Friday, November 30, 2012

Greatest Hits?

So, I promised the guy at Banana's Records that I would make him a CD of some of my best Christmas music, since I've bought so much of it from him over the years.  But I have no idea what I should put on there.  I gravitate towards the weird and different, but that doesn't always appeal to some people.  I don't mind putting a few novelties on there, but I want to make sure it's an excellent all-around good listen, and I don't really make good compilations.  Any suggestions?  What songs have I shared that you guys go back to and listen to again and again and again?  If I come up with something good, maybe I'll post the collection here, too, but we'll see.  Thanks for your input!

14 comments:

  1. First I should say a belated Thanks! for keeping up the tradition this year. Your efforts are more appreciated than you'll ever know because most of us slugs never take the time to stop and say what it means to us ... so speaking for all slugs everywhere, Thanks! for making the season merrier once again.

    You're asking an almost imposible task ... what music would the record guy like? Making your own mix tape is hard but when you're doing it for someone else you really need to know your subject ... you could create a masterpiece that 99.9% of the people vote the greatest mixtape of all time ... unfortunately record guy is part of the 0.1% because he only likes C&W music ... see the problem?

    I think your best bet is to make the mix -you- want to hear this year and every year after and when you give it to him say 'I don't know if this will be to your tastes but this is MY Ultimate XMas Mix Tape (MYUXMMT) and I hope you like it ... HoHoHo ... can I get 10% off my next purchase?'

    TBC

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  2. I find myself changing my favorite playlist every year but no greatest hits mix would be complete without a couple of selections from Hank Sylvern's Christmas In Hi-Fi. I love just about any instrumental with chimes, bells, carillon, etc.

    Thanks again Ernie.

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  3. Definitely 2 Christmas Songs have found their way onto my "Favorites" playlist - Miss Fogerty's Christmas Cake by Irish Rovers and Sidewalk Santa by Merrill Staton Choir.

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  4. I don't know if you've shared this one... the Indian Jingle Bells... that would be cool...

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  6. I'm very appreciative of all of your shares, but there are a few that stand out. The Shepherd's Children's Chorus is one that is a favorite from my youth, especially "The Christmas Tree." I also find that he-who-should-not-be-mentioned that put out a lovely "Winter" album has some great tracks on it. And last year, though I've had it for a few seasons, there was a tattered gold album that I fell in love with. Its "Happy Holidays" by Wally Stott. And last, but absolutely not least, there was a little album by Jamie and the J's that you shared a few years back that always makes me smile. So, in my humble opinion, that is what I would share out. Thanks for everything, Ernie, you are a gem among gems!

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  7. Forgot to mention that all of those songs are from your shares. My list would be much longer, but it would include recent offereings from paid downloads.

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  8. *** edited to remove the equivalent of Lord Voldemort's name

    Hey Ernie! So glad it's that time of the year and I get to visit the blog daily. Here are a few of my favorites of your shares. Thanks and keep it up!

    Tijuana Christmas - Tijuana Voices
    Snowbound - Ramsey Lewis Trio
    Petit Papa Noël - Mireille Mathieau
    Silver Bells - Raymond LeFevre And His Orchestra
    Sleigh Ride - Three Suns
    Jumpin' Jiminy Christmas - 'Big' Tiny Little
    Christmas Dinner Country Style
    Rin Rin - Paul Mauriat
    Mr. Miseltoe - Lynn Anderson
    'Twas The Night Before Christmas - Fred Waring
    Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairies - Lester Lanin
    I'll Be Home For Christmas - Ruth Welcome
    Jingle Bells - Toots Thielemans
    Prince Of Peace - Johnny Nash
    I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - The J's with Jamie
    Winter Wonderland - "He-who-shall-not-be-named"

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  9. Pretty sure I never shared out the J's With Jamie, but you're the second person to mention it. I wish I owned it, believe me. I may have pointed ya'll to WFMU where it was shared one year, perhaps that's the source...

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  10. Yes that's right Ernie. I do remember getting it from WFMU now. It was probably on your recommendation that I grabbed it. I knew you were involved somehow!

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  11. Hi Ernie,

    First I'd like to say that your shares are incredible and much appreciated. Many thx.

    As someone else noted, I vary my Christmas playlist every year. I love most types of genres in my mix including snippets from films. Although I still listen and enjoy the usual mainstays, I have many essentials (imo of course). To list just a few...

    - "Jingo Jango" by Bert Kaempfert. Yep, sounds almost exactly like "Holiday for Bells" lol
    - "Ten Below" by Chris & Peter Allen
    - "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Art Carney
    - "Partridge in a Pear Tree" by Baja Marimba Band
    - "Christmas Is" by Percy Faith
    - "What Can I Give You This Christmas?" by The Lettermen
    - "Hooray for Santa Claus" by Milton DeLugg
    - "Santa's Stuck in the Elevator" by The Caroleers

    I'm forgettin' so many more. :)

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  12. Thank you Ernie for all your hard work, Merry Christmas!

    Here's my mix. It's mostly familiar arrangements blended with a little of the not often heard and a few creative interpretations. Listed in no particular order:

    09-The Ray Charles Singers - I Saw Three Ships

    05 George Feyer – Skaters Waltz

    02 Frankie Yankovic – The Merry Christmas Polka

    03 Del Roper and the Mason Swiss Bell Ringers – Carol of the Bells

    04 The Best of the Mummers – Winter Wonderland

    04 Frank Chacksfield - Once In Royal David's City

    24 Yuletide Favorites-Barbershop Style – I’ll Be Home For Christmas

    04 Wayne King – Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

    10 Big Tiny Little - Here Comes Santa Claus

    03 Christmas Surprises From The Ralph Hunter Choir – Jingle Bells

    04 Fred Waring – Twas The Night Before Christmas

    01 The World's Greatest Jazzband – Hark, The Herald Angels Swing!

    07 John McCarthy Chorale-Merry Christmas Sing Along – Pat-A-Pan

    08 Yuletide Favorites-Barbershop Style – O Christmas Tree

    01 The Somerset Strings – Sleigh Ride

    08 Crosby Christmas For Today's Army - White Christmas

    04 Domenico Savino-Hi-Fi Christmas Party – Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

    10 The Pete King Chorale - Mary's Little Boy Child

    10 Frederick Fennell – March of the Toys (July 11, 2011)

    11 Sydney Chaplin & Chorus – Be A Santa (July 11, 2011)

    fjb

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  13. Unfortunately, for the first several years that I picked ear candy from your music patch I did not record where the files came from. I now tag the records from whence they came in the comments section and can find them that way. Some of the old favorites would be a good choice but if you have some of the newer artists contributions I would love them. As old as I am now, the newer artists fit right in with the traditional ones and I feel a bit younger when I hear them. Thanks many times over for all the great posts. You are a very considerate contributor and many lives have been touched by your generosity. MERRY CHRISTMAS, Ernie

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  14. Many THANKS !
    Your years of time-consuming effort are greatly appreciated...
    You are saving this music for posterity, music most younger people have never even heard.
    The labels are defunct, the bands and singers retired or dead, and if you didn't help save these songs, they would be lost!
    So, a big thank you !!!!!!!!!

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