Christmas In July 2012-Part 28

Coming down to the wire now.  I've got a lot left to share, though, so prepare yourselves!

1. Sweet Little Jesus Boy by Bill Jackson With Don Hustad And Chorale from A Collection Of Hymns And Spiritual Songs (Word W 3037-LP, Mono, 1958).  Bass, how low can you go?

2. Waltz Of The Flowers by The Kingsway Strings from their LP A Symphony On Ice (Somerset P-4900, Mono, 1958).  Yes, it's a budget label, but it's early budget label, so it's not fallen all to pieces yet.  I shared out a track from this LP many moons ago, but never this track for some reason.

3. Baby, It's Cold Outside, one of the all-time great versions of this track by Al Hirt And Ann-Margret-Orchestra Arranged And Conducted By Marty Paich, from the LP Beauty And The Beard (RCA Victor (Germany) LSP-2690, Stereo, 1964).  A match that shouldn't work, but does.

4. Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind, more Shakespeare music by The Elizabethan Consort Of Viols, The Taylor Consort Of Recorders, Leslie Pearson-Conductor With Paul Whitman Jones, Et. Al., from the LP Songs From The Plays Of Shakespeare (The Shakespeare Recording Society/A Caedmon Production 3xLP SRS 242-S, Stereo, 1964).

5. Coventry Carol, another track from Oscar Brand, this time from the LP Golden Slumbers-Lullabies From Near And Far (Caedmon TC 1399, Stereo, 1972).  That Caedmon label put out some amazing stuff over the years.

6. Joy To The World by The Orchestra Of LeRoy Holmes from the soundtrack album The Devil's Brigade (United Artists UAS 6654, Stereo, 1968).  This was one of my favorite finds in my very first year of Christmas In July shares.  This is a new rip with much-improved sound.

7. Luther's Cradle Hymn by The All Churches Children's Choir from the LP Sunday School Songs (RCA Camden CAS-1062, Stereo, 1965).  Another rerun.

8. Noel With Variations ("Quand La Sauveur Jésus-Christ Fut Né De Marie"), an organ track, but more classical than most, by E. Power Biggs from the LP 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).  I think I was supposed to put an umlaut over the e in Noel, but I forgot.  I hate when that happens.

9. Our Winter Love by Bill Pursell-Orchestra Under The Direction Of Grady Martin, from his album Our Winter Love-Introducing The Piano Magic Of Bill Pursell (Columbia CS 8792, Stereo, 1963).  Another rerun.  I seem to recall getting a note from Bill's daughter when I first shared this.

10. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers by The Wurlitzer Calliola from the LP Big Top Circus Calliope Featuring The Wurlitzer Calliola At Paul Eakins' Gay 90s Village (Audio Fidelity AFSD 5986, Stereo, 1963).  The folks at Audio Fidelity sure loved their calliopes and other automatic music machines.  There must be 100 similar albums on the label.

11. Shepherds And Lasses by The Choir Of The First Presbyterian Church Of Dearborn-Alexander J. Turco, Organist And Director, from the LP Carols And Anthems (Artie Fields Productions H-1496/1497, Stereo, 1967).

12. Sleigh Ride by Werner Müller And His Orchestra from the LP Werner Müller Plays Leroy Anderson (London Phase 4 SP 44057, Stereo, 1965).  It's almost always a safe bet that you'll get a version of Sleigh Ride anytime you pick up an LP that has something to do with Leroy Anderson.

13. Snow Deer by Marv Herzog from Marv Herzog's World Of Polkas And Waltzes (Herzog H-1031, Stereo, 1970).  I haven't been able to share out enough polkas with you this year, but I hope to make that up at Christmas time.  I picked up five or six polka Christmas records last weekend.  We'll see if I can stand to record all of them.

14. Sun Valley Ski Run by Esquivel And His Orchestra from Strings Aflame (RCA Victor LSP-1988, Stereo, 1959).  Maybe or maybe not Christmas related, but any excuse to stick Esquivel in here.

