To Wish You a Merry Christmas

To Wish You a Merry Christmas is an album by Harry Belafonte Recorded May 27, 31, June 1, 3 and 8 of 1958 in Hollywood. Conducted by Bob Corman. Millard Thomas and Laurindo Almeida, guitarists. Produced and directed by Ed Welker.

Original LP
To Wish You a Merry Christmas was originally released in 1958 as RCA Victor catalog number LPM/LSP-1887. The original LP cover featured an illustration of the Three Wise Men and a listing of the songs in front.

Side 1: Side 2:
 * 1) "A Star in the East" - 4:15
 * 2) "The Gifts They Gave" - 3:58
 * 3) "The Son of Mary" - 3:21
 * 4) "The Twelve Days of Christmas" - 3:49
 * 5) "Where the Little Jesus Sleeps" - 2:05
 * 6) "Medley: The Joys of Christmas; Oh Little Town of Bethlehem; Deck the Halls; The First Noël" - 5:25
 * 1) "Mary, Mary" - 3:21
 * 2) "Jehova the Lord Will Provide" - 2:57
 * 3) "Silent Night" - 3:35
 * 4) "Christmas Is Coming" - 1:38
 * 5) "Medley: We Wish You a Merry Christmas; God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen; O Come All Ye Faithful; Joy to the World" - 4:29
 * 6) "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" - 3:03

Re-release 1
The album was repackaged in 1962 as RCA Victor catalog number LPM/LSP-2626, with a different cover (with Belafonte's picture this time) and adding the song "Mary's Boy Child" (from An Evening with Belafonte) to Side 2. The credits are also slightly different, listing conductor Bob Corman as Robert De Cormier.

Side 1: identical to the 1958 release. Side 2:
 * 1) "Mary's Boy Child" - 4:20
 * 2) "Silent Night" - 3:35
 * 3) "Christmas Is Coming" - 2:56
 * 4) "Mary, Mary" - 3:34
 * 5) "Jehova the Lord Will Provide" - 2:57
 * 6) "Medley: We Wish You a Merry Christmas; God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen; O Come All Ye Faithful; Joy to the World" - 4:26
 * 7) "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" - 3:01

Re-release 2
In 1976, the songs were repackaged again, under the title Belafonte's Christmas, from RCA Records Canada, catalog number KNLI-0166. The tracks are identical to the 1962 release, except that sides 1 and 2 have been switched (i.e. the first song of the album is now "Mary's Boy Child"). A completely different picture of Belafonte is used on the cover.

Re-release 3
In 2001, RCA reissued the album on CD as Harry Belafonte Christmas, with five bonus tracks added:


 * 1) "Goin' Down Jordan" - 3:53
 * 2)  "Amen" - 3:06
 * 3)  "Glory Manger" - 4:39
 * 4) "The Baby Boy" - 3:25
 * 5)  "Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair)" - 2:45

Personnel

 * Laurindo Almeida	Guitar
 * Dick Baxter	Digital Engineer, Engineer
 * Harry Belafonte	Primary Artist, Vocals
 * C.C. Carter	Composer
 * Frantz Casseus	Guitar
 * Corman	Adaptation
 * Gene Corman	Composer
 * Chick Crumpacker	Digital Producer
 * Robert DeCormier	Adaptation, Choir Director, Composer, Conductor
 * Dennis Farnon	Producer
 * Franz Gruber	Composer
 * Jester Hairston	Composer
 * Henry Wadsworth Longfellow	Composer
 * Johnny Marks	Adaptation, Composer
 * Milton Okun	Composer
 * The Orchestra	Unknown Contributor Role
 * Henri René	Producer
 * Millard Thomas	Guitar
 * Traditional	Composer
 * Don Wardell	Digital Series Coordination
 * Ed Welker	Producer
 * Watson Wylie	Liner Notes