Throwback Video Of The Week: Andy Williams “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”
The late Andy Williams is best remembered for his recording of “Moon River” from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s. However, it was his eight holiday albums, including The Andy Williams Christmas Album (1963) and Merry Christmas (1965), which earned him the nickname “Mr. Christmas.”
The Andy Williams Christmas Album featured “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” written by George Wyle and Eddie Pola. Wyle was also known for writing the theme song for Gilligan’s Island. Many artists have performed “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” over the years, but it’s Williams’ original 1963 recording that remains the perennial holiday favorite. The joyful song has been used in countless TV commercials and movies.
In addition to recording more than 40 albums over the course of his career, Andy Williams hosted an Emmy Award-winning variety show on NBC from 1962 to 1971. The crooner continued to host Christmas specials into the 1990s. The Victorian-themed clip below comes from one of the earlier editions of those holiday shows. It also could have been the inspiration for the viral “Mannequin Challenge” of 2016.
