Saturday, December 20, 2008

Like A Fish Out Of Water


I think I mentioned that I went to the beach for sunset tonight. Little did I know I was going to get a picture of something I'd never shot before. Seconds after the sun actually set, I noticed that there were dolphins cavorting offshore. The shot above was actually something I shot right before I noticed them, so I wasn't intending to photograph the dolphin, he just snuck into the shot. But that's not the unique shot

Apparently, the dolphins were hunting, and they herded a whole school of fish in towards shore. Well, the birds got wind of what was going on, and they started joining in the fun. Suddenly, the water seemed to boiling with fish and birds. I just started shooting like a madman, and I actually got a fish up out of the water. Look at the lower left in the shot above. He's up, out of the water, and gasping for, um, water. But there he is! This is already a crop of a larger shot, so I didn't want to zoom in too much closer, but you can see him quite clearly. I had plenty of shots of disturbed water, but this appears to be the only one you can see the actual fish in. Pretty cool, eh?

And this was just another pelican shot I found that I liked. It's easy to get them in the air, but hard to get their wings in an attractive and recognizable position.

For The Birds


I went to the beach tonight for the first time in ages, and I took some pictures, also for the first time in ages. I've been so busy with the Christmas music that I haven't gotten the chance to go out and shoot as much as I should. I hope you don't mind getting these great bird shots tonight instead of more Christmas music. I'm starting to think maybe I've done enough of that this year. Maybe. Maybe not. I don't know yet. But here are four shots I picked out almost at random to share with you. I took all of these these evening as the sun was setting.


Stereo Suns


The time has come, my friends, to share with you what is perhaps the greatest instrumental Christmas album of all time. I brought it to you last year in a mono version, and this year I am happy to present you with this stereo copy. I didn't find this in a record store, or a junk store, or even at any of my other usual haunts. No, this one was a gift. I'm not going to tell you who sent it to me, but suffice it to say I thank him every day for it. I know this has been shared out all over the internets, but this is my copy and I'm extremely happy to share it with you. Please download The Three Suns-A Ding Dong Dandy Christmas! (RCA Victor LSP-2054, Stereo, 1959). I would normally share out all of my old Three Suns Christmas records along with this new addition today, but I'm busy. So search the blog for Three Suns, and all your Christmas wishes will be granted.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Best Song Titles Ever!


This is a curious record that I've been holding back for no good reason. The music is your standard pop organ from the fifties, and the cover is great (my scan doesn't do it justice) but the real treat here are the song titles. Whoever came up with these names is a genius! I know the music was written by Michael Carr, so he probably came up with these titles, but you never know. Have a quick gander at them below, and you'll know that you need to download Richard Ellsasser-Michael Carr's Wintertime Suite (MGM E3284 (Richard Ellsasser Playing The Organ of the John Hays Hammond, Jr. Museum, Gloucester, Massachusetts), Mono, 1955). I just wish the music was as great as those titles. But you'll still enjoy it.

1. King Winter
2. Happy Fat Man (With A Sleigh Full Of Toys)
3. Winter In Mexico
4. Home For Christmas
5. Winter Setting
6. December Has A Warm Heart
7. Red Indian Snowman
8. Eight Very Busy Little Reindeer
9. Star In The East
10. Holly And Ivy And Mistletoe
11. Jack Frost, Incorporated
12. Ring In The New Year

Christmas Strings


You know what you need tonight? How about some nice relaxing Christmas music? Yeah, I think that's the ticket. Love this cover, but the music is a bit mellow on this one. Not only is it mellow, it's also scratchy. You'll have to pardon the sound, and I think there are three tracks here that skip. Sorry about that, but I've never seen this LP before, and I wanted to share it out for the great cover. So be my guest and download The Somerset Strings-Music For Christmas At Home (Epic LN 3159, Mono).

1. Sleigh Ride (skips)
2. White Christmas
3. Silent Night, Holy Night
4. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (skips)
5. Good King Wenceslas
6. The First Nowell
7. Jingle Bells
8. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
9. Once In Royal David's City
10. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
11. Away In A Manger
12. O Come All Ye Faithful (skips)

Thursday, December 18, 2008

The Kirk Of Dunedin


Tonight's share may be of limited interest to most of you, but for the locals, you may appreciate it. Up in Dunedin, Florida, there's a pipe organ called The Kirk. Well, maybe the building is called The Kirk, and the organ is called The Duchess, I'm a little unsure of how it works. I don't know if all pipe organs have names, but this one does. And that organ is shepherded by Mr. Terry Charles. I know all this because of the liner notes on this LP, and from the website that seems to have gone un-updated for a while, but perhaps it's still active. Anyhow, every once in a while, I'd stumble across a Christmas LP recorded by this guy at this organ, but not the one you see above. There's another one that is much more common, it's green where this one is red, and you can actually buy that one from the artist at the website above. But this one, I've only ever seen it once, and there's no mention of it on the website. I checked, and it is different from the green one. I've no idea why it's not also on the website, but because it's not up there, I can share it with you. Please be my guest and download Terry Charles-Christmas With Terry Charles-Wurlitzer Pipe Organ (Private Pressing SYB-635/636, Stereo).

1. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. The First Noel
4. Angels We Have Heard On High
5. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
6. As With Gladness Men Of Old
7. Angels From The Realms Of Glory
8. Joy To The World
9. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
10. Silver Bells
11. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
12. I'll Be Home For Christmas
13. Silent Night
14. O Holy Night

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Voices, Not Carillons


This is not another carillon LP, I promise. Instead, this record features some great singing from a group I'd never heard of before. And with an album cover like this, how could I pass it up? I'd also never heard of this Whitehall label, which is apparently a subsidiary of Westminster. Who knew? Pretty good stuff on here, so don't miss out. Go ahead and download The Henry Snow Singers-The Little Drummer Boy And Other Christmas Favorites (Whitehall WH 20023 (A Product Of Westminster), Mono). Anyone know any more about this one?

1. The Little Drummer Boy
2. Adeste Fidelis
3. Away In A Manger
4. Joy To The World
5. The First Noel
6. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
7. Silent Night
8. Deck The Halls
9. O! Little Town Of Bethlehem
10. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
11. Angels We Have Heard On High
12. Good King Wenceslas
13. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
14. Holly Green (And Cotton Candy White)

This last song I think I have seen as a single. It almost sounds like a different group. Much more modern take than anything else on here. There's got to be a story here, but I don't know what it is. And I mean besides the fact that cotton candy is not white. Everyone knows it's either blue or pink, like baby boys or baby girls.

Carillon And On And On

Here's another nice rerun of a great carillon LP that I've never seen elsewhere. I think this one of the few LPs I've shared out that hail from the great white north known as Canada. But don't hold that against it, this is good stuff. Please be my guest and download Emilien Allard-Noels au Carillon de l'Oratoire Saint-Joseph (Carols At The Carillon Of Saint Joseph's Oratory) (RCA Victor of Canada LCP-1024).

1. Minuit, Cretiens (O Holy Night)
2. Sainte Nuit (Silent Night)
3. Venez Pasteurs
4. Gesu Bambino
5. Dans Cette Etable
6. Les Agnes Dans Nos Campagnes
7. Ca, Bergers Assemblons-Nous
8. Adeste Fideles
9. Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant
10. D'ou Viens-Tu Bergere?
11. Silence Le Ciel
12. Noel (d'Aquin)

Stereo Klein


This one is something to replace an earlier mono share of the same LP. I know it's a carillon record, but this one is different. This time, John Klein is joined by an orchestra and chorus directed by the one and only Henri Rene. You know that's gonna be good. So don't hesitate, please download John Klein, Orchestra And Chorus Arranged And Conducted By Henri Rene-Let's Ring The Bells All Around The Christmas Tree (RCA Victor LSP-2914, Stereo, 1964). It's all good. I've also thrown the book in that I found stuffed in the stereo copy, same as the mono copy, so don't be surprised. It'll teach you all about carillons.

