Bing Crosby - Ultimate Christmas (2024)

Reason for Listening:
#2 on the Top Holiday Albums (Week of 20241228).
Last Week: 2 | Peak: 2 | Weeks on Chart: 9

Released 20240913.
28 songs. 77:XX. Ultimate Christmas (2024)
28+30 songs. 77:XX+85:XX. Ultimate Christmas (Deluxe Edition) (2024)
Wikipedia (No article at the time of this post)
Discogs

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Notes:
--20211205--
First listen. Standard version - I opted not to listen to the Deluxe edition
Huh. Listening to it, it sounded different from the original. I looked it up, and the original release is sung by Perry Como ("It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas")
I feel like every song sung by Bing Crosby sounds great. It's more a matter of how much I like the song that would determine it's rating here. ("Do You Hear What I Hear?")
Oh wow. I love this. I feel like I've never listened to this version of "Silver Bells" before.
I love the sound of that words "treasures" (Carol Richards)
This one felt a little forgetable ("I Wish You A Merry Christmas")
I love the light-heartedness of "Mele Kalikimaka"
ooo... that guitar playing in the background ("I'll Be Home For Christmas"), sounds more like a classical guitar

Songs in bold are the bonus tracks on the deluxe edition.
5: "White Christmas" (1947 Version) (with Ken Darby Singers and John Scott Trotter & His Orchestra);
4: "I'll Be Home For Christmas"; "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"; "Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)";
3: "Silver Bells" (with Carol Richards); "Mele Kalikimaka" (with The Andrews Sisters); "Twelve Days of Christmas" (with The Andrews Sisters); "Santa Claus Is Coming' To Town" (with The Andrews Sisters); "Jingle Bells" (with The Andrews Sisters); "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)" (with The Andrews Sisters);
2: "Winter Wonderland"; "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"; "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"; "Sleigh Ride"; "Happy Holiday" (From "Holiday Inn" Soundtrack");
1: "Do You Hear What I Hear?"; "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"; "Frosty The Snowman"; "Silent Night" (1942 Single Version)
0: "I Wish You A Merry Christmas"; "The Little Drummer Boy"; "Christmas Carols: Deck The Halls / Away in a Manger / I Saw Three Ships"; "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" (Medley); "What Child Is This/The Holly and the Ivy" (Medley); "The First Nowell"; "O Holy Night"; "Let's Start The New Year Right" (From "Holiday Inn" Soundtrack);
-1: "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer";

Summary:
Overall, this is a solid album. As it's the first album I'm reviewing for the year, I'll give it a solid 5.0. I could see myself listening to the album on repeat, but I likely wouldn't listen to it ever again as My Gift for now continues to be my go-to album for the season (which at the time of this writing is rated a 5.6).

Overall Rating: 5.0/5
Favorite Song: "White Christmas"

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#6 on the Billboard 200 (Week of 20241228).
Last Week: 8 | Peak: 6 | Weeks on Chart: 7