"Oh, the joy of waking Christmas mornings
The family round the tree
We had a way of making Christmas morning
as merry as can be . . .
. . . funny but comes December
and I remember every Christmas I've known."
~ Christmas Memories ~
Words and Music by Alan & Marilyn Bergman and Don Costa

December 12, 2005 marks the 90th birth anniversary of the Entertainer-of-the-Century and the most-loved singer of all-time, Francis Albert Sinatra. He maybe gone and missed but never forgotten. To me, he will always be the greatest singer ever lived and his music will remain in my heart always and forever.

Thanks to a good friend who enjoys listening to Christmas music all-year-round, a fellow Amazon reviewer whose excellent and well-crafted reviews are always spotlighted and most of all a fan of Frank Sinatra as well, for giving me this wonderful Christmas CD as 'an early Christmas present' a couple of months ago. I've been listening to this CD since then and enjoyed every minute of my listening sessions.

Produced in 2004 by the author of "Sinatra Treasures" and a Sinatra family friend, Charles Pignone, this collection consists of eighteen of the best Christmas carols from various albums recorded by the legendary singer from 1957 thru 1991.

The best tracks include the opener "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm," previously unissued "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and some of the most enchanting Yuletide carols of all-time, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "The Christmas Waltz," the duets with Bing Crosby "The Christmas Song, "White Christmas" and "Go Tell It On The Mountain." Track # 18, previously unreleased "Silent Night" was arranged by Johnny Mandel and conducted by Frank Sinatra, Jr.

Frank Sinatra shares the limelight with his children Tina, Nancy and Frank, Jr. on tracks # 10, 12 and 13, "I Wouldn't Trade Christmas," "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and "The Bells of Christmas," respectively. These delightful versions were arranged by Nelson Riddle and featured the Jimmy Joyce Singers and Orchestra.

This is a nice stocking-stuffer and also a great addition to your collection of Christmas music. It's one of the most remarkable Sinatra Christmas CDs. You'll absolutely enjoy the music as well as the informative liner notes with rare photos of him most notably "The Golfer Santa."

"Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born."

Wishing one and all the Merriest Christmas and the Happiest New Year!

P.S. I also heartily recommend the equally nice "A Jolly Christmas With Frank Sinatra." You'll love it too!

I bought this album a few weeks ago to check out and add to my arsenal of Holiday music. It seems to have become permanently affixed to my CD player. I cannot bring myself to replace it's slot with any other music so far. I LOVE it, and have been listening to it over and over, and it's not even Thanksgiving yet!!

Frank Sinatra's "The Christmas Collection" is a must have for the Holidays. Sinatra seems to bring everything Christmassy to this gorgeous album. It's sentimental, it captures the spirit of giving, and the warm holiday feeling. There are some real treasures here. There are several performed together with Bing Crosby. "The Christmas Song", and "White Christmas" are a couple that the two did on a TV show that aired in 1957 and was found in the vaults.

He gives this album a real homey and family feeling. He sings with Nancy, and Frank Jr. on "The Bells of Christmas", "I Wouldn't Trade Christmas" and a fun and original rendition of "Twelve Days Of Christmas". Grandaughter Angela ("A Baby Just Like You") is mentioned in song, and pays tribute to his mother as well.

"Go Tell it On The Mountain" is a beautiful rendition (With Bing),and the tenderness he puts into "Silent Night"( a bonus track previously unissued) will evoke goose bumps. Of course there's some fun as well with "Santa Clause Is Coming To Town". And I hardly have to mention Frank's voice. So familiar, recognizable, smooth and comforting.

Other songs included are "The Christmas Waltz", "The Little Drummer Boy" and "We Wish You The Merriest"(more fun with Bing). There are 18 wonderful tracks in all(see buying info for complete list), and the CD a good length, running close to an hour. An excellent quality of some of these very old recordings.
A nice booklet in included and has some informative notes relating to the recordings, and each song is listed with the original date recorded(ranging from the 50's through the 70's), and some great pix of Frank too.

You may have some of these Christmas songs on other albums, but this is Sinatra, and he does it his way. It's a sentimental holiday journey with Sinatra that you may want to listen to all year long!

A highly recommended addition to your Holiday music! Also recommended "Harry For The Holidays"(Harry Connick Jr.), see my review if interested.
Happy Holidays To All....Laurie

I've celebrated many Christmases and all of them have included listening to traditional Christmas songs such as "White Christmas" and "Silent Night". This album, however, includes more than the standard Christmas songs that every artist seems to cover.

Some of the songs that may be unfamiliar to some include "I Wouldn't Trade Christmas", "Christmas Memories", "An Old Fashioned Christmas", "A Baby Just Like You", and "Whatever Happened to Christmas". "Bells of Christmas" provides new lyrics to the traditional Greensleves melody. The rendition of "Twelve Days of Christmas" is also unique on this one, as the items are different. Not only are all the "new" songs excellent in quality, they are also sung by one of the greatest singers of all time--Frank Sinatra. He also sings a few duets with Bing Crosby (one of them is "White Christmas"). Even though I like the old standards on this album my favorite tracks are the songs unique to this album.

I picked this album up later in the 2004 Christmas season and didn't get that much time to listen to it. I start playing my Christmas music before Halloween and so far this has been the album I've listened to the most. You can't go wrong with this disc.