Random Westminster

Since I just shared an LP with you earlier that has a track on this label sampler, I figure I'll throw this up here again for you to download. I don't think there's much left of the Westminster label these days, but back in their heyday, they put out some good stuff. I think it was Westminster that first brought Ferrante & Teicher to the world, and that can't be a bad thing. Many of the other artists on this sampler have been featured here at the blog, so take a look around here if you hear anything on this one you like, I may have more of it. This 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

Used Music From 2007

Two years ago, back in the heyday that was 2007, I made a compilation for you over the Thanksgiving-Christmas sharity season. One track a day for 31 days. I don't know now how I did it, trying to get all of my album shares up, plus a track a day for this (and a track a day for a second comp that I hope to reshare soon). I think there must have been two of me back then. Anyhow, I dug out an old hard drive today to see if I could find this collection, and sure enough, there it was. And surprise, surprise, there was the Photoshop file I'd created as a cover! I thought I'd lost that in the big hard drive crash. It's not much of a cover, but it's a nice idea. I cribbed most of it from this old share (which reminds me, I should reshare that album out...). I did have to find little pictures of all those artists and add them in. Let me see if I can remember who I put in there... From the upper left, I think that's Les Baxter, Peggy Lee, The Lennon Sisters, Marlene Dietrich, Claudine Longet, Dorothy Collins...Second row, Danny Kaye, Tex Ritter and The Ames Brothers. Third row, Wait, that's Les Baxter, Patti Page, Bing Crosby. And the bottom row-Jerry Collona, Fred Waring, Anita Kerr and Maurice Chevalier. So who's that upper left? Oh, Les Brown. Now, if you want some bonus points, tell me where I found all those pictures. No, really, tell me, 'cause I forgot! Anyhow, click on any of the names in the tracklist below and it will take you to the day I shared that track and tell you a little bit about it. All of the songs were pulled from old vinyl compilations put together and sold by various department stores or tire companies, grocery stores, records labels, etc. That's why I called it a compilation compilation. Actually, the full official name is Used Music-The Thrift Store Christmas Compilation Compilation (Ernie (Not Bert) 2007). Enjoy! Hmmm, figures. I've got Deck The Halls on here twice, as well as We Three Kings. I don't think I could put together a proper comp if my life depended on it.

The Sanborn Singers-Jingle Bells
Les Baxter Orchestra And Chorus-Hang Your Wishes On The Tree
Sandler & Young-Mister Santa
Peggy Lee-Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
Danny Kaye-Deck The Halls (With Boughs Of Holly)
Debbie Reynolds-There's No Place Like Home
Claudine Longet-Snow
The Glad Singers-We Three Kings Of Orient Are
The Ed Sullivan Orchestra-I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
The Mills Brothers-You Don't Have To Be A Santa Claus
Patti Page-'Twas The Night Before Christmas
George Melachrino-Fairy On The Christmas Tree
The Beneficial Singers-Joyous Christmas
Marlene Dietrich-Little Drummer Boy
Dorothy Collins-Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Red Foley-Frosty The Snowman
Bing Crosby-Christmas Dinner Country Style
Fred Waring-White Christmas
Walter Carlos-Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Ed Kinney-The Twelve Days Of Christmas
Les Brown-We Wish You The Merriest
Maurice Chevalier-Jolly Old St. Nicholas
The Ames Brothers-Good King Wenceslas
The Lennon Sisters-Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Jerry Colonna-Too Fat For The Chimney
Tex Ritter-Ole Tex Kringle
Les Paul & Mary Ford-The Christmas Song
The New Sounds Of Christmas-We Three Kings
The Anita Kerr Singers-God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
The New Christy Minstrels-Anderson: Sleighride
Douglas Leedy-Deck The Hall

Grants

I'm always looking in LP sleeves to see what may be in there besides the actual LPs. That paid off recently when I found this advertisement for the annual Grants Christmas albums. You can get any of the first three records for only $1.25 each, which includes postage & handling! That's only $0.25 more than they'll cost you at the Goodwill store today. The address on this flyer is Terre Haute, Indiana, which is the same as the old Columbia House record & tape club, if I recall correctly. I wonder if they'd hook you up with the club if you bought these? The flip side of the flyer offers to sell you 8-track tapes of releases 3 & 4, but they're $3.50 each. No wonder you rarely see these collections on 8-track.

