"Mistletoe and Holly" is a 1957 Christmas song recorded and co-written by Frank Sinatra. The song was released as a single on Capitol Records. The lyrics discuss some of the traditions of celebrating Christmas: giving the tree the trim, carols by starlight, granny's pies and merry greetings from relatives you don't know.

Background

The song was written by Frank Sinatra, Dok Stanford and

Hank Sanicola Henry William "Hank" Sanicola (14 June 1914 – 6 October 1974) was an American music manager, publisher, businessman and pianist, best known for his work and association with Frank Sinatra from the late 1930s to the early 1960s. Early life Sanico ...

, and published by the Barton Music Corporation in New York. "Mistletoe and Holly" with Orchestra Conducted by

Gordon Jenkins Gordon Hill Jenkins (May 12, 1910 – May 1, 1984) was an American arranger, composer, and pianist who was influential in popular music in the 1940s and 1950s. Jenkins worked with The Andrews Sisters, Johnny Cash, The Weavers, Frank Sinatra, Lo ...

was released as a Capitol 7" 45 single in 1957 as F3900 and as a 10" 78 backed with "

The Christmas Waltz "The Christmas Waltz" is a Christmas song written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne for Frank Sinatra, who recorded it in 1954 as the B-side of a new recording of " White Christmas", in 1957 for his album ''A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra'', and i ...

" with The Ralph Brewster Singers. The single did not chart. The song was also released as a 7" 45 EP release: ''Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra'', Parts 1–3, Capitol EAP 1-3-894, in mono. Capitol also released the song as a special 7" 45 single release as "The Christmas Seal Song" with an introduction by Sinatra as PRO 1707 in 1960. The song was selected as the theme song for the 1960 Christmas Seals appeal. The song was remixed by

Kaskade Ryan Gary Raddon (born February 25, 1971), better known by his stage name Kaskade, is an American DJ, record producer and remixer. ''DJ Times'' voted Kaskade "America's Best DJ" in 2011 and 2013. ''DJ Mag'' named Kaskade fifty-first on its 20 ...

Album appearances

The song appeared on the 1957 Capitol Christmas album ''

A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra ''A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra'' is a Christmas album by American singer Frank Sinatra, originally released by Capitol Records in 1957. This was Sinatra's first full-length Christmas album. It features the Ralph Brewster Singers along w ...

'', the Capitol LP ''The Sinatra Christmas Album'' in 1963, the ''Concepts'' collection on Capitol in 1992, the Capitol CD album ''The Complete Capitol Singles Collection'' in 1996, and the 2002 Christmas release '' Christmas with the Rat Pack''.

Personnel

The song was recorded on July 17, 1957 in Los Angeles. The personnel on the session were: Frank Sinatra (leader), Gordon Jenkins (conductor), Phil Ramone (producer), Allan Reuss (guitar), Nat Gangursky, John Ryan (bass), Bill Miller (piano), Kathryn Thompson (harp), Ralph Hancoll (drums), Victor Arno, Walter Edelstein, David Frisina, Sol Kindler, Joseph Livoti, Nick Pisani, Joseph Quadri, Lou Raderman, Mischa Russell, Marshall Sosson (violin), Bill Baffa, Louis Kievman, Paul Robyn, Dave Sterkin (viola), Cy Bernard, Armond Kaproff (cello), Frank Sinatra (vocal), Betty Allen, Sue Allen, Ralph Brewster, The Ralph Brewster Singers, Peggy Clark, Barbara Ford, Lee Gotch, Beverly Jenkins, Jimmy Joyce, Gene Lanham ''(né'' Eugene Prentiss Lanham; 1915–1977), Bill Lee, Ray Linn, Jr., John Mann, Thora Mathiason, Dorothy McCarty ''(née'' Dorothy Dee McCarty; 1917–2015), Loulie Jean Norman, Betty Noyes, Thurl Ravenscroft, Ginny Roos, Max Smith, Bob Stevens, Bill Thompson, Robert Wacker, Betty Wand, and Gloria Wood (chorus or choir).

Charts

Other recordings

* Jack Jones – ''The Jack Jones Christmas Album'' (1964) *The Gunter Kallmann Choir – ''Christmas Sing-In'' (1970) Medley with " Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" *

Leigh Nash Leigh Anne Bingham Nash ( ; born June 27, 1976) is an American singer and songwriter who was the lead vocalist for the Christian alternative rock band Sixpence None the Richer and was also a member of Fauxliage. Her debut solo album, '' Blue on ...

– ''Sounds of the Season NBC 2005'' (2005) *

Robert Davi Robert John Davi (born 1953) is an American actor, singer and filmmaker. Over the course of his acting career, Davi has performed in more than 130 films. Among his most known roles are opera-singing heavy Jake Fratelli in ''The Goonies'' (1985), ...

– Salvation Army benefit single (2011) * Charlie Byrd – ''The Charlie Byrd Christmas Album'' (1982) *

Faith Evans Faith Renée Evans (born June 10, 1973) is an American singer and actress. Born in Lakeland, Florida, and raised in New Jersey, she relocated to Los Angeles in 1991 for a career in the music business. After working as a backing vocalist for Al ...

– '' A Faithful Christmas'' (2005) *

Beegie Adair Bobbe Gorin "Beegie" Adair ( Long, December 11, 1937 – January 23, 2022) was an American jazz pianist and bandleader. In a career that spanned 60 years, she played on more than 100 recordings. More than a third of her recordings were with the B ...

– ''Winter Romance'' (2009) *

Joey DeFrancesco Joey DeFrancesco (April 10, 1971August 25, 2022) was an American jazz organist, trumpeter, saxophonist, and occasional singer. He released more than 30 albums under his own name, and recorded extensively as a sideman with such leading jazz perfo ...

– ''Home for the Holidays'' (2014) *

Kidz Bop Kidz Bop is an American children's music group composed like a music brand that produces family-friendly cover versions of pop songs and related media. Kidz Bop releases compilation albums that feature children covering clean versions of contemp ...

Kids – ''Kidz Bop Christmas Wish List'' (2014)

References

Sources

*Granata, Charles L. (1999). ''Sessions with Sinatra: Frank Sinatra and the Art of Recording''. Chicago Review Press. *Phasey, Chris (1995). ''Francis Albert Sinatra: Tracked Down (Discography)''. Buckland Publications. *Summers, Antony and Swan, Robbyn (2005). ''Sinatra: The Life''. Doubleday. {{authority control Frank Sinatra songs American Christmas songs 1957 songs Songs written by Frank Sinatra Capitol Records singles Songs written by Hank Sanicola