Christmas in July
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Artist:
When all is said and done, there is really only one Christmas song.
On KCRW back in the 80s, vocalist Mel Torme talked about how he wrote the song. A tale which differs in some respects from the one on Wikipedia. On the radio, Mel described how he got a call from Bob Wells, who was having trouble with a song he had been commissioned to write. Driving over to Wells' house in Toluca Lake, he found a fire going in the fireplace and Christmas decorations around the room. It was the middle of a hot July. Wells was trying to write a Christmas song and having trouble; the fire and decs were to help his creative block. Not getting anywhere with lyrics, he wanted Mel's help. Mel looked at Bob's notes, which said: 'Chestnuts roasting ... Jack Frost nipping ... Yuletide carols ... Folks dressed up like Eskimos.' To Bob, these were ideas to get in the mood. To Mel, they were something else. Over the next two days they worked on the song, which did not come easily. Then they had to give it a title and after awhile settled on what they had been calling it all along.
Nat King Cole recorded it in early 1946 and while many have recorded it, it will always be associated with him.
Locating MOG account...
Comments (14)
Great post, thanks for the real deal here, the King INdeed!
I'm beginning to think you are never mistaken about anything.
My favorite Christmas recording of all time. I was going to post this in a couple of days (on my #31 post) but you beat me to it! I'll have to find something else that fits the bill. In the meantime, I shall sit back and listen to Nat sing it like only he could.
this has to be one of my top three christmas songs in my books. Happy holidays Jonh
This and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" are, without a doubt, tied for Numero Uno on my Xmas Top 10. And that's one super anecdote, Jonh! (By the way, am I the only one looking forward to a Victorian Christmas on the 25th - one with metal men terrorizing an unsuspecting populace, and a time-and-space-faring hero phasing in to save the day? I think not!)
You're a lucky man, Mike. I'll probably be huddling in a multiplex somewhere averting my eyes from Owen Wilson and that damned dog....
ivy: Yikes! May I recommend "Doubt," "Happy-Go-Lucky," "Slumdog Millionaire," "The Wrestler," "Milk," "Frost/Nixon," or even "Benjamin Button" as antidotes to Marley (and I don't mean Jacob)? (BTW, all you need is the magic of the Interwebs to watch the "Doctor Who" Christmas special on the evening of the 25th. But you already must know that...)
Both "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Milk" are playing at the nice old rehabbed movie house in Doylestown, but they're both Rs. Must wait until children (especially Master Ivylander, who is 12 and clinging desperately to childhood) are in college....
Gotcha! In any event, have a rockin' Christmas! And I hope the movie isn't a dog... (ducks)
What is it they say about movies that are released on Christmas Day to end-around the reviewers?
Don't go see 'em?
A perfect Christmas song. Thanks for the enlightenment on its origin!
Ivy: good luck with Marley! As one with less discerning tastes, I can enjoy pretty much any movie in the theater as long as I have some popcorn. With that said, we are looking forward to viewing Tropic Thunder on Xmas Eve. Is that wrong?
No, that's very right. Cooper is way too young for any of the references. My daughter would be sniggering in a most unbecoming way....
Yes.