The Best Kiddie Christmas

The last two records I shared with you today were records designed for the kiddies, and so is this one, but they are world's apart. This one is actually a quality recording, and the less said about those other two, the better. I first shared this record in 2005, mostly because it featured such a great cover. Turns out the music wasn't so bad, either. Do me a favor and give this one a listen. Here's Cyril Stapleton And His Orchestra With Children's Chorus-Children's Christmas Album (Richmond S 30057, Stereo, 1959).

1. Christmas Alphabet
2. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
3. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
4. Christmas Island
5. White Christmas
6. I Saw Three Ships
7. Once In Royal David's City
8. Greensleeves
9. The Holly And The Ivy
10. Silent Night

Another Bad Apostrophe

Here's another record with a horrible apostrophe error. Unless there is more than one Santa (and everyone knows there is only one Santa, all the rest are his helpers), then this should read Santa's Toy Shop Party. I guess you don't care about such things, but they bother me. This was my penultimate share last year, and didn't see a lot of downloads because of that. Eveyone was too busy finishing up their holiday shopping, enjoying family and friends and taking it easy to pay attention to the Christmas downloads. So don't miss it this year. Please download Santas' Toy Shop Party (Panda Children's Records PAN X001, Mono).

1. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
2. Jingle Bells
3. Up On The House Tops
4. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas
5. Santa's Surprise
6. Toy Town
7. Alakazam, The Magic Man
8. Wooden Soldiers On Parade
9. I Want A Teddy Bear

Simon Says

I think this was the very last record I shared with you last year, so there's a good chance you missed it. I shared it out a couple of days before Christmas, then took the rest of the time off. I hadn't planned to do that, but I just ran out of time and steam to do all the things I'd wanted to do. Here's hoping that doesn't happen this year. Please be a dear and download Simon Says-Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer And Other Christmas Favorites (Record Guild Of America SSX-1, Mono).

1. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
2. Angels We Have Heard On High
3. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
4. The Night Before Christmas
5. Jingle Bells
6. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly
7. We Are Not Beggars
8. Joy To The World
9. The First Noel
10. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
11. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
12. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
13. O Come All Ye Faithful
14. Silent Night

25 Days

Back in 2006, I made my first compilation of Christmas tracks during the Christmas sharity season. Each day I gave you a cool new track, sometimes from a single, sometimes from a Christmas record, sometimes from some random record that just featured a Christmas track. If you haven't heard it, I think you're really missing out. There are some Christmas gems in there. Why don't you go download 25 Days Of Christmas (Ernie Not Bert, 2006) right now. You can read a little bit about each track and where it came from if you click on the names below.

Tennessee Ernie Ford-Christmas Dinner
Harry Kari-Oh! Oh! Don't Ever Go
Dorothy Collins-Mister Santa
Connie Canuso-Somebody Painted Rudolph's Nose A Chocolate Brown
Sandy Offenheim-If Snowflakes Fell In Flavours
Up With People-Jingle Bell Beat
The Ames Brothers-Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
Jimmy Boyd-Santa Got Stuck In The Chimney
Lou Monte-Italian Jingle Bells
Les Paul-Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
The Harmonicats-Winter Wonderland
Steve Allen and Ricky Vera-Can I Wait Up For Santa Claus?
Ricardo Montalban & Randy Newman-La Campanilla
Ralph Carmichael-The New Hallelujah
Lawrence Welk With The Lennon Sisters-Santa From Santa Fe
Billy May-March Of The Toys
The Davis Sisters-The Christmas Boogie
Anna Russell-Please Santa Claus
Kathy Dunn-Santaville
The Williams Brothers-The Holiday Season
The Ed Sullivan Orchestra-I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
The Banjo Barons-Jolly Old St. Nick & Jingle Bells
Johnny Brandon-Santa Claus, Jr.
Johnny Mathis-Have Reindeer, Will Travel
The Crew-Cuts-Twinkle Toes

I guess I should mention the tracks are listed in reverse order above. Maybe I should get around to numbering them someday...

