Christmas In July 2011-Day 16

Day 16, and I've got some good news.  About a week before I started sharing all this groovy Christmas music with you, I got a new computer.  I set it up and started recording much of the music I've been sharing with you for the past couple of weeks.  But on that old computer, I'd already recorded almost 100 tracks that I'd wanted to share.  I worked pretty hard to see if I could stay ahead of my sharing without having to raid that pile of music, and I was successful in reaching my goal of halfway through the month.  But now that I'm halfway through, I copied all those songs over to the new computer and I'm going to start sharing them tonight.  Why does that matter to you?  Well, normally, I always record my best stuff first, then as the month wears on, you get less and less prime stuff and more and more filler, like multiple versions of questionable songs and lots and lots of junior high bands.  But now it's like starting over at the beginning of the month!  A little over half the songs tonight are stuff I recorded back on the other computer and the others are stuff from the usual cache of goodies I've been sharing all along.  You may not be able to tell the difference, but I sure can.  There's some real good stuff in here.  Let's jump in!

1. Christmas Time Is Here by Ted Schumate-Dann Reno Jazz Quintet from the LP Hurricane (Gulfstream Productions 501014, Stereo, 1985).  This appears to be a locally produced and recorded album from the Tampa Bay area.  I found this at the Goodwill store just today, but I knew I had to get it up here for you.  Nice little version of the popular Charlie Brown Christmas music.

2. The Doll Dance by Russ Case And His Orchestra.  This is from one of those hard-to-find LPs on Vik, an early 50's subsidiary of RCA.  I buy pretty much all of them when I come across them, but they're pretty few and far between.  Th record is Dances Wild (Vik (RCA) LX-1085, Mono, 1957).

3. Winter Wonderland by Cliff Duphiney With Vincent Marino, Percussionist from the record Cliff Duphiney's Explosion Of The Tone Cabinets (Decora Amphora DALP 2002S, Stereo, 1961).  With an album title like that, how could I pass it up?

4. Greensleeves by Les And Larry Elgart from Big Band Hootenanny (Columbia CS 8912, Stereo, 1963).  They were a little straight;aced to be on an album called Hootenanny, don't ya think?

5. Put A Little Love In Your Heart by The Cuff Links from their album Tracy (Decca DL 75160, Stereo, 1969).  I don't think this is really a Christmas song, but after the Annie Lennox-Al Green version from the movie Scrooged, who can resist?  That's good marketing!

6. The Bells Of St. Mary's, this time by Fred Waring And The Pennsylvanians-Stuart Churchill, Soloist, from their LP Songs Of Inspiration (Decca DL 8709, Mono, 1958).  I think I may have found a Christmas LP from Fred Waring that's entirely new to me.  No, not this one, something else, but you'll have to wait for Christmas and see.  One of my all-time most popular shares comes from Mr. Waring, so this should prove interesting.

7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Larry Seidel from the LP The Glory Of God's Seasons (Grace Unlimited GU-002, Stereo).  Nice little religious record, this one.  More tracks from it are upcoming.

8. March Of The Toys by The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy Conducting, from the album A Festival Of Marches (Columbia Masterworks MS 6474, Stereo, 1963).  Good one.

9. Mary's Little Boy Chile by the writer himself, Jester Hairston!  I didn't know he'd recorded later in life, I was familiar with his Christmas work with The Voices Of Walter Schumann, but I was excited when I found his LP The Jester Hairston Collection (Light LS 5849, Stereo, 1984), and this song was on there.  It's great!

10. When Winter Comes by Joanie Sommers, Arranged And Conducted By Stan Applebaum, pulled from the LP Sommers' Seasons (Warner Bros WS1504, Stereo, 1963).  You'll hear more from this record later...

11. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm by Jackie Gleason With The Keith Textor Singers from Irving Berlin's Music For Lovers (Capitol SW 106, Duophonic, 1969).  This may have found it's way to one of The Great One's Christmas albums, but that's not where I found it, so I'm putting it here.

12. March Of The Little Lead Soldiers by The Carnegie Pops Orchestra, Conducted By Walter Hendl, from the very early LP Carnegie Pops Program (Columbia Masterworks ML 4118, Mono, 1949).

13. Snowfall by Enoch Light And The Light Brigade from Big Band Hits Of The 30's, 40's 50's (Project 3 2xLP PR2 6005, Stereo, 1979).  I may have shared this before, but not from this LP.  I think is a re-packaging of two earlier records on Project 3.  Enoch Light's labels were known for repurposing their recordings in later years.

14. Virgin Mary by Carolyn Hester.  I love this track!  I just recorded it this morning, although I think it's been in the stack for two seasons now, I just never got to it.  You never know until you try it, I guess.  This is from her debut self-titled album (Columbia CL 1796, Mono, 1962).  I've only ever seen this one copy, and I think the reason for that is a credit to Bob Dylan for harmonica on the back.  No harmonica on this track, though, but it's not needed.

15. Jingle Bells by Danny Kaye from his soundtrack to The Five Pennies (Dot DLP 29500, Stereo, 1959).  Don't know I've missed this one all these years.

That's enough for tonight, as if 15 tracks is never too few, but it may turn out to be too many.  I'm just so excited about being able to dive into those tracks I've been saving.  Here's the download link, come back tomorrow for more Christmas in July treasures!

Christmas In July 2011-Day 15

And.....that is the halfway point for the month.  I know that technically there are 31 days, so there is no even halfway point, and I always run over anyway, so there usually wind up being 32 or 33 days of shares, so technically I'm not there yet, but the way these things work out, the last few days sort write themselves.  So I'm calling today the halfway point.  And in honor of that, I'm sharing out thirteen tracks with you.  It's a lot of songs, but you deserve it.  I don't even think there are any reruns in here tonight, it's all new stuff, if not the absolute best tracks I've shared with you all month.  31 days is a long time to keep the quality level up.  At least you get some quantity, right?  Here we go...

1. Hallelujah Chorus, another well-recorded version, this time by the Massed Choir From The Churches Of San Antonio (TX), from the LP Summer Sunday Nights At Travis Park Methodist Church (Austin Custom Records LCS-33-6237, Mono).  I like the versions that sound this good.  The rest sort of grate on my ears.

2. Hark The Herald Angels Sing by Ardie And Eight Year Old Steve from an album I first shared a track from yesterday, His Story In Song (Singcord ZLP 961S, Mono).  I'm not sure which one is which or who does what on this track.  The record sleeve and label were no help at all.

3. Valse De Fleurs, also known as Waltz Of The Flowers, a chestnut by Tchaikovsky performed here by the First Piano Quartet from their LP Waltzes From The Classics, Dances Not For Dancing (RCA Victor Red Seal LM 1165, Mono).  You first heard a track from them last night, and this is the last one I've got for you.

4.  White Christmas-Another one of those tracks I should not share out.  So no comment.

5. Wonder, Wonder (Polish Carol) by Drexel Hill Junior High School Chorus.  Am I getting near the end of the tracks by this junior high chorus?  Yes and no...

6. Hazy Shade Of Winter by Living Brass, Arranged And Conducted By Ray Martin from Music From "The Graduate" And Other Simon And Garfunkel Hits (RCA Camden CAS-2323, Stereo, 1969).  I never really thought of this as a Christmas track, but by my own rules, it does have Winter in the title, so it must be.

7. I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing by The Korean Children's Choir and the album To The World With Love (Word WST-8523-LP, Stereo, 1972).  Nice version.  I should have ripped their version of Amazing Grace in Korean for you, but I didn't.  I'm a slacker in many respects...

8. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring by The Coral Ridge Chancel Choir, Directed By Roger C. McMurrin, Harpsichord-Diane Bish, Organ-John McCarthy from The Coral Ridge Chancel Choir And 117 Rank Ruffatti Pipe Organ (Coral Ridge Productions CRP-1001-LP, Stereo).  Not the first track from this record I've shared.

9. Pine Cones And Holly Berries (With "It's beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas") by The Merrill Staton Voices from the album Meredith Willson's Here's Love (Columbia Special Archives Series CSRP 8899, Stereo, 1963).  I was wrong, there is a rerun in the group, but what a great song.

10. Reverberations as performed on the handbells by The Wesleyan Ringers, Lloyd R. Pilkington-Director, from the vinyl The Glory Of Bells (Silver Crest Custom STJ-111882, St. John's United Methodist Church, Hazlet, NJ, Stereo).  Not sure if this is Christmas related, but they said it was.  There's so much Christmas music that I'm unfamiliar with, even after all these years.

11. Silent Night, Holy Night, the first track I'm sharing from the album The Music Of Christmas, Lent And Easter (St. George's Church, Schenectady, NY SG102666, Stereo), but not the last.  I think the artist is St. George's Choir Of Men And Boys, Frederick Monks-Master Of The Choristers, James Pittenger-Flute, but the label and sleeve didn't match exactly, and both were somewhat vague.

12. Snowfall by The Sound Of Brass Voices, from the album Big Band Themes (The Longines Symphonette Society SYS 5881, Stereo, 1974).  I didn't think I would, but I really liked this one.  The wordless vocals added a lot to it.

13.  Toyland by The Peter Pan Players & Orchestra from The Best Of Walt Disney (Peter Pan 8100, Stereo).  Another one I didn't think I'd like, but it's different from the other cheap versions I've heard.

And that's it.  I'm pretty late tonight, but at least I don't have to get up and go to work in the morning.  Here's the download link, see you all tomorrow when I begin the second half of the Christmas In July fun.

Christmas In July 2011-Day 14

Day 14, almost to the halfway point.  Still going strong, though.  I think by this point last year I was a few days behind, if not completely at a standstill.  So let's keep that momentum going.

Track 1-Ave Maria-Schubert by Herbie Koch, Official Carillonneur, State Of Georgia.  I thought I had shared this before, but it didn't turn up in a search of the blog.  That doesn't mean anything, of course.  I could have misspelled it before, or I've even been know to throw up a post in a hurry and not list what I'm sharing.  So if this is a rerun I'm not tagging as such, I apologize and will return your money ASAP.  (Which is not to say I haven't shared any Herbie Koch before, just not this track from this LP.)  This is from the LP Sacred Bells Of Stone Mountain (Stone Mountain, Georgia, 777S-6946, Mono).

Track 2-Christmas Morn from our friend Kenny Baker.  Again, a track I thought I'd shared, but can't find now.  This is from a little 10" record, Hymns By Mary Baker Eddy (Published By The Trustees Under The Will Of Mary Baker Eddy 10" 33 RPM TV 15581, Mono).

Track 3-Dance Of The Toy Pipes-Russian Sailor's Dance by the First Piano Quartet from the early LP Waltzes From The Classics, Dances Not For Dancing (RCA Victor Red Seal LM 1165, Mono).  I tried and tried to find a date for this one, but to no avail.  Anyone want to point me to something?  I'm thinking really early fifties.  The vinyl had the same label for side two on both sides, which I thought was odd, and on the label they called it Dance Of The Reed Flutes.  I guess there's more than one was to translate Tchaikovsky from the original Russian.

Track 4-Introduction to His Story In Song (Singcord ZLP 861S, Mono) by Aunt Bertha.  This is just too out-there.  Couple more tracks from this one to come, but this is the money-shot right here.  The front cover said stereo, but I didn't see that until I listened and decided it was mono.  Sorry...

Track 5-Rocking Carol (Czech Carol) by Drexel Hill Junior High School Girl's Choir.  You already know where this is from...

Track 6 & 7-We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Regular flavor and Instrumental) by Hap Palmer from his record for the kiddies called Holiday Songs And Rhythms (Activity Records AR-538, Mono, 1971).  Those aren't the right words...  Came with a copy of the lyrics and everything!  I actually had two copies of this record, one dated 1972 and one dated 1980, I think, and both had the insert, which was dated 1971 so that's the date I put on the whole thing.

Track 8-Gloria by The Wesleyan Ringers, Lloyd R. Pilkington-Director.  Yes, another one that you know where it's from already.

Track 9-Hallelujah Chorus by The Coral Ridge Chancel Choir, Directed By Roger C. McMurrin, Organ-John McCarthy from the LP The Coral Ridge Chancel Choir And 117 Rank Ruffatti Pipe Organ (Coral Ridge Productions CRP-1001-LP, Stereo).  This has to be one of the most cleanly-recorded versions of this song I've ever heard.  Most of them are muddy as all get-out, especially custom recordings like this, but I was surprised.

Track 10-I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing by Ray Conniff And The Singers.  I don't know if you think of this as a Christmas song, but I do.  This is from the album of the same name (Columbia KC 31220, Stereo, 1972).

Track 11-Medley From Greenwillow: Clang Dang The Bell; The Music Of Home; Greenwillow Christmas; Never Will I Marry by Arthur Fiedler And The Boston Pops.  This one I know for sure is a rerun, but this version is probably not as nice as the one I shared before.  You never know how a piece of vinyl is going to sound until you play it.  The record is called Music Of Frank Loesser (RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2486, Stereo, 1961).

Track 12-Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers by James Walker with some unknown orchestra and chorus.  This is yet another track from Wonderful World Of Music For Children (Reader's Digest 6xLP RDS38-M, Stereo), and it's pretty nice.

That's it for tonight.  More tomorrow.  Here's the download link, have a nice evening.

Christmas In July 2011-Day 13

Lucky number thirteen today, so I'm sharing out the most tracks in a single day (11!) as well as the largest download (89 megabytes), though I don't think it's the longest group of tracks...let me check...nope, just over 50 minutes.  I think I did just under 60 minutes one night.  Anyhow, let's jump into the deep end.

1.  Jingle Bells, the only track tonight from a junior high chorus, I promise.  I had plenty of time this evening to record some tracks, so I don't have to throw many of those in the mix tonight, but I make no promises for ensuing days.  This is by the Drexel Hill Junior High Girl's Chorus and I grabbed it from the album Drexel Hill Junior High School Music Concerts 1965-1966 (Recorded Publications Company Z-71661/2, Mono, 1966).  Now, on to some more professional stuff.

2.  Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus as performed by The Robert Shaw Chorale-Robert Shaw, Conductor-Hugh Porter, Organist from the album Great Sacred Choruses (RCA Victor Red Seal LM 1117, Mono, 1954).  This is probably one of the easier Christmas songs to find, but I've tried to limit the versions I've recorded this year.  I don't think most versions sound very good on record.

3. Skater's Waltz, a rerun from Ralph Bell And Shay Torrent from the album Organ Fantasies In Hi-Fi (Mercury MG 20135, Mono, 1956).  I read a review of this in Billboard and they didn't like it.  I think that was one of the few reviews I've seen in there where they didn't have anything good to say.  I wasn't too impressed myself, to tell you the truth.

4. The Village Of St. Bernadette By Ronnie Brown With Orchestra By Henri Rene, from the LP Presenting The Velvet Piano Of Ronnie Brown (Columbia CL 1492, Mono, 1962).  I'd never seen any Henri Rene that wasn't on RCA, or at least nothing that I remember seeing.  Not a very Christmassy track, but I throw it in for volume.

5. The Christmas Song by Tinker Reason from the album Relax With The Tinkers-Volume 3 (T&B Records 106070, Stereo).  I guess The Tinkers were a husband & wife lounge act at some point around here in Sarasota.  At least their contact address on the LP is here in Sarasota.  The testimonials on the back of the record seem to be from places far, far away from the suncoast.  Harry Reasoner says "I enjoyed your music."  Now with a testimonial like that, I had to share this.  I took the shrinkwrap off of this one, too, so you owe me if this turns out to have been some super-valuable rare find.

6. Christmastime, another rerun, this time by Craig Blair With The 100 Voice Collegians from the LP Let Freedom Ring-A Bicentennial Musical By Harry Bollback (Word Of Life Fellowship #W-7606, Stereo, 1976).  Odd little song.

7.  The Gift Of The Magi, a reading of the O. Henry story about gift giving.  This is narrated by Julie Harris from the album The Gift Of The Magi And Other O. Henry Stories (Caedmon TC 1273, Stereo, 1969).  I love these Caedmon releases.

8. My Favorite Things in a landmark version by John Coltrane from his LP of the same name (Atlantic SD-1361, Stereo, 1961).  I read online that this was a really big deal when it was released, but I don't hear it.  To my ears, it's just really, really long.  I guess I've never been much a a jazz connoisseur.

9.  Schnee Walzer (Snow Waltz) by Johnny K And His Jr. Ambassadors from the vinyl In The Chalet With Johnny K & His Jr. Ambassadors (Envoy LP 902, Stereo).  No idea about this one.

10.  Swiss Holiday by Homer Dennison And The Night Strings from the LP Night Love (Evolution/Stereo Dimension Recording 3002, Stereo, 1969).  It could be Christmas...maybe.

11.  The Winter Of My Discontent, not a Christmas song by Anthony Newley Accompanied By Ray Ellis And His Orchestra, from the album In My Solitude (RCA Victor LSP-2925, Stereo, 1964).  Another record that I took out of the protective shrinkwrap just to play and record for you.  I'd hoped it would be better, but you never know...

That's it, 11 tracks for the 13th day.  I'm starting to get the hang of this, now that it's almost the middle of the month.  Here's the download link, and I hope to see you all back here tomorrow.

Christmas In July 2011-Day 12

On the 12th day of Christmas (In July), Ernie gave to me...a bunch more songs from your favorite middle school bands.  Sorry, but I've got to blow these things out so I can get to the good stuff I've been holding back.  Just bear with me here.

1. Baby, It's Cold Outside by Homer & Jethro with June Carter from The Worst Of Homer And Jethro (RCA Victor LPM-1560, Mono, 1958).  Yes, it's a rerun, but it's still probably the best of the lot tonight.

2. Fum, Fum, Fum (Catalonian Carol) by Drexel Hill Junior High School Boy's Chorus from Drexel Hill Junior High School Music Concerts 1965-1966 (Recorded Publications Company Z-71661/2, Mono, 1966).  Say what you will about the version, I still love this song.

3.  Happy Holiday...I probably shouldn't be including this, but here it is.  No comment.

4.  March Of The Toys by Ron Oliver And His Orchestra from A Treasury Of Victor Herbert In High Fidelity (Harmony (Columbia) HL 7117, Mono).  No sign of this release on the net, except for a brief mention over at Lee's place, and he didn't seem to know much more about it than what someone had told him.

5.  Gold And Silver Waltz; Skaters' Waltz; Over The Waves, a nice medley from Lester Lanin And His Trio and their album Dance To The Lester Lanin Beat (Epic BN 556, Stereo, 1960).  I think this was his next release after his Christmas LP for Epic.

6.  The Wedding Of The Painted Doll by Lew White At The Organ With His Orchestra from Famous Melodies (RCA Camden CAL-132, Mono).  I think this is the third and last track I'm sharing from this record.  And this is a vocal version, which I don't think I've ever heard before.  That may be worth the price of admission alone.

7. What Child Is This? by Drexel Park Presbyterian Church Senior Choir-T.C. Barg, Choir Director-Mary A. Prischman, Organist, and the LP is Sacred Reflections (Drexel Park Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Illinois, No Label, No Number, Mono, 1962).  It's Greensleeves with Christmas lyrics, unlike last night...

8.  Jingle Bells as performed on the handbells by The Wesleyan Ringers, Lloyd R. Pilkington-Director, from the album The Glory Of Bells (Silver Crest Custom STJ-111882, St. John's United Methodist Church, Hazlet, NJ, Stereo).  Not too bad...

9. March Of The Dwarfs by the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra-James Walker, Conductor, from Wonderful World Of Music For Children (Reader's Digest 6xLP RDS38-M, Stereo).  I don't think I'd heard or seen this before, but I enjoyed it, so I hope you will, too.  Still not at the end of shares from this massive six record set.

10.  Trees of Christmas by Brookside Jr. High School Music Department-Advanced Orchestra-Ernesto Epistola, Conductor, from Winter Concert-Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 1971 (Brookside Jr. High School, Sarasota, Florida, United Sound USR 4026, Stereo, 1971).  Just sounds like a re-write of O Tannenbaum to me, but I guess if you rearrange it enough, you can claim it as your own.  Stay tuned for a little ditty I just wrote called I Saw Her Standing Over There.  It's gonna be big, I know it.

That's it, ten more tracks for your Christmas enjoyment.  Hope you're enjoying the out-of-season seasonal stuff.  Here's the download link, don't be afraid to leave a comment.  Looks like I've shared out 93 Christmas tracks so far this season.  I need to get crackin'!

The Waiting Game

Instead of shooting license plates, this girl spent her time while waiting for the shuttle liftoff making some nifty chalk drawings on the concrete pier near where I shot my pictures. Dig that crazy pink and yellow space shuttle!

Christmas In July 2011-Day 11

Special treat for you today on Christmas In July, no music from junior high bands or choruses!  Yes, I know, hold your applause.  I'm sure we'll get back into those tomorrow, but we're going to take at least one day off from them.  However, you're going to have to put up with some reruns from years prior in order for me to pull it off.  Let's see what I've got for a tracklist tonight...

1. Baby It's Cold Outside in a nice smooth rendition from Warren Covington And His Orchestra.  Note that this is him with his own orchestra, and not the guys from Tommy Dorsey's band.  I found this on an album I bought while I was waiting for traffic to clear in Titusville on Friday, Dancing Trombones (Decca DL 4352, Mono, 1963).  (Whoops, looked like I shared this on the very first day of Christmas in July last year, and in stereo.  I really need to research these things beforehand...)

2. The Drunken Penguin by Bent Fabric.  I've always associated penguins with Christmas, even though they are from the opposite end of the Earth from Santa.  Just humor me on this one...  This is found on his LP The Drunken Penguin (Atco 33-173, Mono, 1965).

3. White Christmas by Steve Lawrence With The Don Costa Orchestra, the first of our reruns tonight.  Ever since I fist shared this out, I've been looking for a stereo version, but to no avail.  You'll have to make do with this slightly nicer mono version from Steve And Eydie Sing The Golden Hits (ABC-Paramount ABC-311, Mono, 1960).

4.  Be A Santa, another rerun, this time in stereo by Sydney Chaplin & Chorus from the original Broadway soundtrack to Subways Are For Sleeping (Columbia Masterworks KOS2130, Stereo, 1961).  I guess there was a ballet in the musical to this song, there's a picture of some dancing Santa's on the sleeve.

5. March Of The Toys, rerun number three, by Frederick Fennell And His Orchestra from Frederick Fennell Conducts Victor Herbert (Mercury Perfect Presence Sound Series PPS6007, Stereo, 1961).  I almost grabbed this from a mono copy, but I discovered the error of my ways before it was too late.  This is one of my favorite versions of this song.

6.  My Favorite Things, rerun number four (and probably the fifth or sixth version of this song this season), from Rodgers And Hammerstein's The Sound Of Music (Mercury SR 60177, Stereo, 1959) by Richard Hayman And His Orchestra.  If you aren't familiar with Richard Hayman, you should know that his primary instrument is a harmonica.

7. Sun Valley Jump performed by Billy May in the style of Glenn Miller.  This one may require some explanation.  Time-Life had Billy go back into the studio in the 80's and perform versions of several big-band hits in the style of their original artists, but using the full fidelity of the studio at that time.  Then they put out a few box sets containing these remakes.  You had to look close at the sleeves to tell they were remakes, but they didn't really sound the same.  You may remember that I'm a big fan of Billy May, so I was excited to find this and realize what it was.  I guess this isn't really a Christmas song, but I always associate it with It Happened In Sun Valley.  Anyhow, this is from The Swing Era-One More Time (Time-Life 3xLP STL-353, Stereo, 1986).

8. That Man Over There, rerun number five, by The Merrill Staton Voices from their version of the soundtrack to Meredith Willson's Here's Love (Columbia Special Archive Series CSRP 8899, Stereo, 1963).  This was Meredith Willson's follow-up to The Music Man, but I don't think it did nearly as well.

9. Thredbo Suite: I. Sleigh Ride To Thredbo, II. Air From The High Mountain, a seasonal sounding song by James Galway.  I grabbed this from a promo sampler of his work, A James Galway Sampler (RCA DJL1-4532, Stereo, 1982), so I don't know the story behind the original album or the track, but it sounded good to me.

10. Winter Sky, the second track from Judy Collins I've got for you this year, pulled from her LP The Judy Collins Concert (Elektra EKS-7280, Stereo, 1964).  This one isn't as Christmassy as the previous one I shared, but it's still nice, I think you'll dig it.

And that's it, 10 great tracks tonight, the most I've shared in one night so far this season.  Still doing pretty good on the recording end and there are still plenty of records in the stack, so I'll try to keep up the big shares for as long as I can.  Here's the download link, have at it and see you tomorrow.

Busy, Busy, Busy

This bridge was the most popular viewing spot for the people near me at the shuttle launch. I took one look at it and decided I'd take my chances elsewhere. Anywhere else, except perhaps under it, in case it decided to collapse. That's a whole lot of people. By the way, I showed up about four hours before launch, and the bridge was already closed, so pay no attention to that sign.

Christmas In July 2011-Day 10

Day 10, one third of the way through the month.  No major complaints so far, or if you have complaints, you're keeping them to yourselves.  Thanks!  Now, what have I got for you tonight?  Let's see...

1. Gloria by our frequent friends, Brookside Jr. High Music Department Concert Chorus from Winter Concert-Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 1971 (Brookside Jr. High School, Sarasota, Florida, United Sound USR 4026, Stereo, 1971).

2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town by Drexel Hill Junior High School Orchestra and the album Drexel Hill Junior High School Music Concerts 1965-1966 (Recorded Publications Company Z-71661/2, Mono, 1966).

3. In Bethlehem by The Drexel Park Presbyterian Church Senior Choir.  I don't think this Drexel has any relation to the Drexel Hill above, but that's certainly an odd coincidence.  This is from the album Sacred Reflections (Drexel Park Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Illinois, No Label, No Number, Mono, 1962).

4. Sweet Snow Dear by Johnny Wright.  Quite a change of pace here, but I'm sure you're tired of the middle school musicians.  This is from the LP Hello Vietnam (Decca DL74698, Stereo, 1965).

5. My Favorite Things by Sergio Mendes from Sergio Mendes' Favorite Things (Atlantic SD 8177, Stereo, 1968).  Gettin' better...

6. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night by St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir from their self-titled album (Location Recording Service LRS-1262-765, Mono, 1962).  Going back down hill again.

7. Greensleeves by Susan Reed on the harp.  Yes, it's a vocal version, so it really has nothing to do with Christmas, but I liked it so I'm throwing it in here.  This is from her self titled LP (Elektra EKL-116, Mono, 1957).

8. It's Now Winter Day by Tommy Roe, written by Tommy Roe, from the Tommy Roe album no one ever bought, It's Now Winter's Day (ABC ABC-594, Mono, 1967).  Nothing dizzy about this, but it's not too bad.

9.  Joy To The World by The Wesleyan Ringers from The Glory Of Bells (Silver Crest Custom STJ-111882, St. John's United Methodist Church, Hazlet, NJ, Stereo).  Yawn.

That's it, 9 more tracks and now I'm back to being caught up.  I got to get busy recordings some more stuff for you guys.  I've got more stuff recorded than I shared out all last year, but it's never enough, I want to share more, more, more!  Here's the download link, come back tomorrow night for more of the same.

