Harvey Schmidt: Merry Christmas 1975

Composer Harvey Schmidt and his writing partner, lyricist Tom Jones, created some of our most admired musicals: At the top of the list is their first one, The Fantasticks, a perfect musical and one of the most performed pieces in the United States and throughout the world. But what many people don’t know is that in addition to being a wonderful composer and an award-winning graphic artist, Schmidt the pianist possessed a singular and irresistible style.

Which brings us to Merry Christmas 1975, an audio Christmas card for his friends, filled with songs from the Golden Age of Hollywood and Broadway. The LP was a collectors’ item for decades, but now, with the late composer’s encouragement, it can be savored by everyone. Don’t be fooled by the title, though. There is just one bona fide Christmas standard, Hugh Martin’s perennial “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” But there are many more terrific songs by the masters of the Great American Songbook, including Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Harry Warren, the Gershwin bothers and Brown & Freed.

Track List

1        I Feel A Song Comin' On
2        Yesterdays
3        Looking For A Boy
4        You Are Beautiful
5        My Favorite Things
6        A Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney Medley: Babes In Arms/Our Love Affair/Do The Conga/Babes On Broadway
7        They All Laughed
8        The Sweetest Sounds
9        Lucky Day
10        No More Waiting
11        A Chorine Medley: Oh, Kay!/Broadway Melody/Bring On The Beutiful Girls
12        Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas