Organ By Kames 4

This is it, the last one! This is from several years after the other three Bob Kames I've brought you today, and he's gotten a new organ, as you can see. But to my ears, he still sounds like the same old Bob. He still plays some great versions of Christmas songs you didn't expect to hear on the organ. In this case, he's covering Please Come Home For Christmas, and there are new versions of several songs you've heard from him before. So to complete your collection, please download Bob Kames-Merry Christmas From Bob Kames And The New Hammond Organ X-66 (King 1039, Stereo, 1968). I hope you've enjoyed discovering this music as much as I did. Big thanks to whoever it was that asked me about this guy. Without that mention, I'd probably have never discovered him. Oh, and I forgot to mention, Bob Kames passed away this year just a few days shy of his 83rd birthday.

1.Silent Night
2. Oh Come All Ye Faithful
3. The First Noel
4. Joy To The World
5. Oh! Holy Night
6. Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
7. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
8. O Sanctissima
9. White Christmas
10. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
11. Please Come Home For Christmas
12. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
13. Silver Bells
14. Let's Light The Christmas Tree
15. Jingle Bells
16. Christmas Island

27 Days Of Christmas-Day The Twelfth

What is this, the fourth addition to 27 Days of Christmas today? I'm supposed to be adding one a day, but I've been a slacker for a while. I don't think this quite catches me up, but it gets me a lot closer. This time you get a great little track from The Ames Brothers. This LP is a reissue of earlier stuff, but I don't think I've ever seem any of the earlier stuff. Whether it's from a full LP or several singles, I can't say. But I know there's some good stuff on here. For your pleasure this evening I've chosen The Ames Brothers-Ting-A-Ling-A Jingle from Christmas Harmony (Vocalion VL 73788 "Enhanced For Stereo").

Previous Shares:
Stan And Doug-I've Had A Very Merry Christmas
Randy Van Horne Singers-It Happened In Sun Valley
Mystery Orchestra And Chorus-Mystery Song
Luis Bordón-White Christmas
The Clancy Brothers-Jingle Bells (Buala Bas)
Keely Smith-Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
The De Paur Chorus-Christmas In The Tropics
Vincent Lopez-Here Comes The Fattest Man In Town
The 4 Seasons-Jungle Bells
Jimmy McGriff-Hip Santa
Lorne Greene-Christmas Is A-Comin' (May God Bless You)

Organ By Kames 3

Here's the next installment from Bob Kames. This guy was nothing if not prolific. Again, I recorded a reissue of the original King by the Gusto label, but it's all the same music. What's good on this one? Well, besides all of the songs, you get a rarely heard organ version of All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth, and a recitation of The Story Of Christmas, you know, the one from St. Luke. So here's the third volume, Bob Kames-Organ And Chimes #3-Happy Holidays (King 768 (reissued By Gusto Records, 1976), Stereo, 1961).

1. Cantique De Noel
2. Away In A Manger
3. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
4. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
5. The Story Of Christmas
6. I Saw Three Ships
7. O Sanctissima
8. O Come Little Children
9. All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
10. Toyland
11. Happy Holiday
12. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
13. Christmas Waltz
14. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
15. The Holiday Polka
16. Auld Lang Syne

27 Days Of Christmas-Day The Eleventh

Part eleven of 27 Days Of Christmas is this track from Stan Boreson and Doug Setterberg. I'd wanted to share out the whole LP, but it looks like at least one emporium has it for sale on CD. Whether it's a legit CD or not I can't say, but I'm not gonna step on their toes. Pretty much every track on this LP is a cover of somebody else's novelty track. Most of them are cribbed from Homer & Jethro or Yogi Yorgesson (even Harry Kari gets in the act), the one I've chosen to share with you is an old Jerry Lewis track. Please be my guest and download Stan And Doug-I've Had A Very Merry Christmas from Stan And Doug Yust Go Nuts At Christmas (Golden Crest CR 31021, Stereo).

Previous Shares:
Randy Van Horne Singers-It Happened In Sun Valley
Mystery Orchestra And Chorus-Mystery Song
Luis Bordón-White Christmas
The Clancy Brothers-Jingle Bells (Buala Bas)
Keely Smith-Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
The De Paur Chorus-Christmas In The Tropics
Vincent Lopez-Here Comes The Fattest Man In Town
The 4 Seasons-Jungle Bells
Jimmy McGriff-Hip Santa
Lorne Greene-Christmas Is A-Comin' (May God Bless You)

Organ By Kames 2

Time for part two of tonight's Bob Kames Fest! This is the second Christmas LP that Bob released on the King label, but I don't have it. What I do have is a reissue on Gusto from 1976. As far as I know, it's a pretty straight reissue, right down to the fact that they didn't remove any of the King branding, just adding their own info at the bottom of the back cover. The label is different, though, as you can see below. But at least it's a stereo copy, and it sounds pretty good. The highlights here are probably Mrs. Santa Claus and Christmas Island, and there is an eight minute version of The Night Before Christmas, as narrated rather flatly by Bob. So get your fingers to clicking and download Bob Kames-Organ And Chimes #2-It's Christmas Time (Gusto K-722 (Originally King 722, 1960), Stereo, 1976). For those of you keeping track, there may be songs repeated among the four LPs I'm sharing out from Bob, but they are all different versions. There is no overlap of music here.

1. Here Comes Santa Claus
2. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
3. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
4. Dancing The Christmas Tree Round
5. Frosty The Snowman
6. Seasons Greetings
7. The Night Before Christmas (Narration)
8. Christmas Tree Polka
9. Ave Maria
10. Light Of The World
11. Deck The Halls (With Boughs Of Holly)
12. Away In A Manger
13. Oh Tannenbaum
14. Christmas Island
15. Mrs. Santa Claus
16. I'll Be Home For Christmas

27 Days Of Christmas-Day The Tenth

Time for number ten! This is from a great album that I was excited to find this year and wanted to share, but it turns out that it's on CD, and pretty easily available. But I doubt if many people know about it. So maybe after you hear this track from my mono copy, you'll go out and buy the stereo CD. This is the Randy Van Horne Singers-It Happened In Sun Valley from Sleighride (Everest LPBR 5112, Mono, 1960). This is a song that I didn't consider to be very Christmassy for a long time, but I've reconsidered that. At least it's seasonal, for those of you in colder climes.

Previous Shares:
Mystery Orchestra And Chorus-Mystery Song
Luis Bordón-White Christmas
The Clancy Brothers-Jingle Bells (Buala Bas)
Keely Smith-Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
The De Paur Chorus-Christmas In The Tropics
Vincent Lopez-Here Comes The Fattest Man In Town
The 4 Seasons-Jungle Bells
Jimmy McGriff-Hip Santa
Lorne Greene-Christmas Is A-Comin' (May God Bless You)

Organ By Kames 1

Sometime last year, when I was sharing out a bunch of old organ and chime records before Christmas, someone sent me an email asking if I had any Bob Kames records to share out. I have to admit that I had never heard of Bob Kames, nor seen any of his records as far as I could recall. But I promised to keep my eyes and ears open. Sometime later in the year, I came across an empty LP sleeve that said Bob Kames on it and was filled with Christmas music at one time. So I kept looking. I eventually found one, listened to it, liked it, and kept looking. Fast forward to Christmas time, and I have four different Bob Kames Christmas LPs to share with you, and I'm going to try to get them all posted tonight. If you, like me, have never heard Bob Kames play the Christmas organ, then you are in for a shock. He's not the most out-there organist, but he's certainly the most eclectic. You're going to hear carols, hymns, pop songs and even a few stories. As a for instance, this is one of the few albums I've seen that features a cover of The Chipmunk Song, and certainly the first organ I've heard tackle it. So let's get this party started, please download Bob Kames-Organ And Chimes-15 Songs Of Christmas (King 679, Stereo, 1959). More to come...

1. Silent Night
2. The First Noel
3. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
4. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
5. Joy To The World
6. O Come All Ye Faithful
7. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
8. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
9. The Chipmunk Song
10. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
11. White Christmas
12. Jingle Bells
13. Silver Bells
14. Winter Wonderland
15. On Christmas Eve

27 Days Of Christmas-Day The Ninth

Here I am, nine days into my Christmas collection, and there have been almost three weeks of sharing already. I'm going to try to get on the ball and catch things up a bit this weekend, so wish me luck. Tonight is a bit of a change from my normal shares, in that I can't tell you what it is. Take a look a the album cover above, and you'll see why, or at least those of you who are members of the sharity community will. I don't want to risk bringing down the wrath of the powers that be, but I wanted to share this great song from this great album with you. It's all about a Christmas tree that you might see in a certain part of a certain place. Please be my guest and download Mystery Orchestra And Chorus-Mystery Song from Mystery Album (Mystery Label, Mono). You'll like it, trust me. And please, don't ask, I'm not going to share the whole LP with you.

Previous shares:
Luis Bordón-White Christmas
The Clancy Brothers-Jingle Bells (Buala Bas)
Keely Smith-Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
The De Paur Chorus-Christmas In The Tropics
Vincent Lopez-Here Comes The Fattest Man In Town
The 4 Seasons-Jungle Bells
Jimmy McGriff-Hip Santa
Lorne Greene-Christmas Is A-Comin' (May God Bless You)

Stereo Lanin

Here's another LP that I'm going to upgrade from my old mono copy to a great new stereo transfer. I love the way that Lester Lanin incorporates the electric guitar into his big band sound. It's not at all the sort of thing you expect, but it works quite well. (Just ask Brian Setzer.) I know you'll enjoy this, so just go ahead and download Lester Lanin And His Orchestra-Christmas Dance Party (Epic BN 547, Stereo, 1959). I do need to say something about the hideous way they've indicated the stereo on this LP cover. It's pretty typical to just lower the cover photo from the mono version and add a stereo banner on LPs from this era, but this one is just ugly. That plain white space across the top just ruins this cover.

1. Jingle Bells
2. White Christmas; I'll Be Home For Christmas; Home For The Holidays; Happy Holiday
3. Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairies
4. Here Comes Santa Claus; Frosty The Snowman
5. Silver Bells; Oh, Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum); We Wish You A Merry Christmas
6. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
7. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
8. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly; The Wassail Song; Good King Wenceslas
9. Christmas Night In Harlem
10. The Christmas Song; I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day; Christmas In Killarney
11. Winter Wonderland
12. Sleigh Ride
13. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!; Auld Lang Syne; A Hot Time In The Old Time Tonight

Found Music-Part Two-Chimeatron!

Last week I brought you a Muzak LP that I'd been after since finding the empty sleeve last year, and now I'm proud to present another LP that I discovered without the actual long-player inside the cover. This is one of those records where the anticipation was more exciting than the actual record once I found it. Look at the sleeve above. It's a terrible picture of somebody's house, and it's nicely decorated, but not ornately so. But if you look in the lower left corner, you'll see the announcement "Chimes By Chimeatron". Chimeatron? What's a Chimeatron, and how do I get one? Is it a chime-playing robot from outer space? Well, turns out that that's not a bad guess. The internet tells me that Chimeatron was a feature you could purchase to automate some of the playing of your carillon. And sure enough, that Schulmerich name shows up again on the back of this record. So, if you want to hear what Chimeatron sounds like for yourself, please download George Chiainia, Organ, With Chimes By Chimeatron-Music Of The Holiday Season-Organ And Chimes (Colonial LP-272, Stereo). Note that the record sleeve is for a mono copy, the labels on the vinyl itself are for a mono copy, but the music in the grooves is stereophonic. Took me a while to convince my ears that it was true, but there are passages that are very clearly in stereo. Also, there was a catalog for Colonial inside the new sleeve. I scanned the front page of that and stuck it in the ZIP file. I didn't scan all six pages because I'm lazy. Turns out most of their catalog is music from other countries.

1. White Christmas
2. O Come All Ye Faithful
3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
4. Oh Holy Night
5. Joy To The World
6. Angels We Have Heard On High
7. Away In The Manger
8. Noel
9. Silent Night
10. Jingle Bells
11. Oh How Joyfully
12. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
13. In Dulce Jubilo
14. Beautiful Savior
15. We Three Kings
16. Lo How A Rose

More Bells (Still No Cow)

If you didn't like that last carillon album then this LP featuring just normal sized bells might appeal to you. I thought it was pretty nice when I listened to it. I think you might enjoy it, too, if you give it a chance. Please download (and enjoy!) The Holiday Bells-Ring The Bells On Christmas Day (Kapp KL-1155, Mono, 1963).

1. Silent Night
2. Angels We Have Heard On High
3. The First Noel
4. Joy To The World
5. Jingle Bells
6. Oh, Christmas Tree
7. O Sanctissima
8. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
9. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
10. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
11. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
12. Deck The Halls
13. O Come All Ye Faithful
14. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
15. Away In A Manger
16. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
17. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
18. Good King Wenceslas
19. Jolly Old St. Nicholas

Not From Westminster Or Warner

I'm betting that you folks are tired of seeing records from wither Westminster or Warner Bros, aren't you? Tired enough that you'll download some carillon music? Probably not, but I'm gonna try anyway. This is actually recorded on the same carillon that brought you the all-time greatest carillon album. Or something like that. Unfortunately, this one isn't as good as that one. But it has it's moments. Please download Robert John Carwithen-The Bells On Christmas Morn-The Schulmerich "Carillon Americana" Bells (Decca DL 8792, Mono).

1. "Basilican" Bells-Pealing
2. O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)
3. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
5. The First Noel
6. Joy To The World
7. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
8. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
9. Silent Night
10. White Christmas
11. Carol Of The Bells
12. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
13. Good Christian Men Rejoice-What Child Is This?
14. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
15. Deck The Hall-Good King Wenceslas
16. I Saw Three Ships-I Wonder As I Wander
17. Away In A Manger

How Many More From Westminster?

Perhaps I'm stuck in a rut, posting all these shares from the Westminster label. But I like to think of it as a theme. This is a repost from back in 2005, and was one of the few records I've shared out that feature multiple artists. I don't think I've seen a single other copy of this record in the years since I shared it out. Unfortunately, there are records sampled on this release that I have yet to find, but I think I have at least half of them. Record collecting, unfortunately, is never something you can finish. You can someday have all of the available Faberge eggs, but you'll never get all of the records out there. But enough blathering, if you've missed it before, here is A Christmas Sampler (Westminster WP S-2, Mono).

1. Dick Leibert-White Christmas
2. Cathedral Bellringers-Birthday Of A King
3. Collegium Musicam-Adeste Fideles
4. Ferrante & Teicher-Sleigh Ride
5. Deutschmeister Band-God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
6. Robert Locksmith & Robert Owen-O Holy Night
7. Dick Leibert-What Child Is This (Greensleeves)
8. Randolph Singers-The First Noel
9. Brooklyn Museum Children's Chorus-Joy To The World
10. Randolph Singers-We Three Kings Of Orient Are
11. Gordon Myers-O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
12. Basil Rathbone-Isaiah 40, 1-5
13. Carl Weinrich-Lord, Through Thy Goodness (Bach)
14. Vienna Akademie Kammerchor-Silent Night

How Many More From Warner Bros?

Can you believe it? Here's yet another Christmas record from the then-new Warner Bros. record label. They put out some really great stuff in those first few years, and so little of it is still available these days. This one has been one of my favorite shares since I first brought it to you in 2005. I've been looking for a stereo copy ever since, but have not been successful yet. Someday... Anyhow, this is The Jimmy Joyce Singers With Orchestra Conducted By Billy May-A Christmas To Remember (Warner Bros W 1237, Mono, 1958).

Yet Another One From Westminster

Here's a good choral album for you, continuing on the past couple night of shares from the Westminster label. The only thing I don't like about this one is the fact that this is volume two. I've tried a little to find volume one, but other than a rather expensive copy on eBay, I've had no luck. This originally came with a songbook so you could sing along with the professionals on the record, but mine was missing that accessory. Some of these carols are familiar, so you shouldn't have any trouble singing along with those. But others are rarely heard, so you may have to listen to those a few times before you can join in. But to get started, you need to download The Randolph Singers, David Randolph, Director-Christmas Carols-Volume 2 (Westminster WL 5200, Mono, 1952). The singers consist of Anna Louise Kautz-Soprano, Harriet Hill-Soprano, Mildred Greenberg-Contralto, Arthur Squires-Tenor, Bert Spero-Bass, Assisted by Gordon Myers-Baritone. There's a nice little picture of them on the back cover, let me know if you recognize anyone.

1. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
2. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
3. Good King Wenceslas
4. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
5. Away In A Manger
6. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
7. The Coventry Carol
8. The Boar's Head Carol
9. Joy To The World
10. Cantique de Noel
11. Deck The Halls
12. Cradled In A Manger
13. Sing We Noel Once More
14. How Far Is It To Bethlehem
15. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
16. Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head
17. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
18. Fum! Fum! Fum!
19. I Wonder As I Wander
20, Wassail Song

Technical note for those of you still reading. This is possibly one of the oldest LP records I've ever recorded, if it really is from 1952. There's a note on the back that says to use the NAB Curve for playback. Most records after 1955 used the RIAA curve, which I read is very similar, but not exactly the same. I didn't make any adjustments to the way I record records, so if you hear something odd, let me know.

Yet Another One From Warner Bros

I don't think you've quite had your share of shares from the great Warner Bros. label. Granted, this one is a rerun from some years ago, but it's still well worth revisiting. Where else are you going to find all your favorite TV stars from 1959 singing their favorite Christmas tunes. Please, please, please, if you haven't already, download We Wish You A Merry Christmas-15 Great Christmas Favorites Sung By Warner Bros. Stars (Warner Bros B 1337, Mono, 1959).

1. Efrem Zimbalist Jr.-Adeste Fideles
2. Warner Bros. Stars-Deck The Halls
3. Connie Stevens-Away In A Manger
4. Edward Byrnes-Yulesville
5. Peter Brown-Winter Wonderland
6. Ray Danton-God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
7. Poncie Ponce-Mele Kalikimaka
8. Eddie Cole-Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
9. Bob Conrad-White Christmas
10. Dorothy Provine-Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
11. Clint Walker-Silver Bells
12. Roger Moore-Once In Royal David's City
13. Warner Bros. Male Chorus-Star Carol
14. Ty Hardin-It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
15. Warner Bros. Stars-We Wish You A Merry Christmas

If that's not quite enough for you, there's a single from this LP here, with a B-side from a Warner LP I don't have. And you can read a track-by-track review over at The Christmas Yuleblog.

Another Something From Westminster

Again, I've got two reasons for posting this one. First, I'm continuing on with great Christmas music from the Westminster label, same as last night. Second, I just posted a great music box record, so here's another one! Let's just skip to the chase, shall we? It's late. Please download Music Boxes For Christmas (Westminster WST 15016, Music Boxes From The Bornand Collection, Pelham, New York, Stereo).

