BE OUR GUEST: HOLIDAY EDITION (December 15, 2023)

Today we have a treat for you: Keith is back in the house!

Keith Allen, AKA The Nostalgic Italian, has written another guest post which we’re sure you’ll find interesting and entertaining. With ten days to go until Christmas, it’s guaranteed to get you into the holiday spirit. Today Keith is talking about one particular Christmas song that’s become his favorite. It’s a great song and I like the fact that it isn’t one of those songs you hear constantly during the season.

OK, I’ve said enough! I’m going to hand the reins over to Keith for another edition of Be Our Guest. Take it away, Keith!

❖❖❖❖

Thank you, Nancy, and Happy Holidays to you, dear readers! When I heard that The Rhythm Section was going to feature holiday music throughout the month of December, I had to be a part of it! I am one of “those” people who can listen to Christmas music all year. It always seems to brighten my spirits and put me in a good mood.

I love Christmas music so much that I wondered if I’d actually be able to pick just one song to write about. Off the top of my head, I could pick something from Elvis, Mel Tormé, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Helms, Jim Croce, Brenda Lee, and so many more. It will come as no surprise to those who know me that I picked a cut from my favorite singer …. Dean Martin.

Dean recorded two Christmas albums. The first was “A Winter Romance” for Capitol Records in 1959. It had some Christmas songs as well as “winter” themed tunes on it.

His second Christmas album was for Reprise Records (Sinatra’s label). “The Dean Martin Christmas Album” was the fourth of five albums he released in 1966. The release of the album in October and Dean’s TV show in November, 1966 were accompanied by what Billboard described as a “merchandising avalanche”. Billboard said Dean as running the “hottest streak of his career” and added that Reprise planned to sell $4 million of his records over the Christmas sales period. Billboard later reported that Martin had sold 850,000 albums in December, 1966.

Of all of the holiday songs he recorded, there is one that has always stood out to me as his best. From the opening notes, I am smiling; I am talking about “A Marshmallow World”. I am aware of the MANY other versions of the song; although Darlene Love’s version is a close second, I personally believe that Dean’s version is the ultimate version of this song! It is the perfect song for him and he delivers it in his very own style. He sounds like he is having so much fun with it.

The song itself had been around long before Dean recorded it in 1966. It was written in 1949 and while the song is about winter and is commonly regarded as a Christmas song, the lyrics make no mention of the holiday. The imagery in the song really stands out to me. It compares a snowfall to marshmallows and mounds of whipped cream covering the ground. It is such a beautiful thing that the singer “waits for it the whole year ’round.” It was first a hit for Bing Crosby in 1950 reaching #24 on the charts and done by many others afterward.

Here now is Dean Martin’s “A Marshmallow World” (Official Audio)

Dean recorded it just once, for his 1966 album, but he performed it more than a few times on his show. If you want to see just how much fun he has singing it, you need look no further than the following clips. As you watch each of them, you can’t help but love how he can have so much fun with it in one version and then make you swoon with another.

This is “A Marshmallow World”, duet by Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra (The Dean Martin Show)

From The Dean Martin Show, another version of “It’s A Marshmallow World”

For our final song, here is Dean Martin and “A Marshmallow World” – Live, Christmas 1971

To me, Christmas isn’t Christmas without “A Marshmallow World”!

Thanks again to Nancy and the good folks here at The Rhythm Section. I wish you all the Merriest Christmas and many blessings in the New Year!

Until next time,
Keith, The Nostalgic Italian

KA©2023

❖❖❖❖

Thanks, Keith! It’s always great to have you join us. Just like you said …. with only ten days until Christmas, I’m really feeling the spirit!

I have to admit, when you approached me about doing a holiday song and sent me a copy of your post, I wasn’t sure I even knew “A Marshmallow World”. Then as I thought about it, I remember saying to my husband “Yeah, I think I know this song!” It was really great to hear it again and you’re so right about this song being the perfect one for Dino’s voice. You really hit it out of the park this time, Keith! Thanks for a great holiday song!

Just a reminder, friends, to stay with us for the rest of December; we’ve got lots more holiday music coming up, all the way through December 31, as well as a couple of surprises. It won’t be the same without you!

Once again, a big “thank you” to our friend, Keith!

See you on the flip side.

I’m The Sicilian Storyteller

NAR © 2023