1. Silent Night; O Little Town Of Bethlehem; We Wish You A Merry Christmas
2. All Around The Christmas Tree
3. Sleigh Ride
4. Joy To The World; Adeste Fideles; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
5. The Little Drummer Boy
6. O Holy Night
7. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen; O Christmas Tree; Deck The Halls
8. I'll Be Home For Christmas
9. Greensleeves
10. Away In A Manger; The First Noel; It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
11. The Christmas Song
12. Ave Maria (Bach-Gounod)

Yet More Carillon


A couple years ago, I went on a rampage and shared out all the LPs I could find by John Klein. Well, I missed one. This LP, released on Columbia, had escaped me until this year. But now I'm making up for that oversight, and sharing this one with you. Please download John Klein-Caroling On The Carillon-A New Sound Of Christmas (Columbia CL 1056, Mono, 1957). I think you'll really enjoy it.

1. Joy To The World
2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. Away In A Manger
4. Deck The Hall With Boughs Of Holly
5. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
6. Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
7. The First Nowell
8. What Child Is This?
9. O Tannenbaum
10. O Holy Night
11. O Come All Ye Faithful
12. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
13. Come, Shepherds, Rise
14. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
15. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
16. Coventry Carol
17. Good Christian Men, Rejoice
18. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
19. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
20. Silent Night, Holy Night


Update: Somebody finally made the old analog record available in a new digital format. Head on over to iTunes, and you can download this one. They don't have the original artwork, though, so be sure you grab a copy of my scan up above first.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Baby's Fiftieth Christmas


First, let me ask you this. With that cover, how could you possibly pass this record up? You know you want it, you need it, you have to have it. I don't know much about the guy named Fontanna who made this record, but I've seen quite a few of his records out there, the cover of one I shared with you a long, long time ago. Since then, I've picked up quite a few of his releases. This record is quite nice, and there are some songs here that you never hear. So please judge this book by it's cover and download Fontanna, His Orchestra And Chorus-Christmas At Home (Masterseal MS-81, Mono, 1958).

1. Silent Night
2. Joy To The World
3. Let It Snow
4. Snow Flakes
5. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
6. You Are All I Want For Xmas
7. Adeste Fidelis (sic)
8. White Christmas
9. Winter Wonderland
10. I'll Be Home For Xmas
11. One Little Candle
12. Silver Bells
13. Night Before Xmas
14. We Three Kings Of Orient Are

Campus Christmas


Looks like it's going to be another quick night around here, but I'm giving you this really good share, so I think that helps make up for the lack of posting around here. This LP features a great college chorus singing great arrangements of some songs that you don't hear often. When was the last time you heard someone besides Bing Crosby sing The Secret Of Christmas? I'm guessing it's been a long time. And as a very special bonus, these guys sing a version of Jingle Bells with some new lyrics (by Hal Dickinson) that I'd never heard before, and the arrangement is credited to Glenn Miller and William Finnegan! (That's right, Bill Finegan of Sauter-Finegan! No idea why they misspelled his last name, but that's what it said. Oh, go visit Lee for the original version of Sauter-Finegan's Midnight Sleighride. It's great stuff!) So please be my guest and download Dartmouth Glee Club-Paul R. Zeller, Director-White Christmas On The Campus (United Artists UAL 3102, Mono).

1. Happy Holiday
2. O Come All Ye Faithful
3. White Christmas
4. Angels We Have Heard On High
5. The Secret Of Christmas
6. What Child Is This?
7. The Christmas Song
8. Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming
9. Sleigh Ride
10. The First Noel
11. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
12. Mid Ox And Ass
13. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen-NOT Included (Sorry, there were too many skips in this one, I couldn't save it...)
14. Here A Torch Jeanette Isabella
15. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
16. Jingle Bells

Monday, December 15, 2008

The Owen Sound


As my second throw-it-up-and-get-to-bed share of the night, I offer this LP from Owen Bradley. If you know who that is, then you'll probably be interested in this. If you have no idea, you might want to pass. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but this one is more about the name recognition. Please download Organ And Chimes Played By Owen Bradley (Coral CRL 57071, Mono, 1956).