Late December Back In '63

I know, I know, it's not late December. It's still early, thank goodness, but that's not how the song goes, and I didn't want to wait to get this share from 2006 back on your radar. This is one of a series of Christmas records put out by E.F MacDonald during the sixties. I don't have them all, but I wish I did. This particular one features some recitations by Burgess Meredith and music by Joe Reisman. Trust me when I say it's good stuff. But you don't have to trust me, just download it and see for yourself. Here is The E.F. MacDonald Company Presents Christmas Classics 1963 (E.F. MacDonald EFMX-63, Stereo, 1963).

1. A Visit From St. Nicholas-Burgess Meredith With Joe Reisman's Orchestra & Chorus
2. Is There A Santa Claus?-Burgess Meredith With Joe Reisman's Orchestra & Chorus
3. The Little Match Girl-Burgess Meredith With Joe Reisman's Orchestra & Chorus
4. O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree)-Joe Reisman's Orchestra & Chorus
5. Les Agnes Dans Nos Campagnes (Angels We Have Heard On High)-Joe Reisman's Orchestra & Chorus
6. Dormi, Dormi, O Bel Bambin (Sleep, Sleep, Sweet Babe Of Mine)-Joe Reisman's Orchestra & Chorus
7. Fum, Fum, Fum (Foom, Foom, Foom)-Joe Reisman's Orchestra & Chorus
8. Twelve Days Of Christmas-Joe Reisman's Orchestra & Chorus

The Herald Angels Swing

Do you need a little bit of Christmas swing in your stocking? Then download this great LP from the self-proclaimed world's greatest jazz band. Says so right in their name. This one dates all the way back to my inaugural year of Christmas sharity, 2005, and it's got a special place here at the blog. If you have gone the last five years without this one, I think it's high time you download The World's Greatest Jazzband Of Yank Lawson & Bob Haggart-Hark The Herald Angels Swing (World Jazz WJLP 5-2, Stereo, 1972).

1. Hark The Herald Angels Swing
2. Little Drummer Boy
3. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
4. Silent Night
5. Joy To The World
6. Jingle Bells
7. White Christmas
8. I'll Be Home For Christmas
9. The Christmas Song
10. Winter Wonderland
11. Deck The Halls

Missed My Chance

I should have thrown this up on the same day I shared out my Ogden Nash Christmas record and claimed they were brothers. I'll have to remember that for next year. Anyhow, this is a great record I stumbled across last year (and shared with you) by an artist that I had no idea had ever recorded any Christmas music. When you listen to as much Christmas music as I do, that doesn't happen too often. So if you're wondering what this could sound like, why don't you download Johnny Nash-Prince Of Peace (JAD JS/1001, Stereo, 1969)?

1. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
2. Prince Of Peace
3. Away In A Manger
4. Mary's Little Boy Child
5. The Borning Day
6. The Christmas Song
7. Sweet Little Jesus Boy
8. Medley: Silent Night-Oh Holy Night
9. Go Tell It On The Mountain

Mr. Governor

Here's something you don't see every day, an album of Christmas music by a former governor of Louisiana. And this isn't this only Christmas record! But it's the only one I have, so now you can have it too. If you want to know more about this, you can read what I read last year, but if all you want to do is listen to it, please download Jimmie Davis-It's Christmas Time Again (Decca DL 4587, Mono, 1964).

1. It's Christmas Time Again
2. Silent Night
3. Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem
4. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
5. Christmas Message
6. No Room At The Inn
7. Go Tell It On The Mountain
8. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
9. Away In A Manger
10. A Child Was Born
11. Joy To The World
12. Gently Rock His Cradle

Success Story, Volume 2

This is another LP that I used to share with great pride here at the blog, at least I did so before someone realized what a hidden treasure they had in their back-catalogue and re-released it. You can now download this gem of an album from Amazon and I think it's well worth the cost. And the one you get from Amazon is in stereo, which I never managed to find. My share from 2005 was in mono.

Also Rans

Lincoln wasn't the only contender for a calendar picture this year, but he was always the front-runner. Other possibilities included the view looking East from the Lincoln Memorial across the Reflecting Pool towards the Washington Monument. This picture didn't have enough interest in it to be a serious contender.

