Non-Christmas In July

As I was sharing out all of the Christmas in July music last month, I realized that you must think I only record Christmas music.  But that's not entirely true.  While Christmas is the majority of what I rip from scratchy old vinyl, I also rip a fair bit of non-Christmas stuff.  So here is a small smattering of items that I recently recorded, all from the same albums I grabbed Christmas stuff from, but none of it Christmas.  Some of it's good, some of it should have been good, but it's all from vinyl.

1. Adventure In High Fidelity by Robert Russell Bennett Conducting Members Of The NBC Symphony Orchestra, an absolutely splendid adventure from An Adventure In High Fidelity (RCA Victor Red Seal LM 1802, Mono, 1954).  This was created as a showpiece to sell more records and more hi-fi sets by RCA.  You may have heard the excerpt Waltz Of The Vinylite Biscuits before, but this is the whole thing.  Someday I need to sit down and see if I can figure out exactly where each piece starts and stops.  Perhaps there's sheet music out there somewhere.  While I'm thinking about it, the parts are: The Arrival At The Great Gates Of Castle Hi-Fi; Welcome Of The Page Boy Prince Dynam; The Variable Pitch Of Princess Rhumbamba; The Balinese Ballad Of The Tweeter And The Woofer; The Circular Serenade Of The Diamond Stylus; The Waltz Of The Vinylite Biscuits; The Tomb Of The Ogre Distortion; Blasphemy In The Amplifier; The Full Frequency Fountain Of Farewell.  (I think Waltz Of The Vinylite Biscuits begins about 8:12 and ends about 9:40, based on the excerpt I've seen on other samplers.)

2. Mambo (From "West Side Story") by Hal Mooney And His Orchestra from Ballet With A Beat (Mercury PPS 6017, Stereo, 1961).  What can I say, I like mambos.

3. I Dig Rock And Roll Music by Count Basie & The Mills Brothers from one of their two albums together, The Board Of Directors (Dot DLP 25838, Stereo, 1968).  The old school steps up and says what's so great about the new school.  I dig, I dig!

4. The Pianists by Noel Coward With Andre Kostelanetz And His Orchestra: Leonid Hambro and Jascha Zayde, Pianists, from the LP The Carnival Of The Animals (Columbia Masterworks ML 4355, Mono, 1950).  Wait, why did I put this in here?  I didn't share anything off of this record for Christmas in July.  My mistake.  Anyhow, I've often wondered why Saint-Saens included pianists among the other animals in his Carnival Of The Animals.

5. The Fossils (Fossiles) by Camarata With The Symphonie-Orchester Grauke-Narrated By Mr. Camarata from The Carnival Of The Animals (Buena Vista Records STER-4028, Stereo, 1967).  And whatever mistake I made, I made it twice.  This time, Saint-Saens throws in fossils.

6. Heartbreak Hotel by Vincent Lopez Singers from A Century Of American Music (Album Set Productions 4xLP Box 5096 GT 12, Stereo, 1970).  I'm not sure they liked the original.  Oh, they also threw a Beatles number in, but I didn't share it.  Not at all sure how that became American music...

7. The Syncopated Clock by Rosemary Clooney With Orchestra from Children's Favorites (Columbia 10" 33 RPM CL 2569 Playhouse Party Series, Mono, 1956).  I didn't even know it had words!  From the credits, looks like the same guy who provided words for Sleigh Ride, Mitchell Parish, did this one too.

8. Efficiency by Dorothy Shay The Park Avenue Hillbilly, from her LP Coming 'Round The Mountain (Harmony (Columbia) HL 7017, Mono, 1957).  I'm working on completing the Dorothy Shay discography, and I think it's well worth the effort.  She put out some really funny stuff in her day.

9. Beat Me Daddy Eight To The Bar by The Orchestra Of LeRoy Holmes from the soundtrack to The Devil's Brigade (United Artists UAS 6654, Stereo, 1968).  Not exactly The Andrews Sisters.

10. The Elements, a bit of a ringer by Tom Lehrer and his LP An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer (Reprise RS-6199, Stereo, 1959).  Has anyone updated this with all the new elements out there at the end?  They should.

11. Coffee With The Meal by Ogden Nash With Music Composed And Conducted By Glenn Osser from the album The Fanciful World Of Ogden Nash (Capitol SW 1570, Stereo, 1961).  Great, great stuff.

