''12 Songs of Christmas'' is a 1964 album of Christmas music by Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and

Fred Waring Fredrick Malcolm Waring Sr. (June 9, 1900 – July 29, 1984) was an American musician, bandleader, and radio and television personality, sometimes referred to as "America's Singing Master" and "The Man Who Taught America How to Sing". He was also ...

's Pennsylvanians. The singers previously collaborated on the album '' America, I Hear You Singing'', which was released earlier the same year. The album was reissued as ''White Christmas'' on by

WEA The Wea were a Miami-Illinois-speaking Native American tribe originally located in western Indiana. Historically, they were described as either being closely related to the Miami Tribe or a sub-tribe of Miami. Today, the descendants of the ...

budget label Midi in 1973. Reprise Records included the entire album in their Frank Sinatra CD "Nothing but the Best" Christmas edition which was released in 2008.

Reception

In the US, ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' received the album favorably. "This is an attractive compilation of seasonal standards delivered in standout style by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, singly and in tandem, with the polished support of Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians. Among the top sides in this set are "Go Tell It on the Mountain," "The Little Drummer Boy," "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" and "The 12 Days of Christmas." '' Gramophone'' in the UK was not so keen, commenting: "'12 Songs of Christmas,' with Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians (Reprise FS 2022). Plenty of expensive talent crammed uncomfortably into a small, well-worn stocking. Obvious, pallid stuff, with the two head groaners actually together on only two tracks, and neither of them anywhere in particularly good voice. Collectors of sheer corn may take a perverse delight in an item called 'We Wish You the Merriest.'"

Track listing

Personnel

and the Pennsylvanians (Tracks 1, 5, 8, 10) * Bing Crosby and

(Tracks 2, 9, 11) * Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and

(Track 3, 12) * Frank Sinatra and

(Track 4, 6, 7)

References

{{Authority control Pop Christmas albums 1964 Christmas albums Albums produced by Sonny Burke Bing Crosby albums Christmas albums by American artists Frank Sinatra albums Fred Waring albums Reprise Records albums Split albums