The Sounds of Christmas by Pete Renoudet

A song a day keeps the coronavirus blues away:

Back in 1973 the Disney studio released an album titled “The Sounds Of Christmas” with Pete Renoudet (later Pete Renaday) as narrator and singer of the journey.  It’s a depiction of a night at a household on Christmas night with Pete Renoudet as the father of the house, as well as playing Santa later on.

The title song was written by Pete Renoudet, a gorgeous heartfelt delight called “The Sounds  Of Christmas”.  It is an incredibly touching and deep song, telling of Christmases past.  His voice is wonderfully rich, and it’s a pity he didn’t do more singing. 

Pete Renoudet played many small roles in Disney films from 1968’s “The One And Only Genuine Original Family Band” up to 1980’s “The Last Flight Of Noah’s Ark”.  To Disney fans of that time he became as familiar a presence as many of the great old character actors that frequented their films, the difference being that he wasn’t familiar from anywhere else, just the Disney films, a unique performer.  He would go on to become a prolific voice actor for animation.

Here is the classic “The Sounds Of Christmas” sung by and written by Pete Renoudet, the album conducted by Disney legend Robert F. Brunner.  It is an incredibly powerful song and it’s such a crime that it has never become a known song.  It could easily be a holiday standard.  There’s also another song “Here He Comes (The Little Fat Man)” sung by Pete Renoudet, and composed by the wife and daughter of Robert F. Brunner, making it a true family outing.

“I can hear the Sounds Of Christmas

As they echoes through the years

All the happy rhymes of Christmas chimes

Are ringing in my ears.

All the sounds that in my childhood,

Seemed to banish every tear.

When a tinkling toy meant worlds of joy

And those we loved were near.

I remember how the sound of laughter

Filled our hearts with song.

Every Christmas Eve,

I can’t believe my memory could be wrong.

Though the years have dimmed the heartches,

Still the joys are real and true.

May the merry sounds of Christmas

Soon return again to you.

I remember how the sound of laughter

Filled our hearts with song

Every Christmas Eve

I can’t believe my memory could be wrong.

Though the years have dimmed the heartches,

Still the joys are real and true.

May the merry sounds of Christmas

Soon return again to you.”