The Noel Sound


I'm pretty tired tonight, so I'm just going to throw up a couple of things real quick and let you guys download someone else's shares for a change. Not that I'm sharing out something from someone else, but you won't be busy here at Ernie (Not Bert) tonight. This first one is an oddball that appears to be from a local. Noel Stevens is (or was) a music professor at USF up in Tampa. I suspect this was a vanity album that he put out to capitalize on his great name. And the music isn't too shabby, either. Please download the Noel Stevens Woodwind Quintette With Harpsichord-The Noel Sound (Fuller FR-0021, Stereo, 1967).

700,000 Hits Later

Congratulations to me. I hit 700,000 hits today, all told. That's since March of 2005 when I first started the blog. I think I put up a counter sometime in that first month, and I doubt if I got many hits during that early time. Thank you to all the folks who stop by from time to time, whether it's during the year to see my photography, or during the holiday season to enjoy some great old Christmas music. I appreciate your support!

(And to those of you who prefer the pictures to the Christmas music, just be patient for a couple more weeks.)

Sunday, December 14, 2008

The Third Week, A Slightly Larger Nutshell

OK, I've made it through another week of constant Christmas music, and so have you. Here's my weekly wrap up that should help you make sure you grabbed all the shares you wanted to, and didn't miss anything that you might have liked. So far I've had a hair over 10,000 downloads this season, and I'm averaging about 3000 hits per day. That's not too bad, so thank you all for your support. And keep those comments coming!

Favorite Songs Of Christmas
Bert Jones-Christmas Messages In Music
Arthur Godfrey-All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth (Now in Stereo)
Ruth Welcome-Christmas In Zitherland (rerun)
Cyril Stapleton-Children's Christmas Album (rerun)
Bob Kames-Merry Christmas
Bob Kames-Happy Holidays
Bob Kames-It's Christmas Time
Bob Kames-15 Songs Of Christmas
Lester Lanin-Christmas Dance Party (Now in Stereo)
George Chiainia-Music Of The Holiday Season
The Holiday Bells-Ring The Bells On Christmas Day
John Robert Carwithen-The Bells On Christmas Morn
A Christmas Sampler (rerun)
The Jimmy Joyce Singers-A Christmas To Remember (rerun)
The Randolph Singers-Christmas Carols, Volume 2
We Wish You A Merry Christmas (rerun)
Music Boxes For Christmas
The Sounds Of Christmas
Bianco-Joy To The World (rerun)
Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (rerun)
The Gene Lowell Chorus-Caroling Caroling
The Deutschmeister Band-Christmas Carols

The Second Week:

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)

Gettin' longer every week! I don't think I'm keeping up with the pace I set in those first couple weeks, but I'm doing OK. Thanks for all your support.

27 Days Of Christmas-Day The Fourteenth


Another great addition to 27 Days of Christmas is this great song from the great Roy Rogers and his lovely wife, Dale Evans. Recorded a little past his prime in 1967, this is still an album that holds a special place in many people's hearts. I wanted to share out the whole thing with you, but was surprised to find it on CD. So instead you get a great track for my compilation. Please download Roy Rogers And Dale Evans, Orchestra Arranged And Conducted By Bobby Hammack With The Bill Lee Singers-It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year from Christmas Is Always (Capitol ST 2818, Stereo, 1967).

Previous Tracks:
Bobby Vinton-Santa Must Be Polish
The Ames Brothers-Ting-A-Ling-A Jingle
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)

Two From Zondervan


Here's the second share of the evening from the Zondervan label. This time it's a budget-priced sampler from the label, featuring tracks from eleven different artists (and non of them are Bert Jones). I think I like this one a little better than the first, if only because it's a greater variety of music. Please download Favorite Songs Of Christmas (Zondervan ZLP 705, Mono).