Another choice was the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier at Arlington. I could never get this picture formatted the way I wanted it. The top edge of the picture cuts off a panoramic view of DC that was lit by the setting sun, but I couldn't show it without cutting off the honor guard at the bottom. Plus I would have had to PhotoShop out that guys head...

This was a great shot, but there's not a whole lot going on anywhere except the exact center. This view of the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and The Capitol Dome was taken from near the Iwo Jima Memorial on the other side of the Potomac.

I really wanted to use this shot of the ring of flags at the base of the Washington Monument, but would you know that's what it was? I knew, having stood there and taken the picture, but without seeing the whole monument, you really can't tell what it is.

So that's four of the other pictures we considered. There were more, but these were the top candidates. Hope you enjoyed this little sneak peak behind the scenes.

The 2010 Calendar

After what seems like an eternity, the 2010 wall calendars arrived yesterday. Well, one of them did. And my picture of Abraham Lincoln as he appears in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC is front and center. The final picture is the one shown above. I took this on my second trip to Washington, DC, this year, late at night in the dark. I think it's a pretty powerful picture, and including the quote from his Gettysburg Address makes it more so.

We tried a few different background behind Lincoln, including this one, hoping to bring a little color into the image. But we wound up using the picture in pure black and white, even removing the little bit of wall you could see behind the statue.


My original submission for a Lincoln calendar was this wide shot of the entire memorial, but we felt it wasn't as powerful as a shot of the statue alone. Now that I have a new camera, I want to go back to DC and take all of these pictures over again...

Those of you who are new around here may want to look at the calendar picture from last year while you're here...

Fast Organ

Here's a little LP I shared out for the first time last year. I'd always heard about Larry Ferrari, but didn't have any Christmas music by him. I was pretty excited when I found this, and I wanted to share it with you. It's been around the sharity block a time or two, I'm afraid, but this is my copy and I'm proud to offer it. Please download Larry Ferrari-I Wish You The Merriest (Sure Music Volume 703, Mono).

1. We Need A Little Christmas
2. Sleigh Ride
3. Medley-It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! and Reprise: It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
4. Silver Bells
5. You're All I Want For Christmas
6. Medley-Christmas Bells, I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day and Reprise: Christmas Bells
7. Winter Wonderland
8. Little Drummer Boy
9. We Wish You The Merriest
10. Medley-There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays and I'll Be Home For Christmas
11. White Christmas
12. Medley-Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, Jingle Bells and Frosty The Snowman
13. The Christmas Song
14. Blue Christmas

PS-Look close at the lower right of that cover, and you'll see that I've got an autographed copy!

Stereo Candy

How about a little Christmas candy? Candy Clarinet, that is. From the great Pete Fountain, this is a great Christmas album, clarinet or not. And even better, this is the stereo version that I first featured in 2007. Prior to that, all I had was a lowly mono copy. This album really deserves a place in your Christmas collection, so if you don't already have it, please download Pete Fountain-Candy Clarinet (Coral CRL 757487, Stereo, 1966).

1. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)
2. Santa Claus Medley: Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, Jingle Bells
3. Winter Wonderland
4. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
5. Blue Christmas
6. Candy Clarinet
7. Jingle Bell Rock
8. I'll Be Home For Christmas
9. The Little Drummer Boy
10. Silver Bells
11. White Christmas
12. Christmas Is A-Comin' (May God Bless You)

The Not-So-Fabulous Harmonicats

Everybody loves The Harmonicats! Well, those of you who know who they are. Unfortunately, there are two Harmonicats. The group you know and love, the original group fronted by Jerry Murad, is not anywhere to be heard on this release. This is a group led by former member Don Les. And I'm afraid he may not have been the reason for the original group's success. Just download Christmas With The Don Les Harmonicats (Halo 1005, Stereo) and I think you'll see what I mean. Oh, forgot to mention that I first shared this back in 2006.

1. White Christmas
2. The Christmas Song
3. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
4. Jingle Bells
5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
6. Silent Night
7. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
8. March Of The Three Kings
9. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
10. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear.

