The Great Christmas Record Odyssey, Ep. XLIX

Happy Holidays, America.  We're gonna delve into a classic today. . .

Album Title:  A Jolly Christmas

Album Artist:  Frank Sinatra

What the hell can you say about Frank Sinatra?  He's probably the coolest man that has ever existed, and I guarantee your grandmother has fantasized about him.

Perhaps that's a bit too much for the Christmas season, but. . . yeah, she probably has.

Sinatra is a legend in his own right, and every male singer for decades had to perform in his shadow.  His extensive catalog of Christmas songs - such as the ones collected on this repressing - are so ingrained in popular culture that even without ever owning this album before, I knew all of the songs on here.  All of them.  That's impressive.

This is jazzy enough to play at a party, yet subtle enough that you could listen to it while relaxing next to a fire.  There's a mix of religious carols and festive favorites, and if there's any fault to be found here is that there's not more songs, like you have on the expanded double-LP (which can be found here.)

(Yes, I'm buying that next.)

When every song you record on an album is a bonafide classic, it's hard to find fault with anything.  Sinatra's arrangements, vocal range, and knack for song selection is uncanny.  I couldn't possibly give the man anything less than a '9,' because he's Frank frickin' Sinatra.  If you don't like Frank Sinatra, I don't think I can be cool with you.

He does get docked a solitary point for the sole reason that this album isn't fit for all occasions (most, but not all.)  In his defense, though, very few albums are.

VERDICT:  9/10 - Cowabunga! (This album needs to be a mandatory addition to everyone's Holiday music collection.  Like, enforce this shit by law or something.)

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