Christmas In July 2012-Part 27

I know the Olympics are starting tonight, but it's tape delayed.  You aren't going to miss much if you download a little Christmas music first.  And I don't want to spoil anything for you, but yes, James Bond and The Queen parachute into the stadium and light the Olympic flame with a molotov cocktail.  Now, to the music!

1. Christmas Bells Are Ringing by Lillyan Parson, Narrator, With David Halsman & The Wonderland Orchestra And Singers, from the kiddie album The Four Seasons (Summer-Fall-Winter-Spring) (Wonderland WLP-305, Stereo, 1975).  I should do a whole collection of these kinds of songs, the ones that are meant to be catchy yet out of copyright.  I've got loads of them, some good, some not good.

2. Catch: Hodge Told Sue by 1978 Chamber Singers-Robert Summer, Conductor, possibly the last song from University Of South Florida Chamber Singers And University Singers (Suncoast Recording Service KM4471, Stereo, 1979).  Not that they weren't good, there were just a lot of them.

3. White Christmas by Joe Bushkin-His Piano And Orchestra from Bushkin Spotlights Berlin (Capitol T911, Mono, 1957).  There are 50 tracks on this LP, or at least 50 songs in two side-long medleys, so you can guess about how long this track is.

4. Waltz Of The Flowers, another track by The Continental Symphony Orchestra, Narrated By Art Gilmore And Don Wilson from the collection of old stuff called Classics For Children Volume 2 (Capitol T3248, Mono, 1957).  Nice, but not very Christmas-feeling.

5. Skaters Waltz (Schlittschuhläufer) by Helmut Zacharias And His Magic Violins from his album Magic Violins (Decca DL 8431, Mono, 1957).  Try saying that title three times fast.  Schlittschuhläufer, Schlittschuhläufer, Schlittschuhläufer!

6.  A Seasonal Sonatina: Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring by Jane Connell, Jack Fletcher, Jean Arnold, Ceil Cabot, George Hall, Gerry Matthews, a comedy bit from the rather interesting album Demi-Dozen (Offbeat Records O-4015, Mono, 1958).  I guess this is the soundtrack to some off-Broadway comedy show in NYC.  It's different.  I was going to edit out everything but the Christmas bits, but I think you'll appreciate each of the four seasons as they are.

7. Puer Natus Est Nobis (Introit From 3rd Christmas Mass), the last track I'm sharing by The Trapp Family Singers-Dr. Franz Wasner, Conductor, from the LP The Best Of The Trapp Family Singers (MCA 2xLP MCA2-4048, Mono, 1973).  At least I think it's the last track...

8. Please Santa Claus, a rerun comedy bit from way back by Anna Russell With Jimmy Carroll  And His Miserable Five, but recently rerecorded from the album A Square Talk On Popular Music Or The Decline And Fall Of The Popular Song (Columbia Masterworks ML 5036, Mono, 1955).  This is the whole selection, not just the music.

9. Medley: All Alone; I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm; Marie; Heat Wave; The Song Is Ended by Reg Owen And His Orchestra from The Best Of Irving Berlin-30 Songs (RCA Victor LPM-1542. Mono, 1957).  Nice little medley.

10. March Of The Bob Cats by Bob Crosby's Bob Cats from their self-titled collection (Decca DL8061, Mono, 1954).  No, not a Christmas song, really, but I like marches.

11. Het Was Een Maghet Uutvercoren (A Virgin Was Chosen) by Ghent Oratorio Society (The Gentse Oratoriumvereniging)-Conducted By Marcel De Pauw, another track from Flemish Choral Music (Esoteric ES-514, Mono, 1953).

12. Coventry Carol by The Whiffenpoofs-Solo: Daniel B. "Rockin' 'n'" Rowland, from Whiffenpoofs Of 1963 (Soundcraft Associates SA-206, Mono, 1963).  In case you didn't know, The Whiffenpoofs are a singing group from Yale.

13. The Bells Of St. Mary's by Perry Bechtel from Banjo-The Greatest Of Them All (RCA Victor LPM-1770, Mono, 1959).  Yep, Christmas music on the banjo!

14. Baby, It's Cold Outside by Neal Hefti And His Orchestra from the double LP Hollywood Song Book (Coral 2xLP CX-2, Mono, 1958).  This was the only record I brought back from my trip to New York City last autumn.  I found it in the Salvation Army store just up the street from the USS Intrepid.  I didn't have the double LP version, but it turned out I had one of the LPs in single form and in stereo, so the other track from a similarly titled LP I shared earlier this month is in stereo.

15. Ave Maria by The Choral Group Of The Sisters Of St. Dominic Of Caldwell, NJ from the LP The Sisters' Concert (Foto Disk 415, Mono, 1964).  Standard stuff.

16. Noel With Variations ("Or Nous Dites Marie") by E. Power Biggs from Historic Organs Of France-The Great Silbermann Organs Of Alsace (Columbia Masterworks MS 7438, Played On The Organ At The Abbey Church Of Ebersmunster, Stereo, 1970).  Sixteen tracks?  Sure, why not.  It's getting near the end, and I have plenty.  :)

That's it, now I can go watch the opening ceremonies.

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