A Swingin' Christmas | ||||
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Studio album by Tony Bennett featuring the Count Basie Big Band | ||||
Released | October 14, 2008 | |||
Recorded | June 2008 | |||
Genre | Vocal jazz, Christmas | |||
Length | 37:01 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | Phil Ramone | |||
Tony Bennett chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
A Swingin' Christmas is a Christmas album by Tony Bennett, released in 2008, that features the Count Basie Big Band. Bennett's daughter Antonia duets with him on one track.
The album received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 52nd Grammy Awards. The album cover parodies Norman Rockwell's 1942 painting, Freedom from Want.
Marketing campaign
[edit]To promote the release of the album Bennett granted numerous interviews, and made a number of television show performances, from the time of its release through the holiday season. This included a special free street performance outside of Bloomingdale's department store at 4:30 p.m. on November 20 in New York City in which he performed three songs – "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and "Jingle Bells" – before the unveiling of the store's window displays. He performed a concert at New York City's Apollo Theater on December 16 that was billed as his only show in support of the album with the Count Basie Big Band.
Track listing
[edit]- "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (Gannon, Kent, Ram) [2:12]
- "Silver Bells" (Evans, Livingston) [3:17]
- "All I Want for Christmas Is You (A Christmas Love Song)" (Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Johnny Mandel) [4:18]
- "My Favorite Things" (Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers) [2:55]
- "Christmas Time Is Here" (Guaraldi, Mendelson) [3:59]
- "Winter Wonderland" (Bernard, Smith) [2:31]
- "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Blane, Martin) [4:36]
- "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (Coots, Gillespie) [2:53]
- "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" – with Antonia Bennett (Berlin) [3:31]
- "The Christmas Waltz" (Cahn, Styne) [3:22]
- "O Christmas Tree" (Traditional) [3:27]
Versions
[edit]Many retailers featured different variations:
- Target carried an edition featuring a bonus DVD with a documentary on the making of the album as well as a host of concert performances.
- FYE carried an edition featuring a bonus DVD with a documentary on the making of the album as well as a special holiday-themed postcard reproducing Bennett's artwork.
- Borders carried an edition with ten of Bennett's holiday-themed artwork postcards.
- Barnes & Noble carried an edition with Bennett's version of "Christmas Auld Lang Syne" exclusive to the retailer. B&N also carried a deluxe version with a DVD and the exclusive track.
- Bloomingdale's carried an edition with Bennett's version on "Jingle Bells", exclusive to the retailer.
Personnel
[edit]- Tony Bennett – vocals
- Monty Alexander – piano
- Lee Musiker – piano (7, 9, 11)
- Gray Sargent – guitar
- Paul Langosch – double bass
- Harold Jones – drums
The Count Basie Orchestra
- Grant Langford – alto saxophone
- Marshall McDonald – alto saxophone
- Doug Lawrence – tenor saxophone
- Doug Miller – tenor saxophone
- John Williams – baritone saxophone
- Scotty Barnhart – trumpet
- Kris Johnson – trumpet
- Michael Williams – trumpet
- James Zollar – trumpet
- Clarence Banks – trombone
- Barry Cooper – trombone
- Dave Keim – trombone
- Alvin Walker – trombone
Production
- Danny Bennett – executive producer
- Phil Ramone – producer
- Dae Bennett – recording, mixing
- Alessandro Perrotta – assistant engineer
- Travis Stefl – assistant engineer
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
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References
[edit]- ^ A Swingin' Christmas at AllMusic
- ^ "Tony Bennett Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ "Tony Bennett Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ "Jazz Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2020.