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I loved this CD. I bought it because when my brother and I were little kids we always listened to a Gene Autry Christmas record while decorating the Christmas Tree. I just had to find a Gene Autry CD for me and my daughter to listen to while decorating ours.
Sure, it's kind of corny, but I found it to be quite moving. The latter two feature Mel Blanc as the voice of Rudolph.
Seven of the songs here are re-recordings of songs he previously recorded for Columbia. This is a compilation of Christmas songs that Gene Autry recorded for his own record label after he left Columbia Records.
Notable original songs include the novelties "Buon Natale", "Nine Little Reindeer" and "Santa's Coming in a Whirlybird". In most cases, they are not quite as good as the originals, but they are still very good.
The arrangements are slightly different, and a few of them have commentaries by Gene before or after the songs. And then there's the 13 minute long "The Story of the Nativity", which is Gene telling the story of the birth of Jesus to his "nephew".
While these recordings aren't as essential as Gene's Columbia recordings, they are still quite good and I would recommend this CD.
A time of innocense, a reminder of growing up with smiles and adventure. Better than meditating.
I was very upset when this CD arrived. They have been re-recorded and by no means are they bad.their just NOT THE ORIGINALS. I was under the impression that these were the "original recordings" of Mr. Autry's Christmas records. I want the original Columbia recordings. I gave it 2 stars because he does sound great.again just not the originals.
Gene Autry was responsible for keeping one of the world's greatest Christmas traditions alive the "Hollywood Christmas Parade", when bad times surfaced and needed some assistance financially.it was Gene who came to the rescue as Johnny Grant (Honary Mayor of Hollywood) did whatever it took to keep the parade the class-A Holiday event from going under.drawing approximatley one million spectators along the parade route each year, Hollywood's biggest single-day event and the kick off for the Holiday Season.this was all from Gene's generous support and giving spirit.The year was 1946, on a Thanksgiving weekend and a Gene rode tall in the saddle, and Santa Claus was right around the bend, heard the children excited chants of "HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS".and a song was born from Gene and co-written by Oakley Haldeman.recorded on August 28th, 1947 and became an instant hit. Then in 1949 songwriter Johnny Marks composed a tune from a poem - "RUDOLOPH, THE RED-NOSED REINDEER" many artist turned down the chance to record this classic, but Ina Autry, Gene's first wife loved the song and felt the children would love it too.she was right.and the rest my friends, is history. By 1969 Gene's version of "RUDOLPH" had sold 6,500,000 copies and was the all-time top selling single for Columbia Records (the 1957 version, recorded for Gene's Challenge label, is included here)."RUDOLPH" ranks as the second favorite Christmas song right behind Irving Berlin's "White Christmas".Varese Sarabande and Gene share with fans old and new these popular Christmas songs recorded in the late '50s and early '60s.hope you enjoy them and they bring you wonderful memories with many happy returns from "America's Favorite Singing Cowboy" - GENE AUTRY.Total Time: 45:20 on 16 Tracks.Varese Sarabande VSD-6034.(1999)
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