Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas

Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas is a 1960 album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, recorded in the summer of 1960, with a studio orchestra arranged and conducted by Frank DeVol.

Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas
Studio album by Ella Fitzgerald
Released	1960
Recorded	July 15 – August 5, 1960
Genre	Vocal jazz Christmas music
Length	39:13
Label	Verve
Producer	Norman Granz
Ella Fitzgerald chronology
Ella in Berlin (1960) Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas (1960) Hello, Love (1960)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[2]

It is Fitzgerald's only Verve complete album of Christmas tunes. Verve had issued a 7" 45rpm single in 1959, featuring "The Christmas Song" with "The Secret of Christmas" on the B-side; both were recorded with Russ Garcia and His Orchestra in September 1959. The album has been reissued several times and there have been variations to the sleeve's artwork.

Track listing

For the 1960 Verve LP release; Verve MG VS-64042

Side One:

1. "Jingle Bells" (J.S. Pierpont) – 2:21
2. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie) – 2:56
3. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin) – 2:56
4. "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" (Frank Loesser) – 3:32
5. "Sleigh Ride" (Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish) – 2:56
6. "The Christmas Song" (Mel Tormé, Bob Wells) – 3:00

Side Two:

1. "Good Morning Blues" (Count Basie, Eddie Durham, Jimmy Rushing) – 3:15
2. "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" (Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne) – 2:43
3. "Winter Wonderland" (Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith) – 2:16
4. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (Johnny Marks) – 2:51
5. "Frosty the Snowman" (Steve Nelson, Jack Rollins) – 2:12
6. "White Christmas" (Irving Berlin) – 3:02

Bonus Tracks; Issued on the Verve 2002 CD re-issue, Verve 440 065 086-2

1. "The Secret of Christmas" - Released in 1959, 7" single, b-side (Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn) - 2:45
2. "Medley:"We Three Kings of Orient Are"/"O Little Town of Bethleham" - Released only in the UK, on 1960 7" single, a-side (John Henry Hopkins), (Lewis H. Redner, Phillips Brooks) - 3:35
3. "Christmas Island" (Released only in the UK, on 1960 7" single, b-side) (Lyle L. Moraine) - 2:18
4. "The Christmas Song" (Alternative take) - 3:41
5. "White Christmas" (Alternative take) - 3:44
6. "Frosty the Snowman" (Alternative take) - 2:11

Personnel

Recorded July 15–16, August 5, 1960, New York, New York:

Track 13 recorded September 3, 1959, United Records, Hollywood:

• Ella Fitzgerald: Vocals
• Frank DeVol: Arranger, Conductor
• Russ Garcia and His Orchestra (track 13): Arranger, Conductor

Charts

Chart (2019)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[3]	111

References

1. "Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas". Allmusic. All Media Guide. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
2. Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
3. "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (2/2)". Billboard on Twitter. Retrieved December 31, 2019.