Used Music-Track Twenty Three
When needle first hit groove on tonight's track, I thought I was playing the wrong record. Where did those trumpets come from, and what were they doing on a Christmas record? But they turned out to be just another part of this track. This is perhaps the most interesting arrangement of this song I've ever heard. Perhaps I'm just still stunned from those horns, but I can't think of any other version that's this different. Well, maybe it's not that out there, but it's out there. I don't know who the orchestra is here, as they weren't credited on the LP, but I'm guessing maybe Sid Ramin, since he's backed them elsewhere. (Yep, his name is listed on the CD reissue of the original Ames Brothers LP.) Enough talk, go download the Ames Brothers-Good King Wenceslas from The Joy Of Christmas, Volume II (RCA Victor for ACME Markets PRM-230-A, 1966). I shared a doodle form this LP back in July, if you want to have a look-see.
Previous Tracks:
The Sanborn Singers-Jingle Bells
Les Baxter Orchestra And Chorus-Hang Your Wishes On The Tree
Sandler & Young-Mister Santa
Peggy Lee-Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
Danny Kaye-Deck The Halls (With Boughs Of Holly)
Debbie Reynolds-There's No Place Like Home
Claudine Longet-Snow
The Glad Singers-We Three Kings Of Orient Are
The Ed Sullivan Orchestra-I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
The Mills Brothers-You Don't Have To Be A Santa Claus
Patti Page-'Twas The Night Before Christmas
George Melachrino-Fairy On The Christmas Tree
The Beneficial Singers-Joyous Christmas
Marlene Dietrich-Little Drummer Boy
Dorothy Collins-Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Red Foley-Frosty The Snowman
Bing Crosby-Christmas Dinner Country Style
Fred Waring-White Christmas
Walter Carlos-Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Ed Kinney-The Twelve Days Of Christmas
Les Brown-We Wish You The Merriest
Maurice Chevalier-Jolly Old St. Nicholas
Just finished listening to Good King Wenceslas by the Ames Brothers --
ReplyDeleteYou are right about those trumpets -- This is the 'trippiest' arrangement of the song I've heard...
We're getting closer to the big day .... thanks for all the work ... you've brightened our holidays
Rather majestic feel, idn't it?
ReplyDeleteI love this song and the entire album. It was a staple at our house when I was growing up. Put out for the National Tea Company, wasn't it?
ReplyDeleteVolume One said something about the National Tea Company on it, but this one said ACME Markets (but I think I said ACMA Markets in the MP3 tags...fat fingers). Maybe there were different issues of the same LP for different distributors?
ReplyDeleteThey must have put out the same record for different food stores. I'm sure mine was purchased by my mom at National - no Acme near us. I don't have Volume 1. Is it any good?
ReplyDeleteI think Volume One was more classical stuff, less popular. I'll check it out tonight...
ReplyDeleteWe had this record when I was a kid, and it's a favorite. Any chance you can post the full lp?
ReplyDeleteReally apprecite your site, thanks!