No Apostrophe

I know what it is that's been bugging me about this LP since I first shared it in 2006. There's no apostrophe in their title. I guess that has nothing at all to do with the great music inside, but it bothers me. Oh, well. You'll enjoy the music anyway. Here's The Fantastic Strings Of Felix Slatkin-Season's Greetings (Liberty Premier Series LSS 14013, Stereo, 1961) with the apostrophe they should have had in the first place.

1. White Christmas
2. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
4. Joy To The World
5. O Holy Night
6. Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)
7. Deck The Halls
8. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
9. The First Noel
10. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
11. Away In A Manger
12. Silent Night

Let's All Sing

Something about this album cover...I don't know what it is. Maybe the fact that everyone but the dog, the baby & the piano player were caught in mid-song. And it's just so wholesome. It's hard to look at. This is something I shared out back in 2006, and I'm bringing it back for 2009. This is Henri Rene-Home For Christmas, A Joyous Evening Of Yuletide Songs (RCA Victor CSP-109, Stereo, 1964). I'm not sure why this has an oddball catalog number. I think it may have been a record club release, or maybe a promo item. I guess it doesn't matter really.

1. O Come All Ye Faithful
2. Joy To The World
3. Silent Night
4. O Little Town Of Bethlehem; It Came Upon The Midnight Clear; The First Noel
5. O Holy Night
6. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
7. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
8. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly
9. Good King Wenceslas
10. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
11. Away In A Manger
12. Greensleeves
13. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas
14. Ave Maria (Schubert)
15. Jingle Bells

Poly Vu Francais? Part Deux

No, I don't speak French, how did you know? Anyhow, as usual, Raymond LeFevere is always followed by Paul Mauriat, ever since 2005. Which is odd, because this one came out a year ahead of the other. So I guess I've had them backwards all these years. I'll have to try and fix that next year. The cover of this one isn't as sexy, but the music inside is just as great. Don't be afraid to 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)

Poly Vu Francais?

Do you need a little French music this evening? Even if you don't, you're gonna download this one just for the cover, aren't you? Yeah, I thought so. I would, too, but I have the original vinyl that I can dig out and look at any time I want to. This has been a favorite share since 2005, and it's lost none of it's appeal in that time. And that includes the music, not just the miniskirt. Go ahead and download Raymond LeFevre And His Orchestra-Merry Christmas (4 Corners Of The World FCS-4257, 1968, Stereo).

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)

Two Muzak

As promised, here's another whole LP of Christmas Muzak. It's an acquired taste, and I've grown to love it, as I'm sure you will too. So download Muzak Christmas (Muzak AA 36, 1980, Stereo) for yourself. This one dates back to the very first Christmas Sharity season here at the blog in 2005.

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 Christmas (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

One Muzak

What's that you say? You want some Muzak? No problem. First shared in 2008, this is Muzak-Stimulus Progression Number Three-Christmas (Muzak S-2563, Stereo). This was another record that I had an empty sleeve for before I found the record. If you like this one, stay tuned, I've got another one coming right up.

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

Be Careful What You Wish For

One of my exciting finds last year was this LP featuring Chimeatron. I'd found the sleeve by itself sometime earlier, and had hoped to eventually find the record. Well, I finally did, and it turned out to be underwhelming. I had hoped that Chimeatron was some sort of super sci-fi future robot, sent to share his futuristic Christmas carols with us, but it was just organ music. If that sounds like your bag, then please download George Chiainia, Organ, With Chimes By Chimeatron-Music Of The Holiday Season-Organ And Chimes (Colonial LP-272, Stereo).

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

Harping About Christmas

Since I promised you my old harp share, here it is. I first shared a mono copy of this LP way back in 2005, and brought out stereo version back in 2006. I felt that the stereo was quite a bit better then the mono copy for some reason. Usually, there's not that big of a difference, but for this one, I was pleasantly surprised. See what you think, download The Rainbow Sound Of Bianco, His Harp And Orchestra-Joy To The World-Everybody's Favorite Christmas Music (RCA Victor CSP-104, 1962, Stereo).

