To Wish You a Merry Christmas

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To Wish You a Merry Christmas
File:Towishyouamerrychristmas.jpg
The 1962 reissue LP cover.
Studio album by Harry Belafonte
Released 1958
Recorded 1958
Genre Vocal, Christmas
Length 45:56
Label RCA Victor
Producer Ed Welker
Harry Belafonte chronology
Belafonte Sings of the Caribbean
(1957)Belafonte Sings of the Caribbean1957
To Wish You a Merry Christmas
(1958)
Belafonte Sings the Blues
(1958)Belafonte Sings the Blues1958
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 2/5 stars [1]

To Wish You a Merry Christmas is an album by Harry Belafonte Recorded May 27, 31, June 1, 3 and 8 of 1958 in Hollywood. Conducted by Bob Corman. Millard Thomas and Laurindo Almeida, guitarists. Produced and directed by Ed Welker.

Track listing

Original LP

To Wish You a Merry Christmas was originally released in 1958 as RCA Victor catalog number LPM/LSP-1887. The original LP cover featured an illustration of the Three Wise Men and a listing of the songs in front.
Side 1:

  1. "A Star in the East" - 4:15
  2. "The Gifts They Gave" - 3:58
  3. "The Son of Mary" - 3:21
  4. "The Twelve Days of Christmas" - 3:49
  5. "Where the Little Jesus Sleeps" - 2:05
  6. "Medley: The Joys of Christmas; Oh Little Town of Bethlehem; Deck the Halls; The First Noël" - 5:25

Side 2:

  1. "Mary, Mary" - 3:21
  2. "Jehova the Lord Will Provide" - 2:57
  3. "Silent Night" - 3:35
  4. "Christmas Is Coming" - 1:38
  5. "Medley: We Wish You a Merry Christmas; God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen; O Come All Ye Faithful; Joy to the World" - 4:29
  6. "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" - 3:03

Re-release 1

The album was repackaged in 1962 as RCA Victor catalog number LPM/LSP-2626 with a different cover (with Belafonte's picture this time) and a different Side 2. The credits are also slightly different, listing the conductor as Robert De Cormier.
Side 1: identical to the 1958 release.
Side 2:

  1. "Mary's Boy Child" - 4:20
  2. "Silent Night" - 3:35
  3. "Christmas Is Coming" - 2:56
  4. "Mary, Mary" - 3:34
  5. "Jehova the Lord Will Provide" - 2:57
  6. "Medley: We Wish You a Merry Christmas; God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen; O Come All Ye Faithful; Joy to the World" - 4:26
  7. "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" - 3:01

Re-release 2

In 1976, the songs were repackaged again, under the title Belafonte's Christmas, from RCA Canada, catalog number KNLI-0166 [1]. The tracks are identical to the 1962 release, except that sides 1 and 2 have been switched (i.e. the first song of the album is now "Mary's Boy Child"). A completely different picture of Belafonte is used on the cover.

Re-release 3

In 2001, the album was rereleased on CD as Harry Belafonte Christmas, with five bonus tracks added:

  1. "Goin' Down Jordan" - 3:53
  2. "Amen" - 3:06
  3. "Glory Manger" - 4:39
  4. "The Baby Boy" - 3:25
  5. "Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair)" - 2:45

Personnel

References

  1. Allmusic review
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