On a sweltering July day in 1946, in California, Mel Tormé dropped by his friend Bob Wells' house and found a curious sight - Wells sitting at his desk, writing down short phrases like "chestnuts roasting" and "folks dressed up like Eskimos."
When Tormé asked what he was doing, Wells explained he was trying to cool down by thinking of winter scenes. That small moment of trying to beat the heat would lead to one of the most beloved Christmas songs ever written.
The two talented musicians sat down at the piano and, in just 40 minutes, crafted what would become known simply as "The Christmas Song." Tormé, already an accomplished jazz vocalist known as "The Velvet Fog," had no idea this hastily written tune would become such an enduring holiday classic.
The song's journey to becoming a holiday standard began with Nat King Cole. He first recorded it in June 1946 with his trio, but it was his second version, recorded just two months later in August with the addition of strings, that became the first hit recording. Cole would go on to record the song two more times - in 1953 with Nelson Riddle conducting, and again in 1961 in stereophonic sound. Each version showcased Cole's warm, rich baritone and sophisticated delivery that perfectly captured the cozy, nostalgic feeling of the holiday season.
While Tormé himself recorded the song multiple times over his career, including a memorable duet with Judy Garland on her television show, he always graciously acknowledged that Cole's versions had become the standard. Interestingly, the song originally had a longer introduction that is rarely heard today - a beautiful verse that sets up the familiar chorus but was gradually phased out of most recordings over the years.
Watch Mel Tormé and Judy Garland sing the classic together below, which includes the opening to the song (before the bit about the chestnuts) which you almost never hear anymore.
https://link.rusc.com/3f9cb9b0
Mel Tormé would go on to joke in later years that those 40 minutes of songwriting on that hot summer day provided him with an annuity that lasted his entire life. More importantly, he and Bob Wells gave the world a timeless holiday standard that perfectly captures the warmth and magic of the Christmas season - all inspired by an attempt to cool down on a scorching California day.
The song's enduring appeal lies in its ability to evoke the sensory experiences of the holiday season - the sights, smells, and feelings that make Christmas special. It paints a picture of an idealized holiday evening that resonates across generations, making it as beloved today as it was when it first hit the airwaves in the 1940s.
Don't forget that you still have time to complete the White Christmas quiz too!