15. To Us A Child Is Born by The Moravian Trombone Choir Of Downey, Jeffrey Reynolds, Conductor, from their album Music For Two Seasons: Advent And Christmas, Lent And Easter (Crystal Records S225, Stereo, 1981).  I think this is the last we'll hear from these guys this year.

16. White Christmas by Neal Hefti And His Orchestra from the LP Hollywood Song Book-Vol. 1 (Coral CRL 757241, Stereo, 1958).  I thought I'd shared this earlier in the month, but I guess not.

17. Winter Is Outside by Lillyan Parson, Narrator, With David Halsman & The Wonderland Orchestra And Singers from the LP The Four Seasons (Summer-Fall-Winter-Spring) (Wonderland WLP-305, Stereo, 1975).  More from this kiddie record.

And that's it, 17 tracks tonight as I try to make sure the folder is empty before the end of the month shows up in a few days.  Be sure to keep coming back until the end!

MediaFire

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.

MediaFire

Christmas In July 2012-Part 26

26 days in a row!  A new record!  Hope you're enjoying all the music this month.  I'm also sharing out a record number of tracks, though many of them are newer recordings of tracks I've shared before.  Hopefully, I've saved enough interesting tracks to hold your interest through the entire month.  I think in the past, I've front loaded my shares with things I found more interesting, and the later weeks get more and more boring.  But hopefully that's not the case this year.  Enough blathering, on to the Christmas music!

1. The Nutcracker Suite by Les Brown And His Band Of Renown from the LP Concert Modern (Capitol ST959, Stereo, 1958).  Perhaps the swingingest version of this classic ever put to vinyl.  I've shared it before, but here it is again because you need to listen to it again!

2. In Bethlehem by Johnny Cash, not from any of his Christmas albums but from The Holy Land (Columbia KCS 9726, Stereo, 1969).  It's a album that mixes spoken word bits recorded in The Holy Land with gospel songs, including his hit Daddy Sang Bass.  In this track, he describes his visit to the site of Christ's birth.  Almost forgot to mention, my copy of this album has a lenticular panel in it, so Johnny appears in the holy land in 3D!

3. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm by Paul Anka, Conducted By Sid Feller, from the album Swings For Young Lovers (ABC Paramount ABCS-347, Stereo, 1960).  Pretty sure I shared a mono copy of this with you before, so here it is in glorious two channel.

4. A Ceremony Of Carols by The Robert Shaw Chorale-Robert Shaw, Conductor, from the album Benjamin Britten: A Ceremony Of Carols; Rejoice In The Lamb; Festival Te Deum (RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2759, Stereo, 1964).  Very long, not particularly exciting...

5. White Christmas by Reg Owen And His Orchestra from The Best Of Irving Berlin-30 Songs (RCA Victor LPM-1542, Mono, 1957).

6. Wedding Of The Painted Doll by The Triads, a bunch of 3 Suns wanna-be's, from their LP Sunrise Serenade (Waldorf Music Hall MHK 33-1229, Mono, 1958).

7. Snowfall (Theme Song) by Claude Thornhill And His Orchestra from his album Dancing After Midnight (Columbia CL 709, Mono, 1955).  Is this the hit version?  I doubt it.  Claude re-recorded this song so many times over the years, I doubt if he remembered which one was the original.

8. Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt-Orchestra Directed By Maurice Levine, a later re-recording from the LP Revisited (Kapp KL-1192, Mono, 1960).  I think this exists in Stereo, but I've never seen it.  I wish she'd recorded more Christmas music, but the four tracks left by that bad Eartha are pretty good.

9. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers by Joe "Fingers" Carr from Honky-Tonk Street Parade (Capitol T809, Mono, 1957).  This song is tailor made for this performance.

