The Christmas Song - Mel Torm é and Judy Garland

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Few people know that Mel co-wrote this famous song with Bob Wells in 1944 - when Mel was 19 years old. "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..."
The duet is wonderful... but can you count the number of words Judy gets wrong during the song? Gotta love the (mostly) a capella ending... Available on the 1963 DVD "Judy Garland Show, Episode 15: The Christmas Show." Please... Subscribe to BestArts Add our videos to your "Favorites" Try
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Garland and Sinatra ... ( 6 months ago by SoulQuest7)

Garland and Sinatra were the most POPULAR artist of their time, the 40s and 50s. Mel was younger than them, came on their heels, and was easily a better singer but out of sync with popular music fashions. His biggest period of popularity was in the late 70s, 80s and 90s when he became a one-man-tribute to all vocal genres pre-rock. But he always was revered by other artists and jazz critics. Always. Anyone with an understanding of jazz vocals new he was the cream of the crop.

theres no ... ( 6 months ago by grai)

theres no comparison in terms of ability and talent - Garland and Sinatra were both fabulous dancers and actors and had massive natura; charisma
Torme looked like a frog

I NEVER discussed ... ( 5 months ago by SoulQuest7)

I NEVER discussed acting and dancing, because that wasn't the subject at hand. Mel was a B-grade actor at best (though he did get great acclaim for his role on PBS' THE COMEDIAN with Mickey Rooney). He could barely dance. I don't really care what he or any of the singers looked like-- he was better vocalist.

No mention in the ... ( 5 months ago by grai)

No mention in the same review of Mel having to swallow his massive ego and accept work as Garland's arranger and conductor on her tv show
because brilliant singer or not he wasn't getting any work Then he cashed in on Judy's misfortunes by writing a load of lies about her in a kiss-and-tell book to make money after ehr death when she couldnt defend herself

Well, you CAN be a ... ( 5 months ago by SoulQuest7)

Well, you CAN be a brilliant singer and not get a lot of work; that's just a matter of whethor you are in sync with the trends in popular music. Mel almost became a pilot at one point. His best music was recorded at the dawn of rock and roll, so while jazz critics revered it, he didn't sell a lot of records because jazz was seen as old style. As for Mel's book about Garland, I'll leave that debate to the historians.

I don't know much ... ( 5 months ago by SoulQuest7)

I don't know much about Garland's life but I feel sorry for her for being pushed into addictive drugs as a child. You seem to be making the same mistake with his writing as you did with his singing-- you think if you just say so, it IS so.

By any analysis, ... ( 5 months ago by SoulQuest7)

By any analysis, they were both about to be swamped by the British Invasion of 1964. Garland didn't live to weather the storm, though I'm sure she could have always drawn a crowd as a performer even if her heyday was over. Mel was a lounge singer who could barely draw a crowd at that time and had to wait for a revival of jazz in the late 70s to suddenly be recognized as one of the best preserved relics of the era (he never drank or smoked, so his voice was amazing until the last 80s).

You see, you'll ... ( 5 months ago by SoulQuest7)

You see, you'll never win this argument by pointing to Garland's popularity versus Mel's, because that isn't the debate you started. The debate you started was about the quality of Mel's voice. It is only because your asserstions have been disproved, that you've changed the topic to popularity and Mel's book. It shows weak debate skills, though YOUR ego probably won't be able to admit it.

"Melvin Howard ... ( 5 months ago by SoulQuest7)

"Melvin Howard Torm
é American singer, songwriter, composer, arranger, pianist, drummer, actor, and author, one of the 20th century's most versatile, respected, and influential jazz vocalists." (note: the encyclopedia forgot his great ukulele playing!)

100 Greatest Jazz ... ( 5 months ago by SoulQuest7)

100 Greatest Jazz Vocalist Albums
Criteria, These albums were chosen for their influence, impact, originality,
and quality on the world of Jazz
55. Sinatra at the Sands - Frank Sinatra
56. Mel Torme Swings Shubert Alley - Mel Torme
57. Solitude - Billie Holiday
58. The Benny Carter Sessions - Sarah Vaughan
65. Plays W.C. Handy - Louis Armstrong
80. The Misty Miss Christy - June Christy
86. Sings Fred Astaire - Mel Torme
87. The Grand Encounter - Diane Reeves

Greatest jazz ... ( 5 months ago by SoulQuest7)

Greatest jazz vocalists:
1. Billie Holiday
2. Sarah Vaughan
3. Ella Fitzgerald
4. Nat King Cole
5. Louis Armstrong
6. Nina Simone
7. Dinah Washington
8. Frank Sinatra
9. Carmen McRae
10. Johnny Hartman
11. Etta Jones
39. Mel Torme

Wow - we only get ... ( 5 months ago by BestArts)

Wow - we only get notified on the first posts, so didn't realize all this dialog was going on.
At this point, it looks like grai and SoulQuest7 need to agree to disagree. But thanks for the lively discussion! We appreciate the comments from both of you. (We still like this vid.) :D

Has anyone got the ... ( 5 months ago by kittengirl1000)

Has anyone got the clip of Jack Jones singing Lollipops and Roses from the Christmas special of The Judy Garland Show?

We've posted it. ... ( 5 months ago by BestArts)

We've posted it. See our "DVD: Judy Garland Show - Christmas 1963" playlist. (Also included on our "Best of BestArts - Undiscovered" playlist.)

The Velvet Fog (got ... ( 5 months ago by cscentrlvideos)

The Velvet Fog (got it correct this time - I thought it was the Velvet Fox) in action! What a marvelously melodic voice!

Makes me kinda sad ... ( 5 months ago by PerMoerner)

Makes me kinda sad that Frank Sinatra is recognized as a jazz singer... when he isn't at all. Mel Torm
é on the other hand is, and the greatest there has ever been.. People in general don't know what jazz is. Everything that sounds ''smooth'' is jazz, NOT. Hugs and kisses!

It's not Bing ... ( 5 months ago by HonestCriticzzzzzz)

It's not Bing Crosby - WOW is that Jazz - I think I HATE Jazz... - does Judy say "if RAINBOWS really know how to fly...?" I thought I heard THAT.
Well THAT MIGHT be "PURE SPUN GOLD" Mr. May... but B.Spears ain't.! IMHO My heart goes out to children of Alcholoic Parents EVERYWHERE & Children who have to live with depressive parents - and what is the WORST? I KNOW from experience... It is a combo of Alcoholic and Manic Depressive Parent!!!

Listen to: River: ... ( 3 months ago by gm0618)

Listen to: River: The Joni Letters
Tina will blow your mind

You Folks DO know ... ( 3 months ago by gm0618)

You Folks DO know that Mel wrote this song dont you???

yes ( 3 months ago by kuson22)

yes

great video i love ... ( 2 months ago by iCeGungrave)

great video i love mel torme's vocals! just one thing, how the hell is this video related to (this is halloween) in the related videos section??

Good question - and ... ( 2 months ago by BestArts)

Good question - and I can't think of any possible reason. The two vids don't share a tag in common.

i just find it ... ( 1 month ago by waltandrus)

i just find it funny that many of the great XMAS songs were written by Jews...Irving Berlin (White Christmas) Mel Torme' (The Christmas Song) Sammy Cahn (The Christmas Waltz) and many others... Interesting... Mel had a lot of problems working as Musical Director for Judy Garland on her TV Show as he stated in his Autobiography... Great Clip!!!

Two greats. ( 1 week ago by cne08)

Two greats.

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