12. Big Bad Jane, a sort of parody of Big Bad John from Jimmy Dean, this time by The Four Saints from their self titled effort (Warner Bros WS1477, Stereo, 1962).  For years I hunted for a female version of Big Bad John that heard when I was a kid, but it wasn't this one.  Turned out it as something from the same Jimmy Dean LP that originally featured Big Bad John.  Cajun Queen, I think it was called.

13. Bye, Baby Bunting by our old friend Ruth Welcome from the LP Golden Slumbers-Lullabies From Near And Far (Caedmon TC 1399, Stereo, 1972).  I told you Caedmon put out some very interesting stuff during their time.

14. Choo Choo Ch-Boogie by Meri Ellen And Her Cohorts Featuring Guest Star Don Elliott from their LP The Hi-Fi Antics Of Meri Ellen And Her Cohorts (Design DLP 63, Mono, 1958).  Imagine sitting in a lounge somewhere in the Adirondacks listening to this R&B number in the late 50's.  The shape of things to come...

15. Stop! Sit Down! Relax! Think! by The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra from their 10" LP New Directions In Music (RCA Victor 10" 33 RPM LPM 3115, Mono, 1953).  There's very little from the Sauter-Finegan catalog that isn't worth listening to. So do me a favor, stop, sit down, relax and think!

16. Brazilian Polka by Clebanoff And His Orchestra from Strings Afire (Mercury PPS 6019, Stereo, 1961).  A Brazilian polka?  That's about as likely as Brazilian sleigh bells!

17. Hey! Mr. Banjo by Joe "Fingers" Carr And Ira Ironstrings from their conspiratorial LP together, Together For The Last Time-Volume 1 (Warner Bros WS1389, Stereo, 1960). Lots of cool music on this one, but I grabbed this one because it was between two tracks I knew I already wanted.  That made the choice easy.

There you go, 17 non-Christmas tracks for your listening pleasure.  I think you'll enjoy them as a slight change of pace, at least between now and November.  :)

MediaFire

Chanukah In August-The Only Day

Well, I had hoped to bring you lots of cool Chanukah tunes for my annual celebration of Chanukah in August, but it wasn't to be.  I only managed to find five tracks, and four of those came from the same album.  There's always next year.  Here's the list, short as it is.

1. Dance The Horah by Jim Mandell With Mary Hylan & Debby James from their album Action Songs For Holidays And Special Days (Tom Thumb T 312, Stereo, 1979).  It's from a kiddie record, but even kids celebrate the holiday of lights.

2-5. Pis'chu Li, Mo'os Tzur And Blessings For Chanukah, M'kimi Meofor and Haneros And Al Hanism, all performed by Jan Peerce With Chorus And Orchestra Arranged And Conducted By Gershon Kingsley and taken from the LP The Art Of The Cantor-Chanukah-The Sabbath-High Holy Days (Vanguard VSD-79237, Stereo, 1966).  The interesting part to me about these tracks isn't Jan Peerce, it's the involvement of Gershon Kingsley who made some very interesting early moog albums with Jean-Jacques Perrey.  Nothing nearly so interesting as those here, but I was hoping.

Anyhow, that's it for Chanukah, and pretty much it for the (extended) month.  For the record, I've shared out 464 songs from 324 different albums (it takes up a shelf and a half here next to the computer!), and if you downloaded it all, it's probably taking up 2.08 GB on your computer.  I hope you've got a large iPod.  Anyhow, here's the download link, thanks for stopping by, and if I don't see you before then, don't forget to come back around Thanksgiving!

MediaFire

Christmas In July 2012-Part 32

You knew there was a part 32, didn't you?  There's just too much, and I'm too poor of a planner to be able to squeeze it all into just 31 days.  So today is everything else that's left in the Christmas In July folder that's tagged Christmas.  Some things that weren't all that great, or that skip, or that I just didn't get a chance to squeeze in earlier.  A mixed bag, really.

1. A Trumpeter's Lullaby And Bugler's Holiday by Johnny Kemm from the LP The Invisible Brass Band-Johnny Kemm Brings It To Life With The Revolutionary Lowrey Brass Symphonizer (Concert Recording CR-E112, Stereo).  This may be a rerun, I can't remember for sure and I'm too lazy to look.  Many of the organ LPs I find on this label have something I can use in my Christmas shares.  Not sure why, other than some Christmas songs are popular organ demo songs.