Success Story, Volume 5

Well, it's with a sad heart that I tell you I can no longer share the great Christmas With Gisele. Since I first shared an EP of songs from the VIK full length back in 2005, and have shared out the RCA Victor version every year since 2006, this has been one of my favorite and most popular shares. I actually found a new copy this year that was in much better shape than my old copy (which skipped each of the 100 times I played it before the one time I got lucky...). I had it all recorded and scanned, ready to go up here in the next few days. Then I get word that you can download this LP at iTunes. That's actually what I hope for when it comes to many of my shares. Like those denizens of The Island of Misfit Toys, eventually someone comes along who will love them. But in this case, I don't know if it's an acceptable situation. Reports are that the sound quality of the download at iTunes is horrible. Like my share, it's a recording from vinyl, and unfortunately, it's a poor recording. And there's nothing I can do about it. So don't ask me to reshare mine, please. It doesn't work that way, I'm afraid. But feel free to send a nasty note about the sound quality to Steve Jobs over at Apple. I'm sure he'll listen...

For the search engines, this is (or was) Gisele MacKenzie-Christmas With Gisele (RCA Victor LPM-2006, Mono, 1959)

Christmas In Brass

I'm revisiting this record tonight because I recent;y won a Christmas LP by this same group on eBay. I don't know if it's the same music, and I really don't care. I mostly wanted it for it's great cover. I expect to get it in the mail soon, but I doubt if I'll be able to do anything with it until next Christmas But in the meantime, I'm hoping this LP I first shared out last year will hold you over. Here is The Deutschmeister Band, Conducted By Julius Herrmann-Christmas Carols (Westminster WST 15048, Stereo). The question arises in my mind as to what year this was issued. Searching Billboard's archives keeps coming back with 1953, but that's obviously not the stereo version. Perhaps this is a stereo re-recording of that one, or maybe a release of some early binaural copy. Any ideas?

1. In Dulci Jubilo
2. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
3.Good King Wenceslas
4. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
5. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
6. O Come All Ye Faithful
7. From O'er The Hills Of Fair Judea
8. Silent Night
9. Deck The Halls
10. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
11. Wassail, Wassail
12. O Tannenbaum
13. Joy To The World
14. Away In A Manger
15. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
16. The First Noel

That Lucky Old 3 Suns

Sometimes, you just get lucky. One of the Three Suns tracks that I shared with you recently came from a budget label 10", leaving me to wonder for a while where it actually originated. And today I stumbled across a 78 that gives me the answer. This Majestic label 78, number 7142, came out in 1945, right after the war, and features Busy Holiday on one side and Flower Dance on the other. Both sides feature a writing credit to Nevins-Dunn-Nevins aka The Three Suns. So now I know where my track came from. And in case you're wondering, I believe the F.T. stands for foxtrot.

The Piano Keeps Playing

I may as well keep going with the piano Christmas since it seems to be working so well for me. I don't think this one needs too much introduction. If you don't recognize it, go read what I wrote two years ago, other wise, just download Roger Williams With The Concert Grand Orchestra Directed by Frank Hunter & Marty Gold-Christmas Time (Kapp KS-3048, Stereo, 1959). And don't miss the alternate cover below.

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

Christmas Concertos

Here's another great Christmas piano LP, this time with more emphasis on the artist and less on the piano itself. For all I know, this record could have been made on the Siena Pianoforte, they just didn't credit it by name on the jacket. They did, however, credit the artist quite prominently, and with just cause. George Greeley plays some pretty good piano here, and runs through quite a list of Christmas carols. If I could describe any of my shares around here as good background music, this one is it. Please download and play 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) in the background. I keep forgetting to mention my previous shares. I first threw this one up on the old blog last year.

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

A Famous Piano?

I've never known exactly what to think of this record. It claims to have been recorded on a famous piano. I guess I should care about that, but I don't. The story associated with it seems too fantastical to be true. For an instrument to have been through that much, how could it possibly sound the same as it once did? Well, I suppose if they can resurrect a crushed Stradivarius from the splinters, anything is possible. I've been wondering about this since 2007 when I first found and shared this LP. It probably won't leave you with any sleepless night, though, so don't hesitate to download and listen to Grace Castagnetta-Christmas On The Siena Pianoforte (Counterpoint/Esoteric (An Everest Records Production), S-2411-53005, Fake Stereo).

