Just like The Christmas Song ("chestnuts roasting..."), The Christmas Waltz ("frosted windowpanes...") was written during a mid-summer hot spell.
However, unlike Mel Torme and Bob Wells writing the former of their own accord out by the pool, Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne were ordered to write the latter by themob....errrr...Chairman of the Board who wanted a B-side track to pair with his rendition of Irving Berlin's White Christmas.
Starting in 1954, Mr. Sinatra himself recorded The Christmas Waltz three times and many covers followed.
One of the worst versions was recorded by Kathy Lee Gifford in 1993. A few years later Ms. Gifford hosted a holiday special that was so awful (see above) that Washington Post critic Tom Shales started a review with the following lede:
Anyway, our jukebox cover, featuring the vocal stylings of Bigger E., probably has more in common with the She and Him version than either the original or that which was belted out by the inimitable Kathy Lee...
.
However, unlike Mel Torme and Bob Wells writing the former of their own accord out by the pool, Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne were ordered to write the latter by the
Starting in 1954, Mr. Sinatra himself recorded The Christmas Waltz three times and many covers followed.
One of the worst versions was recorded by Kathy Lee Gifford in 1993. A few years later Ms. Gifford hosted a holiday special that was so awful (see above) that Washington Post critic Tom Shales started a review with the following lede:
Kathie Lee Gifford sings songs like she's mad at them. What did they ever do to her? Maybe she was frightened by a song as a child. And by Christmas, too, because each year on television she wreaks a bit more revenge...
Anyway, our jukebox cover, featuring the vocal stylings of Bigger E., probably has more in common with the She and Him version than either the original or that which was belted out by the inimitable Kathy Lee...
.
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