10. Little Jack Horner, one for the kiddies by Cynthia Gooding And Don Drake from the LP Mother Goose And Father Gander (RCA Camden CAL-1058, Mono, 1965).

11. Italian Jingle Bells by Lou Monte With Hugo Winterhalter's Orchestra And Chorus, found on the album Lou Monte Sings Songs For Pizza Lovers (RCA Victor LPM-1877, Mono, 1958).  I wasn't aware that this appeared on one of Lou's LPs, I always thought it was a single-only track.  But there it was.

12. Hanover Winter Song, a rerun from Fred Waring And The Pennsylvanians-The Glee Men from the LP College Memories (Decca DL8222, Mono, 1956).

13. Go Tell It On The Mountain by Mahalia Jackson, pulled from the reissue LP Just As I Am (Kenwood/Nashboro LP 479 (Reissue of Apollo LP from 1958), Mono, 1964).

14. Bring Your Torches, Jeannette, Isabella, tonight's obligatory track from The Trapp Family Singers-Dr. Franz Wasner, Conductor and the album The Best Of The Trapp Family Singers (MCA 2xLP MCA2-4048, Mono, 1973).

15. Ave Maria by Alfred Newman And His Hollywood Symphony Orchestra from the LP In Concert (Mercury MG 20070, Mono).  I didn't know he recorded any music for Mercury, but here's the proof.

OK, that's all for tonight.  I'm off to bed early.  Have a good evening, and leave me lots of comments!

MediaFire

Christmas In July 2012-Part 25

Warning, only 5 months 'til Christmas!  I'd better get started recording the Christmas albums, but first I've got to finish up Christmas in July.  Here are another 15 tracks to get you through the long hot summer.

1 & 2. When Icicles Hang (AKA When Icicles Hang By The Wall) & Lawn As White As Driven Snow by The Elizabethan Consort Of Viols, The Taylor Consort Of Recorders, Leslie Pearson-Conductor With Paul Whitman Jones, Et. Al., from the LP Songs From The Plays Of Shakespeare (The Shakespeare Recording Society/A Caedmon Production 3xLP SRS 242-S, Stereo, 1964).  There are actually four or five more artists listed for this and the other songs on this 3 LP set, but I could only fit so much in there.  I grabbed this set a few months ago when I spotted several winter-themed tracks and thought it could make for interesting Christmas in July material.  I'll let you be the judge of that. (Not sure how I wound up with two tracks from this album in the same share.  I've tried to avoid that all month, but I did it tonight...)

3. Waltz Of The Flowers (From "The Nutcracker") by Hal Mooney And His Orchestra from Ballet With A Beat (Mercury PPS 6017, Stereo, 1961).  Another track from this great LP, a rerun, but still great.  Dig those bongos!

4. Snowbird, the Anne Murray hit, performed on the organ by Chris Anderson from his LP Delicate Balance (Anco Music Company ANC 6616, Stereo, c. 1974).  I say this is from 1974 because that's the date on the inscription from the front cover.  Well, the earliest inscription.  There's a second inscription from 11 years later talking about how good it is to see someone again.  There were also a handful of clippings in the sleeve.  Someone had a fan...  Oh, and that weird noise on just one channel at the end, that's at the end of a couple of the songs.  Seems to be on the vinyl that way.  No idea why...

5. The Nutcracker, explained to you by Norman Rose from the LP The Story Of Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky In Words And Music (Parents' Magazine Music Appreciation Library Vol. 4/Colpix CP 443, Stereo).  For those of you who wonder what all the fuss is about.

6. My Favorite Things by pianist Peter Nero from The Screen Scene Starring Peter Nero (RCA Victor LSP-3496, Stereo, 1966).

7. March Of The Toys by Frederick Fennell And Orchestra from Frederick Fennell Conducts Victor Herbert (Mercury SR 60954, Stereo, 1964).  I think this is a rerun.

