Tony Bennett – Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album – Vinyl Record

Description

Tony Bennett – Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album – Vinyl Record

Tony Bennett's first Christmas album draws holiday standards into the same elegant musical setting as his other work with the American songbook. Originally released in 1968, Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album pairs his voice with arrangements by Robert Farnon, whose orchestra gives the program breadth without overwhelming the singer. The ten performances include familiar seasonal songs, two medleys, and selections that approach winter from a less conventional angle. Bennett's phrasing keeps the album recognizably his own: the words remain clear, the melodies retain their shape, and a well-placed rhythmic turn can enliven even a very familiar song.

Farnon's role is a large part of the record's appeal. His orchestral writing gives Bennett different settings across the program, making space for warmth, movement, and quieter passages. Produced by Jack Gold, the album was recorded in both New York and London, with six performances made at Columbia's 30th Street studio and four at CTS in Bayswater. Those details connect Snowfall to the large-scale studio recording tradition of its period. Bennett sounds comfortable at the center of that setting, carrying a melody directly while allowing the arrangement to add color around him.

The repertoire gives him more to do than simply run through a set of Christmas favorites. My Favorite Things belongs alongside The Christmas Song and Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town, while the title piece establishes the album's wintry atmosphere. Christmasland adds another less frequently encountered selection. Bennett can shift between a song associated with a musical, a seasonal standard, and a holiday piece without changing the fundamental character of his singing. The link is his treatment of melody and language, which makes these performances feel part of his wider catalog rather than a temporary departure from it.

The medleys introduce a different kind of arranging opportunity. One connects We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Silent Night, O Come, All Ye Faithful, Jingle Bells, and Where Is Love? The other pairs I Love the Winter Weather with I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm. Farnon can shape several melodies into a continuous performance, while Bennett carries the changes naturally. Elsewhere, White Christmas, Winter Wonderland, and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas stand on their own. The balance gives the album both familiar individual songs and passages whose interest comes from how the material is joined.

Snowfall belongs to a particular moment in Bennett's recording career, with a full orchestra, a carefully chosen program, and a singer already deeply at home in this repertoire. It is easy to enjoy as a Christmas record, but it also has a clear appeal for listeners who follow Bennett's phrasing and Farnon's arrangements. The program does not depend on novelty or an exaggerated festive presentation. Its character comes from musicians taking recognizable songs seriously enough to give each one an individual treatment, whether the setting calls for an easy swing, a broad orchestral gesture, or a more intimate vocal line.

Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic

Release Details

Artist

Tony Bennett

Album

Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album

Format

Vinyl Record

Number of vinyl records

1

Original album release

1968

Track Listing

Side A

Snowfall

My Favorite Things

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)

Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town

Medley: We Wish You a Merry Christmas / Silent Night, Holy Night / O Come, All Ye Faithful / Jingle Bells / Where Is Love?

Side B

Christmasland

Medley: I Love the Winter Weather / I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

White Christmas

Winter Wonderland

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas