Just out of playing the role of the town drunk, no casting here!, in Rio Bravo (the film), Dean was at the height of his popularity when he entered the Capitol studios in the summer of 1959 to record his first Christmas-themed songs accompanied by an orchestra arranged and conducted by Gus Levene. The result of the recordings was a charming and highly entertaining Christmas record, highlighted by beautiful renditions of "White Christmas," "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!," "Winter Wonderland," "Baby, It's Cold Outside," "The Christmas Blues," "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer," and bonus recordings of "Silent Night," "Silver Bells," and "It's Beginning To Look Like Christmas."