1. Joy To The World
2. Oh, Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
4. Christmas Is Here
5. What Child Is This?
6. Deck The Halls
7. Oh, Holy Night
8. Rise Up, Shepherd, An' Foller
9. Away In A Manger
10. Adeste Fideles ("Come All Ye Faithful")
11. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
12. How Brightly Beams The Morning Star
13. I Saw Three Ships
14. Good King Wenceslas
15. The Holly And The Ivy
16. We Three Kings
17. Jingle Bells
18. The First Nowell
19. Silent Night, Holy Night

Must Have Been Inevitable

So I'm thinking if your name is Noel, it's pretty much inevitable that you will record a Christmas album. At least if you're musically inclined. And that's what we have here. This is a local Florida record, so I'm pretty sure most of you will have never heard or seen it. Lucky you, cause now you get to download Noel Stevens Woodwind Quintette With Harpsichord-The Noel Sound (Fuller FR-0021, Stereo, 1967). I've only shared this out once before on the blog, in 2008, so there's a good chance you missed it the first time around. Don't let it happen again!

1. Good King Wenceslas
2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
4. Deck The Hall
5. What Child Is This?
6. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
7. Joy To The World
8. The First Nowell
9. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
10. Jesus' Lullaby
11. I Saw Three Ships
12. Silent Night

Your Own Command

This is a Christmas record that you don't see every day. I used to think it was the only Christmas record ever issued on Enoch Light's Command label, but I proved myself wrong. But it still may be the best Christmas record ever issued on Command. And I can prove it! Just download and listen to Merry Christmas From The Command Family Of Recording Stars (Command RS 920 SD, Stereo, 1967). You'll see. (This was first shared by me back in 2006, same year it was a featured LP at FaLaLaLaLa!)

1. William Steinberg and The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra-Adeste Fidelis
2. The Ray Charles Singers-Christmas Is A Birthday
3. Bobby Byrne-The Christmas Song
4. Ashley Miller-The First Noel
5. The Robert De Cormier Singers-Mary’s Little Boy Child
6. Toots Thielemans-Jingle Bells
7. The Ray Charles Singers-Silent Night
8. Al Casamenti And The Command Guitars And Strings-Sleigh Ride
9. Robert Maxwell-White Christmas
10. Doc Severinsen-Joy To The World
11. Dick Hyman-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
12. Virgil Fox-O Holy Night

More Wacky Nuns

Yes, it's true, I do have more music from nuns. They aren't just good for teaching anymore, they can also sing! I think I picked this one up for the cover mostly. It's not one of those covers you see every day. So give this one a listen right after you finish up with that last one. Oh, this one was first shared back in '06, so if you missed it then, please grab The Sisters Of Divine Providence-Christmas Mosaic-Our Greetings In Carols (Gateway GLP-9014, Mono).

1. Joy To The World; O Little Town Of Bethlehem; The First Noel
2. The Christmas Nightingale; Christmas Carol Fantasy
3. Rise Up, Shepherd, An' Foller
4. Rise Up Early
5. There's A Song
6. Sleigh Ride; Deck The Halls; Jingle Bells
7. White Christmas; Carol Of The Bells
8. Go Tell It On The Mountain
9. O Come All Ye Faithful; We Three Kings
10. Christmas Gloria

Those Wacky Nuns

I went on a little nun kick last year, and this was one of those albums. Sometimes I find these types of private-press LPs to be pretty good, sometimes they leave a lot to be desired. I think this one falls in the middle somewhere. At least you get some great cover art when you download The Glen Riddle Franciscans-Choral Group-Sisters Of St. Francis-We Sing Of Christmas (Private Pressing LPM-2, Mono).

1. Joy To The World-The First Noel
2. What Child Is This
3. Carol Of The Drum
4. Go Tell It On The Mountain
5. In Dulci Jubilo
6. Carol Of The Friendly Beasts
7. Silent Night
8. Ring Those Christmas Bells
9. Carols: Un Flambeau Jeanette Isabelle-Es Ist Ein' Ros' Entsprugen-Alegria Alegria!
10. I Sing Of A Maiden
11. Sleigh Ride
12. Carol Of The Shepherds
13. O Come, All Ye Faithful

For Chanukah This Year

If my research is correct, then tonight at sundown begins the celebration of Chanukah. Most of the tunes I share around here are for Christmas, but I realize that's not the only holiday of the season. But finding music for those other holidays is hard, I count myself lucky to have even this one share for you. But it's a pretty good one. I first shared this out in 2006, and it's been a staple ever since. Please download and enjoy The Moishe Oysher Chanukah Party (Rozanna J7OP-6641/6642, Mono). Shalom!

1. Happy Chanuka
2. Blessing Of The Candles (Brochot)
3. Reg'n
4. V'lirushulayem
5. Moat Tzur
6. Cirba
7. Mizmor Shir
8. Ani Mamin
9. Drei Dreidele (Spin The Dreidle)
10. S'hma Yisroel (Hear O' Isreal)

Cannonball (Not Adderly)

For the first time all season, I'm behind. I've never been far ahead, but I missed my normally scheduled 6 am post this morning. And I'm going to miss more today. I hope to get caught up over the weekend, though, so bear with me. This next share (from last year) is a great lost album of saxophone Christmas tunes. I think you'll enjoy it. Please download Ace Cannon-Christmas Cheers From Ace Cannon, His Alto Sax And Chorus (Hi SHL 32022, Stereo, 1964).

1. White Christmas
2. Winter Wonderland
3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
5. Here Comes Santa Claus
6. Frosty The Snowman
7. Blue Christmas
8. Jingle Bells
9. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
10. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
11. Jingle Bell Rock
12. Rock Around The Christmas Tree

That Nashville Sound?

One of the leading proponents of the Nashville sound in the sixties was Owen Bradley. Unfortunately, this record was made before he had figured out how to make that sound, as this is filled with your standard issue Christmas organ and chimes. I had such high hopes for this one last year when I first recorded and shared it, but it just wasn't to be. But don't let me turn you off of it. You never know, you find find something here you like. Go ahead and download Organ And Chimes Played By Owen Bradley (Coral CRL 57071, Mono, 1956).

1. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
2. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
3. Silent Night
4. O Holy Night
5. The First Nowell
6. Joy To The World
7. Deck The Halls
8. Ring Out The Bells-The Bells Of Christmas
9. The Birthday Of A King
10. O Come All Ye Faithful
11. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
12. Away In A Manger

The Other Arthur

This is a Christmas record from Arthur Godfrey, the second one that I know of. His first Christmas record came out near the height of his TV career and features all the Little Godfreys. But, it's on CD and I can't share it with you. However, there's still this one. This is the stereo version of an LP I first brought you a couple of years ago. There's some good stuff here, and it's all Arthur, except for a children's chorus, and they aren't on all the tracks. Please be my guest and 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.

Success Story, Volume 4

Following on from that last post about the availability of an Arthur Godfrey record on CD, guess what else is on that same CD set? Yep, it's this great Christmas album from The McGuire Sisters. This is one of the very few records that I've shared here that actually cost me more than a buck at some thrift store. I think I had to come off of $15 on eBay one year to score a copy of this one. I'd been hunting for years and years in my usual places, and usually got outbid by quite a bit whenever I did spot it on eBay. But I finally got lucky. But you can just go over to Amazon and buy it. For the search engines, this is The McGuire Sisters-Greeting From The McGuire Sisters (Coral CRL 57225, 1958). I think the tracks are also on this other CD from the same label, and it's all McGuire Sisters, so if you don't like Arthur Godfrey, maybe you should get this one instead.

Success Story, Volume 3

It took me years to find a clean copy of the Arthur Godfrey LP you see above. I accumulated several copies over the years, but they all skipped on various tracks. Then one year I finally got a good one and recorded it. I proudly shared it out back in 2007, for what seemed like about five minutes before I discovered it was available on CD. So don't make the same mistake I did. Go get this CD from Amazon. It has all the tracks on it, even though there's no mention of Christmas music on the cover. If you want, download my nice cover scan above, or one of the alternate covers below.

For the search engines, this record is either Christmas With Arthur Godfrey And All The Little Godfreys (Columbia 12" LP, CL 540, 1953) or Christmas With Arthur Godfrey And All The Little Godfreys (Columbia 3x 7" 45 RPM EP, B-348, 1953).

3003 Posts

Whoops, I missed my 3000th post by a little bit. So this is my official 3003rd post! Four and a half years of hard work! Thanks for all the visits, especially around the holidays.

Polka Time

Yes, it's polka time! No fancy commentary here, I'll assume you all know The Polka King when you see him. If you don't already have some Christmas polka on your iPod, download Frankie Yankovic-Christmas Party (Columbia CS 9053, Stereo, 1964). This was first shared in 2006.

1. Jing-A-Ling (Christmas Time Is Here Again
2. The Merry Christmas Polka
3. Blue Christmas
4. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
5. Jingle Bells Polka
6. Christmas Polka
7. There'll Always Be A Christmas
8. Christmas Chopsticks
9. Christmas Lullaby
10. Medley: The First Noel; It Came Upon The Midnight Clear; Away In A Manger; We Three Kings Of Orient Are
11. Medley: O Come, All Ye Faithful; Good King Wenceslas; Ihr Kinderlein Kommet
12. Medley: Joy To The World; Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly; God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

If this isn't enough polka to get your kielbasa cookin', then go here.

ALB 2

Another great album cover with only so-so music on the inside. I think all the great record labels of the fifties & sixties had art departments whose sole purpose were to make you buy records you otherwise wouldn't even consider. As a collector of old records, I base 90-some odd percent of what I buy on the cover. It's tough to listen to a record when you're standing in the back room of a Goodwill store, but it's easy to look at the shiny cover picture. Well, easy if it happens to be a well-lit back room, which isn't always the case. Anyhow, here's another record featuring Aurthur Lynds Bigelow that you probably only want for the cover. I know that's why I first shared it a few years back. But don't over analyze, just download Arthur Lynds Bigelow, Bell Master, & Marjorie MacComb, Organist-Ring! Christmas Bells (Columbia CL 915, Mono, 1956).

1. Gesu Bambino
2. Tune Of The Sleigh Bells
3. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
4. Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
5. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
6. A La Venue De Noel
7. Good King Wenceslas
8. There Once Fell A Heavenly Dew
9. Born Is Jesus The Infant King
10. The Holly And The Ivy
11. Silent Night, Holy Night
12. Noel d'Aquin

ALB 1

Don't you just love that cover? I think half the fun of these old Christmas records is the cool covers. It almost doesn't matter what's in the sleeve if it gives you something good to look at while you listen. You probably don't care that this is a great carillon LP, do you? If you want to know more about it, you can read all of what I wrote last year. But if you just want to download it and stare at that great cover as you listen, then be my guest. This isArthur Lynds Bigelow, Bell Master-Princeton University-Christmas Carillon (Columbia CL 750, Mono, 1955).

1. Adeste Fideles
2. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
3. The First Noel
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
5. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
6. Nu Zijt Willecome
7. Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabella
8. Les Agnes Dans Nos Campagnes
9. What Child Is This Who Laid To Rest
10. Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging
11. Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht
12. Away In A Manger
13. O Tannenbaum
14. Deck The Hall With Boughs Of Holly
15. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
16. I Came Upon The Midnight Clear
17. Joy To The World

Little Ralphie

Perhaps one of the greatest choral Christmas records that I've ever had the pleasure of sharing is staring you right in the face above. There is so much good music on this record that RCA had to issue it twice. The first time it came out, it was by The Ralph Hunter Choir as the record you see above. Couple years later, RCA decided it was so good it needed to come out again, so they released it as Living Voices Sing Christmas Music (RCA Camden CAS 725, Stereo, 1962). That cover is the one way down at the bottom of this post. I first shared this record in 2005, sourced from a beat-up Australian pressing of the record. Some of the tracks were so bad that I had to take them from a copy of the Living Voices version, which doesn't really matter since they are exactly the same. Last year I finally managed to track down a copy of the original record in great shape, so I recorded that one and shared it. And that's the share that I'm resharing with you this morning. If you ain't got it already, you'd better hurry up and download The Ralph Hunter Choir-Christmas Surprises From The Ralph Hunter Choir (RCA Victor LSP-2063, Stereo, 1959) before it's all downloaded out.

1. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
2. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers
3. Jingle Bells
4. Winter Wonderland
5. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
6. White Christmas
7. Wassail Song
8. Carol Medley: Joy To The World; God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
9. The First Noel
10. Indian Christmas Carol
11. Latin Lullaby (Cancion De Cuna)
12. Silent Night

Don't Download This

I'm sure you're wondering why you shouldn't download what looks like a great share (first seen hereabouts in 2005). I mean, how can you miss with The Ames Brothers? And you may not know it yet, but Don Cornell's I've Got The Christmas Spirit is a great Christmas song that deserves to be better known. I think this is also the premier recording of that Christmas evergreen, The Night Before Christmas Song. But like I said, I don't want you to download this. I want you to head on over to Big 10-Inch Record and download his recording of this music, from a 10" record released the year before this 2x7" version came out. I listened to my recordings today, and they are just horrid. Buster does a much better job with his Christmas shares, and I think you'll be happier with his. But if you really want to, here is my share of Merry Christmas From (Coral Records EC-82003, Mono, 1953).

