Break out the eggnog, hang the mistletoe, put on those Christmas songs, and settle down in your favorite armchair with This is Christmas, Song by Song (Running Press, $27) by Annie Zaleski, an award-winning music writer and contributing editor with Kovels Antique Trader. This beautifully illustrated book explores well-known and lesser-known, behind-the-scenes stories of the 100 most cherished holiday songs of all time.
From artists such as Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald all the way up to Michael Bublé and Kelly Clarkson, this all-encompassing collection of holiday favorites is sure to warm your heart and have you humming along during the merriest season of the year.
“Some of these songs have straightforward origin stories; others have convoluted (or even exaggerated) histories,” Zaleski writes in the book’s Introduction. “Oddly, many of them were written during the dog days of summer, when Christmas was still months away, and not as many as you might think have religious roots or are considered traditional songs.
“These 100 songs are arranged in chronological order by year of release. That’s because ranking them by quality is just too difficult—and this method makes the evolution of Christmas music that much more prominent. Yet if there’s one thing all 100 songs have in common, it’s that they’re all part of a celebratory holiday season.”
In its review of the book, the Library Journal says: “The eclectic mix of pop standards, songs from TV specials, contemporary hits from Mariah Carey and Taylor Swift, and lesser-known punk and heavy metal Christmas tunes makes this an essential read for trivia buffs, music enthusiasts, and holiday revelers.”
Booklist says: “Zaleski’s prose is crisp and informative, and the page layouts are sprinkled with whimsical illustrations
This is Christmas, Song by Song is available to order via Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and wherever good books are sold.
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