? Days, 30 Albums - The Three Suns - A Ding Dong Dandy Christmas

A Ding Dong Dandy Christmas, by The Three Suns, is a new addition to my holiday music collection, and it's been my Christmas soundtrack for the past few weeks.  Honestly, I think I could listen to it for a week straight without getting bored - I'm going on five times already today. And the copy on the back of the album? More brilliant than anything I could write about this record, and it's not just amazing because it was written in 1959 (well, maybe that's part of the reason):

Is there one person you like? Not just like, but really like? Is he a pretty swingin' guy? A pal who gets a kick out of things? A kid who spends a lot of time learning that life, after all, is for fun? This album is for those people. It's a gone album, gang, with the kind of melodic surprises we've come to expect from The Three Suns.

The Suns have remained the same over the years. But, as on other of their recent hits, they've added instruments. They've got some novel ones here: chimes, bells, an oboe and two tubas.

The result of this lineup is a collection of melodic Christmas songs with a real crazy rhythm. The beat is Cha-Cha, Merengue and Rock 'n' Roll, all wrapped up in one. These are not carols, mind you, just songs. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer hangs out here, and so does Alvin, star of The Chipmunk Song. Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town in this album, going through a Winter Wonderland to the tune of Jingle Bells as he takes his Sleigh Ride—all to the fun arrangements of Charles Albertine.

If, after listening to these, you think you've heard everything, hold still a minute as the Suns and their helpers bring a weird, exotic sound to White Christmas and such other lovely tunes as Skaters Waltz and The Christmas Song.

Santa Claus has been pushing his staff at the North Pole hard all year with only one thing in mind: fun. If you want to lend him a helping hand, give this album to someone you really like this Christmas. If he's spirited, if he's swingin', if he's a ding-dong dandy guy, he'll love it.

ART WHITMAN

See what I mean?

"Russian Sleigh Song"
"Jingle Bells"
"Winter Wonderland"

Comments

[josh]

there is also an Ep

http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/three-suns-sounds-of-christmas-ep.html

[Ken W.]

Simply brillant. My mom bought this album and it was a part of my christmas for years as I was growing up. When my brother's house burned down, we lost the album and I spent years looking for another one because It was simply the best Christmas album ever made. I found a mint condition copy about eight years ago and I have been in heaven ever since. This is a truly great album!

[Ken W.]

I had that one as well but it is nothing to compare with Ding Dong Dandy Christmas! As far as Christmas Albums go: DDDC is one of those exceptionally rare albums that can light up a room in an instant! I, and many others, believe that nothing else has ever been created quite like it. It's crazy, fun, irrevent and yet beautfully performed and constructed. Accidental masterpieces do happen (also listen to the SHeDaisy's "Brand New Year" for another album that SHOULD have been a disaster, but turned out better that anyone could have expected!) DDDC is one of the most delightful accidental masterworks ver created.

[Ken S.]

Probably the first "stereophonic" album my Mom and Dad bought for the new Stereo they bought in '59 or '60. By the early 70's the record was still playable but quite scratchy. Thankfully, I had the foresight to record it to a reel tape, which I have to this day and, until recently, played incessantly every holiday season since. Last year I purchased a CD copy, which was recorded from a pristine and filtered copy of the record. It is truly a unique, uplifting Christmas album, and in our house, the holidays wouldn't be the same without it!

[Ted]

Ken,
I stumbled across your name while searching for a copy of the The Sons Ding Dong Daddy Christmas album. I too grew up with the music at Xmas and I learned that my best friend and now retired college professor is the tuba player on the record! It would be a true gift if I could get him a CD copy. Can you help?

Ted

[Sharon]

Is this available on CD?