Pretty In Pink

I almost never see roseate spoonbills when I'm out looking to shoot bird pictures. So I was quite surprised when I came across this one in a canal next to a busy park at the shuttle launch on Friday. He was going about his daily search for lunch, totally oblivious to the thousands of people hanging around waiting for the imminent launch. Good thing I had my long lens on.  FYI, those plain old white birds are white ibis.  Not nearly so exciting, but they help round out the picture, I think.

Christmas In July 2011-Day 9

Here we are, shares for day 9 on day 10.  But it's still early today, hopefully I can get caught up this evening.  Now if I could only get my typing straightened out, I'd be OK.  Every other word I type lately is a typo for some reason.  I'll muddle through somehow.  Today's simple goal was to give you a whole pile of music.  Nine tracks, almost an hour of music, so I think I did pretty well.  Couple of really long pieces in there, including the entire story of the nativity.  Let's get on with the show, shall we?

1. Hallelujah Chorus, this time performed by A. G. Bell Jr. High School Orchestra Directed By R.J. Mennicke, Chorus Directed By M.G. Vyvyan, from their album AG Bell Jr. High School 1968 Winter Concert (Custom Recording Service, No Number, Mono, 1968).  I'm sure sharing a lot of these junior high school records this year for some reason.  Not sure if that's a good thing or not...

2. The Birth Of Christ, narrated by Alexander Scourby with Dramatic Cast, from The Power Of Faith Presents Stories From The Bible-Volume VII-Birth Of Christ/Good Samaritan (Rickwick International DAS-7, Mono, 1963).  Parts of this are just comical in their re-creation.  I'm sure they aren't meant to be, but that's just the way they strike me.

3. The First Snow Of Winter by Arthur Godfrey With Orchestra And Chorus By Archie Bleyer, from Arthur Godfrey's TV Calendar Show (Columbia GL 521, Mono, 1953).  I've been trying to get a decent rip from this LP for years now, and I finally got two of the three songs on there to track all the way through.  That last one seems to be beyond repair, though.  Too many skips, to much damage.  But this song and one I've got for later in the month are worth the wait, I believe.

4. White Christmas, another track by Brookside Jr. High School Music Department-Concert Chorus-William Bent, Conductor from their album Winter Concert-Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 1971 (Brookside Jr. High School, Sarasota, Florida, United Sound USR 4026, Stereo, 1971).  Not sure if this is the last track from this record I intend to share or not, but it's got to be close.

5. Jingle Beguine, something I'd never heard before, by Drexel Hill Junior High School Orchestra (from Pennsylvania, I think) and their LP Drexel Hill Junior High School Music Concerts 1965-1966 (Recorded Publications Company Z-71661/2, Mono, 1966).  You've got almost an entire sides worth of further tracks off this one coming, so prepare yourself.

6. The Toy Box Suite, another side-long track, this time by Johnny Andrews-Narration, George Kleinsinger-Music from the kiddie record Tubby The Tuba (Peter Pan S8044, Stereo).  Not explicitly Christmas, but anything having to do with toys seems to fit in fairly well.

7. Christ Child Lullaby, a really nice Christmas track from Judy Collins and her LP Golden Apples Of The Sun (Elektra EKL-222, Mono, 1962).  I think this is her second LP.  I've got another track from Judy later in the month that much less Christmassy, but still worth including.

8. Waltz Of The Flowers by Lew White, another track from his LP Famous Melodies (RCA Camden CAL-132, Mono).  So far this year I've tried to stick to single tracks from The Nutcracker, but eventually I'm going to have to share some of these side-long versions of the entire ballet I've got laying around.  You've been warned.

9. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, another track by an orchestra led by James Walker from the Wonderful World Of Music For Children (Reader's Digest 6xLP RDS38-M) set that I've been sharing from all month.  Nice and Christmassy, this one.  And I think this is the end of the shares for now.  Here's the download link, and I should see you again this evening with another batch of Christmas in July.