2. Too Fat Polka (She's Too Fat For Me) by Joe "Fingers" Carr And Ira Ironstrings and their LP Together For The Last Time-Volume 1 (Warner Bros WS1389, Stereo, 1960).  After I recorded this, I listened to Arthur Godfrey's version, which actually has the lyrics.  It's got absolutely nothing to do with Christmas, but if you remove that subtitle and dub some sleigh bells over it, I think it could well be a song about Santa.

3. Snowfall by Claude Thornhill And His Orchestra from his Decca album Dance To The Sound Of Claude Thornhill (Decca DL 78878, Stereo, 1958).  And because it's on Decca and in stereo, we know it's not the original.

4. Sleigh Ride In July by Lena Horne With Lennie Hayton And His Orchestra from her LP Songs By Johnny Burke And Jimmy Van Heusen (RCA Victor LSP-1895, Stereo, 1959).  Great song, but I didn't share it out earlier because I realized I just shared it last year, and it's probably too early to be bringing it back.  But it really is great, so here it is.

5. Skaters' Waltz by Frankie Yankovic from Frankie Yankovic Plays The All-Time Great Waltzes (Columbia CS 8239, Stereo, 1960).  Again, I'm pretty sure this is not the first time the other Mr. Yankovic recorded this tune.

6. Próle Do Bébé: Porcelain Doll-Wooden Doll-Witch Doll-Paper Doll-Rag Doll-Clown Doll (Polichinelle), a side-long piece about various dolls from Artur Rubinstein and his LP Highlights From Rubinstein At Carnegie Hall (RCA Victor Red Seal LSC 2605, Stereo, 1962).  Not very Christmassy, I'm afraid.

7. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm by Harry Marshard And His Society Dance Orchestra from the LP Resort Favorites (Bel Canto SR/1006 (Blue Vinyl), Stereo, 1958).  When I bought this a couple weeks ago, the lady behind the counter at Goodwill looked at it and said something about swing music.  I looked at her kind of cross-eyed, then she started on about how old it must be, and how it was mis-priced at only $0.99.  I wanted to reach across the counter and smack her for her ignorance, but I didn't.  There were other records in the pile that were older and probably better.  I guess I'm lucky she didn't see the pretty blue vinyl inside the sleeve or I would have never heard the end of it...

8. Ave Maria! O Maiden, O Mother by The Lennon Sisters from Lawrence Welk Presents The Lennon Sisters Singing Best-Loved Catholic Hymns (Dot SLP 25250, Stereo, 1960).  Another rerun, but I'm sure the sound is much better this time.

9. Ave Maria by The McGuire Sisters-Accompaniment Directed By Dick Jacobs, from In Harmony With Him (Coral CRL 757303, Stereo, 1959).  I love me some sister groups.

10. Ave Maria by The Eric Rogers Chorale And Orchestra from an LP we saw much earlier in the month, Glory, Glory, Hallelujah (London Phase 4 SP 44028, Stereo, 1963).  Yes, I had way too many versions of Ave Maria this month.

11. Sleigh Ride as performed by the composer, Leroy Anderson And His "Pops" Concert Orchestra, from a small, 10" LP Leroy Anderson Conducts His Own Compositions (Decca Gold Label 10" 33 RPM DL 7509, Mono, 1949).  Don't know if this is the original, but it's close.  1949 was the first year they made microgroove LPs, so this is something a little special.

12. Skaters Waltz-Skips (sorry...) by Leon Berry from Glockenspiels, Trap And Plenty Of Pipes With Leon Berry At The Hub Rink Chicago-Volume 1 (Replica 33x2501, Mono).  I really don't like to share stuff that's obviously defective, but this was pretty good, and I've never seen another copy.  I think he redid this later for Mobile Fidelity, no, Audio Fidelity, big difference.

13. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm by Les Brown And His Band Of Renown from the small LP also called I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (Columbia 10" 33 RPM "House Party Series" CL 2512, Mono, 1955).  This House Party series usually comped old singles, so I suspect this may be his original hit version.  I've got a later stereo remake on Capitol in the pile to rip, but I never got around to it.

14. The Christmas Song by Mel Tormé With Wally Stott And Orchestra from My Kind Of Music (Verve V-8440, Mono, 1962).  I probably shouldn't share this, but who else is going to want the mono version but you guys?

