Not everything on this collection of classic big band recordings from the RCA Victor vaults swings in the literal sense of the form. Claude Thornhill's "Snowfall" is downright mellow, and Spike Jones's "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" may be a yuletide novelty favorite, but Jones was more of a musical comedian than a swing musician. Nevertheless, Glenn Miller almost rocks "Jingle Bells," while Benny Goodman is represented via the not entirely Christmas-like "Santa Claus Came in the Spring." Other highlights include holiday hits and semihits from Tommy Dorsey, Freddie Martin (featuring future talk-show legend Merv Griffin crooning "Sleigh Ride"), Ralph Flanagan, and piano great Fats Waller, who must've brought the house down back in the '30s if "Swingin' Them Jingle Bells" is any indication. Appropriately, the disc concludes with Guy Lombardo's "Auld Lang Syne," which most definitely swings. --Bill Holdship