The Best of Christmas (Thomas Kinkade: Blessings of Christmas)

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Annotation

CD 1: Universal Music Special Markets - B0003553-02
CD 2: EMI Music Special Markets - 72438-74804-2-1

Annotation last modified on 2026-06-08 19:40 UTC.

Tracklist

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1▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1White Christmas
recorded in:
Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1947-03-19)
choir vocals:
Ken Darby Singers (on 1947-03-19)
lead vocals:
Bing Crosby (on 1947-03-19)
orchestra:
John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra (on 1947-03-19)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
HNH International Ltd. (not for release label use!) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations)
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-03 (number: 16), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-13 (number: 19), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-20 (number: 19), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-27 (number: 20) and Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-06 (number: 34)
recording of:
White Christmas (on 1947-03-19)
lyricist and composer:
Irving Berlin (from 1938 until 1940)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), Irving Berlin Music Corp., Williamson Music Company and Irving Berlin Music Company (from 1940 to present)
sub-publisher:
EMI Allans Music Australia Pty Ltd, Irving Berlin Music Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd. (Australian subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group), Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019), Warner/Chappell Music, Hong Kong Limited (華納音樂版權香港有限公司, 1995–2019), シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.) and ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division)
part of:
The 15th Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 1) and Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 1942 winner)
Bing Crosby4.23:03
2The Little Drummer Boy
choir vocals:
The Harry Simeone Chorale
recording of:
Carol of the Drum (aka “The Little Drummer Boy”)
lyricist and composer:
Katherine K. Davis (Katherine Kennicott Davis) (in 1941)
additional composer:
Henry Onorati (in 1958) and Harry Simeone (in 1958)
publisher:
EMI Mills Music (ASCAP-affiliated), International Korwin Corp., Warner Chappell, Warner Chappell Music (holding behind all publishing activities of Warner Music Group, 2019–), Belwin-Mills Publishing Corp. (in 1955) and Mills Music, Inc. (in 1964)
is based on:
Trad. (traditional Czech carol, became “Carol of the Drums”)
The Harry Simeone Chorale3:19
3It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Capitol Records, Inc. (not for release label use; US company behind the “Capitol Records” imprint) (in 1963)
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-03 (number: 18), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-20 (number: 22), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-27 (number: 23), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-13 (number: 24) and Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-06 (number: 38)
recording of:
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (on 1951-09-10)
lyricist and composer:
Meredith Willson (in 1951)
publisher:
Frank Music Corp., Kobalt Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd, Meredith Willson Music LLC, MPL Communications Australia and MPL Music Publishing
Perry Como and The Fontaine Sisters with Mitchell Ayres and His Orchestra32:36
4I'll Be Home For Christmas
bass:
Craig Nelson (US string bass player)
drums (drum set):
Harold Jones (jazz drummer)
piano:
Clare Fischer
orchestra:
London Studio Orchestra
orchestrator:
Ronn Huff
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Amy Grant Productions (in 1992, in 2007)
cover recording of:
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
lyricist:
James Kimball Gannon
additional writer:
Buck Ram
composer:
Walter Kent
publisher:
Chappell Music Ltd., Edward B. Marks Music Co. (founded originally as J. Stern & Co. in 1894, renamed in 1919), Gannon and Kent Music Co., Piedmont Music Company, Warner Chappell and Warner Chappell Music (holding behind all publishing activities of Warner Music Group, 2019–)
sub-publisher:
ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
Amy Grant43:28
5Oh Holy Night
Lee Greenwood3:01
6Pretty Paper
cover recording of:
Pretty Paper
lyricist and composer:
Willie Nelson
publisher:
Sony ATV Music Publishing (1995–2020) and Tree Publishing Inc.