15. The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late), yes, by David Seville And The Chipmunks (Alvin, Theodore & Simon) from their first album, Let's All Sing With The Chipmunks (Liberty LRP 3132 (Realistic chipmunk cover, red vinyl), Mono, 1958).  Again, a mono version of something I shouldn't be sharing, but I wanted to give it a listen and ask you to check something for me.  Wikipedia claims the first verse found on this early release has been replaced on later issues.  I don't hear any difference on this original pressing on red vinyl with the realistic chipmunk foil cover, but maybe I have to find the single.  Anyhow, do you hear a difference?  Oh, and that's really the way they're credited on the vinyl.  Not Alvin, Simon & Theodore.  Not sure when they changed that around...

And that's it!  You might get some Chanukah tracks sometime soon, if you catch my drift, but that's it for the Christmas shares.  If you haven't found anything in these tracks you like, you're in the wrong place.  Leave me a comment and tell me what your favorite track was, right after you finish tonight's download.

MediaFire

Christmas In July 2012-Part 31

Here we are, last day of the month.  And as usual, the last day of the month is all songs about New Year's.

1. The 20s Roar (Medley): Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home-Clementine-The Band Played On-There Is A Tavern In The Town-Good Night Ladies-Auld Lang Syne by no less than Spike Jones And The Band That Plays For Fun-Introducing Hangnails Hennessey And Wingy Brubeck, from his LP 60 Years Of "Music America Hates Best" (Liberty LST 7154, Stereo, 1960).  This isn't the crazy Spike Jones of the 40's, but it's not so bad.

2. Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot by The Obernkirchen Children's Choir-Edith Moeller, Conductor, from the album Wandering With The Obernkirchen Children's Choir (Angel S.35839, Recorded in Europe, Stereo, 1961).  I almost missed this one until I looked closer at the record itself and realized it was just a retitled version of Auld Lang Syne.  Now that I think about it, the titles weren't even listed on the jacket, the whole rear was blank!  Heaven knows why I pulled out the record to look, but I did.  The force was strong that day.

3. Odun De! Odun De! (Happy New Year) by Olatunji! from the LP Drums Of Passion (Columbia PC 8210 (For Concert Sale Only), Stereo, 1960).  Drum solo!!!

4. New Year's Resolutions by Jim Mandell With Mary Hylan & Debby James from Action Songs For Holidays And Special Days (Tom Thumb T 312, Stereo, 1979).  Kiddie goodness.

5. Medley: Auld Lang Syne/Goodnight, Ladies/Merrily We Roll Along/Auld Lang Syne by Living Voices from their LP Fun At Home With Living Voices (RCA Camden CAS-714, Stereo, 1962).  Lots of medleys today, all featuring that perennial New Year's Eve favorite.

6. Happy New Year by Nat King Cole-Conducted By Gordon Jenkins, from the posthumously released LP The Unforgettable Nat Cole Sings The Great Songs! (Capitol ST 2558, Stereo, 1966).  This track was written and recorded by Gordon Jenkins at least twice, both of which I've shared here before.  I didn't know about the Nat King Cole version until recently, and now I'm sharing it with you.

7. Auld Lang Syne by the Vincent Lopez Orchestra from that big record set A Century Of American Music (Album Set Productions 4xLP Box 5096 GT 12, Stereo, 1970).  In a rather amazing stroke of luck, five of the tracks I'm sharing today are from records that I found in the past week.  Sometimes, the stars just align.  Sometimes I go weeks without finding a single track of interest, though, so it all balances out.

8. Auld Lang Syne by The Men Of The Robert Shaw Chorale-Robert Shaw, Conductor, a rerun from their LP A Chorus Of Love (RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2502, Stereo, 1960).

9. Auld Lang Syne by Chas And Dave from the soundtrack to a British film I've never seen, Party, Party (A&M SP-3212, Stereo, 1982).  Reviews of this movie on the internet refer to it as very John Hughes, but not as good.  Lots of good stuff on the soundtrack, though.

10. Auld Lang Syne by The Gene Lowell Chorus from Halls Of Ivy (Warner Bros WS 1244, Stereo, 1959), another rerun from years past.

11. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve by The Four Lads With Ray Ellis And His Orchestra from the album The Four Lads Sing Frank Loesser (Columbia CL 1045, Mono, 1957).  A rerun, but a good one.  And oddly enough, the only version of this track I've dug up all year.  I figured it would be a lot more popular than that.

12. Look Ahead by Arthur Godfrey With Orchestra And Chorus Under The Direction Of Archie Bleyer from the LP Arthur Godfrey's TV Calendar Show (Columbia CL 521, Mono, 1953).  There are two versions of this track, one that opens the LP and one that closes it.  This one is the closer, and I shared the other one with you by accident earlier in the month.

13. Auld Lang Syne, a bit of a mystery track by Vaughn Monroe And His Orchestra-Vocal By Vaughn Monroe And The Chorus.  I pulled this from a 7" 45 RPM EP that's one of a set of two.  I know that much from the catalog number (EPB 3251), but I could find no trace of such a release on the internet.  There was no sleeve and it's a various artists thing, which also threw me.  So if anyone can dig up any info on this, I'd appreciate it.  I know this EP is not where the song originates, though, looks like it was a single first.  (Note that this is not the same version I shared from Monroe last year.  That one was a later remake for a different label.)

14. Auld Lang Syne by The Sealandair Band from the album they shared with National Band And Orchestra called Marches (Concertone 2013, Mono).  Yes, it's a budget label release, so who knows what the real name of the artist might be, or when it was recorded and where.

15. Auld Lang Syne by Sonny Osborne And His Sunny Mountain Boys from the LP Five String Hi-Fi (Hollywood LPH-19, Mono).  Another budget thing, but not too bad.  Very Flatt & Scruggs to my ears.

And that's it.  I won't even pretend that this is the end, since you probably know I always throw a bonus day in for the beginning of September, so be sure to come back around for that.  It's been a great year, lots of new music, no interruptions in the sharing, gonna be a tough bar to beat next year, but that's a long way away.  Here's the link, see you back tomorrow!

MediaFire

Christmas In July 2012-Part 30

Next to the last day of the month.  Big blowout.  But I'll let the music speak for itself.

1. Ave Maria Gratia Plena by The Obernkirchen Children's Choir-Edith Moeller, Conductor, from the album On Tour With The Obernkirchen Children's Choir (London 5895, Mono, 1965).  How many different Ave Maria's can there be?  A lot, I guess.

2. Kewpie Doll by Frankie Vaughan With Raymond Long At The Piano, The Beryl Stott Singers And The London Palladium Orchestra Directed By Reg Cole, from Frankie Vaughan At The Palladium (Columbia CL 1405, Mono, 1960).  Well, it is what it is...

3. Skaters Waltz by The Kingsway Strings from A Symphony On Ice (Somerset P-4900, Mono, 1958).  Because you needed another version.

4. Virgin Mary by The Weavers from The Weavers At Carnegie Hall Vol. 2 (Vanguard VRS-9075, Mono, 1960).  Gotta love these folks.

5. What Child Is This (English Carol) by Yale Glee Club-Fenno Heath, Director-Soloist: Don E. Wheeler, from Yale Glee Club (Carillon LP104, Mono, 1959).  Nice vocal version.

6. Baby, It's Cold Outside by The Stereo Brass Choir from Stereo Dialogue For Brass (Columbia CS 8290, Stereo, 1960).  A rerun.  I was afraid for a while as I was recording tracks this year that I would have too many reruns and not enough new stuff, but I think I've got a good balance.

7. Blue Christmas by Merle Haggard-Vocal Accompaniment: Jordanaires, a great version from My Farewell To Elvis (MCA MCA-2314, Stereo, 1977).  What can I say, Elvis is the King.

8. Christmas-Little Star Beam by Betty S. Beem Smith from the LP Birthday Sing Along Songs For Children-Special Christmas Edition (Century 42116, Stereo).  I was never clear on what made this a Special Christmas Edition.  I've also got a non-special edition, and they appear to be identical.  I didn't listen to both, perhaps that's where the difference lies.

9. Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy (From "The Nutcracker") by Hal Mooney And His Orchestra, a rerun from Ballet With A Beat (Mercury PPS 6017, Stereo, 1961).  Great version.

10. The Day The Snow Is Meltin' by Eddie Ericksen-Orchestra And Chorus Directed By Clay Warnick, from the soundtrack album Donnybrook! (Kapp KD-8500-S, Stereo, 1961).  I can't tell you how many hours I spend picking up soundtracks and looking for something vaguely related to Christmas.  And every once in a while, I get something.

11. Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton And The Whorehouse Girls from another soundtrack, The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas (MCA MCA-6112, Stereo, 1982).  A bit obvious, but I couldn't resist.

12. He Is Born by The Choir Of The First Presbyterian Church Of Dearborn-Alexander J. Turco, Organist And Director, from an album that should be familiar to you by now, Carols And Anthems (Artie Fields Productions H-1496/1497, Stereo, 1967).

13. I'd Like The Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony) by The Mike Curb Congregation and their album Softly Whispering I Love You (MGM SE-4821, Stereo, 1972).  I think this is a rerun.

14. International Waltz Medley: Greensleeves; Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's An Irish Lullaby); O Sole Mio; Tales From The Vienna Woods, a harmonica track by The Lavaliers-Arranged And Conducted By Eddy Manson from their album Peg O' My Heart And Other Harmonica Favorites (RCA Camden CAS-810, Stereo, 1964).  I love the harmonica!

15. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear by James W. Keane, performed on the carillon, pulled from Bells Over Rochester-The World Famous City's Carillon (Tom Jones Recording Studio TJS-11975-A/B, Stereo, 1975).

16. June In January by Nelson Riddle from his album The Joy Of Living (Capitol ST1148, Stereo, 1959).

17. Mary Had A Baby by Jessye Norman With The Ambrosian Singers-Chorus Master: John McCarthy-Conducted By Willis Patterson from Spirituals (Philips 9500 651 (The Netherlands), Stereo, 1978).  Something about this record that I thought was odd, besides it being from The Netherlands, but I can't remember it now...  Oh, John McCarthy, that name should be familiar to those of you who've downloaded a couple of Christmas albums by him here at the blog.

18. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers by Al Melgard from his album Al Melgard At The Chicago Stadium Organ-World's Largest Theatre Pipe Organ (Audio Fidelity AFSD 5886, Stereo, 1959).  Now this I'm sure is a rerun.

19. Silver Bells (no, not that one, unfortunately) by Marv Herzog from the LP Marv Herzog's World Of Polkas And Waltzes (Herzog H-1031, Stereo, 1970).

20. Snow Dove by Jay Ungar & Lyndon Hardy from Songs, Ballads & Fiddle Tunes (Philo 1023, Stereo, 1975).  No clue about this one...

21. The Toy Trumpet by Don Baker and his album Sound Showcase (Capitol ST 1908, Stereo, 1963).  That Raymond Scott was something.

There you go, 21 tracks, a new record, I think.  Gotta be something in there somewhere you like.  If not, you may be at the wrong blog.  Anyhow, here's the link, and I hope to see you tomorrow for another great collection of Christmas music!

MediaFire

V For Victory

I had forgotten about this until I saw the short film at the opening to the Olympic games. I guess there is a similar statue to this somewhere in London, and in that film, Winston Churchill comes to life and waves at a helicopter carrying James Bond and Queen Elizabeth II. This statue is in front of the British Embassy in Washington, DC.  I shot it in 2011 when I went up for the Cherry Blossom Festival.  Technically speaking, I've now been to England, because the back half of the statue is considered to be inside the embassy grounds, and that's considered English soil.  So when I walked around the statue, I visited England!  And without a passport, too!

Tied Up

I went down to the beach last night to shoot the sunset, and while that didn't work out so well, I did see this little bird hopping around on the shore, eating this and that, just doing his thing. It wasn't until after I got home and looked at the pictures that I realized what poor shape he was in.One of his feet is completely gone, and the other one is twisted up in old fishing line.  This is why they have those disposal tubes for fishing line all over the place.  I hear people making fun of them, but this is what happens when we dispose of non-degradable items in an unsafe way.  I'm not entirely sure what type of bird this is, though.  I think it may be a ruddy turnstone.

Christmas In July 2012-Part 29

Not much longer now.  What a long strange trip it's been.  But I'm not giving up yet.  I've got plenty of good stuff saved up to share out these last few days, I don't think you'll be disappointed.  On your marks, get set, go!

1. White Christmas by Vincent Lopez Singers from the big box set A Century Of American Music (Album Set Productions 4xLP Box 5096 GT 12, Stereo, 1970).  I just picked this up this morning, and there was yet another Christmas song (or two) that I needed to share out this month.  Christmas music really is everywhere if you look for it.

