All-Time Holiday Albums: Natalie Cole - Holly & Ivy 1994

Last holiday season, I published a new series of Holiday music with my top must have albums. I kicked off this series with someone who most people probably wouldn’t expect. Yes there are the Christmas greats like Frank Sinatra, being Crosby, Rosemary Clooney and Judy Garland. For that first album I chose Kenny G which quite honestly probably dates me. But I’m choosing a second album which was referenced in that post. Also released in 1993 was Natalie Cole’s first holiday album titled. Holly and Ivy. The song was released just like Kenny G did in 1994 along with the release of miracle on 34th St. reboot of the 1940s classic. Jingle Bells kicks off her album, which is also one the most memorable tracks used on the movie soundtrack.

The album was produced in Spring 1994 and featured three songs arranged exactly like her fathers 1960 release of The Magic of Christmas album, another legendary album. The three songs include "Caroling, Caroling", "The First Noel", and "The Christmas Song”. Cole commented in interviews the inspiration for album came from 15 years of working towards getting the stamina to do a holiday album, and producing an album that celebrated “the true spirit of the holiday season.” When I say almost every song on the album is on my holiday list, I truly mean it. I have mix tapes with this album on it. I first bought the cd in 1994 in college, after the release of Miracle on 34th Street at  the Avon in Providence. Cole Holly and Ivy album was the brilliant planning by late producer Michael Masser. Originally he called Cole about the project idea and an original song he wanted her to record. The only single on the album was no more blue Christmas, which was written and composed by Michael Masser. If you’ve heard this song before. You would know that it has an eerily resemblance to Whitney Houston‘s greatest love of all, which was written by masser. While the single was not a hit on the charts during the 1994 holiday season the album was.

Thankfully, Masser and Cole put together a beautiful track list that featured many classics that Natalie Cole’s father recorded. They duo even arranged holiday medley with Jingle Bell Rock, Winter Wonderland & Little Drummer Boy which could have easily been added to the 34th Street soundtrack. Medleys hold many positions on my holiday play list. From Cole to the Carpenters, the holiday medley is rarity over the last 20 years. While Cole’s roots are in R&B, she wanted to ensure that she gave the album some  gospel roots for her fans to enjoy on this holiday album. Her recording of Joy To The World is an amazing celebration of sound with gospel choir prominently showcased higher the Cole’s vocals. The album presented an opportunity to produce a live concert on tv to promote the release of the album in December of 1994. Cole’s special titled "Natalie Cole's Untraditional Traditional Christmas", premiered on PBS affiliates and catapulted not only the album on the charts, but Cole onto the world stage. The special was picked up in Europe that holiday season and her star blew up.

Cole’s album success caught the eye of two legends who had recently hosted their own live tv concert, Christmas in Vienna with Diana Ross in 1992, and were already embarking on the second live concert with Dionne Warwick which premiered in December of 1994. On the heels of her 1994 PBS special, Cole was contacted by Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras to join them in their third Christmas in Vienna concert slated for 1995. Another wonderful album worth having in your library. When her Holly & Ivy album was released the critics were split. Most of the negative critics wanted Cole to be more sugar and spice with pop like in her hit single Pink Cadillac. Many male critics simply panned her for dress she wore on the album cover. Cole would record three holiday albums during her long career, but Holly & Ivy still remains the most successful. Making onto the Billboard Top 100 for several weeks and even peaking on Top Holiday Albums as #6.

Besides Jingle Bells another all-time favorite song on the album is Holly and Ivy. This song is rarely chosen by artists due to the octive range needed for the song. Cole’s mastered that range perfectly in her 1994 recording. Another song that I recently included on my Top 10 covers of Silent Night features Cole’s rendition of the song. While it didn’t make a top 10 spot, it deserved and honorable mention. Another great song she recorded on the album was A Song For Chrismtas. Going back to Cole’s version of Caroling, Caroling, which her father released on his 1960 album. I have Nat King Cole’s version on my Holiday Playlist and I also I have Natalie Cole’s live recording with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which was recorded nad released in 2010. Overall this album is still today one of the most heavily repeted albums according to my itunes accout.