Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In a career that spanned nearly 50 years, Ray Charles released only one Christmas album. But given his enormous talent, one was all he needed to make his voice a permanent part of the holiday season. Many of the ten tracks from 1985’s The Spirit Of Christmas have been featured in a few movies including the title track in 1989’s “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”. Today’s pick was featured in two of my favorite movies-“When Harry Met Sally” (1989) & “Elf” (2003).

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In 1954 Rosemary Clooney appeared in the holiday film, “White Christmas”. The songs she performed in the movie were released the same year on the album, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. In 1996, she released an album of holiday music under the same title as the movie. Most of the 21 tracks are Christmas classics that Clooney reinvented in her unique “girl singer” way. The result is spectacular.

Rosemary Clooney in the 1954 film, “White Christmas”. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Ray Charles: “Winter Wonderland” (1985, written by Felix Bernard and Richard Bernhard Smith).

Rosemary Clooney: “Winter Wonderland” (1996, written by Felix Bernard and Richard Bernhard Smith).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!