Mistletoe and Holly

1957 Capitol 45 single.

"Mistletoe and Holly" is a 1957 Christmas song recorded and co-written by Frank Sinatra. The song was released as a single on Capitol Records.

Background

The song was written by Frank Sinatra, Doc Stanford, and Hank Sanicola and published by the Barton Music Corporation in New York.[1] "Mistletoe and Holly" with Orchestra Conducted by Gordon Jenkins was released as a Capitol 7" 45 single in 1957 as F3900 and as a 10" 78 backed with "The Christmas Waltz" with The Ralph Brewster Singers. The single did not chart.[2] The song was also released as a 7" 45 EP release: Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra, Parts 1-3, Capitol EAP 1-3-894, in mono. Capitol also released the song as a special 7" 45 single release as The Christmas Seal Song with an introduction by Frank Sinatra as PRO 1707 in 1960.

The song was selected as the theme song for the 1960 Christmas Seals appeal.

Album appearances

The song appeared on the 1957 Capitol Christmas album A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra, the Capitol LP The Sinatra Christmas Album in 1963, the Concepts collection on Capitol in 1992, the Capitol CD album The Complete Capitol Singles Collection in 1996, and the 2002 Christmas release Christmas with the Rat Pack.

Personnel

The song was recorded on July 17, 1957 in Los Angeles. The personnel on the session were: Frank Sinatra (ldr), Gordon Jenkins (con), Phil Ramone (pdr), Allan Reuss (g), Nat Gangursky, John Ryan (b), Bill Miller (p), Kathryn Thompson (hrp), Ralph Hancoll (d), Victor Arno, Walter Edelstein, David Frisina, Sol Kindler, Joseph Livoti, Nick Pisani, Joseph Quadri, Lou Raderman, Mischa Russell, Marshall Sosson (vn), Bill Baffa, Louis Kievman, Paul Robyn, Dave Sterkin (vl), Cy Bernard, Armond Kaproff (vc), Nat "King" Cole, Frank Sinatra (v), Betty Allen, Sue Allen, Ralph Brewster, The Ralph Brewster Singers, Peggy Clark, Barbara Ford, Lee Gotch, Beverly Jenkins, Jimmy Joyce, Gene Lanham, Bill Lee, Ray Linn, Jr., John Mann, Thora Mathiason, Dorothy McCarty, Loulie Jean Norman, Betty Noyes, Thurl Ravenscroft, Ginny Roos, Max Smith, Bob Stevens, Bill Thompson, Robert Wacker, Betty Wand, and Gloria Wood (chr).[3]

Other Recordings

Jack Jones released a version of the song on his 1964 release The Jack Jones Christmas Album. Leigh Nash recorded the song on the album Sounds of the Season NBC 2005. Actor and singer Robert Davi recorded the song in 2011 and released it as a single to benefit the Salvation Army. The German group the Gunter Kallmann Choir recorded the song on the 1970 Polydor album Christmas Sing-In in a medley with "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!". Charlie Byrd recorded a solo guitar version on his 1982 Christmas Album. The Philco Brothers recorded the song in an up-tempo rock version. Faith Evans covered the song for her 2005 album A Faithful Christmas. Jazz musician Joey DeFrancesco recorded the song for his 2014 album Home for the Holidays.

References

  1. ↑ The Database of Popular Music.
  2. ↑ Song artist 6 - Frank Sinatra.
  3. ↑ Frank SInatra. The Capitol Years.

Sources