Essential Christmas: Original Hits by the Original Artists

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

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#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)
engineer:
Thorne Nogar
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
Elvis Presley (“The King of Rock and Roll”) (on 1957-09-07)
double bass:
Bill Black (US bassist/leader for Elvis/Bill Black's Combo) (on 1957-09-07)
drums (drum set):
D.J. Fontana (on 1957-09-07)
electric guitar:
Scotty Moore (American guitarist and recording engineer) (on 1957-09-07)
piano:
Dudley Brooks (on 1957-09-07)
background vocals:
The Jordanaires (southern gospel group) (on 1957-09-07) and Millie Kirkham (on 1957-09-07)
recorded at:
Radio Recorders Studios (Santa Monica Blvd. location since 1949) in West Hollywood, California, United States (on 1957-09-07)
recording of:
Santa Bring My Baby Back (to Me) (on 1957-09-07)
writer:
Claude Demetrius and Aaron Schroeder (1950s~1960s US songwriter)
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, Cherry Lane Music Co., Gladys Music, Gladys Music Inc., Minder Music Ltd. and Rachel’s Own Music
Elvis Presley41:54
2It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
recording of:
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
writer:
Eddie Pola and George Wyle
publisher:
Barnaby Music Corp., EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), EMI Songs Ltd., IQ Music Ltd. and ピアーミュージック (Peer Music Japan, Japan, subsidiary of Nichion)
Andy Williams2:44
3The White World of Winter
Bing Crosby2:11
4It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Capitol Records, Inc. (not for release label use; US company behind the “Capitol Records” imprint) (in 1963)
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-03 (number: 18), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-20 (number: 22), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-27 (number: 23), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-13 (number: 24) and Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-06 (number: 38)
recording of:
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (on 1951-09-10)
lyricist and composer:
Meredith Willson (in 1951)
publisher:
Frank Music Corp., Kobalt Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd, Meredith Willson Music LLC, MPL Communications Australia and MPL Music Publishing
Perry Como32:38
5Winter Wonderland
arranger:
Robert Farnon (composer, conductor, trumpet player)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Aug 5, 2004 – Oct 1, 2008) (in 1994)
cover recording of:
Winter Wonderland
lyricist:
Richard B. Smith (wrote lyrics to “Winter Wonderland”)
composer:
Felix Bernard
publisher:
Bregman, Vocco & Conn, Inc., EMI Music (do not use as release label! this is a music publisher), Francis, Day & Hunter, Redwood Music Ltd. (Carlin), Warner Chappell Music Inc., Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty. Ltd., WB Music Corp. (1929–2019) (until 2019-05-28) and WC Music Corp. (from 2019-05-28 to present)
Tony Bennett3.752:17
6Ol' Saint Nicholas
vocals:
Doris Day
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Aug 5, 2004 – Oct 1, 2008) (in 1949)
recording of:
Ol’ Saint Nicholas
writer:
Inez James and Buddy Pepper
Doris Day2:22
7We Need a Little Christmas
lead vocals:
Angela Lansbury
vocals:
Jane Connell, Frankie Michaels and Sab Shimono
conductor:
Donald Pippin (Broadway musical theatre director and conductor)
orchestrator:
Philip J. Lang
recording of:
Mame: We Need a Little Christmas
lyricist and composer:
Jerry Herman
part of:
Mame (full musical)
Angela Lansbury3:04
8(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays
Jerry Vale2:46
9Merry Christmas Baby
cover recording of:
Merry Christmas Baby
writer:
Lou Baxter and Johnny Moore (US blues guitarist, Three Blazers)
publisher:
Anne-Rachel Music Corp., St. Louis Music Corp., Unichappell Music, Inc., Warner Chappell Music (publisher as Warner/Chappell Music) and Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Etta James36:08
10Santa Baby
vocals:
Eartha Kitt (on 1953-10-05)
orchestra:
Henri René & His Orchestra (on 1953-10-05)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