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

Not My Next Share

Well, I thought this harp album was going to be one of my new shares this year, but I was wrong. Why was I wrong, I hear you ask? Because the Captain beat me to it and shared it out first over at A Christmas Yuleblog. So if you want to hear Carlos Salzedo play hi-fi Christmas tunes on his harp, you'll need to head on over there. Be sure to download his other harp-related LP shares while you're there. I'm going to re-share my hard record here in a few minutes, so come back here when you're finished over at the Captain's place.

All Hail The King, Part Two

2009 isn't the first year that The King Of Jing-A-Ling has chosen a track from one of my shares to lead off his ADVENTure In Carols collection. Back in 2007, the collection led off with a track from this LP, which I didn't share until the following year. This was one of those records that you buy without a whole lot of hope that there's going to be anything interesting on it, but I was mistaken. There's some good tunes in the grooves of this one. Download it and give it a listen, you'll see. Here's Veo Gray And The Jodie Lyons Singers-A Christmas Happening (Agaco Records SLP-2156, Stereo).

1. Christmas Medley-O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Angels We Have Heard On High
2. Deck The Hall
3. Jingle Bells
4. O Come, All Ye Faithful
5. O Come, O Come Immanuel
6. Rest Your Head
7. Silent Night
8. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
9. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

All Hail The King, Part One

In honor of The King Of Jing-A-Ling over at FaLaLaLaLa choosing a track from this LP to lead off his 2009 ADVENTure In Carols, I figured I'd reshare the album. I shared this out back in 2006, and this is it's first return, I believe. To be honest, I picked this up for the cover, but the music turned out to be pretty good, too. Sometimes those folks over at Pickwick will surprise you. But don't take my word for it, download Tijuana Voices With Brass Sing Merry Christmas (Pickwick SPCX-1005, Stereo) and see for yourself.

1. Joy To The World
2. Deck The Halls
3. Angels We Have Heard On High
4. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
5. Tijuana Christmas
6. O Come All Ye Faithful
7. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
9. Jolly Old St. Nicholas
10. Jingle Bells
11. What Child Is This
12. Christmas Bells

Christmas In Turkey

Here's something you don't see every day. Well, actually, if you're keeping up with things, you saw this yesterday over at Music You (Possibly) Won't Hear Anyplace Else. However, Lee's share is the 1964 Line Material Christmas record, and mine is a gift from the Turkish Information Office in New York, NY. Odd, no? But they are indeed one in the same recording. If you already downloaded Lee's excellent collection of Line Material sides, then you don't need to download this, too. And if you didn't download all that great Line Material, you need to do so right now. If you really want to be a completist, you can download my version called Season's Greetings From Turkey (Turkish Information Office 7"45 RPM TIO-1/2, Mono, c. 1964).

1. The Story Of Santa Claus
2. Turkey, The Bible Land

A Ghost From Christmas Past

This is a re-run of a share from many, many years ago. Well, not really a rerun, but a complete do-over. See, way back then, all I shared with you were two album tracks from the Johnny Mathis LP Sounds Of Christmas, two tracks that have been omitted from every subsequent release. Those two tracks were released as a single at the time of the original LP release, and I finally scored a copy of the picture sleeve. That's it up above, somewhat the worse for wear thanks to some water damage and a fellow named Gully who felt like writing his name across the top of the sleeve. Take a peek below and you'll see he put his name on the label as well, only this time he didn't hand write it. Now, I recorded the music from the 7" and decided it was a little too scratchy for my refined tastes. I then recorded the tracks from a stereo copy of the original LP, so there are two copies of each song in the ZIP file. I thought for a minute I may have found something interesting because the times didn't match what was printed on the LP sleeve, but it turned out just to be a typo. Did you follow all that? I doubt it, and it's not really important. Please grab this download of Johnny Mathis-The Little Drummer Boy/Have Reindeer, Will Travel (Mercury 7" 45 RPM 72217, Mono, 1963).

1. The Little Drummer Boy (Mono & Stereo)
2. Have Reindeer, Will Travel (Mono & Stereo)

Eagle In The AM

I had hoped to catch both of them at some point, but since I have to send the big rental lens back soon, one is going to have to do. This is one of my local bald eagles on his favorite perch, silhouetted against the sunrise this morning.

