Search - Perry Como :: Season's Greetings

A Christmas Tradition

townsend@istar.ca | Nova Scotia, Canada | 12/12/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The most widely distributed Perry Como Christmas album is based on a compilation of Christmas songs titled "Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music" which was first released as a 78 RPM Musical Smart Set in 1946 including 8 songs recorded in August of that year. In 1947, Perry's recording of "White Christmas" was added to this compilation while "O Little Town of Bethlehem" was dropped, and in 1956 the album was expanded to include 8 other tracks recorded in 1953 for another album titled "Around the Christmas Tree". This album was re-released on RCA Camden in 1961 with the loss of one more original 1946 track "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town", and the resulting compilation has been distributed throughout the world ever since. However, Perry recorded two other full Christmas albums both of which earned Gold records for him in short order, the first of which was his 1959 Stereo album "Seasons's Greetings from Perry Como" followed by "The Perry Como Christmas Album" in 1968. Both of these albums, like the earlier "Merry Christmas Music" recordings, have become Christmas "classics" even though neither of them are as widely distributed as the earlier compilation. Comments favouring one compilation over another are almost always generational and any attempt to suggest that one version is better than another is an exercise in futility. The Perry Como record which was played at your Christmas is the one you will like best. BMG should release every one of them and let Perry's many fans take their pick. A good number would choose all three with all of the missing tracks and singles added! That BMG hasn't considered a definitive Perry Como Christmas Box set is simply incomprehensible."

Perry Como At His Peak On "Season's Greetings" Set

Anthony G Pizza | FL | 12/10/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Despite its nondescript title (you never HEAR anyone wished "Season's Greetings," only READ it), this classic Perry Como LP is a model for holiday music. Helped by longtime musical arrangers Mitchell Ayres and mostly tasteful backup by the (not that) Ray Charles Singers, Como is as smooth, relaxed, warm, and unobtrusive a Christmas musical guest as he was a TV variety host during the medium's beloved early days.Como and Ayres follow the model for most holiday music of the period; playful secular songs on one half, solemn hymns on the other. The highlight is Como's own Christmas standard, "Home For The Holidays," but he and Ayres also have fun jazzing "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" (a wilder version was released as a 45 on RCA's Bluebird subsidiary). Como also delivers wistful, straight versions of "The Christmas Song" and "White Christmas" which suffer somewhat from lacking Nat Cole and Bing Crosby's respective jazz phrasing. The hymns here suffer from Charles Singers overload, but Como still delivers tasteful, stately renditions of "Here We Come A-Caroling," "O Holy Night," and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." But the highlight is a medley joining "O Little Town Of Bethlehem," "We Three Kings," and "Silent Night" into a stirring narrative based on Como's introduction of "the most beautiful, the most exciting story ever heard...the story of the first Christmas." As Como guides you through the Nativity in story and song, you remember not only that holy night but years of Perry Como weekly TV programs and yearly specials. Like Crosby, Andy Williams, and other traditional pop singers, Perry Como probably sells most of his music as Christmastime and has released several exceptional holiday LPs ("I Wish It Could Be Christmas Forever," "Merry Christmas Songs," his live Christmas set in Ireland) . But "Seasons Greetings" captures him at his artistic and commercial peak, and is thus essential to any Perry Como or Christmas music collection"

Christmas Songs at their finest

Anthony G Pizza | 09/18/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is our family's "Christmas Album". We have played it ever since the 1950s. Pure Christmas joy, with Perry's beautiful voice. I am so glad it is in CD format."