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Burl Ives - Have a Holly Jolly Christmas (1965)

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Have a Holly Jolly Christmas is a compilation of holiday songs performed by Burl Ives. The award-winning actor performed the definitive version of the title track, thus forever cementing his place in the genre. The other songs here (many of which have also gotten quite a lot of radio play) are all standards for the most part, and are all sung in Ives' sweet, fractured croon. Fans of the title track will probably enjoy the rest of the album, and any other curious listeners may also want to give this a try. Bradley Torreano

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Tracks:

01. A Holly Jolly Christmas

02. Christmas Is A Birthday

03. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town

04. Christmas Child (Loo, Loo, Loo)

05. White Christmas

06. Christmas Can't Be Far Away

07. The Little Drummer Boy

08. Snow For Johnny

09. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

10. Winter Wonderland

11. Silver Bells

12. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day

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The only complaint about "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" is that Burl Ives sings only a dozen songs on it and you can find CD collections that will offer more tracks culled from his various Christmas albums. His first, "Christmas Day in the Morning," came out in 1952, followed by "Christmas Eve" in 1956. "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" came out in 1965, with the soundtrack to the classic holiday television special "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" the following year. The title song of this album was written by for the special by Johnny Marks, who also wrote the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," which Ives sings on this album, and the final track, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." That is a pretty good trio of Christmas songs, which would make Marks one of the best writers of Christmas songs ever.

How this album is different from the previous Burl Ives Christmas albums is that he has shifted to this point to more of a pop-oriented approach to singing Christmas songs that the traditional folk style that defined his earlier albums. There are still some folk songs on this album, with "Christmas is a Birthday," "Christmas Child (Loo, Loo, Loo)," "Christmas Can't Be Far Away," and "Snow for Johnny." But most of the songs are definitely more popular than secular, with "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "White Christmas," "Winter Wonderland," and "Silver Bells." I tend to think of "The Little Drummer Boy" as being more religious than it really us, but that is more because the music is more hymn-like.

The net result is that you have Burl Ives singing eight recognizable Christmas songs and introducing you to four songs that you have probably not heard before that are perfectly suited to his strengths as a singer. Ives started out in the 1920s as an itinerate folk singers, moved to Broadway in the 1930s, appeared on the radio in the 1940s, and became a popular folk singer in the 1950s. But most people today probably remember him as the Snowman who narrates the story of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" that still airs each holiday season forty years later. Because of that connection it is entirely possible that a Burl Ives Christmas album will be warmly received in your home by those who do not know about the rest of his resume. He certainly produces the requisite warm seasonal feelings. :~ Amazon Customer Comment

There's one album, one song and one voice that brings in the holiday season in for me. That is the title song of the album Have a Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives.

Though the song does not celebrate the birth of Jesus as the holiday does, it does provide a good feeling of giving to each other, even if it is just a friendly hello.

I happen to be one of Santa's helpers again during the holidays. I happen to do it professionally at a major NYC hotel that features "Breakfast With Santa" every weekend in December. There is something about Burl Ives face and manner that rings of that true Santa feeling. He had a jolly face with twinkling eyes and even had a white beard.

Ives was an old time and long time actor and pop/folk singer who played with artists like Josh White and Woody Guthrie. He also narrated the movie "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". His smooth folksy voice brings a warm cheer especially along with the spirited words of "Holly Jolly Christmas". He and the song both inspire me to be the "real" Santa.

More Than Just One Song

The CD has some traditional songs expected on seasonal albums but it also has a few gems that I hadn't ever heard on other albums.

Christmas is a Birthday is one of them. It is a simple finger-picking guitar back ground that accompanies his voice. A chorus joins in later. This is a song expecting believers to praise the "baby boy born Christmas Day".

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town is the type of song we expect. He plays a bit with the words ..."and I'm a-telling you why. Santa Claus is a-coming to town.

He's a-making a list, he's a-checking it twice he's gonna find out who's a-naughty whose nice, cause Santa Claus is a-coming to town."

Another different and folksy tune is Christmas Child (Loo Loo Loo) where he tells the story of hearing a knock on his door at midnight and finding a baby at his door step. He takes the baby into the night he hears church bells and sees the bright sky much more clear than he ever did before.

Years later he remembers that night and finds a note that says.

"Please whoever finds my child be good to him and kind.

God Bless you" is all it said, Mary it was signed.

The dream of a White Christmas is always charming and the song is loved by so many since it was first recorded by Bing Crosby and became the most played and biggest selling single ever. Burl Ives gives it his special touch.

That favorite is followed by another quiet but uplifting song. Christmas Can't Be far Away. This song is reaction to what he sees on the streets as people are being more friendly to each other as December 25th nears. To me it is like everyone listened to the opening song on the album suggesting everyone have a holly jolly Christmas and greet each other.

There is always something sweet about the song The Little Drummer Boy who gives his best, and his best is drumming his little drum.

Much more upbeat is Burl Ives singing a tale Snow for Johnny a little boy who is praying for snow so he can build a big snowman. More of the same such fun is continued in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

The vision of a perfect snowy night seems to be an answer to Johnny's prayers earlier on the album is, Walking in a Winter Wonderland.

Once again the same snowy Christmas feeling comes through but in the next song it's in the city hearing Silver Bells

I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day that highlights the words "Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men" was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow during the American Civil War.

After quoting "Peace on Earth Good Will to Men", he continued...

...And in despair I bowed my head

"There is no peace on earth," I said,

"For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the left prevail

With peace on earth, good will to men."

Well Paired Songs

Ives decided to use classic songs along with more obscure folk tales to round out this album. The choice of songs and the positioning of them on the CD has always made it an excellent Christmas album that is easy to listen to and joyful and uplifting in its message. Burl Ives voice completes it.

So in the spirit of Christmas and Santa I'll state as Burl Ives did,

"Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.

It's the best time of the year

I don't know,

if there'll be snow

but have a cup of cheer

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

and when you're walking down the street

say hello

to friends you know

and everyone you meet"

:~ epinions.com

Rating:
2.5 out of 5 by Book123