1965 studio album by Andy Williams
Merry Christmas is the second Christmas album by American pop singer Andy Williams that was released by Columbia Records in 1965, and his seventeenth studio album overall. This seasonal LP is focused exclusively on 20th century compositions, unlike 1963's The Andy Williams Christmas Album, which, of its 12 tracks, had six with origins predating the turn of the century.
For the six consecutive holiday seasons from 1965 through 1970, Merry Christmas charted on Billboard magazine's special year-end weekly Christmas Albums sales chart.[4] The album spent two weeks as the number one selling Christmas album during the holiday season of 1966 and one week atop that same chart in 1969.[4] The single from the album, "Do You Hear What I Hear?", reached number 18 on the Christmas Singles chart in 1965.[5]
On May 23, 1968, Merry Christmas was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of 500,000 copies in the United States.[6] Platinum certification for sales of one million copies followed on November 10, 1989.[6]
Reception
Allmusic's Aaron Latham described this holiday outing as "another well-rounded set of traditional favorites that became a perfect companion to The Andy Williams Christmas Album."[1] He found much to praise about this LP. "Williams's dark reading of 'My Favorite Things' from The Sound of Music helped to turn the non-holiday oriented song into a Christmas standard while a delicate 'Some Children See Him' and the joyous 'The Bells of St. Mary's' round out an album that is sung to perfection. Williams would go on to release other holiday collections, but none of them would capture the magical memories created by Merry Christmas and its predecessor. Thanks to good timing, excellent selections, and a voice that makes one feel warm and at home, Andy Williams recorded not just one, but two perennial classics that will be heard for generations to come."[1]
Billboard magazine also appreciated the finished product. "Williams's warmth and style bring freshness to a group of holiday chestnuts."[3] They had their own favorites: "'Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow' is given a fine, easy go ballad reading, while the new 'Christmas Holiday' is a bright jazz waltz winner."[3]
Song information
"The Bells of St. Mary's" first charted as a number seven hit for Frances Alda in 1920.[7] The Lombardo Trio provided vocals for Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians on their number two hit, "Winter Wonderland", in 1934.[8] Judy Garland reached number 27 with "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" upon the release of the 1944 film Meet Me in St. Louis, in which she performs it.[9] "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" by Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra spent five weeks at number one that began in December 1945.[10] And Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra took "Sleigh Ride" to number 24 on the Best Selling Pop Singles chart in 1949.[11]
The recording of "Silver Bells" by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards was first released in 1950[12] but did not chart until 1952.[13] "Some Children See Him" was written in 1951, and its composer's website summarizes its message: "With the U.S. engaged in the Korean War--following so closely after the Second World War with Germany and Japan--the simple but moving lyric of this carol affirmed that children of any nationality could imagine Jesus to be like them, with the underlying message that love is more important than any claim of race or nationality."[14]
"Mary's Little Boy Child" was a number 12 hit for Harry Belafonte in 1956 under the title "Mary's Boy Child".[15] "My Favorite Things" was first performed by Mary Martin and other members of the original Broadway cast of the 1959 musical The Sound of Music.[16] Vic Dana first charted with "Little Altar Boy" in 1961 on the Billboard Hot 100, where he reached number 45,[17] and Bing Crosby reached number two on the Christmas Singles chart in 1963 with "Do You Hear What I Hear?".[13]
"Christmas Holiday" was composed by Craig Vincent Smith, a member of The Good Time Singers folk group that regularly appeared on The Andy Williams Show . Smith also composed "Salesman", recorded by The Monkees for their 1967 album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.
Personnel
From the liner notes for the original album:[2]
- Andy Williams – vocals
- Robert Mersey - arranger (except as noted), conductor, producer
- Bob Florence - arranger ("Christmas Holiday")
- Glenn Adams - cover photo
[1]