The core of this album dates to a 1948 set of 78's that collected the various holiday recordings Frank Sinatra had issued for Columbia records to that point in his still young career. Big-band leader/early Sinatra collaborator Axel Stordahl handles the arrangements, while many tracks(like most pop tunes of the era) feature the backing of various small vocal ensembles. The holiday Sinatra of that teen idol and post-war era may not have yet achieved his uncanny way with a phrase or the world class cool that cemented his legend, but the beginnings of that introspective warmth show through on the singer's solo performance of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" and elsewhere. This new edition contains three previously unreleased radio recordings that span the sacred ("Ave Maria," "The Lord's Prayer") and secular (a sprightly "Winter Wonderland") as well as songs from the singer's Christmas V-Disc. Collectors will also welcome five rare, heretofore unissued alternate takes of key tracks like "White Christmas" and "Jingle Bells."