Roy Orbison2:46
7A Holly Jolly Christmas
lead vocals:
Burl Ives
chorus master:
Owen Bradley
instruments arranger:
Owen Bradley
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-03 (number: 12), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-20 (number: 15), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-13 (number: 16), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-27 (number: 16), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-06 (number: 24), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-29 (number: 40), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2023 (number: 71), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2022 (number: 89) and Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2024 (number: 94)
recording of:
A Holly Jolly Christmas
lyricist and composer:
Johnny Marks (American songwriter)
publisher:
Audiam Publishing, Warner Chappell (Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.) and St. Nicholas Music Inc. (in 1964)
Burl Ives42:14
8Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
producer:
Owen Bradley
vocals:
Brenda Lee (1960s American singer) (on 1958-10-19)
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-20 (number: 2), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-03 (number: 2), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-13 (number: 3), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-27 (number: 3), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-06 (number: 7), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-29 (number: 13), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-22 (number: 19), Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1960 (number: 33), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2024 (number: 59), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2023 (number: 60), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2025 (number: 67), Offizielle deutsche Charts – Single-Jahrescharts 2025 (number: 70), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2022 (number: 80), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2021 (number: 92) and BILLIONS CLUB
recording of:
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (on 1958-10-19)
lyricist and composer:
Johnny Marks (American songwriter)
publisher:
Chappell, D. Davis & Co. Pty Ltd, EMI Davis Music Australia Pty Limited and St. Nicholas Music
Brenda Lee42:05
9Jingle Bell Rock
Bobby Helms and The Anita Kerr Singers2:11
10Blue Christmas
producer:
Tony Brown (US producer, pianist and keyboardist) and Michael Omartian
conductor:
Patrick Williams (composer, arranger)
arranger:
Patrick Williams (composer, arranger)
cover recording of:
Blue Christmas
writer:
Bill Hayes (songwriter) and Jay Johnson (songwriter of “Blue Christmas”)
publisher:
Anglo-Pic Music Co. Ltd., Bibo Music Publishing, Inc., J. Albert & Son Pty. Ltd., PolyGram International Publishing, Inc. (renamed Universal PolyGram International Publishing, Inc. circa 1998), Universal PolyGram International Publishing, Inc. (existed only since ca. 1998) and Universal Polygram International, Inc.
Vince Gill3:49
11Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)
Bing Crosby3:11
12Twelve Days Of Christmas
recorded in:
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1949-05-10)
lead vocals:
The Andrews Sisters (on 1949-05-10) and Bing Crosby (on 1949-05-10)
orchestra:
Vic Schoen and His Orchestra (on 1949-05-10)
recording of:
The Twelve Days of Christmas (on 1949-05-10)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
arranger:
Frederic Austin (English baritone and composer) (in 1909)
publisher:
Shawnee Press Inc.
Bing Crosby with The Andrews Sisters3:23
13Ave Maria
recording engineer:
John Dunkerley (engineer) and James Lock (James Locke, engineer) (in 1976-01)
producer:
Ray Minshull (record producer)
choir vocals:
Wandsworth School Boys’ Choir (in 1976-01)
tenor vocals:
Luciano Pavarotti (tenor) (in 1976-01)
orchestra:
National Philharmonic Orchestra (fka the London Promenade Orchestra until 1971, mostly film music and opera) (in 1976-01)
conductor:
Kurt Herbert Adler (conductor) (in 1976-01)
arranger and orchestrator:
Douglas Gamley (film composer)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
The Decca Record Company Limited (not a release label; for copyrights use only) (in 1976)
recorded at:
All Saints’ Church (Petersham) in Richmond upon Thames, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1976-01)
live recording of:
Ave Maria (catch-all for arrangements) (in 1976-01)
composer:
Franz Schubert (composer)
arrangement of:
Ave Maria (Schubert’s Ave Maria: Latin “Ave Maria” text sung to the tune of ‘Ellens Gesang III, op. 52 no. 6, D. 839 “Ave Maria”’)