8. The Little Red Drum by The Harry Simeone Chorale from The Magic Of Their Singing (20th Century Fox 2xLP TCF 108-2S, Stereo, 1961).  Didn't I share another drum song from these guys with you this month, but not Little Drummer Boy?

9. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm Cha Cha Cha from Joe Cain And His Orchestra and the album Irving Berlin Goes Latin (Seeco CELP 4330, Stereo, 1959).  Now that's what I'm talking about!

10. Hosanna by The Moravian Trombone Choir Of Downey, Jeffrey Reynolds, Conductor, from the LP Music For Two Seasons: Advent And Christmas, Lent And Easter (Crystal S225, Stereo, 1981).  Hope you're enjoying the cuts from this LP.

11. Hallelujah (The Messiah) by Gordon MacRae-Orchestra Conducted By Van Alexander from Hallowed Be Thy Name (Capitol (EMI) ST 1466, Stereo, 1960).  Another piece of music I've tried to avoid this season, but some versions are worth the trouble.

12. Greensleeves-A Foggy day, a medley by The Melachrino Strings And Orchestra from Our Man In London (RCA Victor LSP-2608, Stereo, 1963).  Someday I need to see if I can put together all of these "Our Man In..." albums.  I think I have most of them, but not all in a single big stack somewhere.

13. Christmas Day, a rerun by Edward Winter, Kay Oslin, Rita O'Conner, Julane Stites, Neil Jones, from the soundtrack Promises, Promises-Original Broadway Cast Album (United Artists UAS 9902, Stereo, 1968).  One of only a couple Christmas songs written by Bacharach-David.

14. Baby, It's Cold Outside by Henry Mancini, His Orchestra And Chorus, from The Academy Award Songs-31 "Oscar" Winners (RCA Victor 2xLP LSP-6013, Stereo, 1966).  Another rerun.

15. Dancing Doll by Pauline Alpert from 18 Favorite Piano Moods AKA Moonlight Piano (Brigade P1314S, Stereo).  This is almost certainly a reissue of an LP from Grand Award, but I couldn't figure out exactly which one.  The cover is a crappy painting by the same guy who did all those Grand Award covers.  And once again, the sleeve doesn't match the vinyl when it comes to the title of the album.  Shocking!

That's it.  15 more tracks, and it's all down to the last week around here.  Stick around for more!

MediaFire

Christmas In July 2012-Part 24

Whew, where does the time go?  I've been recording more music for you all evening, and now I'm posting a little late.  Not that late, but I'd still like to be done by now.  But at least one of the songs I recorded might turn out to be a true gem.  If nothing else, it's rare enough to turn up only in a YouTube cover version on the internet.  Let's start with that one.

1. The Really Remarkable Star by Oscar Brand from an odd little LP called Celebrate-Highlights From A Presentation To The 1970 Assembly Of Women's Society Of Christian Service And Wesleyan Guild-Houston, Texas (Infinity Records 1001 (Selections from 'The Bridge Of Hope' and 'Songs For The Feast Days'), Stereo, 1970).  This song is from side 2, the one subtitled 'Songs For The Feast Days'.  Anyhow, I've never heard this song before, and the only mention of it on the internet is a cover on YouTube by a folk artist who learned it from a cassette tape.  Oscar Brand was an odd fellow, recording folk music of all sorts for Elektra in the 60's, often releasing themed albums with Air Force songs, Marine songs, skiing songs, bawdy songs, etc.  This one appears to be a souvenir from a woman's club show.  The LP sleeve is only printed on one side, but the vinyl looks professional.  It's awfully well recorded to be a souvenir, though.  Anybody ever heard this before?  Anybody know anything more about it?  It's an interesting story from the POV of one of the 3 wise men.

2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town by The Smothers Brothers from Think Ethnic! (Mercury SR 60777, Stereo, 1963).  The third and final Christmas comedy bit from the brothers Smothers.  I found a handful of comedy bits that I didn't share out back on comedy day, so you're getting all those tonight, starting with this rerun.

