I would say that Christmas is already on my mind but, if we’re being honest, it’s never OFF of my mind.

Yes… I’m one of those people and I make no apologies for it.

I have a large, wonderful family and shopping year-round for gifts is the only way I can stay sane or stand a chance to get things done. I buy things in stores and online (often starting the day after Christmas!) and hide them away in totes. Admittedly, sometimes I dip into the totes during the year for little, “Here’s this… just because I love you..” expressions, but that’s fun too.

I’ve begun a #ClassicFilmGifts series of tweets on Twitter and will now also begin a series of Christmas Gift Ideas posts here on Hollywood Yesterday. Granted, very often (very, very, very often in fact), we’re the only one in our family who collects Classic Hollywood collectibles and one of the only ones who watched old movies – in which case, the gift ideas are actually for US.

Again… that’s fun too!

These particular gift ideas are actually ones I’m sure you (like me) will want long before Christmas and will want all for yourself! They’ll each be on their Merry way to our house right away. These artists are some of my favorite in the world and I can’t wait to spend the Christmas season with them.

Continued Below Ella Beautifully Singing The Christmas Song…

Christmas With Ella & Friends

Christmas With Ella & Friends is one of the ones that’s already in my Amazon shopping cart.  I searched for Ella Fitzgerald Christmas CDs and literally gasped when I saw the list of friends she brought to the Christmas party with her!

• Louis Armstrong
• Bing Crosby
• Frank Sinatra
• Doris Day
• Eartha Kitt
• Dinah Washington
• Dean Martin
• Brenda Lee
• The Platters
• And more …

The CD cover states that there are 40 songs included in the 2 CD set, but Amazon lists 50. Either way, that’s a lot of wonderful Christmas songs from some of the greatest voices of all time. I will let you know for sure how many there are as soon as my CD arrives!

Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas

Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas is another “must have. Who better than Ella to get a swinging Christmas and  jazzy new year off on the right note??!

This 1960 collection includes:

1. 1. Jingle Bells
   2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
   3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
   4.  What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
   5. Sleigh Ride
   6. The Christmas Song
   7. Good Morning Blues
   8. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
   9. Winter Wonderland
   10. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
   11. Frosty The Snowman
   12. White Christmas
   13. The Secret Of Christmas
   14. Medley: We Three Kings Of Orient Are/O Little Town Of Bethlehem
   15. Christmas Island
   16. The Christmas Song
   17. White Christmas (Alternative Take)
   18. Frosty The Snowman (Alternative Take)

Continued Below Lena Horne’s Gorgeous Rendition of White Christmas

Merry From Lena

If you read very much of what I write (bless your heart), you know I love Lena Horne. Like, A LOT. I could listen to her all day/all night and never complain. I actually once had this CD but will have to reorder it.

I guess I wore it out! I remember playing my favorite songs (The Little Drummer Boy, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town) over and over and over.

1. Jingle All The Way
2. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)
3. Winter Wonderland
4. White Christmas
5. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
6. The Little Drummer Boy
7. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
8. What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
10. Silent Night
11. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

These are the songs that are the soundtrack to Christmas and no one… absolutely no one…. sings them more beautifully than Lena Horne.

Lena Horne, like Rita Hayworth and a few other select entertainers, gets so much recognition for her beauty (and, come on, it’s understandable) but she was so much more than a beautiful face. She could act, sings (could she ever sing!), and dance.

And if you’re talking about stage presence and a certain “it” factor – Lena was all over it. If you aren’t familiar with her music, I hope you’ll familiarize yourself right away.

I hope you’ll click through these links and order at least one of these wonderful Christmas song collections. Christmas music is one of the most beautiful (magical, even) things about Christmas.

In fact, as something of an expert on Christmas (immodestly, I put myself right up there with Mrs. Claus in the category), if I were to recommend a way to make the Season even sweeter, I’d suggest starting a Christmas CD collection – and these are a few of the CDs I’d recommend for you to start with.

I will write about more Christmas CDs in the coming weeks – in fact, I was near the middle of a “Top 10 Christmas CDs” post but I got too excited about these three and had to share them immediately. Christmas (and these artists) do that to me. ~ Joi (“Joy”)