Christmas In July 2008-Day 24

Surprise! That's right, I'm going to get two posts up today, and that means I'm only going to be one day behind. With a little luck, I'll get that one caught up tomorrow, and then I'm back on schedule for the end of the month. Hooray! Now, what have I got for you in this post?

Tracks one and two are both Winter Song. Version one is by The Wittnauer Choraliers, Eugene Lowell, Director and the album There's Music In The Air (Longines-Wittnauer Watch Company, Red Vinyl 12" LP). This was a promo LP for the Longines-Wittnauer Watch Company, but you probably knew that from the catalog information. I'm not sure, but I suspect there is a connection here to the Longines Symphonette Orchestra and the associated record label. Version two is from The Gene Lowell Chorus and their LP Halls Of Ivy (Warner Bros. W 1244, 1959). I wonder if Eugene Lowell and Gene Lowell could be the same person? Odd coincidence there...

Track three is We Need A Little Christmas by The Parris Mitchell Voices, from the album The Parris Mitchell Voices Sing The Hit Songs From Sweet Charity, Fiddler On The Roof, Mame & Man Of La Mancha (Pickwick PC-3056). Yes, it's that annoying Pickwick label again. At least this seems to be something they recorded themselves, instead of a reissue of something they licensed on the cheap.

Track four is a rousing rendition of Deck The Hall by Brass Of The Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra, Conducted by Alfred Newman. This is from the LP Hallelujah! (Capitol P8529), from which I've shared another track already.

Track five? How about a version of Percy Faith's Brazilian Sleigh Bells? This is by The Golden Strings and the album is Golden Strings Around The World (Recar 2070).

The sixth and final track is Afternoon Of An Elf by Erroll Garner from the LP Afternoon Of An Elf (Mercury MG20090). The liner notes tell me that he performed this track, as well as all the others, with a broken index finger. The man's got skills.

And there you go, another six tracks. Not too far to go and we'll be at the end of the month. But there's still plenty of music to share between now and then. Here's the latest download link, so get going. And you know by now why you want to go back to 2006 and 2007.