recording of:
Ave Maria (Schubert’s Ave Maria: Latin “Ave Maria” text sung to the tune of ‘Ellens Gesang III, op. 52 no. 6, D. 839 “Ave Maria”’)
lyricist:
[anonymous] (special purpose artist)
composer:
Franz Schubert (composer)
version of:
Ellens Gesang III, op. 52 no. 6, D. 839 “Ave Maria” (Schubert's song, not the Bach/Gounod work; original for voice and piano)
recording of:
Ave Maria, D. 839 (Schubert; catch-all for arrangements)
composer:
Franz Schubert (composer) (in 1825)
arrangement of:
Ellens Gesang III, op. 52 no. 6, D. 839 “Ave Maria” (Schubert's song, not the Bach/Gounod work; original for voice and piano)
recording of:
Ellens Gesang III, op. 52 no. 6, D. 839 “Ave Maria” (Schubert's song, not the Bach/Gounod work; original for voice and piano)
lyricist:
Jairo (Argentinean singer) and Sir Walter Scott (19th-century Scottish author)
composer:
Franz Schubert (composer) (in 1825)
translator:
Adam Storck
part of:
Franz Schubert, thematisches Verzeichnis seiner Werke in chronologischer Folge (number: D. 839)
Luciano Pavarotti and The National Philharmonic Orchestra, Kurt Herbert Adler, Conductor4:44
2▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)
bass trombone:
George Roberts (american bass trombone) (on 1953-08-24)
cello:
Cy Bernard (on 1953-08-24), Armand Kaproff (on 1953-08-24) and Eleanor Slatkin (US cellist, b. Aller) (on 1953-08-24)
double bass:
Charlie Harris (jazz bassist) (on 1953-08-24)
drums (drum set):
Lee Young (40s-60s US jazz drummer, then producer/A&R) (on 1953-08-24)
flute:
Jules Kinsler (on 1953-08-24), Ted Nash (40s-80s US swing reedman, uncle of the other) (on 1953-08-24) and Harry Steinfeld (on 1953-08-24)
French horn:
Vincent DeRosa (on 1953-08-24) and John Graas (on 1953-08-24)
guitar:
John Collins (US jazz guitarist) (on 1953-08-24)
harp:
Ann Mason Stockton (American harpist) (on 1953-08-24)
piano:
Buddy Cole (on 1953-08-24) and Nat King Cole (on 1953-08-24)
trombone:
Milt Bernhart (on 1953-08-24) and Joe Howard (american trombone player) (on 1953-08-24)
viola:
Lou Kievman (violist) (on 1953-08-24), Stanley Spiegelman (on 1953-08-24) and Dave Sterkin (on 1953-08-24)
violin:
Victor Bay (on 1953-08-24), Alex Beller (on 1953-08-24), Harry Bluestone (on 1953-08-24), Walter Edelstein (on 1953-08-24), Henry Hill (Violin player) (on 1953-08-24), Paul Nero (composer & jazz violinist; Born: Kurt Polnariov/Polnarioff) (on 1953-08-24), Mischa Russell (violinist) (on 1953-08-24), Paul Shure (on 1953-08-24), Felix Slatkin (on 1953-08-24) and Gerald Vinci (American violinist and strings conductor) (on 1953-08-24)
vocals:
Nat King Cole (on 1953-08-24)
orchestra:
Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra (on 1953-08-24)
conductor:
Nelson Riddle (on 1953-08-24)
arranger:
Nelson Riddle
recorded at:
Capitol Studios (1949–1956) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1953-08-24)
cover recording of:
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) (on 1953-08-24)
lyricist:
Robert Wells (songwriter) (in 1945-07) and Mel Tormé (“The Velvet Fog”) (in 1945-07)
composer:
Mel Tormé (“The Velvet Fog”) (in 1945-07)
publisher:
Chappell/Morris Ltd., MPL Music Publishing Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd., Sony/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP), Warner Chappell, Warner Chappell Ltd., Warner Chappell Music (holding behind all publishing activities of Warner Music Group, 2019–), Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty. Ltd. and Edwin H. Morris & Co., Inc. (a division of MPL Communications Inc.) (from 1946 to present)
Nat King Cole3:10
2It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
lead vocals:
Andy Williams (US pop/jazz vocalist) (in 1972)
vocals:
Andy Williams (US pop/jazz vocalist) (in 1972)
arranger:
Johnny Mandel (American composer and arranger)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Aug 5, 2004 – Oct 1, 2008) (in 1963) and Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1963)
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-27 (number: 9), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-03 (number: 9), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-13 (number: 10), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-20 (number: 10), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-06 (number: 17), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-29 (number: 30) and BILLIONS CLUB
recording of:
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (in 1972)
writer:
Eddie Pola and George Wyle
publisher:
Barnaby Music Corp., EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), EMI Songs Ltd., IQ Music Ltd. and ピアーミュージック (Peer Music Japan, Japan, subsidiary of Nichion)
Andy Williams42:31
3Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
producer:
Jimmy Bowen (producer, rockabilly musician and songwriter) and Lee Gillette
lead vocals:
Dean Martin (American singer/actor) (in 1959)
conductor:
Gus Levene (in 1959)
arranger:
Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
The Dean Martin Family Trust and Capitol Records, Inc. (not for release label use; US company behind the “Capitol Records” imprint) (in 1959)
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-03 (number: 7), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-27 (number: 8), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-20 (number: 11), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-13 (number: 13), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-06 (number: 22), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-29 (number: 34) and Offizielle deutsche Charts – Single-Jahrescharts 2025 (number: 93)
cover recording of:
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (in 1959)
lyricist:
Sammy Cahn (in 1945-07)
composer:
Jule Styne (in 1945-07)
publisher:
Cahn Music Company, Chappell & Co., Chappell/Morris Ltd., Cherry Lane Music Ltd., Imagen Music, J. Albert & Son Pty. Ltd., Producers Music Publishing Co., Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996), Warner Chappell North America and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
Dean Martin4.251:58
4My Favorite Things
recording of:
My Favorite Things (The Sound of Music)
lyricist:
Oscar Hammerstein II (of Rodgers & Hammerstein)
composer:
Richard Rodgers (composer)
publisher:
Williamson Music Company
sub-publisher:
Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc. (song publisher, never a release label) and ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label)
part of:
American Splendor
part of:
The Sound of Music (Rodgers & Hammerstein musical)
Kenny Rogers3:00
5What Child Is This
engineer:
Mickey Crofford (in 1975-08)
assistant producer:
Kris O'Connor
producer:
Milton Okun
guitar:
Chuck Collazzi (in 1975-08)
harpsichord and piano:
Pearl Kaufman (in 1975-08)
arranger:
Lee Holdridge
cover recording of:
What Child Is This?
lyricist:
William Chatterton Dix (in 1865)
composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 25608)
version of:
Greensleeves (generic entry for traditional and unknown arrangements)
John Denver42:36
6Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Lou Rawls3:41
7Winter Wonderland
cover recording of:
Winter Wonderland
lyricist:
Richard B. Smith (wrote lyrics to “Winter Wonderland”)
composer:
Felix Bernard
publisher:
Bregman, Vocco & Conn, Inc., EMI Music (do not use as release label! this is a music publisher), Francis, Day & Hunter, Redwood Music Ltd. (Carlin), Warner Chappell Music Inc., Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty. Ltd., WB Music Corp. (1929–2019) (until 2019-05-28) and WC Music Corp. (from 2019-05-28 to present)
recording of:
Winter Wonderland
lyricist:
Richard B. Smith (wrote lyrics to “Winter Wonderland”)
composer:
Felix Bernard
publisher:
Bregman, Vocco & Conn, Inc., EMI Music (do not use as release label! this is a music publisher), Francis, Day & Hunter, Redwood Music Ltd. (Carlin), Warner Chappell Music Inc., Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty. Ltd., WB Music Corp. (1929–2019) (until 2019-05-28) and WC Music Corp. (from 2019-05-28 to present)
Anne Murray3:13
8Feliz Navidad (Live Version)
José Feliciano5:02
9Silent Night
cover recording of:
Silent Night (Christmas carol, English translation)
lyricist:
Josef Mohr (composer/author) (in 1816)
composer:
Franz Xaver Gruber (composer/author) (in 1818)
translator:
John Freeman Young (in 1859)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 27088)
translated version of:
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht
Ella Fitzgerald2:50
10Here We Come A-Caroling (Old English Wassail Song)
conductor:
Richard P. Condie (conductor)
recording of:
Here We Come A-wassailing
lyricist:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist) (in 1850)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 209)
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir1:39
11Go Tell It On The Mountain
Mahalia Jackson3:08
12What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
cover recording of:
What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve
lyricist and composer:
Frank Loesser
publisher:
Edwin H. Morris & Co., Inc. (a division of MPL Communications Inc.), Frank Music Corp. (in 1947) and MPL Music Publishing Inc. (in 1947)
sub-publisher:
Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc. (song publisher, never a release label) and ヤマハミュージックEH(CM) (Yamaha Music EH(CM))
Lena Horne3:37