Christmas In July 2012-Part 21

Two thirds of the way through the month, approximately!  This is the time of the month where I really get burned out on doing this, it seems like it's gone on forever, the end is still a ways off and I'm just tired.  But I'm going to keep working towards the goal of giving you more Christmas music than any other blog out there celebrating Christmas In July.  Which as near as I can tell, is none.  Here we go...

1. Our Winter Love by Al Caiola And His Orchestra from the LP Greasy Kid Stuff (United Artists UAS 6287, Stereo, 1963).  Al Caiola did some great stuff in his day.  Unfortunately, this isn't his best work.  It's not that bad, but you'll still be wearing your socks after listening to it.

2. Coaching Song (Finale From The Little Sweep) (From Part 4 "Winter") by The Budapest Children's Choir-Valeria Botka And Dr. Laszlo Czanyi, Directors, from the album The Budapest Children's Choir At Carnegie Hall (RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-286, Stereo, 1966).  I hadn't heard this before.

3. Sing We And Chant It by Chamber Singers-Robert Summer, Conductor, another track from University Of South Florida Chamber Singers And University Singers (Suncoast Recording Service KM4471, Stereo, 1979). Yawn.

4. The Glad Time by Children's Choir Under The Direction Of Mabel Stewart Boyter from A Joyful Sound-Songs For Children (Word W-3137-LP, Mono, 1961).  Is this the last song I have from this LP?  Maybe...

5. Holiday, a Bee Gees cover by Claudine Longet from her LP Love Is Blue (A&M AP 4142, Stereo, 1968).  She's certainly an acquired taste...

6. Christmas Is Coming by Cynthia Gooding And Don Drake from the kiddie-oriented LP Mother Goose And Father Gander (RCA Camden CAL-1058, Mono, 1965).  Folky.

7. Wedding Of The Painted Doll by our friend Ethel Smith from that same LP, Bright And Breezy (Decca DL 8799, Mono, 1958).  I like the little bits of The Wedding March she's dropped in here.

8. Greensleeves by George Feyer At The Piano With Orchestra Conducted By Dick Jacobs, from the album Golden Waltzes Everybody Knows (Decca DL74455, Stereo, 1963).  How many different labels did George Feyer record for?  Vox, Decca, RCA, and, ummm, I'm forgetting a couple...

9. March Of The Toys (From "Babes In Toyland") by Hal Mooney And His Orchestra from Ballet With A Beat (Mercury PPS 6017, Stereo, 1961).  This LP is so good, I ripped the whole thing.  And I've got a couple more Christmas-themed tracks from it to share with you.  It's a rerun from years past, though, so nothing you haven't heard before.

10. Snowfall by Hal Otis And His Orchestra from the LP Music For Hi-Fi Lovers (Westminster WST 15035, Stereo, 1959). A version I hadn't seen before from a great record label and I'm a sucker for anything with Hi-Fi in the title.

11. I'll Be In Sun Valley, another track by Hap Miller And The Hap Miller Sun Valley Orchestra and their album It Happened In Sun Valley (Stanal Records S-1010, Stereo, 1964).

12. White Christmas, a classic from Henry Mancini, His Orchestra And Chorus from the LP The Academy Award Songs-31 "Oscar" Winners (RCA 2xLP Victor LSP-6013, Stereo, 1966).  A rerun, but still great.

13. Rise Up Shepherd by The Highwaymen from Standing Room Only! (United Artists UAS 6168, Stereo, 1962).  These old folk-oriented LPs are usually a goldmine for Christmas-related tracks.

14. O Come, O Come, Immanuel; All The World Gives Praises Due; How Shall I Meet My Savior? by The Moravian Trombone Choir Of Downey, Jeffrey Reynolds, Conductor, from the album Music For Two Seasons: Advent And Christmas, Lent And Easter (Crystal Records S225, Stereo, 1981).

15. The Secular Pine-Tree by The Volga Russian Folk Choir-A. Kapiturov, Soloist, from the Soviet-era LP The Volga Russian Folk Choir (Melodiya (USSR) CM 02871-72, Mono).

And that's it, another great selection of tunes for you.  I'm posting early today so I can go see the new Batman movie tonight.  Wish me luck.

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