Lower Budget

Continuing on with the low budget releases, here's something from the Rondo label, which I first shared in 2007. I've seen this same tracklist on several albums credited to different orchestras, so you know this recording has made the rounds. No idea if The Eric Silver Chorale is the correct group name even. The LP shown below[Christmas Hymns And Carols (Ultraphonic 51503, 1956)] doesn't even list an artist, but it's the same music. Oh, well. Perhaps you're better off if you don't download The Eric Silver Chorale-Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly (Rondo-lette 890).

1. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly
2. Come All Ye Faithful
3. From Handel's "Messiah", There Were Shepherds; And Lo! The Angel; And The Angel Said Unto Them; And Suddenly There Was The Angel; Glory To God
4. Little Town Of Bethlehem
5. All Through The Night
6. For Unto Us A Child Is Born-From Handel's "Messiah"
7. Silent Night
8. Christians Be Joyful (Christmas Oratorio)
9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
10. The Holly And The Ivy
11. Good King Wenceslas
12. Now Vengance Hath Been Taken (Christmas Oratorio)

Low Budget

I don't know what it is that attracts me to these low budget LPs. Especially when they slap a cool cover on them like this happy baby. I guess it's a disease. My buddy Lee over at Music You (Possibly) Won't Hear Anyplace Else has the same disease. Someday we'll wind up in therapy together. Anyhow, this is a repeat of an LP I first shared last year. The music is competent enough, but nothing spectacular. I've got a whole stack of LPs from this same Fontanna guy and his orchestra, and there's nothing too great in the whole stack. But they do all have pretty sharp covers. Please 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

Snow!

You want more vocal music? I got more vocal music. I'm just biding my time before I really jump in and start resharing all those carillon records. Don't say I didn't warn you because they are coming... (Cue ominous music.) But first, this record. I first shared this last year, and I don't know anything more about it now than I did then. I know that the W in Whitehall up above is a slightly different color because I Photoshoped it on from a different LP on the same label and I could never get the color to match. That doesn't have much to do with the music, I'm afraid. If you know anything more about this record, please share. If not, that's OK, too, you can still download The Henry Snow Singers-The Little Drummer Boy And Other Christmas Favorites (Whitehall WH 20023 (A Product Of Westminster), Mono).

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)

Finally, Something New (Sorta)

Just when you were starting to think I wasn't going to share anything new around here, here's something new. Well, most of it is new. I think some of the tracks were pulled from the first three of those Bob Kames records I re-shared with you today, but that's only 5 of the 16 tracks here. The rest of the tracks are by The King Karoleers, a group I know nothing about, and which may not have really existed. Best I can tell, these tracks came from an early King 10" LP, 295-73, circa mid-50's. When Gusto went through and reissued much of the old King back-catalog, they added the 5 Bob Kames organ pieces, and this LP was the result. The King Karoleers tracks feature an organ as well, but there's nothing on the LP to suggest that's actually Bob Kames. Anyhow, I'm just glad to have something new to share with you this year, and maybe to add a little something to my Bob Kames collection. Please don't hesitate to download The King Karoleers And Bob Kames-16 Traditional Christmas Carols (Gusto/Starday SD-3025, Mono, 1978). I had two copies of this LP, and they had different labels on the vinyl, so I included both of them in the package. Don't say I never gave you anything.

1. Silent Night-King Karoleers
2. Hark The Herald Angels Sing-King Karoleers
3. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear-King Karoleers
4. We Three Kings-Bob Kames
5. Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem-King Karoleers
6. Cantique De Noel-Bob Kames
7. Adeste Fidelis-King Karoleers
8. Noel-King Karoleers
9. Oh Tannenbaum-Bob Kames
10. Rejoice-King Karoleers
11. Joy To The World-King Karoleers
12. Deck The Halls-Bob Kames
13. Away In A Manger-King Karoleers
14. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen-King Karoleers
15. I Saw Three Ships-Bob Kames
16. Good King Wenceslas-King Karoleers