Released 1958 Length 45:56 Label RCA Records | Recorded 1958 Producer Ed Welker Release date 1958 | |
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Similar Harry Belafonte albums, Other albums |
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.
Contents
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:
- "A Star in the East" - 4:15
- "The Gifts They Gave" - 3:58
- "The Son of Mary" - 3:21
- "The Twelve Days of Christmas" - 3:49
- "Where the Little Jesus Sleeps" - 2:05
- "Medley: The Joys of Christmas; Oh Little Town of Bethlehem; Deck the Halls; The First Noël" - 5:25
Side 2:
- "Mary, Mary" - 3:21
- "Jehova the Lord Will Provide" - 2:57
- "Silent Night" - 3:35
- "Christmas Is Coming" - 1:38
- "Medley: We Wish You a Merry Christmas; God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen; O Come All Ye Faithful; Joy to the World" - 4:29
- "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:
- "Mary's Boy Child" - 4:20
- "Silent Night" - 3:35
- "Christmas Is Coming" - 2:56
- "Mary, Mary" - 3:34
- "Jehova the Lord Will Provide" - 2:57
- "Medley: We Wish You a Merry Christmas; God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen; O Come All Ye Faithful; Joy to the World" - 4:26
- "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:
- "Goin' Down Jordan" - 3:53
- "Amen" - 3:06
- "Glory Manger" - 4:39
- "The Baby Boy" - 3:25
- "Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair)" - 2:45
Personnel
Songs
1Mary's Boy Child4:23
2Silent Night3:36
3Christmas Is Coming1:41