1. The Ames Brothers-Sing A Song Of Santa Claus
2. The Ames Brothers-Winter's Here Again
3. Don Cornell-Let's Have An Old Fashioned Christmas
4. Don Cornell-I've Got The Christmas Spirit
5. Eileen Barton-The Little Match Girl
6. Eileen Barton-The Night Before Christmas Song
7. Johnny Desmond-(You Can Just Feel) Christmas In The Air
8. Johnny Desmond-Christmas Is A Time (That Will Never Change)

Sing It Outdoors

Hard to believe, but this record is one of my most commented upon. It seems that many people grew up hearing bits of the 'Sing It Outdoors' jingle on TV, and when they go searching for it on the internet, they land here at Ernie (Not Bert). I'm just happy to have something that someone is looking for. I first shared this in 2007, and I don't know much more about it now than I did then, except that a lot of people remember that tune. This is John Donnelly & Sons-Sing It Outdoors (No Catalog Number, Mono). Dig that cool green vinyl!

1. Sing It Outdoors
2. Deck The Halls
3. O Tannenbaum
4. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers
5. The Friendly Beasts
6. Les Agnes Dans Nos Campagnes
7. Maria Und Joseph
8. Nu Ar Det Jul Icen
9. Twelve Days Of Christmas
10. What Child Is This
11. Unto Us A Boy Was Born
12. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
13. Silent Night
14. Sing It Outdoors
(And that's just side one! Side two didn't have anything at all to do with Christmas, so I didn't record it.)

Snap-on, Snap-Off

You may wonder what the favorite share of my father is here at the blog. It's this record from the fine folks at Snap-On. I don't know why, he just likes it. I think it may have something to do with the thought of a giant manly tool company having a chorus, 'cause he always liked to sing. For a while, he was active in a barbershop chorus, and was always the song leader at church. So this one is coming back just because Dad likes it. Please download The Snap-On Male Chorus-Carols Of Christmas (RCA Custom Record Dept. SOLP 6363, Mono).

1. Awake, Awake
2. Away In A Manger
3. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
4. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
5. Spirit Of Christmas (A Medley)
6. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
7. Cantique De Noel
8. God Rest You Menny Gentlemen
9. Deck The Halls
10. Carol Of The Drum
11. Silent Night
12. Jingle Bells

Big Sound, Tiny Package

This is another LP that I shouldn't have waited so long to share this year. This one will get your toes tapping or my name's not Bert. Wait, it's Ernie, not Bert. Ha-ha, I made a funny. Or a not-so-funny. Anyhow, you won't regret downloading and listening to Christmas With Big Tiny Little (Coral CRL 757391, Stereo, 1961). This was one of the original albums I first shared back in 2005 and I think it's popped up every year since.

1. Tiny's Christmas Medley
2. When Santa Claus Does The Polka
3. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
4. Sleigh Ride
5. Frosty The Snow Man
6. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
7. Silver Bells
8. Santa's Chopsticks
9. Winter Wonderland
10. Here Comes Santa Claus
11. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
12. Jumpin' Jiminy Christmas

Christmas On Mars

How could I have let almost two weeks of sharity season go by without revisiting this classic of western song? This is the record of the comic of the movie Santa Claus Conquers The Martians! You know you need that. So get busy and download Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (Golden Records SLP 170, Mono). Go. Go now! Hurry, supplies are limited!

The Only Avon Share Left

I was reminded of this old share yesterday when I found out that my other Avon Christmas record was now available on iTunes. Well, I guarantee you you that this record isn't going to show up on iTunes anytime soon. This was sent to Avon ladies in 1968 to give them tips on holiday sales, as well as to provide them with a side of fairly innocuous Christmas music to play during those Avon parties. I suppose someone might release this someday, but there's a whole awful lot of other stuff that's going to have to come out first, I think. Please help yourself to Avon Campaign 21 (Avon 10" 33 RPM, Mono, 1968).

