Oodles of Doodles XLIV-Christmas In July

They say that no two snow flakes are alike, and here're four examples to prove the point. These flakes hail from the reverse of A Christmas Treasure-Julie Andrews With The Orchestra, Harpischord & Arrangements Of Andre Previn (RCA Victor LSP-3829, 1967). This LP does not contain Julie's most famous Christmas song that isn't really a Christmas song at all, My Favorite Things from The Sound Of Music. You'll have to dig up that soundtrack to hear that song. But the songs that actually do show up on this collection are all quite nice.

Oodles of Doodles XLIII-Christmas In July

Today is pretty much the halfway point of our Christmas In July feature, so it's time for another special color doodle. We're also bending the rules a little, since I scanned this image from the front of the LP, but it's repeated in grey on the back, so maybe it's OK. And the version on the flip side is obscured somewhat by some text, too. Anyhow, this is from Ogden Nash-Christmas With Ogden Nash (Caedmon TC 1323, 1970). This record is Mr. Nash reciting some Christmas stories, which may or may not be from his book Santa Go Home. The liner notes do admit that the cover illustration is borrowed from that book, and is drawn by Robert Osborn. That's a pretty hip Santa, don't ya think?

Oodles of Doodles XLII-Christmas In July

I think this is the sloppiest doodle we've featured yet, it looks like it was scribbled out in just a few seconds. Don't get me wrong though, it's still very attractive. You're looking at a detail off the flip side to Fred Waring And The Pennsylvanians-'Twas The Night Before Christmas (Decca DL 8171, 1955). The front cover to this LP is an illustration by no less than Norman Rockwell. I don't know if he had anything to do with the doodle on the back, but I sort of doubt it.

Oodles of Doodles XLI-Christmas In July

After the relative disappointment with yesterday's Don Ho doodle, we have a nice surprise today. The gift box above is found on Christmas Greetings From The Town Pipers (High Fidelity Recordings R418, 1959). If you look closely, that fancy wrapping paper isn't just abstract doodling. I've found a Santa Claus, a reindeer, a Christmas tree, a snowflake, and a couple of areas that may be something but I can't figure out what it's supposed to be. Maybe it's just more decoration. I'm afraid I know next to nothing about the Town Pipers, other than what I read on the LP. It's three guys and a gal, they are from Scranton, PA, and this is their first recording. Odd that anyone would debut with a Christmas LP, but this was the 50's in America. There's a lot of info here about the HiFi label, but only a single entry in the discography about this release.

Oodles of Doodles XL-Christmas In July

No, this isn't an extra-large doodle, those are Roman numerals for 40, which means it's time for the big four-oh! I had big hopes for this LP, but when I flipped it over, all I got was a triple-strength dose of ornaments. Oh, the possibilities lost! Our artist today is Don Ho and the LP is The Don Ho Christmas Album (Reprise RS 6265, 1967). I wanted to get a nice palm tree with these ornaments, or maybe a luau with a Christmas tree, or at least something relating to Hawaii. All I got were these ornaments.

Eye To Beak

Well, my camera is still in the shop. They want $226.20 to fix it. I guess I'm going to have to break down and do it. That's a chunk of the price of a new one, but not as big of a chunk as I was afraid of. And I'm really jonesing to get my camera back. There was a sandhill crane outside my window at work today, and I wanted to take his picture. The shot you see above is from one of their previous visits. These guys are really big, and they let you get fairly close. I suspect they must get fed by some folks, so they think I'm going to feed them. I'm sure you know how bad of an idea it is to feed wild animals, so I won't bore you with the lecture.

Oodles of Doodles XXXIX-Christmas In July

It's a small but festive doodle today from The Harry Simeone Chorale-Sing We Now Of Christmas (20th Century Fox, Fox 3002, 1958). This LP claims to contain the original version of The Little Drummer Boy. Perhaps it has the popular version, but apparently not the first. I liked the little rectangular shadings on the bells. If it were in color, it might remind me of the Partridge Family bus. Which in turn would remind me of that artist who's name escapes me, but his work consists of little colored squares. You know the one I mean. And then Manhattan Records started using a ripoff of his art for their record labels. It's all so confusing.

Trapped!

It's been almost a week now without my camera and I'm starting to get the DTs. But to keep you from going into withdrawal also, here's a leftover picture from a trip to the Ringling Museum a few weeks ago. This statue is just a little too close to a banyan tree, and it's slowly becoming enveloped. He won't be a happy little cherub for much longer. Looks like something out of an Indiana Jones movie, doesn't it?

The Next Week In July

Another week, another calendar page. This week we have a nice calm beach scene. I think this is a shot from Sand Key, Florida (near the same spot as last week). I may be totally wrong on this one, since it's a pretty generic picture. This calm scene is totally opposite the chaos at the beach this weekend in the wake of Hurricane Dennis. Water levels were almost two feet higher than normal, and 4-5 foot waves were eroding the shoreline at a rapid rate. But that's just nature's way. I'm sure things will be back to normal this week.

Oodles of Doodles XXXVIII-Christmas In July

Here's a pretty large selection of Christmas-themed doodles from the back of Christmas Organ & Chimes With Buddy Cole (Pickwick SPCX-1001). The Pickwick label gives this record away as a later reissue (Electronically Enhanced For Stereo!), but I don't know if the original LP features the doodles or not. This particular LP is still sealed, and is part of a lot of between 10 and 15 other still-sealed Christmas LPs I found at a Salvation Army store last week. Nothing too exciting in there, but nice to have anyway. This doodle features the initials JB in the lower right hand corner (with the ice skates). Could it be that James Brown sketched these doodles? Maybe not...