Christmas with Jimmy Wakely

In 1949, singing cowboy Jimmy Wakely was still churning out features for Monogram - five that year alone. And he was popular on the music charts as well - his biggest hit was the Floyd Tillman song "Slippin' Around," which Wakely cut with Margaret Whiting.

1949 lobby card

Later in the year, Capitol had Wakely in the studio to record a set of familiar Christmas songs, issued in time for the holidays in three-record 78 and 45 sets and this 10-inch LP.

The "male quartette" promised on the cover is the Mellotones, best known for including the cult bass Thurl Ravenscroft. The record also includes a few brief (and surprisingly effective) recitations by child actor Anne Whitfield. Five years later she played the General's daughter in that holiday film staple, White Christmas.

Anne Whitfield

Wakely is accompanied by Hammond organ, steel guitar and guitar. The organist is probably Buddy Cole, who did a solo Christmas album for Capitol that same year. The steel guitar could possibly be Speedy West, who was beginning to do sessions for the record company at about the same time.

Wakely was a fine singer; in his easygoing manner he was kind of a country Como. This is an exceptionally pleasant (if brief) album in good sound.

Wakely would go on to have his biggest Christmas hit in 1950 with "Silver Bells", done with his frequent partner Margaret Whiting, although they split the market with the Bing Crosby-Carol Richards version.

Several years ago I posted Wakely's later Christmas LP, which he issued on his own Shasta label. A link to a reup is in the comments.