Frank Sinatra remains the definitive voice of the American Christmas, and this limited edition white vinyl 7" single brings together two of his most cherished seasonal recordings in a beautifully presented collector’s pressing. Released exclusively for Record Store Day Black Friday 2016, with only 3,000 copies pressed worldwide, this is a genuinely scarce piece for any serious Sinatra or vinyl enthusiast.
About the Tracks
A-Side: White Christmas
Irving Berlin composed “White Christmas” in 1940, and it became — and remains — the best-selling single of all time following Bing Crosby’s definitive recording. Frank Sinatra cut his own version on 14th November 1944 for Columbia Records, arranged by Axel Stordahl with the Ken Lane Singers. The recording reached No. 7 on the Billboard pop singles chart and went on to chart again in December 1945 and December 1946. Sinatra later re-recorded the song for Capitol Records in 1954, and it is that later Capitol recording that appears on this pressing — part of the studio sessions that would define the golden era of his career.
B-Side: The Christmas Waltz
“The Christmas Waltz” was written specifically for Frank Sinatra by the celebrated songwriting team of Sammy Cahn (lyrics) and Jule Styne (music). The story goes that Styne telephoned Cahn during a sweltering Los Angeles summer with the message that “Frank wants a Christmas song.” Cahn, believing it impossible to surpass Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” was initially reluctant — but suggested a waltz as a fresh angle, and the collaboration produced one of the most elegant Christmas songs ever written. Sinatra recorded it on 23rd August 1954 at Capitol Studios, Los Angeles, with a sparkling arrangement by Nelson Riddle. It was issued as the B-side of his new Capitol recording of “White Christmas”, making this the original pairing of the two tracks, faithfully reproduced here.
This Pressing
Released on 25th November 2016 as a Record Store Day Black Friday exclusive, this pressing is limited to just 3,000 copies worldwide. The single is pressed on white vinyl — a fitting choice for the season — in the classic 7" 45 RPM format. The picture sleeve and disc labels reproduce the original Italian Capitol release (catalogue number 45QCL 116), giving the package a wonderfully period feel. The record was pressed in the USA to the highest modern standards. With only 3,000 copies in existence across the UK, Europe, and US markets, copies rarely come up for sale, making this a prized item for collectors.
| Artist | Frank Sinatra |
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| A-Side | White Christmas |
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| B-Side | The Christmas Waltz |
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| Format | 7" Single, 45 RPM |
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| Vinyl Colour | White |
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| Label | Capitol / UME |
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| Year (This Pressing) | 2016 |
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| Catalogue Number | B0025476-21 |
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| Edition | Limited Edition — 3,000 copies worldwide |
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| Pressed In | USA |
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