3. Let Us Hang The Holly, a sort of funny bit from Anna Russell With Eugene Rankin, Piano, And Arthur Hoberman, Flute, and the LP A Square Talk On Popular Music Or The Decline And Fall Of The Popular Song (Columbia Masterworks ML 5036, Mono, 1955).  From Side 2 "Survey of Singing From Madrigals To Modern Opera".  I'll let you decide if this is funny or not.

4. Department Store Santa Claus by Jimmy Joyce-Orchestra Conducted By Billy Liebert And Carl Brandt from the LP The Garbage Collector In Beverly Hills (Warner Bros B 1254, Mono, 1959).  First off, is that THE Jimmy Joyce?  Right label, right era...but he's singing, not leading the voices.  This funny little bit caught my eye about a year ago on an LP I'd never seen before, and when I saw it, I knew I had to come off the $10 they wanted for it.  I think you'll enjoy it.

5. Christmas Is Our Business by Charlie Manna from Manna-Live! (Decca DL 4213, Mono, 1962).  Another funny bit, this one tells the story of how modern Christmas songs get written.  This will ring true to fans of Christmas music everywhere.

6. O Come All Ye Faithful; Angels We Have Heard On High; Hark The Herald Angels Sing, a non-funny medley by The Moravian Trombone Choir Of Downey, Jeffrey Reynolds, Conductor, pulled from their album Music For Two Seasons: Advent And Christmas, Lent And Easter (Crystal S225, Stereo, 1981).  Nice mix of carols.

7. Just Because from the dream team of Al Hirt And Ann-Margret-Orchestra Arranged And Conducted By Marty Paich, and the LP Beauty And The Beard (RCA Victor (Germany) LSP-2690, Stereo, 1964).  No, it's not Christmas, but they mention Santa and St. Nick, so I'm throwing it in here.

8. Snowfall gets the treatment from Esquivel, His Piano And His Orchestra, from the LP More Of Other Worlds, Other Sounds (Reprise R-6046, Mono, 1962).  Still haven't found a stereo copy of the vinyl on this one, but Esquivel's records never sit around the thrift stores long enough for me to find them.

9. Maria Die Soude Naer Bethlehem Gaen (Mary Went To Bethlehem) by Ghent Oratorio Society (The Gentse Oratoriumvereniging)-Conducted By Marcel De Pauw-George Minne-Piano, from the LP Flemish Choral Music (Esoteric ES-514, Mono, 1953).  Not the sort of thing I usually listen to, but nice for a bit of a change.  How did I know this was Christmas music?  It's on the back under the section "Flemish Christmas Music".  Very helpful, that.

10. I Never Has Seen Snow by Quincy Jones from the LP The Great Wide World Of Quincy Jones (Mercury MG 20561, Mono, 1960).  Yep, that Quincy Jones.

11. The First Snow Of Winter by Arthur Godfrey With Orchestra And Chorus Under The Direction Of Archie Bleyer, another track from Arthur Godfrey's TV Calendar Show (Columbia CL 521, Mono, 1953).  This whole album is pretty good, actually.

12. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) by the great Sammy Davis, Jr., a rerun from the album The Nat King Cole Song Book (Reprise R-6164, Mono, 1965).  Never seen a stereo copy of this, but I know they exist...

13. The Bells Of St. Mary's by The Easternaires, a bit of barbershop I missed earlier in the season from the album Once Over Lightly (RCA Victor LPM-2263, Mono, 1961).  Good stuff.

14. Ave Maria by Fred Waring And The Pennsylvanians-Glee Club And Orchestra-Jane Wilson, Soloist, from Songs Of Devotion (Decca DL 8670, Mono, 1958).  You can't go wrong with Fred Waring.

