Christmas with Clark Dennis

Capitol had a sterling roster of vocalists in the late 40s - among the men were Nat King Cole, Johnny Mercer, Gordon MacRae, Andy Russell, Matt Dennis and Jack Smith. The label's moguls added radio tenor Clark Dennis to the rolls in 1946, and he quickly scored a chart success with the oldie "Peg O' My Heart."

That was to be the high point of Dennis's relatively brief recording career, which mainly consists of the three dozen or so sides that the crooner laid down for Capitol from 1946-50.

I believe this is the sole Christmas single he recorded during that time, although he was well suited to the genre. Evidence is his impassioned rendition of the "Cantique de Noel," which here is backed by a worthy version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" combined with "Joy to the World."

Clark Dennis

The busy studio keyboard artist Buddy Cole contributes what is optimistically described as "orchestral accompaniment." To my ears it sounds like harp plus the tones of Buddy's mighty Wurlitzer. (Does anyone hear any other instruments?)

The initial release of this coupling was in 1949; my copy is a reissue from about 1952. The sound is good.

Dennis, who earlier had vocal stints with Ben Pollack and Paul Whiteman in addition to his radio assignments, was about 40 when these recordings were made. He died in 1992.