Oh by gosh, by golly

This is, without a doubt, the best Frank Sinatra Christmas CD available. The album was originally recorded in 1957, when Frank was arguably at the peak of his singing ability. The first side featured secular Christmas songs, while side two featured religious Christmas songs. They are all well sung by Frank, although he didn't seem to have the affinity for Christmas music that Bing Crosby did. The CD has two bonus songs, which are "White Christmas" and "The Christmas Waltz". These songs were released on a single in 1954, three years before the album was recorded. If you want to hear Frank Sinatra sing Christmas songs, this is the CD to get.

close your eyes and relax

I never write reviews, but some of these people so missed the mark on reviewing this album, I had to say something. I've had this album forever--since it came out on LP and it is a cherished part of my Christmas listening. This is an album to sit back, drink a glass of wine ( or egg nog ), and muse about your great Christmas memories. It's not meant to be a ho,ho,ho,jingle bells kind of an album. As far as I'm concerned this is Frank at his nostalgic best!

Memories of Francis

I am very sentimental about this album. Once I had read about Frank Sinatra's enthusiam whenever he recorded a Christmas album. Francis always delivered. He wrote part of "Mistletoe and Holly." "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" and "Silent Night" melt the heart of the listener every year. I am guilty of pulling this album out in July. Let's face it, "Jingle Bells" swings. Gordon Jenkins and Nelson Riddle make their imprint in their arrangements to this Capitol concept album. This was the selling Sinatra album of the 1950's.

Fills a Spot (partially)

This collection of seasonal songs by Sinatra brings together miscellaneous material from the Reprise years, 1962-1975. It's a nice complement to, but no substitute for, his earlier holiday offerings on Columbia and Capitol ("A Jolly Christmas" is not only Old Blue's best but possibly as good a Christmas album as anyone has ever recorded). If there's any dissatisfaction with "The Sinatra Christmas Album," it's that no one has seen fit to reissue in CD format the original Reprise LP from which several of the songs were collected: "12 Songs of Christmas Sung Together by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians." Perhaps the title is too long, or the music is deemed excessively sentimental by today's standards. A pity, because the album is not only of a whole but a rich and moving experience.

A Christmas album for quiet moments when the lights are low

My first thought when listening to "A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra" is that this was a Christmas album to listen to after you have finished trimming the tree, there is a nice fire in your fireplace, and you are sitting on the couch together and enjoying the moment. The "first side" of the album offers up songs that play to Sinatra's strengths as a master of phrasing a line in a song, such as "Christmas Song," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Christmas Waltz," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (editorial aside: songs written by and for the generation that fought World War II have a special meaning with regards to the idea of being away from loved ones for Christmas).

The "second side" of the album does more traditional carols and is where Sinatra loses some of his uniqueness as a singer (most clearly heard on "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "Adeste Fideles"). But there is always value in hearing any song done Sinatra's way, as he proves on "White Christmas" and "It Came upon a Midnight Clear." Needless to say, fans of Sinatra should already have this album in their collection. For others, this album offers perfect mood music for cuddling with the one you love on the couch after the tree is finished and the only illumination in the room are the lights on the tree and the flames in the fireplace.

Barely 5 stars - but some silly tunes.

This CD is better than the CAPITOL Xmas package. Not only is it in STEREO but the arrangements are also better. This album is a compilation ranging from 1963-1975 but provides a good balance between serious and happy Christmas songs on one hand as well as providing a few religious tunes.

All the arrangements are superb and most of them were by Nelson Riddle and Don Costa. Frank's singing throughout is solid. This CD has the best version of the CHRISTMAS WALTZ; a song which Frank previously recorded in 1954 and 1957. This is the only STEREO version with a lusher orchestration - beautiful.

Here are my only "complaints":

Greensleaves (What Child is this) should have with its original religious lyrics. Secondly, THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS and I WOULDN'T TRADE CHRISTMAS could have been skipped - these songs are lightweights and almost silly. The addition of Sinatra's kids to these songs do nothing for them or Sinatra.

BUT OVERALL this is the best Sinatra Xmas CD out there.