the easygoing warmth and charm that made him a favorite for generations and continues to win him fans. The Andrews Sisters add verve and sparkle to “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “Jingle Bells," and “Here Comes Santa Claus.” A restored version of Bing’s original 1942 recording of “White Christmas”—included here instead of his better-known 1947 version of the tune—is a particular highlight. Track for track, this is the most concise and satisfying Crosby Christmas package available.

TITLE TIME
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
2:47
Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful) [1942 Single]
3:11
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
2:19
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
2:41
That Christmas Feeling
3:02
Christmas Carols: Deck the Halls / Away In a Manager / I Saw Three Ships
3:26
Jingle Bells
2:35
Silent Night (1942 Single)
2:42
Christmas Is a Comin'
Bing Crosby, Jud Conlon's Rhythmaires & Buddy Cole and His Orchestra
2:40
The First Noel
2:35
I'll Be Home for Christmas
2:56
Here Comes Santa Claus
Bing Crosby, Vic Schoen and His Orchestra & The Andrews Sisters
3:02
The Christmas Song
2:54
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
2:15
Silver Bells
3:04
Sleigh Ride
2:43
I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day
Bing Crosby, Ken Darby Singers & Buddy Cole and His Orchestra
2:46
White Christmas (1942 Holiday Inn Version)
2:57
  • 18 Songs, 50 Minutes
  • Released: Jan 1, 1999
  • ℗ 1999 Geffen Records

Songs

Albums

White Christmas

1945

Christmas Classics (Remastered)

2006

A Merry Christmas with Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters (Remastered)

2000

Top O' the Morning: His Irish Collection

1996

The Definitive Collection: Bing Crosby

2006

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

1999

Listeners Also Played

Christmas

The Andrews Sisters

It Snowed

Meaghan Smith

Christmas Remixed - Holiday Classics Re-Grooved

Various Artists

Greatest Christmas Songs (Remastered)

Perry Como

The Very Best of Burl Ives Christmas

Burl Ives

Vintage Christmas

David Ian