1. Regina (American) With Zither Attachment, 15-1/2" Disc Music Box-Adeste Fideles; Silent Night; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
2. Symphonion (German, 1882) With Bells, 14" Disc Music Box-O Sanctissima; Ihr Kinderlein Kommet (O Dear Little Children)
3. Swiss Cylinder Box, Mandolin Expressive Type, 1870-Hallelujah Chorus; He Shall Feed His Flock (From Handel's "Messiah")
4. Stella (Swiss, 1890) 25" Disc Music Box-Silent Night
5. Thorens (Modern Swiss) 4" Disc Music Boxes-O Tannenbaum; Jingle Bells; O Little Town of Bethlehem; O Sanctissima
6. Regina (Swiss) With Zither Attachment, 15-1/2" Disc Music Box-The First Noel; O Sanctissima; Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town; Jingle Bells; O Tannenbaum
7. Regina (American) 30-3/4" Disc Music Box-Silent Night; The Rosary; Monastery Bells
8. Kalliope (German, 1880) 13" Disc Music Box-Leise; Leise (From Weber's "Der Freischutz")
9. Mire (Swiss), 1886) 18-1/2" Disc Music Box-Ave Maria (Gounod); O Tannenbaum; Auld Lang Syne (Skips, Sorry)
10. Upright Regina (American) 15-1/2" Disc Music Box-Holy City; Cloister Bells Reverie; Monastery Bells
11. Interchangable Cylinder Orchestral Swiss Music Box, 17" Music Roll, Set Of Bells, Drum, Castanet And A 24-Note Organ Attachment-Stabat Mater (Rossini); See The Conquering Hero Come; Christmas Song; Ave Maria (Schubert) Luther Hymn; Hallelujah Chorus (Handel)

Another Something From Warner Bros.

I've got a couple of reasons for bringing you this share tonight. First, I wanted to continue on with last night's share of a record from Warner Bros (as well as the day before that...) and second, I wanted to improve a little bit on something The Captain shared out over at FaLaLaLaLa. He had a mono version of this, and I wanted to share out the stereo version. You are of course welcome to download both of them, if you're a fanatical Christmas collector like me. But I think the stereo sounds a bit better. Of course, I'm biased. So, if you'd like, please download The Sounds Of Christmas-The Wonderful World Of The Music Box, Bells And Chimes (Warner Bros. WS 1238, Stereo, 1958). It's good stuff.

1. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
2. The First Noel
3. Jolly Old St. Nicolas
4. Away In A Manger
5. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
6. O Christmas Tree
7. O Come All Ye Faithful
8. Silent Night
9. Joy To The World
10. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
11. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
12. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
13. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly
14. Jingle Bells
15. Winter Wonderland
16. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
17. White Christmas

More Christmas Harp

Since my last contribution to 27 Days of Christmas was a track featuring the harp, I figured I should reshare out this LP featuring the harp. I first shared out a mono version of this in 2005, and found a stereo version for the 2006 season that I liked a lot better. If you like the harp, then you're going to love The Rainbow Sound Of Bianco, His Harp And Orchestra-Joy To The World-Everybody's Favorite Christmas Music (RCA Victor CSP-104, 1962).

1. Medley: We Wish You A Merry Christmas Silent Night
2. White Christmas
3. Jingle Bells
4. O Holy Night
5. Medley: Away In A Manger; The First Noel
6. Medley: Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful); Joy To The World
7. Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
8. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
9. Silver Bells
10. Medley: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; Deck The halls
11. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
12. Medley: Sleigh Ride; We Wish You A Merry Christmas

27 Days Of Christmas-Day The Eighth

Feels like I'm about twenty days behind on my compilation here, but I'm doing the best I can. I think I've set too high of a goal for myself this year. But we'll see. Tonight's installment is a great version of White Christmas as performed on the harp. That's right, it's more harp Christmas. I know you're going to love this one. I found three albums by this guy in the past year, but some of the tracks are out on CD and some aren't and I'm too lazy to figure out which is which. Oh, if the name Luis Bordón sounds familiar, it's because The King shared out a track from him on his annual compilation last year. Please download Luis Bordón-White Christmas from A Harpa e a Crisandade-Vol. II (Chantecler CMG-S 9014, Stereo).

Previous Tracks
The Clancy Brothers-Jingle Bells (Buala Bas)
Keely Smith-Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
The De Paur Chorus-Christmas In The Tropics
Vincent Lopez-Here Comes The Fattest Man In Town
The 4 Seasons-Jungle Bells
Jimmy McGriff-Hip Santa
Lorne Greene-Christmas Is A-Comin' (May God Bless You)

Men From Mars

You haven't lived until you've seen the movie Santa Claus Conquers The Martians. Well, maybe you've lived, but you haven't lived well. And once you've seen the movie, then I know you'll want to hear this audio adaptation. It originally came with a comic book, but I don't have it and I've never seen one. Maybe someone can point me to that online... If this all sounds like something you need to investigate, please download Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (Golden Records SLP 170). I first shared this out back in 2005 and it's been a popular download ever since. Don't miss your chance to hear this today!

The Sound You're Missing

I spend hours and hours on some of my shares trying to get the noise out of there, and removing the clicks and pops that seem to be par for the course in vinyl. But I thought you might be interested in a short snippet of a skipping record I saved, you know, to add some authenticity to your Christmas mixes. It's important to take this stuff out of the recordings, but sometimes it's cute to put it back in.

Something From Warner Bros.

