Sinatra family doesn’t show true potential in Christmas album
December 21, 2016
If the album cover wasn’t clue enough as to how awkward The Sinatra Family Wish You a Merry Christmas would sound, be warned. Released in 1968, the album stars legendary crooner Frank Sinatra, his namesake son, and daughters Nancy and Tina. From the classics, like “Santa is Coming to Town,” to lesser-known “O Bambino,” the record is a family affair. It may feel sentimental to those who listened in its prime, but today it feels tacky. Melodies like “The Bells of Christmas” sound like they belong on an old Christmas movie, but the Sinatra family’s lack of harmony dims holiday cheer. Although it is hard to ruin a classic like “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” Tina seems to achieve just that. The saving grace of the album is “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” because it signals the end of the album. Of all the songs on the album, this final one takes the cake as the most annoying, as the Sinatra chorus describes Christmas gifts given to their dad. Unfortunately for Frank Sinatra, his family holiday album turned out to be one of the worst in his discography.