Christmas Medley: The Night Before Christmas Song/A Merry Merry Christm
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
There's Always Tomorrow
Jingle Jingle Jingle
We're a Couple of Misfits
Silver and Gold
We Are Santa's Elves
The Most Wonderful Day of the Year
A Holly Jolly Christmas
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Track Listings (20) - Disc #2
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
Jingle Bells
The Most Wonderful Day of the Year
The 12 Days of Christmas
Deck the Halls
The Night Before Christmas Song
Jolly Old St. Nicholas
Christmas Is Coming
Have a Holly Jolly Christmas
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
The First Noel
O Christmas Tree
Silver and Gold
A Caroling We Go
I Wonder as I Wander
Christmas Greeting
Joy to the World
When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter
Auld Lang Syne
It's not unreasonable for any child to believe that Burl Ives might really be Santa Claus. After all, Big Daddy Burl narrates the animated Christmas classic about Rudolph and he did have that belly that shook like a bowlfu... more »l of jelly. After listening to this 19-song treasure trove of Christmas music from the animated show, adults might even believe Burl is St. Nick. All the hits are on this generous collection, including "Silver and Gold," "We're a Couple of Misfits," "A Holly Jolly Christmas," "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," and "The Most Wonderful Day of the Year." Why look any further for Ives's Christmas treasures when they're collected here on one disc? --Martin Keller« less
It's not unreasonable for any child to believe that Burl Ives might really be Santa Claus. After all, Big Daddy Burl narrates the animated Christmas classic about Rudolph and he did have that belly that shook like a bowlful of jelly. After listening to this 19-song treasure trove of Christmas music from the animated show, adults might even believe Burl is St. Nick. All the hits are on this generous collection, including "Silver and Gold," "We're a Couple of Misfits," "A Holly Jolly Christmas," "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," and "The Most Wonderful Day of the Year." Why look any further for Ives's Christmas treasures when they're collected here on one disc? --Martin Keller
The Original Recordings From The Acclaimed TV Special
James E. Bagley | Sanatoga, PA USA | 12/21/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Crediting this collection merely to Burl Ives has probably caused many to bypass it and assume it does not contain the original recordings from the Rankin-Bass tv special performed by all of the artists (not just Ives), when actually it does. These nine tracks are found at the beginning of the cd (the remaining ten are instrumental versions of the songs).
This is the only cd where you can get all of the Rudolph special's recordings. The holiday collection Rudolph, Frosty, and Friends comes close as it contains all but the instrumental overture and finale). You can also get five of the tracks from the Rudolph soundtrack spread out over Nick At Nite's A Classic Cartoon Christmas and A Classic Cartoon Christmas Too.
Whichever collection you purchase (I own them all), I guarantee they will make you feel like a kid again, no matter what your age is.
"
The soundtrack to the beloved 1964 Rankin/Bass holiday show
Lawrance M. Bernabo | The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota | 12/04/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have to admit I was surprised when I found out that "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," the beloved 1964 Rankin/Bass animagic television show, is the longest running holiday special. I do not know why I thought it came after "A Charlie Brown Christmas," but it indeed was produced a year earlier. The story is based on the song that Gene Autry, the Singing Cowboy, made the second most popular Christmas song of the first half of the 20th-century, and the song is sung this time around by the story's narrator, Burl Ives, as Sam the Snowman. Consequently, the grandfatherly Ives, who began his career as a folksinger before turning into a more than credible actor ("Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"), is probably the voice that most people today associate with the song. The explanation for that state of affairs is why this is the soundtrack for the longest running holiday special. Because of Ives' popularity his name appears above the title on this soundtrack, but he only sings a few of the songs: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "A Holly Jolly Christmas," and "Silver and Gold." The other memorable songs are "Jingle Jingle Jingle," sung by Stan Francis as Santa; "We're a Couple of Misfits," sung by Rudolph (Billie Mae Richards) and Hermie (Paul Soles); and "There's Always Tomorrow," sung by Clarice (Janet Orenstein). The songs were written by Johnny Marks, who wrote both the original "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." When you check the playlist you will notice that there are 19 tracks, and the explanation for this largesse is that the "B" side of the original album consisted of instrumental versions of the songs played by the Decca Concert Orchestra. You have to give credit for filling up the album beyond the 15-minutes of singing from the special. However, for those who treasure this program, being able to sing along without having to wear out the videotape or DVD is a singular pleasure."
Excellent Christmas Album
Lawrance M. Bernabo | 12/10/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am very happy to see the soundtrack of this much beloved Christmas TV Special released on CD. It is definitely a must-have. Besides the favorites like "Silver and Gold," "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas," and "We're a Couple of Misfits," you also get the instrumental versions heard throughout the special. I recommend it highly."
I wanted this before I knew it existed!
Sandi Jones | Cincinnati, Ohio USA | 11/23/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"How could anyone resist the wonderful, fun tunes from the Rankin and Bass classic "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" with the warm Burl Ives, or the fun tunes from the elves? Who ever watched that cartoon without walking away singing at least one tune for the next few days? Now you can get your fix of "We're a Couple of Misfits" without watching the whole movie. If you can play this disc, and not find yourself singing the tunes for days, you may not have a soul, and maybe you need an infussion of youth! This is probably my most fun Christmas disc."
"There's always tomorrow for dreams to come true..."
jon sieruga | Redlands, CA USA | 12/07/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Originally released as a Decca record album (with Burl Ives' "Holly Jolly Christmas" released as a single--and apparently a slightly longer version that the one heard here), this Rankin/Bass TV special holds a warm, intimate place in many hearts, young and older alike. I particularly love Clarice's song, "There's Always Tomorrow" and the anonymous female voice who croons it so sweetly sad. The songs, all written by Johnny Marks (the unsung hero of the special) are wonderful ear-candy for the holidays. The CD adds lushly orchestrated versions of these classics, perfect for a night by the fire or wrapping presents. "Believing is not far away...""