Again, I'm too lazy to post much of anything tonight. Maybe I'll feel better after I eat. But here's one I was saving for later, but it'll have to do for tonight. This is The Gene Lowell Chorus-Caroling, Caroling (Warner Bros. WS 1233, Stereo, 1958). Good stuff. More from these guys here.

Something From Westminster

Man, am I lazy. I don't feel like posting a thing. And I haven't posted anything all day. Luckily, I'm got a few shares up my sleeve that I can throw up in a hurry and be done. But I can't do that too often, or I'll run out. Here's The Deutschmeister Band, Conducted By Julius Herrmann-Christmas Carols (Westminster WST 15048, Stereo). No muss, no fuss. Maybe I'll feel more like posting something else later...

The Second Week, In A Nutshell

Well, another Sunday night, and I've shared another ton of great Christmas music with you over the past week. Here's my weekly list of all the shared I've shared, so you can check it out and make sure you didn't miss anything. I hope you're all keeping up, I know I'm having a hard time keeping ahead of you. Here we go...

Seeburg Music Library (rerun)
Muzak Christmas (rerun)
Muzak-Stimulus Progression Number Three-Christmas
Roger Williams-Christmas Time (rerun)
George Greeley-The 22 Best Loved Christmas Piano Concertos
Paul Mauriat-The Christmas Album (rerun)
Raymond Lefevre-Merry Christmas (rerun)
Dino Martinelli Plays Music For Christmas
The Music City Choral-Christmas Favorites Featuring Little Drummer Boy
A Family Christmas Album (rerun)
Buddy & Bunny Burden-Christmas Favorites (rerun)
The Music City Choral And Orchestra-White Christmas And Other Holiday Favorites (rerun)
The Pete King Chorale-Christmas Time (Now In Stereo!)
Yank Lawson & Bob Haggart-Hark The Herald Angels Swing (rerun)
Robert Way-New England Sleigh Ride (Remastered)
Pebbles & Bamm-Bamm Singing Songs Of Christmas
Sy Mann-Everybody's Christmas Favorites (rerun)
The Moog Machine-Christmas Becomes Electric (rerun)
Madrid Concert Orchestra And Chorus-Christmas In Spain
Grace Castagnetta-Christmas On The Siena Pianoforte (rerun)
Merry Christmas From (rerun)
Ace Cannon-Christmas Cheers
Charo-(Mamacita) Donde Esta Santa Claus (rerun)
Arthur Lynds Bigelow-Christmas Carillon
Arthur Lynds Bigelow & Marjorie MacComb-Ring! Christmas Bells (rerun)
Marion Anderson Sings Christmas Carols
The Lighthouse Singers-Christmas Carols (rerun)
Yogi Yorgesson-Yingle Bells (rerun)
Johnny Nash-Prince Of Peace
The Ralph Hunter Choir-Christmas Surprises (remaster)
Heidi, The Pocketbook Doll-The Night Before Christmas
Gary Mann-Blues For Baby Jesus (rerun)
Frankie Yankovic-Christmas Party (rerun)

The First Week:

Hank Sylvern-Christmas In Hi-Fi: Chimes, Bells And Organ
Larry Ferrari-I Wish You The Merriest
Loretta Young-The Littlest Angel and Gregory Peck-Lullaby Of Christmas (rerun)
Burgess Meredith With Joe Reisman's Orchestra And Chorus-Christmas Classics 1963 (rerun)
Frank Chacksfield-Music For A Merry Christmas (rerun)
Nelson Riddle-Avon Wishes You A Happy Holiday And A Joyous New Year (rerun)
Avon Goes On Record (rerun)
Christmas With Ogden Nash
Felix Slatkin-Season's Greetings (rerun)
Saint Patrick's Cathedral Choir Sings Christmas Carols (rerun)
Saint Patrick's Cathedral Choir Sings Christmas Songs (rerun)
Jimmie Davis-It's Christmas Time Again
Pete Fountain-Candy Clarinet (rerun)
Big 'Tiny' Little-Christmas With Big Tiny Little (rerun)
Veo Gray And The Jodie Lyons Singers-A Christmas Happening
Lorne Greene-Must Be Santa 45 (rerun)
The Sisters Of Divine Providence-Christmas Mosaic (rerun)
The Glen Riddle Franciscans-Choral Group-Sisters Of St. Francis-We Sing Of Christmas (rerun)
The Bison Glee Club-The Joy Of Christmas (rerun)
The Cardinal's Cathedral Choristers-Carols Of The Nations
Christmas In Cleveland (rerun)
A Kimball Christmas (rerun)
The Candy Store-Turned On Christmas
Christmas 1968 With The Going Thing (rerun)
The Joy Strings-Well Seasoned (rerun)
Maurice Copeland-How We Got Our Christmas Customs
Maurice Copeland & Adele Scott-Squanto And The First Thanksgiving
Spencer Ross-Thanksgiving Day Parade 45 (rerun)
The Blazers & The Yodelin' Guides-Track!
Ray Conrad-The Cotton-Pickin' Lift Tower And Other Skiing Songs (rerun)
Six Family Mountain-Takin' A Ride With The Wind (rerun)

That list is just out of hand! And there's still well over two weeks to go. Here's hopin' I don't fall over from exhaustion between now and then. Thanks for all the kind words in the comments. It's always nice to know that someone is paying attention.