1. 16 Singing Men-Go Tell It On The Mountain
2. HCJB Radio Staff-Come, O Ye Shepherds
3. Lorin Whitney-O Come All Ye Faithful
4. Calvin College A Capella Choir
5. Martha Branham-O Holy Night
6. Ralph Carmichael Orchestra And Chorus-Night Of Miracles
7. Csehy Musical Messengers-Angels We Have Heard On High
8. Back To The Bible Broadcast Choir-Hark The Herald Angels Sing
9. 16 Singing Men-No Room
10. Curt Davis-Joy To The World
11. Helen Barth-Silent Night
12. First Baptist Church Choir-Hallelujah Chorus

One From Zondervan


This is the first of two shares this evening from the religious Zondervan label. I don't know much about that label, and the last time I checked their website, they didn't mention making music any longer, but Wikipedia talks about it briefly. But I've got a couple of records that say otherwise, and I'm going to share them both with you. This first one is a collection of organ medleys that tell the story of the Nativity. According to the liner notes on the back of this record, Bert Jones was a popular organist in Pittsburgh, performing in bank lobbies. I can't imagine how many bank lobbies actually had organs in them, but this was a different time. I think you'll enjoy some of these, so please download Bert Jones-Christmas Messages In Music (Zondervan ZLP-559, Mono, 1964). I didn't think I was going to get a good recording of this for you, as it kept skipping all over the place. Then I found another copy of the record back in the archive. And this is a long one, clocking in at over 50 minutes. No idea how they squeezed that much music onto a single piece of vinyl.

1. The Night Of Nights
2. The Town Of Promise
3. The Angels Herald
4. The Birthday Of A King
5. Shepherds Watching
6. Stars Shine
7. Wise Men Journey
8. The Babe In The Manger
9. Joy To The World

27 Days Of Christmas-Day The Thirteenth


I'm moving way out of my usual date range with tonight's contribution to 27 Days Of Christmas. This one comes, not from the 60's that were Bobby Vinton's heyday, but 1987, when he was working the oldies circuit, and apparently, the borscht belt. How else do you explain the title of this song? Please download and enjoy Bobby Vinton-Santa Must Be Polish from the 5-song EP Santa Must Be Polish And Other Christmas Sounds Of Today (Tapestry TRS 1001, Stereo, 1987).

Previous Shares:
The Ames Brothers-Ting-A-Ling-A Jingle
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)

Stereo Godfrey


Yep, that's right, it's time for another stereo upgrade to an LP I first brought you last year. Turns out I had this version in the collection all along, I just didn't do a good job of searching for it when I decided to record it last year. Someday, I'd love to actually get my collection organized, but then I'd also like to see pigs fly, and I've got a feeling that might happen first. And, same as last year, I think I titled the LP Christmas Is For Children in the ZIP file. Sorry. Please download Arthur Godfrey With The Richard Wolfe Children's Chorus-All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth (RCA Camden CAS-1092, Stereo, 1967).

1. Christmas Is For Children
2. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
3. Frosty The Snow Man*
4. A Holly Jolly Christmas*
5. Medley: Jingle Bells; Jolly Old St. Nicolas; Up On The Housetop; We Wish You A Merry Christmas
6. All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)
7. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town*
8. Suzy Snowflake*
9. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
10. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas*

*Arthur Godfrey solo, no children on these.

Zither Zither Zither


It's just fun to say, isn't it. Zither. Can you think of any musical instrument that has a better name? I can't. Well, perhaps the Sousaphone, but maybe not... This is one of the albums that you almost never see, which is a shame because it's really good, and has been one of my consistent shares since the very first Christmas sharity back in 2005. Join in the fun and download Ruth Welcome-Christmas In Zitherland (Capitol ST 1782, Stereo, c. 1962).

The Big Moon


Don't know if you read about it, but the full moon on Friday night was supposed to be as large as it ever gets. The moon was as close as it ever gets to the Earth, and thus is as big as it ever gets. I almost forgot, but I remembered later and pulled out the camera for a couple of shots. I don't know that it actually looked any larger, but it was certainly bright.

Kiddie Rerun


While my main computer is running a virus scan (again) in the other room, I'm posting from the laptop. And I'm gonna try to highlight some more old shares that you may have missed. This is a great one that features a great orchestra and some singing kiddies. You can read a little more about it at the original share from 2005, and the last time I reshared it in 2006. (I didn't get a chance to revisit this one in 2007, I guess.) Please be my guest and download Cyril Stapleton And His Orchestra With Children's Chorus-Children's Christmas Album (Richmond S 30057, Stereo).