Maps of Music

The Dean Martin Christmas Album (1966)

Where the lyrics of The Dean Martin Christmas Album take you, and where it was really made.

According to his son, this was the only one of Dean Martin's albums ever played in the Martin household.

Place unknown

Do you know where this album was recorded, or where its cover was shot? Tell us and we will add it to the map.

Martin's other Christmas album, A Winter Romance, came out in 1959 on Capitol Records
Billboard described Martin as running the "hottest streak of his career"
Reprise planned to sell $4 million of Martin's records over the Christmas sales period
Billboard described a "merchandising avalanche" by Reprise and parent company Warner Music
The album was released alongside The Dean Martin TV Show in November 1966
Billboard later reported that Martin sold 850,000 albums in December 1966

1	White Christmas	2:55
2	Jingle Bells	2:20
3	I’ll Be Home for Christmas	2:30
4	Blue Christmas	2:16
5	Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow	1:57
6	Marshmallow World	2:43
7	Silver Bells	2:24
8	Winter Wonderland	2:10
9	The Things We Did Last Summer	2:42
10	Silent Night	2:50

Born Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio, on June 7, 1917; sang with local bands and worked as a casino croupier before his career began.
Formed the comedy team Martin and Lewis with Jerry Lewis in 1946; the partnership ended acrimoniously in 1956.
Launched a solo career as singer and actor; signature song "Everybody Loves Somebody" reached number one in the US in 1964.
Member of the Rat Pack with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop, known for Las Vegas performances.
Hosted the NBC variety series The Dean Martin Show from 1965 to 1974 and the Celebrity Roast specials from 1974 to 1984.
Died on December 25, 1995, in Beverly Hills at age 78.

Sold about 50 million records worldwide and was honored with a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.
Hollywood Walk of Fame stars honor his work in film, recordings and television.

Billboard described Martin as running the "hottest streak of his career" when the album appeared
Billboard described the promotion around the release as a "merchandising avalanche"

William Ruhlmann reviewed the 2008 CD reissue A Very Cool Christmas on Allmusic.com and gave it three and a half stars out of five
Ruhlmann said Martin sounded in a "typically easygoing, good-natured mood" on these tracks
Ruhlmann wrote that Martin sang the seasonal material with the same nonchalance he gave to pop music of the period

Billboard's issue of December 3, 1966 reported the album was on top of its "Best Bets for Christmas" chart
Reprise planned to sell $4 million of Martin's records over the Christmas sales period
Billboard later reported that Martin had sold 850,000 albums in December 1966

Martin's son Ricci James Martin wrote in a biography of his father that this album was the only one of his father's albums played in the household, while his parents seldom listened to Dean Martin's music
Billboard reported the album topped its "Best Bets for Christmas" chart in its December 3, 1966 issue
Billboard later reported sales of 850,000 albums in December 1966
The 2008 CD reissue by Hip-O Records carried the title A Very Cool Christmas
Ed Thrasher is credited with art direction on the album