“The most enduring Peggy Lee Christmas recordings were, however, made for Capitol – most significantly for 1960’s Christmas Carousel: an inspired collection of covers and self-penned yuletide tunes arranged by Billy May (Frank Sinatra, Nat ‘King’ Cole, Ella Fitzgerald) and produced by Woody Herman acolyte Dave Cavanaugh. Surely Lee’s ultimate festive statement, Christmas Carousel includes extremely cool, jazzy versions of standards – ‘Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,’ ‘Deck the Halls’ and Mel Tormé and Bob Wells’ ‘The Christmas Song’ (aka ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)’ – but also quirky, self-penned numbers such as ‘The Christmas Tree,’ the sleigh bell-assisted ‘Don’t Forget to Feed the Reindeer’ and, of course, ‘The Tree.’” (Source: Tim Peacock, UDiscoverMusic)
