A Winter Romance is a 1959 long playing album by Dean Martin, accompanied by an orchestra arranged and conducted by Gus Levene. While not exclusively a Christmas album, it features several songs associated with Christmas as part of its larger winter theme. It was Martin's only Christmas themed album for Capitol Records. Martin later recorded The Dean Martin Christmas Album for Reprise Records in 1966.

The original artwork featured a picture of Martin embracing a fetching young woman. At the same time, he is throwing a passing flirt at a second, attractive woman.

Reception

The initial Billboard magazine review from November 30, 1959, chose the album as one of its "Spotlight Winners of the Week" and commented that "The tunes are all one the winter kick... Martin sings them with his usual ease and nonchalance... A potent waxing for the holiday season".

Track listing Original LP Capitol (S)The optional 'S' indicates a stereo recording T-1285

Side A Track Song title Written by Recording date Session information Time 1. "A Winter Romance" Sammy Cahn and Ken Lane August 4, 1959 Session 7875S; Master 32161; Take 10 2:57 2. "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn August 6, 1959 Session 7882; Master 32194; Take 15 1:55 3. "The Things We Did Last Summer" Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn July 29, 1959 Session 7851; Master 32147; Take 8 3:37 4. "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" Irving Berlin August 4, 1959 Session 7875S; Master 32164; Take 8 2:43 5. "June in January" Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger August 4, 1959 Session 7875S; Master 32162; Take 6 2:46 6. "Canadian Sunset" Eddie Heywood and Norman Gimbel July 29, 1959 Session 7851; Master 32150; Take 4 3:18

Side B Track Song title Written by Recording date Session information Time 1. "Winter Wonderland" Felix Bernard and Dick Smith July 29, 1959 Session 7851; Master 32148; Take 7 1:51 2. "Out in the Cold Again" Rube Bloom and Ted Koehler August 6, 1959 Session 7882; Master 32191; Take 12 3:34 3. "Baby, It's Cold Outside" Frank Loesser August 6, 1959 Session 7882; Master 32192; Take 15 2:23 4. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" Johnny Marks August 6, 1959 Session 7882; Master 32193; Take 4 2:15 5. "White Christmas" Berlin July 29, 1959 Session 7851; Master 32149; Take 7 2:28 6. "It Won't Cool Off" Cahn and Lane August 4, 1959 Session 7875S; Master 32163; Take 7 2:27

Reissues The LP was reissued in 1965 as Holiday Cheer (Capitol STT-2343) as well as on the cassette tape, with different cover art and the song "A Winter Romance" omitted. This version charted for 11 weeks peaking at #12 on Billboard's Best Bets For Christmas album chart December 14, 1968."Billboard Best Bets For Christmas." Billboard, vol. 80, no. 50, December 14, 1968, p. 84. worldradiohistory.com.

The 1989 Capitol CD reissue added a thirteenth bonus track following to the original album. Track Song title Written by Recording date Session information Time 1. "The Christmas Blues" David Holt and Cahn October 5, 1953 Session 3176; Master 11943–8; Take 8 2:54

The 2005 Collectors' Choice Music CD reissue added four (non-Christmas) bonus tracks to the original album. Track Song title Written by Recording date Session information Time 1. "Meanderin" Cy Coben and Charles Randolph Grean, George Botsford September 15, 1951 Session 2309; Master 9022–7 2:58 2. "Sogni d'Oro" Marilyn Keith, Lew Spence and Alan Bergman May 13, 1959 Session 7751; Master 31662–14 2:35 3. "Go Go Go Go" Jerry Livingston and Mack David June 20, 1951 Session 2092; Master 7256–7 2:22 4. "Buttercup of Golden Hair" Mitchell Tableporter May 15, 1959 Session 7757; Master 31694–3 2:18

Personnel

Dean Martin – vocals Gus Levene – leader Hy Lesnick – contractor Joseph R. (Bobby) Gibbons – guitar George Sylvester 'Red' Callender – bass guitar Louis 'Lou' Singer – drums James Rowles – piano on sessions 7851 and 7882 Ray I. Sherman – piano on session 7875S Edward Ross – accordion on session 7882 Kurt Reher – cello Eleanor Aller Slatkin – cello Kathryn Julye – harp on sessions 7875S and 7882 Donald Cole – viola Alvin Dinkin – viola on session 7875S Virginia Majewski – viola David H. Sterkin – viola on session 7851 Israel Baker – violin on session 7882 Victor Bay – violin John Peter DeVoogt – violin Nathan Kaproff – violin Joseph Livoti – violin Daniel 'Dan' Lube – violin Erno Neufeld – violin Jerome 'Jerry' Reisler – violin Ralph Schaeffer – violin on session 7875S Felix Slatkin – violin on sessions 7851 and 7882 Gerald Vinci – violin on sessions 7851 and 7875S Arnold Koblentz – oboe on sessions 7851 and 7875S James Briggs – saxophone on session 7882 Mahlon Clark – saxophone on sessions 7875S and 7882 Arthur 'Skeets' Herfurt – saxophone on session 7875S Edward Kuczborski ('Eddie' Kusby) – saxophone on session 7875S Harry Klee – saxophone on session 7882 Ronald Langinger – saxophone on session 7875S Theodore M. 'Ted' Nash – saxophone on session 7851 Emanuel 'Mannie' Klein – trumpet on session 7875S

Charts + Chart performance for A Winter Romance Chart (2018–2025) Peakposition Estonian Albums (Eesti Tipp-40) 22 Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn) 18 Italian Albums (FIMI) 27 Latvian Albums (LaIPA) 8 Lithuanian Albums (AGATA) 3 Portuguese Albums (AFP) 125 US Billboard 200 61

Certifications

Notes