Holiday Top 10: Have Yourself A Merry Christmas
Decided to add some extra spice each holiday season and name my top 10 single for common holiday songs. For 2020, I am starting with my all time favorite song, Have Yourself A Merry Christmas. This song has been in my head as early as I can remember. I remember this song playing when we drove home from my Grammie and Grandpa’s house during Xmas. What about this list after I wrote it down, is all the amazing Jewish artists (Garland, G, Tormé, Streisand, & Michaelson) who made it onto my top 10 for the song
Judy Garland - Meet Me in St. Louis Album, this is about as original as you can get, an origin to the song. The song was written in 1943 for the soon to be in production of Meet Me in St. Louis, staring Judy Garland. The original lyrics had some dark moments and Garland and director Vincent Minelli (future husband) asked the composer Hugh Martin to brighten up a few of the original lyrics. This would not be the last time Martin changed the “comically depressing” lyrics, Frank Sinatra also asked him to make a few shiny improvements (more on that below.) Garland’s movie & single version are about as origin as you can get. I watched the movie every year since I was kid because of this scene.
Mel Torme - Home Alone Soundtrack, Now I was raised on Mel Tormé, and there is even a family story around a connection with the singer. Tormé himself was of Jewish decent and didn’t do a Holiday Album till 1992, when the singer was 68. What’s interesting is Tormé co-wrote “The Christmas Song” in 1946, amazing he waited almost 50 years to actually record a holiday album. Tormè recorded “Christmas” in 1990 for the Home Alone Soundtrack. This version is my favorite, namely because Home Alone holds a strong place in my heart. Mel recorded the song a second time in 1992 for his Christmas Songs holiday album. This time it was a mashup with “Just Look Around”.
Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas, on the heels of a successful single release in 1959 of “The Christmas Song”. Fitzgerald spent the summer of 1960 recording her first complete holiday album (only two in her career.) The song has become a regular in some holiday films like The Holiday and While Your Were Sleeping.
Kenny G - Miracles The Holiday Album, this is an easy one, Kenny recorded the song to be included on the Miracle on 34th Street (1994) soundtrack. This is where I heard it and his music for the first time. I love the soundtrack album and the subsequent holiday album by Kenny. I listened to this song a lot in my sophomore year in college. Miracles is the second most sold Christmas album in history.
Barbra Streisand - A Christmas Album, of coarse Barbra is in the top 5, it would be a travesty if she’s not. Recorded in 1966 before the release of the Funny Girl Film, which sky rocketed her to icon status. This album has some amazing renditions of some holiday classics.
Diane Reeves - Christmas Time is Here, the album was released in 2004 and thanks to her performance and amazing music in George Clooney’s Good Night, and Good Luck. Reeves is no stranger to the blues world but this rendition of the song is balanced with her vocals and a unique guitar solo.
Ingrid Michaelson - Ingrid Michaelson's Songs for the Season, I admitted in 2018, I was not aware of Ingrid’s talents but I have been a fan since 2018.
Christine Ebersole - Broadway Care: Home For The Holidays, this album was recorded in 2001 and showcases 16 tracks with some amazing Broadway Stars. Christmas is one of my two favorite songs on the album, I bought the album while shopping for Christmas gifts that year The Warehouse. Yah! remember that place. There are many other great songs on the album but Patrick Wilson’s We Need A Little Christmas is a close second.
Carpenters - Christmas Portrait, the album was recorded from 1977-78 and release later in 78. The album featured the brother/sister duo’s first holiday single Merry Christmas Darling, which was released in 1970.
Frank Sinatra - A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra, it’s not a holiday list without Frank! Sinatra made a couple of holidays albums throughout his career, his third album of his career was titled, Christmas Songs By SInatra. It featured Have Yourself A Merry Christmas (with the original movie lyrics). Almost ten years later, Sinatra recorded second holiday album and called on Hugh Martin to rewrite a few of the lyrics. A Jolly Christmas was released and the world not only a new version of Have Yourself, but a more mature sounding Frank. The Jolly Christmas version is my favorite version of the two. There are a few live recordings out there by Sinatra. Did you know, that Frank and his 3 kids made a holiday album in 1968. You aren’t missing much, the kids were drowned out by the choir.
Honorable Mentions: Yah. No, Michael Bublé is not in the top but he did make it #20. The tops 20 rounds out with Edye Gorme, Glenn Miller and his Orchestra and of coarse Johnny Mathis. Here are 4 more that I wanted to just mention
John Barrowman - Lets face it, John’s voice is like an angel and I do adore his hit single from his 2019 holiday album.
Fantasia - If you want some more Jazz on your playlist, Fantasia’s 2017 holiday album gave us a great version. It’s soulful and slow making a great romantic song for the holiday season.
Judy Garland - A Judy Garland Christmas, recorded during her tv show, The Judy Garland Show.
Wynonna “Judd” - I know she’s goes by just Wynonna but she will always be a Judd to me. Her version of Merry Christmas is a soulful country story.