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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

December 16, 2016 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Christmas Song

Today is the fourth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas.

The song of the day for Saturday, December 17, 2016 is “The Christmas Song.”

About This Song

“The Christmas Song” was written in 1944 by Mel Tormé and Bob Wells. Sometimes known by its first line ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” this song was written on a very hot summer day and Tormé and Wells were trying to think cold Christmasy thoughts in an effort to cool off. The entire song was written forty minutes and is one of America’s most classic Christmas songs. The first recording was by Nat King Cole in 1946.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Christmas Song” in 1967 for the album Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, released the following year. The recording was arranged and conducted by Robert Farnon.

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)

Listen to The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1968.


“The Christmas Song,” as well as the album Snowfall, is available from iTunes.

About Today

We have a very sweet video of Tony Bennett singing today’s song. I am pretty sure it was recorded in London, but I’m not sure when. No worries … it’s still wonderful to listen to.

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Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bob Wells, Mel Tormé, Robert Farnon, Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, Tony Bennett

December 17, 2013 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Christmas Song

On the fourth day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Tuesday, December 17, 2013, the song of the day is “The Christmas Song.”

About This Song

“The Christmas Song,” which is also known by “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire,” was written in 1944 by jazz singer and composer Mel Tormé with Bob Wells. Tormé tells the story that he and Wells were working on a very hot summer day and, in an effort to cool off, composed this song. This classic Christmas song was first recorded by Nat “King” Cole in 1946 and has been widely recorded ever since by many popular singers from all genres.

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About This Version

Today’s song is from Tony Bennett’s extraordinary 1968 Christmas album, Snowfall. All the songs on the album were arranged and conducted by Robert Farnon. The music was supervised by Tony Tamburello; the album was produced by Jack Gold.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2IncC8fMEs7tY4pFIrS32u
“The Christmas Song,” as well as the album Snowfall, is available from iTunes and Amazon.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bob Wells, Mel Tormé, Robert Farnon, Snowfall, Tony Tamburello

December 15, 2012 By Suzanne 2 Comments

Song of the Day: The Christmas Song

On the Second Day of Tony Bennett Christmas, Saturday, December 15, 2012, the song of the day is The Christmas Song.

Tony Bennett painting for the American Cancer Society Christmas Card for 2012
Tony Bennett painting for the American Cancer Society Christmas Card for 2012

About The Christmas Song

Originally titled Merry Christmas To You, this classic song was written by the singer Mel Tormé and Bob Wells in 1944. The Nat King Cole Trio first recorded the song in 1946. It has, of course, been widely recorded by Mr. Tormé, Les Brown, Michael Bublé, Rosemary Clooney, Judy Garland and Andy Williams among many others.

About This Version

Today’s song is from Tony Bennett’s 1968 album Snowfall, arranged and conducted by Robert Farnon.

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)

Listen to The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1968.

The Christmas Song, as well as the full Snowfall album, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: 12 Days of Tony Bennett Christmas, Bob Wells, Mel Tormé, Robert Farnon

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