Music Monday - Nat King Cole

One of the classic Christmas records in my collection is Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song (Capitol - 1963). Most of the album was originally released under the title, The Magic of Christmas (Capitol - 1960) which was arranged and conducted by Ralph Carmichael.

Earlier, in 1946, the Nat King Cole Trio had recorded and released "The Christmas Song" (Mel Tormé) as a holiday single. Then in 1961 Cole re-recorded the song in stereophonic with a full orchestra conducted by Ralph Carmichael. Finally, this new version of "The Christmas Song" was added to the tracks from The Magic of Christmas (1960) and released as a new record entitled The Christmas Song (1963).

I love this collection for several reasons. First, Nat King Cole is simply one of the greatest singers of his era and listening to his voice is constant delight. Secondly, the collection is decidedly more sacred than secular in content–there is more Jesus than Santa in this line-up of songs. And last, but not least, the arrangements are by Ralph Carmichael. Carmichael was one of the important influences in my own early years as a musician. I was influenced by many of the well-known singer songwriters of the 60s and 70s, but it was the music and arrangements of Ralph Carmichael that made me want to become an arranger and learn orchestration.

For most people, The Christmas Song is a classic Nat King Cole album, but for me, it's actually more of a Ralph Carmichael album featuring Nat King Cole as the lead singer. Either way you spin it, it's a terrific record for kids from 1 to 92.