27 Days Of Christmas-Day The Seventh

The next song for 27 Days of Christmas is this rousing version of Jingle Bells, as sung in what I think is Gaelic by The Clancy Brothers. It just doesn't get much better than this. Please download The Clancy Brothers-Jingle Bells (Buala Bas) from The Clancy Brothers Christmas (Columbia CS 9876, Stereo, 1969). This is another one of those records that's been released on CD, but hasn't been in print for a long time. I seem to be coming across a lot of those this year.

Previous Tracks:
Keely Smith-Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
The De Paur Chorus-Christmas In The Tropics
Vincent Lopez-Here Comes The Fattest Man In Town
The 4 Seasons-Jungle Bells
Jimmy McGriff-Hip Santa
Lorne Greene-Christmas Is A-Comin' (May God Bless You)

Not Another Muzak

While I'm on the subject of Muzak, here's a record from one of their chief competitors, Seeburg. I first shared this record with you last year, so you should click on over there to read the story behind it. This record is 10" in diameter, has a 2" hole through the middle and spins at 16-2/3 RPM. Not your standard LP, that's for sure. Someone recently left a comment asking me to rip some more of these (I've got a stack of 10-20 more), but I doubt that's going to happen. They're really pretty boring, and the Christmas songs are only about every third track. Actually, they aren't even broken up into tracks, you have to find the silence between the songs after you've played with the sound file to make it play at the right speed. (My turntable doesn't have a 16-2/3 setting, so I have to record it at 33-1/3 and slow it down by half. Takes time...) But if you ant to hear what this sounded like, please download The Seeburg Music Library-Matching Christmas Library (CH 10 A/B, Mono).

1. Silent Night
2. The Little Drummer Boy
3. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
4. Lullay, Thou Little Tiny Child
5. Jingle Bells
6. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

For more Seeburg Christmas music, you can check out Music You Possibly Won't Find Anyplace Else.

The Other Muzak

As I just shared out the Muzak LP that took me a whole year to find, I figure I should also reshare the Muzak LP that I've been hosting since 2005. I don't think this one is quite as good as that last one, but it's still got that great Muzak sound. So please be my guest and download your own copy of Muzak Christmas (Muzak AA 36, Stereo, 1980). Set phasers to numb.

1. Fanfare Orchestra-Hurry Home For Christmas
2. Jerry Laning-The Christmas Song
3. Philip Green-White Christmas
4. Jerry Laning-Winter Wonderland
5. Fanfare Orchestra-Christmas Is Coming (All Over The World)
6. Jerry Laning-Jingle Bell Rock
7. Chartsound Orchestra-Holly Time
8. Chartsound Orchestra-Merry Gentlemen
9. Chartsound Orchestra-Yuletide
10. Chartsound Orchestra-Christmas Morn
11. Chartsound Orchestra-Caroltime
12. Chartsound Orchestra-Three Kings

Found Music-Part One-Muzak

Last year, I posted about how I had found this sleeve with the wrong record in it. Thankfully, Lee over at Music You (Possibly) Won't Hear Anyplace Else posted the record, or at least tracks from it, and I didn't have to do without. But sometime during the past year, I finally found the actual record and I couldn't be happier about it. So be my guest and download this missing music, Muzak-Stimulus Progression Number Three-Christmas (Muzak S-2563, Stereo). I think Karma was working in my favor this time.

1. O, Holy Night
2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. O Come, O Come, Emanuel
4. As With Gladness, Men Of Old; It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
5. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
6. Joy To The World
7. O, Come, All Ye Faithful
8. Silent Night
9. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
10. Once In Royal David's City; Watchmen, Tell Us Of The Night
11. The First Noel
12. Angels We Have Heard On High; Good Christian Men Rejoice

Speaking Of Roger

Since I compared my last share of George Greeley to this Roger Williams share from last year, I figured this was a good time to share it out again. I shared this out on Christmas Eve last year, so I'm sure plenty of folks didn't get a chance to download it or enjoy it before Christmas came and went. So why not get it now while there's still plenty of time to enjoy it. This is Roger Williams With The Concert Grand Orchestra Directed by Frank Hunter & Marty Gold-Christmas Time (Kapp KS-3048, Stereo, 1959). Oh, and I found two different covers for this one, both giant gatefolds that must have cost a fortune when they were new.

