Christmas - Winter Wonderland - The Lennon Sisters

A beautiful Christmas song by the Lennon Sisters. Dick Smith, a native of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, was reportedly inspired to write the song after seeing Honesdale's Central Park covered in snow. As well as the house he grew up in during the holidays, you can see a cut placed in the window depicting Mr. Smith as a child (information from a relative). Mr. Smith had written the lyrics while in the West Mountain Sanitarium, being treated for tuberculosis, better known back then as consumption. The West Mountain Sanitarium is located off N. Sekol Ave. in Scranton, PA.

The original recording was by Richard Himber and his Hotel Carelton Orchestra on RCA Bluebird in 1934. At the end of a recording session with time to spare, it was suggested that this new tune be tried with an arrangement provided by the publisher. This excellent "studio" orchestra included many great New York studio musicians including the legendary Artie Shaw. The biggest chart hit at the time of introduction was Guy Lombardo's orchestra, a top ten hit. Singer-songwriter Johnny Mercer took the song to #4 in Billboard's airplay chart in 1946. The same season, Perry Como hit the retail top ten. Como would record a new version for his 1959 Christmas album.

Due to its seasonal theme, "Winter Wonderland" is often regarded as a Christmas song in the Northern Hemisphere, although the holiday itself is never mentioned in the lyrics. There is a mention of "sleigh-bells" several times, implying that this song refers to the Christmas period. In the Swedish language lyrics, Vår vackra vita vintervärld, the word tomtar is mentioned.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 33's
• 33 1/3 r.p.m.
• Record
• Album
• Vinyl
• Christmas
• The Andrew Sisters

[cbfall]

WOW! Great post!

[Ne14Gr8Music]

@cbfall Thanks!

[fordman4444]

Nodody can sing Christmas like the Lennon Girls !!!!

[Ne14Gr8Music]

@fordman4444 I agree. 

[GeorgeOstrowski]

This is one of my favourite Lennon Sisters songs... just in time for Christmas. Thank you for the posting.

[Ne14Gr8Music]

@GeorgeOstrowski Great! I'm glad to oblige. :-)

[8sanro]

@fordman4444 I have a recorder of Lenon sisters' of Christmas carrol that was bought in 1960s.

it is the same photo as mine.

[justmusicandme]

Thanks for putting the history of this song in your description - and for posting the song, of course!

[Ne14Gr8Music]

@sideshowtink Thank you Tink! I found this USB turntable at a yard sale about 8 or 9 months ago. It had been sitting in a closet for a while and I didn't think that it worked. I replaced the stylus on it, and it seems to be okay now. I don't have the software that came with it, but it still sounds alright coming through my stereo.

[sideshowtink]

SO nice! That is a pretty cool turntable! Is that your USB TT or something else?