Nice mix of the sacred and the profane tonight.  I won't tell you which is which, you'll have to figure it out on your own.  More tomorrow, so don't forget to stop back by.  Here's your download link.

MediaFire

Christmas In July 2012-Day 23

Everybody on board?  Good, then let's go!

1. White Christmas by Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians, a small slice of a huge medley from Berlin By Lombardo (Capitol ST1019, Stereo, 1958).  If it sounds a little funny at the beginning and end, that's just me fading in and out of the medley.

2. Sunflakes Fall, Snowrays Call by Janis Ian from her album ...For All The Seasons Of Your Mind (Verve Forecast FTS-3024, Stereo, 1967).  Very hippy.

3. Snowfall-Cha-Cha by Billy May from his LP Cha Cha Billy May (Capitol ST1329, Stereo, 1960).  Yes, you've heard it before, but here it is again.

4. Sleighride by Sauter-Finegan And Their Orchestra, a remake from their later stereo LP for United Artists, The Return Of The Doodletown Fifers (United Artists Ultra Audio WWS 8511, Stereo, 1960).  This is also known as Midnight Sleighride, one of my favorite non-traditional Christmas songs.

5. Santa Claus, a short comedy bit from The Smothers Brothers and their album Mom Always Liked You Best! (Mercury SR 61051, Stereo, 1965).  I first shared this out many years ago, but it's time for a revisit!

6. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers gets the full-on percussion treatment in Stereo Action courtesy of Dick Schory's Percussion Pops Orchestra and the LP Holiday For Percussion (RCA Victor "Stereo Action" LSA-2485, Stereo, 1962).  I'm sure I've shared this out before, but like so many things this year, I'm bringing it back, sounding better than ever.

7. Nativity From "King Of Kings" by The Metropolitan Pop Orchestra-Conducted By Miklos Rozsa from the LP Music From The Motion Picture The Bible-The Ten Commandments-The Greatest Story Ever Told-King Of Kings-Ben Hur (MGM SE-4417, Stereo, 1966).  Very soundtracky, which it is.

8. My Favorite Things by Julie Budd from her album Wild And Wonderful (MGM SE-4607, 1969).  Hmmm...different.

9. March Of The Toys by Johnny Kemm from The Invisible Brass Band-Johnny Kemm Brings It To Life With The Revolutionary Lowrey Brass Symphonizer (Concert Recording CR-E112, Stereo).  This appears to be something I shared out for the first time last year, which I didn't realize until it was too late.  I try not to reshare stuff so soon...

10.  Lonely Winter by Ralph Marterie And His Marlboro Men from the LP Marvelous Marterie (Mercury Wing SRW 12511, Stereo, 1958).  Another rerun, there seem to be an awful lot of them tonight for some reason.  I certainly didn't plan it that way.

11. June In January by Billy Vaughn from Ode To Billy Joe (Dot DLP 25828, Stereo, 1967).

12. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm by The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Starring Warren Covington from The Swingin' Era (Decca DL 78914, Stereo, 1959).  Nothing really to do with Tommy Dorsey whatsoever, they just used his name.

13. Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown? by Nina-Arranged & Conducted By John Barry from the soundtrack album On Her Majesty's Secret Service (United Artists UAS 5204, Stereo, 1969).  Yes, that's Bond, James Bond music.  I've known about this track for a while now, but never had the chance to share it previously.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

14. Shepherds Come A-Running, an obligatory track from The Trapp Family Singers-Dr. Franz Wasner, Conductor, and the LP The Best Of The Trapp Family Singers (MCA 2xLP MCA2-4048, Mono, 1973).  This is the only mono track of the evening.  How did that happen?

And that's all for tonight.  Short, but sweet.  There's some good stuff in the pile this evening, both new and rerun.  Have at it!

MediaFire

Christmas In July 2012-Part 22

And so begins Day 22 of Christmas In July.  For those of you who care, The Dark Knight Rises is really good.  Go see it.  Nothing to do with Christmas, though.  You'll never look at Anne Hathaway as a fairytale princess again!  Anyhow, on with the show.

