Christmas In July 2011-Day 31

Ta-Da!  Last day of the month!  So around here, that means songs about New Year's, and at least a dozen versions of Auld Lang Syne.  But I've got a couple of special things in here, too, so don't write off the whole day.  Let's see what's in the old download tonight...

1.  Auld Land Syne in a sing-along version by Guy Cherney from Everybody Sing With Guy Cherney (Mercury MG 20131, Mono, 1956).  This sing-along idea seems to be a popular idea when it comes to Auld Lang Syne.

2. Auld Lang Syne with no artist credited, but it came on a promotional record for Suburban Propane, so that's who I'm crediting it to.  The LP is Suburban Propane Presents...Family Treasury Of Songs For Your Listening Pleasure (Suburban Album SCOR_1, Mono).  If you look hard enough, there are promo albums from every industry in the US.

3. Auld Lang Syne from Richard Wolfe, he of kiddie chorus fame.  This is from Many Happy Returns Of The Day (MGM E 4087, Mono, 1963).  Believe it or not, this LP sports a cover by Jack Davis.  You'll probably see some of it come Christmas...

4. Auld Lang Syne, another promo version this time by the Ford-Allen Singers from an oddball 6" flexidisc in it's original paper envelope, Make Winter Driving A Song-Happy Songs For Special Occasions (Auravision, A Product Of Columbia Records 6" 33 RPM Flexidisc in paper folder, Compliments of Esso).  I wound up with two copies of this, one in the envelope, one not, but the one that wasn't in the envelope had never had the center hole punched out.  So I recorded the punched one.

5. Good Night Ladies And Auld Lang Syne (Medley), the first of many medleys this evening that incorporate our New Year's Eve song, this time by Hugo And Luigi With Their Family Singers from By The Fireside (Mercury MG 20153, Mono, 1956).  That Hugo and Luigi went on to bigger and better things after this, producing more than their fair share of records at RCA in the sixties.

6. Happy New Year, Happy New Year (Come To The Party, Do), perhaps the only rerun of the day, by Charlie Weaver, Music Under The Direction Of Charles (Puddin' Head) Dant And The Mt. Idy Symphonette from Charlie Weaver Sings For His People (Columbia CL 1345, Mono, 1959).  Nice little comedy bit from the same guy who did a Christmas bit for you the other night.

7. Let's Start The New Year Right by Bing Crosby With Bob Crosby And His Orchestra from some movie he was in called Holiday Inn (Decca DL 4256, Mono, 1962).  This was part of a reissue series that saw all sorts of old Bing soundtracks brought back to life.

8. Look Ahead by The Mariners With Orchestra And Chorus By Archie Bleyer, Introduction By Arthur Godfrey from Arthur Godfrey's TV Calendar Show (Columbia GL 521, Mono, 1953).  I shared a track from this earlier in the month, and I was happy to be able to finally get any of the songs on this beat-up LP recorded.  But there's still one on there I can't get.  It's a version of this same song done by Arthur Godfrey himself.  Oh, well, maybe next year.

9. Annie Laurie-Auld Lang Syne by Mitch Miller And The Gang from Fireside Sing Along With Mitch (Columbia CS 8184, Stereo, 1959).  As if you could do a sing-along song and not have a version by Mitch and his gang.

10. Auld Lang Syne, this time by Oscar Clinton And His Orchestra from A Salute To The Great Band Leaders (Spin-O-Rama S-27, Stereo).  Budget label goodness.

11, 12 & 13. Auld Lang Syne, the introduction (Countdown To The New Year), the Reprise and the Finale by Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians from Every Night Is New Year's Eve With Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians-Live At The Waldorf Astoria (London Phase 4 XPS 904, Stereo, 1973).  Really, really late in his career.

14. Happy New Year, whoops, a second rerun, by Gordon Jenkins And His Orchestra With The Ralph Brewster Singers from The Magic World Of Gordon Jenkins (Columbia CS 8682, Stereo, 1962).  Excellent track.  Not only have I shared this version before, I also shared a different version that I pulled from a reel-to-reel tape!

15. Medley: For He's A Jolly Good Fellow-Auld Lang Syne by The Rounders from Good Time Party Songs (Stereo Gold Award (UK) MER 339, Stereo, 1971).

16. New Year's Eve At Times Square, a short snippet of live sound narrated by Art Gilmore from an early stereo sampler The Stereo Disc (Capitol SWAL-9032, Stereo, 1958).  I was hoping to actually get to hear the countdown, but it isn't there.

17. On The Very First Day Of The Year, another great song from Bing Crosby With The Pete Moore Orchestra from his last recorded LP, Seasons (Polydor PD-1-6128, Stereo, 1977).  It's as if he was looking for a rewrite of that other track above.

18.  Happy New Year Twist (Auld Lang Syne), probably my favorite version of this tired old track, by The Lions (with assistance from Billy Mure, I believe) from Twist With The Lions (Metro (MGM) M300, Mono, 1962).  Good stuff.

19. Auld Lang Syne, a later version from Vaughn Monroe from Racing With The Moon (Hamilton (Dot) HLP 137, Mono).  Shame he never did a full Christmas LP, but there are plenty of single tracks, almost enough that you could put a full album together...

20. He's A Jolly Good Fellow-Auld Lang Syne, the last version of the evening, I promise, by Frank '88' Malone from Hail, Hail The Gang's All Here! (Somerset P-900, Mono, 1964).  Yawn.

And there you have it.  Plenty of tunes to play on the next New Year, many months from now.  Put 'em someplace safe you you still have them when the time comes.  Here's the download link.  Oh, don't think we're done.  If history has taught us anything, it's that there's always a day or two worth of songs left in the coffers after the month comes to an official close.  So be sure to come back tomorrow.