1. Silent Night
2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. Winter Wonderland
4. We Three Kings Of Orient Are; The First Noel; Away In A Manger; Angels We Have Heard On High
5. Deck The Hall
6. Adeste Fideles
7. White Christmas
8. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
9. Christmas Song
10. O Holy Night; Joy To The World; It Came Upon The Midnight Clear; O Sanctissima
11. Jingle Bells
12. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Speaking Of George

Since I mentioned George Greeley in the post before last (he conducted the orchestra on that Keely Smith track), I figured I'd go ahead and share out his Christmas LP. This is a piano based record, with a full orchestra backing him up. It's pretty good, actually, as such things go. Reminds me a little of that Roger Williams LP I shared out last year (which reminds me that I need to go ahead and reshare that this year. Maybe after this...). That green cover is a shiny foil that doesn't scan too well. It's really much shinier in person, but you get the picture. I love the records from Warner Bros. in their first few yeas of existence. They are all full of interesting and cool stuff, both on the sleeves and in the grooves. I think I've got some more from them to share out before the end of the year, if I get time. But right now, please download George Greeley With The Warner Bros. Symphony Orchestra Conducted By Ted Dale-The Twenty-Two Best Loved Christmas Piano Concertos (Warner Bros WS 1338, Stereo, 1959).

1. Joy To The World; It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly; O Christmas Tree; Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town; Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
4. All On A Christmas Morning; We'll Dress This House
5. Silent Night; Adeste Fideles
6. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Away In A Manger; We Three Kings Of Orient Are; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
7. Carol Of The Drum
8. White Christmas
9. Jingle Bells
10. O Holy Night
11. The First Noel; Auld Lang Syne

From Christmas And A Half

I wanted to take a second to point you towards a great little share that you may have missed from back in June. On my birthday, June 25, halfway between last Christmas and the next, I shared out a treasure trove of 30 different singles (only one side of each, though) that I doubt if you've ever heard of. There'rB all sort of goodies in there, from disco to CB songs, kiddie records to the first recorded Neil Diamond composition. You can read all about it at the original post here, or you can download it right here if you want to be surprised by what you get. I'd hoped to get some of these scanned in the six months since June, but it hasn't happened yet, I'm afraid. So all you get is some really great music. Enjoy!

27 Days Of Christmas-Day The Sixth

As soon as I heard this track while recording the LP you see above, I knew it was destined for whatever compilation I put together this year. I'd had the mono LP forever, but never listened all the way through very closely. And I was vaguely aware that it had been out on CD, so I was in no hurry to do anything with it, but the more I looked at it, the more I knew I needed to record it. When I finally dug up a stereo copy, I finally put it in the 'to be recorded' pile, and boy, am I glad I did. Keely Smith is a good singer, but she's not really one of my favorites. Pair her up with swinger Louis Prima, however, and she turns into something else entirely. I knew this LP was recorded as a solo LP after their heyday at Capitol, and there was no mention of Louis anywhere on it, so I didn't expect the little surprise that showed up in the middle of Rudolph. Yep, that's right, the old red-nosed reindeer himself, Louis Prima, shows up in a cameo performance as Santa Claus. Nothing fancy, nothing jaw-droppingly cool, but it really makes the song, in my opinion. Please download this, the sixth installment in 27 Days of Christmas, Keely Smith With Louis Prima, Orchestra Conducted By George Greeley-Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, originally from A Keely Christmas (Dot DLP 25345, Stereo, 1963).

Previous Tracks:
The De Paur Chorus-Christmas In The Tropics
Vincent Lopez-Here Comes The Fattest Man In Town
The 4 Seasons-Jungle Bells
Jimmy McGriff-Hip Santa
Lorne Greene-Christmas Is A-Comin' (May God Bless You)

French 102

I can't repost my Raymond Lefevre without reposting this Paul Mauriat. These two albums seem to go hand in hand for me since I first posted them both to the blog back in 2005. This is great orchestral Christmas music, with both a French and 1960's flair. And who doesn't like a dash of that in their Christmas music? So please download Paul Mauriat And His Orchestra-The Christmas Album (Philips PHS 600-255, Stereo, 1967).

1. Jingle Bells
2. White Christmas
3. Trois Anges Sont Venus (Three Angels Appeared)
4. Silent Night, Holy Night
5. Rin Rin
6. Entre Le Boeuf Et L'ane Gris (Among The Cattle And The Grey Donkey)
7. Gloria In Excelsis Deo
8. Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant (The Divine Infant Is Born)
9. O' Tannenbaum (O' Christmas Tree)
10. Adeste Fideles
11. O' Holy Night
12. Petit Papa Noel (Little Father Christmas)

French 101

This is one of my favorite shares year after year after year. Not only is the cover absolutely magnificent, it fits perfectly with the music contained inside. It's snazzy, trendy and sharp! Oh, and it wears a Santa miniskirt! Perhaps it's too early in the morning for me to be posting, so I'll just tell you to please download Raymond LeFevre And His Orchestra-Merry Christmas (4 Corners Of The World FCS-4257, Stereo) and I'll be on my way.

1. Silver Bells
2. White Christmas
3. Jingle Bells
4. Little Father Christmas
5. O Tannenbaum
6. Angels We Have Heard On High
7. Silent Night
8. O Holy Night
9. He Is Born The Child Of God
10. Three Angels Came That Night
11. O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)