1. Ave Maria, a great version by The Roger Wagner Chorale With The Capitol Symphony Orchestra Conducted By Roger Wagner, from the LP Holy, Holy, Holy (Capitol P8498, Mono, 1959).  My recording is a little messed up on the loudest sections, though.  Sorry.

2. The Bells Of St. Mary's by Fred Waring And The Pennsylvanians-Stuart Churchill, Soloist, from their LP Songs Of Inspiration (Decca DL 8709, Mono, 1958).

3. Christmas Morn-Hymn 24 (Blest Christmas Morn) by Unknown Music Students-Directed By Frederick Jagel-Gertrude Litchfield, Pianist, from the album Let Us Sing Hymns By Mary Baker Eddy (Published By The Trustees Under The Will Of Mary Baker G. Eddy, Boston, Massachusetts XTV 60350/60349, Mono).  Don't know anything about these Christian Scientists...

4. Es Hat Sich Heut' Eroffnet, tonight's contribution from The Trapp Family Singers-Dr. Franz Wasner, Conductor, and the album The Best Of The Trapp Family Singers (MCA 2xLP MCA2-4048, Mono, 1973).  A 'Tyrolean Christmas Carol' it said, so there you go.

5. Dancing Doll by Anna Maria Alberghetti from her album Songs By Anna Maria Alberghetti (Mercury/Wing MGW 12135, Mono, 1954).  Is this Italian?

6. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm by Joe Bushkin-His Piano And Orchestra from Bushkin Spotlights Berlin (Capitol T911, Mono, 1957).  If memory serves, this whole album is a couple of side-long medleys.  I had to cut this out of the middle of it.  50 individual songs they mixed together!

7. One Little Candle by The Jesus And Mary Choral Group-Vocal Solo By Mother Mary Of Joy, R.J.M, and the album These Things I Wish For You (Columbia CL 1884, Mono, 1962).  I hadn't really thought of this as a Christmas song, but then I saw where no less an authority than Perry Come must think it is, since he released it as a Christmas Seals single one year for the holidays.  Good enough provenance for me.

8. Runaway Rocking Horse by David Carroll And His Orchestra from the LP Toe Tappers (Mercury MG 20064, Mono, 1955).  Nothing really to do with Christmas, just a nice toy-themed song title.

9. Silent Night by Charles M. Courboin At The St. Patrick's Cathedral Organ-New York City, from the LP An Organ Recital (RCA Camden CAL218, Mono, 1955).  A real Christmas song, how nice.

10. Toyland by Vaughn Monroe And His Orchestra from the collection of old singles Dance With Me! (RCA Camden CAL-329, Mono, 1956).  This is a rerun, but still nice.

11. Brazillian Sleighbells from Ralph Wolf And The Thomas Celebrity and his album The Celebrities (Concert Recording CR-E055, Stereo).  Yes, this is the Percy Faith song, it's just oddly retitled for some reason.

12. Contraponto Bestiale Alla Mente by 1977 Chamber Singers-Robert Summer, Conductor, today's track from University Of South Florida Chamber Singers And University Singers (Suncoast Recording Service KM4471, Stereo, 1979).  Almost done with this one, finally.  The animal sounds crack me up...

13. The Frozen Logger, another track by Odetta from her LP Odetta At Town Hall (Vanguard VSD-2109, Stereo, 1962).  She's singing this awful formally for some reason.

14. Medley: Winter Wonderland-I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm by Hap Miller And The Hap Miller Sun Valley Orchestra from the LP It Happened In Sun Valley (Stanal Records S-1010, Stereo, 1964).  I just realized I've got two versions of I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm  in the playlist today.  Sorry about that.

There you have it, another 14 groovy tracks.  I'm sure you'll enjoy these.  See you again tomorrow.

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