Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album [Remaster]

Performer: Tony Bennett
Artist: Barry Galbraith
Engineer: Frank Laico
Producer: Jack Gold; Keith Grant
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Personnel includes: Tony Bennett (vocals); Barry Galbraith (guitar); David Nadian, La Mar Alsop, Fred Buldrini, Harry Glickman, Harold Kohon, Charles Libove, Harry Lookofsky, Carmel Malin, John Pintavalle, Max Pollikoff, Aaron Rosand, Mathew Raimondi, Julius Schacter, Gerald Tarack (violin); Milt Hinton, Jack Lesberg (bass violin); Alfred Brown, Harold Coletta, David Schwartz, Emanuel Vardi (viola); Seymour Barab, Lucian Schmit, Anthony Sophos, Nathan Stutch (cello); Gloria Agostini (harp). With British arranger/conductor Robert Farnon handling the transatlantic sessions, Tony Bennett's 1968 Christmas album turned into a swinging affair, from the version of "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music (how did this song become associated with Christmas?) to seasonal standards like "White Christmas" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Bennett's warm style was especially winning on this kind of material, making an inevitable assignment a winning combination of singer and songs. [In 1994, Columbia Records added one track -- a version of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" recorded on The Jon Stewart Show -- and reissued Snowfall on CD.] ~ William Ruhlmann We can hear you kvetching already; "How many Christmas albums do I need? If you've heard one version of 'Winter Wonderland' you've heard them all." Well, you obviously haven't heard SNOWFALL. Understand this: Tony Bennett is the premier post-Sinatra interpreter of American popular song. The man couldn't turn in a bad performance if his life depended on it. So no matter how many times you've heard tunes like "The Christmas Song" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," you can be sure that when Tony tackles them, he's bringing something new to the table. He swings "My Favorite Things" like no one since Coltrane (and Coltrane didn't sing). Backed by a full orchestra, he brings his grainy intimacy to bear on the perennial "White Christmas," investing the Irving Berlin evergreen (sorry) with such tangible emotion, you'll be reaching for the tinsel in July.

One of the finest voices of 20th century American pop, Tony Bennett began his career in the '50s, under the watchful eye of producer Mitch Miller, recording huge hits such as "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," and "Because of You." In 1958, his album BASIE SWINGS-BENNETT SINGS was a precursor to later jazz-based work. That same year, "Firefly" was Bennett's last US Top 40 entry until 1962, when he made a major comeback with the Grammy-winning "I Left My Heart In San Francisco." In '93 and '94 he was awarded Grammys for his albums PERFECTLY FRANK and STEPPIN' OUT.

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