2. The Sleigh Ride by Vienna Volksoper Orchestra-Josef Leo Gruber, Conductor, another track from a big box set, this time it's Music Adventures For Young People (Readers Digest (RCA Custom) 4xLP RD4-32, Stereo).  This is not the Leroy Anderson classic, this is from Mozart.  Also, there are several tracks on this box that I brought you last year from a similar box or two, but this track wasn't on those boxes.

3. Run Rudolph Run, a bit of a ringer by Dave Edmunds, I grabbed it from the soundtrack to the movie Party, Party (A&M SP-3212, Stereo, 1982).  This is a little too new for me, but really, it's thirty years old at this point.

4. Our Winter Love by The Letterman and that same old album of theirs, Warm (Capitol ST 2633, Stereo, 1967).

5. Noel With Variations ("Joseph Est Bien Marié") by E. Power Biggs from his album 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).  This is the last of the Noels I have for you from this LP.  Hope you enjoyed them.

6. Herbert: Toyland (From "Babes In Toyland") by Carmen Dragon Conducting The Capitol Symphony Orchestra from Nightfall (Capitol SP 8575, Stereo, 1962).  Yes, Carmen Dragon is the father of The Captain from Captain And Tennille.

7. Hallelujah Chorus by Robert Shaw Conducts The 200 Voices Of The Cleveland Chorus And Members Of The Cleveland Orchestra, from the double LP Yours Is My Heart Alone/All-Time Favorites (RCA Victor Red Seal 2xLP VCS-7023, Stereo, 1963).  Pretty sure this is a rerun around here.

8. Buglers Holiday by The Four Saints from their eponymous album (Warner Bros WS1477, Stereo, 1962).  I've already shared a version of this song by these guys here this month, but it's not the same as this one.  At least I don't think it is.  Someone may correct me on that.

9. The Bells Of St. Mary's by David Carroll And His Orchestra from Repercussion (Mercury SR 60029, Stereo, 1959).  Feel the beat.

10. Winter Wonderland by Sy Mann At The Lowrey from Songs Of The Four Seasons (Golden Crest CR 3007, Mono, 1957).  Nice.

11. Toy Concertino by Johnny Green And The M.G.M. Studio Orchestra from the soundtrack album Grounds For Marriage (MGM 3x10" 78 RPM 67, Mono, 1951).  Yes, that's right, I actually pulled a track off of a 78 set for you today.  Pretty sure that's a first for Christmas in July.

12. Snowfall by Joe Harnell from Golden Piano Hits (Columbia CL 2466 (Radio Station Copy-Clear Yellow Vinyl), Mono, 1966).  That yellow vinyl was quite the surprise.  There's a joka about yellow snowfall in here somewhere, but I'm not going to make it.

13. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers by Eddie Dunstedter At The Console from Mister Pipe Organ (Capitol T1128, Mono, 1959).  Not sure if I'd want to be known as Mister Pipe Organ, but that's just me.

14. Let There Be Peace by The Choral Group Of The Sisters Of St. Dominic Of Caldwell, NJ, from their album The Sisters' Concert (Foto Disk 415, Mono, 1964).  I think I liked Liberace's version better.

15. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring by Leopold Stokowski Conducting The New Symphony Orchestra Of London With The Norman Luboff Choir from the LP Inspiration (RCA Victor Red Seal LM-2593, Mono, 1962).  Gotta love anything featuring Norman Luboff.

16. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm by Ray Noble And His Orchestra-Vocal By Howard Barrie from We Danced All Night (RCA Camden CAL 380, Mono), which is probably just a collection of old singles, but I'm not sure.  I couldn't even find a good date for this one.

17. The Day The Snow Is Meltin' by The Pete King Orchestra from Moon River (Kapp Medallion ML-7533, Mono, 1962).  Pete King is not known much these days, but he put out some good stuff, especially when it came to Christmas music.

18. Ave Maria-Schubert by Charles M. Courboin At The Grand Court Organ-Wannamaker's, Philadelphia from the album An Organ Recital (RCA Camden CAL218, Mono, 1955).  Last, but not least.

That's right, eighteen great tracks tonight.  They just keep right on a-comin'.  Here's the link, go download yourself some Christmas cheer, and keep comin' back around for more.

MediaFire