A Merry Mancini Christmas


A Merry Mancini Christmas is a 1966 album by Henry Mancini of orchestral and choral arrangements of Christmas music. In addition to traditional Christmas songs, it also contains the original Mancini composition "Carol for Another Christmas", the theme of the 1964 television film of the same name.
The album peaked at number 12 on the Billboard's Best Bets For Christmas Album chart in 1970.

Reception

The initial Billboard review from October 29, 1966, wrote that "It's an important addition to the Christmas shelf because Mancini's arrangements are as fresh and familiar as the material is familiar and lasting."
The album was reviewed by Stephen Thomas Erlewine at Allmusic who described it as an "ideal holiday record" and added that "...the album is filled with the lush arrangements that are his aural signature, and they sound perfect when matched with these 11 Christmas medleys and carols. It is a warm, appealing record that blends easily into the background, making it a good choice for holiday gatherings of all sorts."

Track listing

  1. "The Little Drummer Boy" - 3:17
  2. Medley: "Jingle Bells"/"Sleigh Ride" / - 3:40
  3. "The Christmas Song" - 3:32
  4. Medley: "Winter Wonderland"/"Silver Bells" / - 3:51
  5. Medley: "Frosty the Snowman"/"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" / - 2:28
  6. "White Christmas" - 2:43
  7. "Carol for Another Christmas" - 2:36
  8. Medley: "Silent Night"/"O Holy Night"/"O Little Town of Bethlehem" // - 6:42
  9. Medley: "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen"/"Deck the Halls"/"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" // - 3:17
  10. Medley: "We Three Kings"/"O Come, All Ye Faithful"/"Joy to the World" // - 3:34
  11. Medley: "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear"/"Away in a Manger"/"The First Noel" // - 5:03

Personnel

;Featured soloists:
  • Erno Neufeld, concertmaster
  • Arthur Gleghorn, flute
  • Arnold Kobentz, oboe
  • Vincent De Rosa, French horn
  • Pearl Kaufman, harpsichord
  • Laurindo Almeida, guitar