Josh White, Jr. was all prepared to do a holiday album a while back. But there were rather severe technical problems at the recording date, and it never got done. So when we approached him to be on Ornaments and asked if he had any material ready, the answer was, "plenty."

When we first produced Ornaments in 1999, we hadn't intended to make Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song" our traditional show closer, but it sure has worked nicely that way since. So we asked if that was an option for Josh. And are we glad we did. What a voice, what an arrangement.

What a hotel room! That's right, the only way we could get this song on tape, scheduling being what it was, was to send our recording ace Craig Adams to Josh's room, hope room service didn't have an untimely delivery, and set the microphones up for Josh and his guitar. Josh had come to Cleveland for the Glory Bound tour with Odetta and Ramblin' Jack Elliot. This was recorded before that concert.

Learn more about Josh White, Jr. at joshwhitejr.com.