Product Description

Sure, Bing Crosby might pop more quickly to mind when thinking of Christmas songs, but Frank, Dean, and Sammy had theirshare of Yuletide ditties as well, a fact effectively borneout by the holiday collection CHRISTMAS WITH THE RAT PACK. If you're sick of the usual pap that passes for Christmas music from all corners of the stylistic map, try something from the swingin' side of town. Really now, wouldn't you ratherhear such chestnuts (pun intended) as "Silver Bells", "The Christmas Song", and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" from the likes of these cats than some contemporary prefab pop or country cardboard cutout? Those aren't sleighbells you hear in the background, they're ice cubes clinking in a martini glass.

Track Listing

1. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Martin, Dean
2. Mistletoe And Holly - Sinatra, Frank
3. Christmas Time All Over The World - Davis, Sammy Jr.
4. First Noel - Sinatra, Frank
5. Baby It's Cold Outside - Martin, Dean
6. I Believe - Sinatra, Frank
7. Silver Bells - Martin, Dean
8. Christmas Song - Davis, Sammy Jr.
9. Hark The Herald Angels Sing - Sinatra, Frank
10. Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer - Martin, Dean
11. Christmas Waltz - Sinatra, Frank
12. Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow - Martin, Dean
13. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Sinatra, Frank
14. Peace On Earth/Silent Night - Martin, Dean
15. Jingle Bells - Davis, Sammy Jr.
16. White Christmas - Martin, Dean
17. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Sinatra, Frank
18. Winter Wonderland - Martin, Dean
19. I'll Be Home For Christmas (If Only In My Dreams) - Sinatra, Frank
20. Marshmellow World - Sinatra, Frank & Dean Martin
21. Auld Lang Syne - Sinatra, Frank & Dean Martin

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32640 in Music
• Released on: 2002-12-02
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.u Review
Just as irony is being pronounced dead, along comes the boozy holiday compilation Christmas with the Rat Pack, suggesting that rumours of its demise may be premature. Given the culture's simmering lounge mania, this collection (with its cheesy homage/rip-off Oceans 11 art direction) may be belated--but hey, punctuality was never these swingin' cats' bag, Jack.

The novelty of having three of the 20th century's most notorious sinners belt, whoop and sing the praises of sleigh bells, roasting chestnuts and the virgin birth would be enough to recommend this dizzy 21-track delight, but there's actually some rewarding pop archaeology here as well.

Two of the best tracks--Sammy Davis's ring-a-ding-ding romp through "Jingle Bells" and Dino's dreamy "Peace on Earth/Silent Night"--hail from a vintage, ultra-rare Reprise sampler. Sammy's typically over-the-top "Christmastime All Over the World" and Nat Cole tribute, "The Christmas Song" also make their CD debut.

Dino's holiday TV specials yield more unreleased rarities: Sinatra-Martin duets of the loopy "Marshmallow World" and a touchingly tipsy take on "Auld Lang Syne" that suggests the boys have shared more than one cup of kindness. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Superb Christmas Album
If you like these 3 superb performers and if you like Christmas music, you will absolutely love this album. I have been listening to this CD in my car for the last two months and I love it. Final verdict: You will not regret buying this great CD. Enjoy.

Frank is great, Dean is pretty good, but we need more Sammy
Do not worry that you are going to be subjected to the sound of Peter Lawford singing Christmas songs, because "Christmas with the Rat Pack" leaves the singing to Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr. The Chairman of the Board and Dino get eight tracks each, with Sammy only getting three, and then the trio sing the last two songs together and live. As you would expect, this is a Christmas album for those who are looking for something a bit stronger than eggnog when they are trimming the tree.

Martin gets to cover the hip seasonal songs, like "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm," "Baby It's Cold Outside," and "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!" while Frank does more of the religious songs, such as "The First Noel" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." All Sammy gets to sing is "Christmas Time All Over the World," "The Christmas Song," and "Jingle Bells." Martin gets to cover "Silver Bells," "White Christmas," and "Winter Wonderland," so he makes a strong showing on this album. Sinatra, as you would expect, shines most on songs that show his finely honed vocalization skills, such as "The Christmas Waltz," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and "I'll Be Home for Christmas."

Obviously it would be nice if Sammy was thrown a few more crumbs, and you can argue the album would hang together better if they cut the couple of songs Martin sings that really sound like he is holding a martini in one hand. Fans will probably not care, but there are a few tracks that seem to run a bit more against the grain than some of the others, even though Martin milks them for all they are worth. The cover is an "Ocean's 11" inspired image that had the "11" with a couple of candy stripes and then a shot of the three kings of holiday singing.

auld lang syne
christmas AS IT SHOULD BE SUNG. YOUNG OR OLD IT MUST APPEAL TO EVERYONE ALL THE CLASSICS THAT SEEM TO HAVE BEEN AROUND AS LONG AS CHRISTMAS ITS SELF BUT STILL FEEL FRESH AND WARMING. SHERRY OR ALCOPOP THIS IS TOP OF THE CROP. GO ON, HAVE ANOTHER MINCE PIE