1. Christmas Kickoff
2. Jingle Bells
3. Silent Night
4. Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairies

Moog For The Holidays

One of those Christmas albums that you have to hear to believe, this one is all your favorite Christmas carols as performed on the Moog synthesizer. Yes, that's right, it's Christmas on the Moog. Probably one of my top five shares of all times, first showing up here at the blog in 2005 and remastered a year later, this is The Moog Machine-Christmas Becomes Electric (Columbia CS 9959, Stereo, 1969).

1. Jingle Bells
2. Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. We Three Kings
4. Deck The Halls
5. Silent Night
6. Joy To The World
7. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
8. O Come, All Ye Faithful
9. Carol Of The Bells
10. The Little Drummer Boy
11. O Holy Night
12. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
13. Patapan
14. The First Noel
15. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
16. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
17. Twelve Days Of Christmas

Two Bells

This is the second Eddie Dunstedter I promised. I talked all about it in that last post, so I'm not going to repeat myself here. This was one of my very first shares back in 2005, and I'm pleased to bring it back to you today. Please download Eddie Dunstedter-The Bells Of Christmas Chime Again (Capitol ST 1968, Stereo, 1963).

1. White Christmas
2. Silver Bells
3. Angels We Have Heard On High
4. Sweet Little Jesus Boy
5. Winter Wonderland
6. In The Clock Store
7. Ring, Christmas Bells
8. The Christmas Song
9. Beautiful Savior
10. I'll Be Home For Christmas
11. Happy Holiday

Back On CD

Look what's available again on CD! That's right, it's Keely Smith's 1963 Christmas album, A Keely Christmas! You can pick it up at your favorite CD retailer. This one has been on CD before, gone out of print, and sold for crazy prices, so pick it up before it disappears again. It's not a Louis Prima Christmas record (though he does make a secret appearance), but it's a nice one if you're a fan of female vocals. Don't miss out!

One Bell

What can I say about this one that I haven't said before? Way back in 2004, a small community formed over at FaLaLaLaLa.com. It was a group of like-minded people who remembered Christmases from long ago, and those big spinning record that made the music come out of the speaker of the old hi-fi set in the living room. The King of Jing-a-ling brought us all together and started sharing out some music that many people hadn't heard in years. One of the earliest records he shared was a disc by Eddie Dunstedter. I recognized the name, ran to my record collection and searched until I found this record. Even better, I found two records by the same guy, neither of which was the one shared out. So I recorded them and shared them both out the very next year, so that anyone who wanted could have the complete Eddie Dunstedter Christmas collection. I think it's been 4 years since then, and I still have to share out those records every Christmas. If you've not gotten it before now, please download Eddie Dunstedter-The Bells Of Christmas (Capitol ST 1264, Stereo, 1959), and listen to the sound of Christmas.

1. The First Noel
2. March Of The Three Kings
3. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
4. Greensleeves
5. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear-O Little Town Of Bethlehem-Away In A Manger
6. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
7. Cantique De Noel (O Holy Night)
8. We Three Kings Of Orient Are-Bring Your Torches
9. Deck The Halls-Joy To The World
10. Adeste Fideles
11. O Tannenbaum
12. The Coventry Carol-Von Himmel Hoch
13. Silent Night

Christmas In September

When I was in DC this past September, I was excited to find the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse in back of the White House. I was disappointed to find that it hadn't been decorated yet. But I suppose I would have been more disappointed to find that it had been decorated already, since this was September. (It's sort of a Catch-22...) In fact, if you look close at the picture above, taken from the top of the Washington Monument in the rain, you can see the flag atop the White House is at half mast. That's because it was 9-11. That's the National Christmas Tree in the little ring in the foreground. The plaque below is behind the tree in the shot above, so you can't see it, but trust me, it's there. If it weren't there, how could I have taken the picture below?

Success Story Or Not?

I just found out that this record I shared out some time ago is now available for download over at iTunes. No big deal, that sort of thing happens all the time. Record companies are constantly finding things to release in their backcatalog. The odd part is, someone who downloaded it says it sounds just like the version I was sharing, right down to the pops in the vinyl. Now, that's a little odd. Wouldn't it be ironic if someone who owned the rights to this record just took my rip and let iTunes start selling it? And what am I gonna do, complain? I don't think so. Anyhow, be sure to visit iTunes to download Nelson Riddle Orchestra And Chorus-Avon Wishes You A Happy Holiday And A Joyous New Year (Avon AV 10170, Stereo, 1970). Compare my cover to theirs, too. I guess they didn't want to use the original Avon version, but they didn't want to stray too far away either. Oh, and the tracks are all switched around, too.