WHITE SNOWS OF WINTER, adapted from Brahm's First Symphony, is a Christmas love song, arranged by Bob in collaboration with Tom Drake. The beautiful musical setting is evocative of the lover's plight and its resolution with the arrival of Christmas.

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS, May be performed as a round if desired, as it used to be in Worcestershire, with different verses. The Kingston Trio particularly wanted to use The Weavers arrangement and version of this tune, since they feel it is the classic rendition of the song. In effect, they wished strongly to second the motion stated so significantly in the bridge: "Why can't we have Christmas the whole year around?"

ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT, with its stately harmonies and gentle melodic contours, creates the mood of the holiday season as felicitously as any carol. As the Trio so aptly sums up this tranquil offering, "Christmas should be softly spoken . . . "

GOODNIGHT MY BABY, a father's tenderly-sung lullaby for his baby son on Christmas eve, anticipates the excitement in store for both parent and child the following day. Nick's status as a new father contributes a meaningful touch to the situation portrayed.

GO WHERE I SEND THEE, serves as a children's go-round today, but was once, with an altered text, a part of the Jewish Passover service. Known originally as "The Carol of the Twelve Numbers." This cumulative song is at least 1500 years old. At present, scholars are uncertain whether the Christians adapted the song from the Jews, or visa-versa. In this spirited rendition, the bass of Buck Wheat, a permanent adjunct to the Trio, adds effective rhythmic stimulus to the accompaniment.

SOMERSET GLOUCESTERSHIRE WASSAIL, a combination of traditional English tunes dating from the 18th century, served as musical fare for troupes of carolers who, carrying bowls of spiced ale, traveled from house to house toasting the master. The word wassail derives from the Old English wes hal which was a wish for good luck or good health. To this lusty wassail song, the Bouzouki adds a harpsichord-like sound.

MARY MILD, a version of the ballad "The Bitter Withy," is found on an Oriental legend known is Europe before the end of the eleventh century. The story, not found in official church writings, tells of Jesus at the age of eleven being chastised by Mary for building a bridge of sunbeams to illustrate his divine power to neighborhood children who refuse to play with a child so humble born. The "bridge of sunbeams" miracle has been traced from Egypt to Ireland, and to the lives of the medieval saints.

AROUND ABOUT CHRISTMAS is an old children's round based on an English nursery rhyme. As the line "Please to put a penny in the old man's hat" suggests, the tune is often sung while the hat is being passed around for holiday collections.

SING WE NOEL was once used with appropriate text as an Easter song entitled "Love Is Come Again." Based on a lovely bell-like old melody associated with the carol "Noel Nouvelet," the piece combines verses in the Dorian mode with a refrain of middle eastern character, the Bouzouki heightening the oriental flavor.

Produced by VOYLE GILMORE

Pictured above is the Bouzouki, a Greek instrument with a unique sound somewhat similar to a lute or mandolin. The Bouzouki which is used so effectively in this album was made especially for the Kingston Trio by George Atanasiou of New York.