RCA Victor (in 1953), Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Aug 5, 2004 – Oct 1, 2008) (in 1953) and Sony Music Entertainment (NOT FOR RELEASE LABEL USE! company owned by Sony Corporation of America since Oct 1, 2008; operates worldwide except in JP) (in 1953)
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-03 (number: 19), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-27 (number: 24), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-20 (number: 27), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-13 (number: 30) and Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-06 (number: 49)
recording of:
Santa Baby (on 1953-10-05)
writer:
Joan Javits, Anthony Springer (Tony Springer) and Philip Springer
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, Hello Mr. Wilson, Tamir Music, TM Music Ltd., Warner Chappell and Warner Chappell Music (publisher as Warner/Chappell Music)
Eartha Kitt3.53:23
11I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
recording of:
I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
lyricist and composer:
Irving Berlin (in 1937)
publisher:
Irving Berlin Music Company, Irving Berlin Music Corp., Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996) and Williamson Music Company
sub-publisher:
シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.) and ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division)
Billie Holiday2:57
12Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
engineer:
Nathaniel Kunkel
producer:
Bobby Colomby
mixer:
Al Schmitt
bass:
Jimmy Haslip
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Peter Erskine (US jazz drummer)
Hammond organ:
C.J. Vanston
piano:
Billy Childs (US composer/jazz pianist)
tenor saxophone:
Bob Sheppard (American jazz musician)
trumpet:
Chris Botti
arranger:
Chris Botti
instrumental recording of:
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
lyricist:
Haven Gillespie (in 1932)
composer:
J. Fred Coots (in 1932)
publisher:
EMI Allans Music Australia Pty Ltd, EMI Feist Catalog Inc., EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd (not for release label use!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), EMI United Partnership Ltd., Francis, Day & Hunter Ltd., Haven Gillespie Music Publishing, Jobete Music Co., Inc., Leo Feist Ltd, Leo Feist, Inc., SBK United Partnership and The Songwriters Guild
sub-publisher:
フジパシフィックミュージック SBK事業部 (Fujipacific Music SBK Department) and ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label)
Chris Botti4:09
13Ding Dong! Merrily on High
recording engineer:
Charles Harbutt (sound engineer and reissue producer)
assistant engineer:
Dave Clarke (sound engineer), Andrew Granger (sound engineer) and Jake Jackson (recording engineer)
producer:
Grace Row (engineer/producer)
orchestra:
London Symphony Orchestra
conductor:
Sian Edwards (English conductor)
arranger:
Julian Smith (Welsh National Opera conductor)
concertmaster:
Janice Graham (violinist)
recorded at:
Air Studios (main recording hall of AIR Studios) in Hampstead, Camden (London Borough of Camden), London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom and Blackheath Concert Halls in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
recording of:
Ding Dong! Merrily on High
lyricist:
George Ratcliffe Woodward
composer:
Thoinot Arbeau (Artist name of Jehan Tabourot (“Orchesographie”))
arranger:
Charles Wood (Irish composer)
is based on:
Branle de l’official
Charlotte Church2:19
14Adeste Fideles
recording engineer:
Charles Harbutt (sound engineer and reissue producer) (on 1999-12-23)
producer:
Grace Row (engineer/producer)
tenor vocals:
José Carreras (Spanish tenor) (on 1999-12-23) and Luciano Pavarotti (tenor) (on 1999-12-23)
orchestra:
Wiener Symphoniker (Vienna Symphony Orchestra) (on 1999-12-23)
conductor:
Steven Mercurio (conductor and composer) (on 1999-12-23)
arranger:
Christian Kolonovits and Luca Logi
recorded at:
Wiener Konzerthaus in Landstraße, Wien (Vienna), Austria (on 1999-12-23)
live recording of:
Adeste fideles (original latin version) (on 1999-12-23)
lyricist and composer:
John Francis Wade (from 1740 until 1743)
José Carreras & Luciano Pavarotti42:42
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