The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 24

I told you I'd be back tonight, and here I am!  And I brought a slew of Christmas songs with me, so let's get going.

My favorite track of the past few weeks, and I've listened to quite a few, is this swinging version of I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm by The Clark Sisters With Instrumental Accompaniment By The Ramblers from the LP Swing Again (London (UK) American Series HA-D 2177, Mono, 1958).  I enjoyed it so much that I ripped the entire record.  It's all good swinging stuff.  If you don't like it, you can have your money back!

Up next is The Wintry Day, Descending To Its Close by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir-Richard P. Condie, Director from the album Music And The Spoken Word (Columbia M 33440, Stereo, 1975).  Most of this LP is dedicated to a long-running radio program of the same name and the words spoken there-on, but there's some music, too.

Track three is O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Veni, Veni, Emmanuel) by Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Choir-Kay Morris, Organist And Director Of Music from With A Voice Of Singing (Mark Custom Records MC-8922, Stereo, 1971).  Nice one, and I've got more to come from this record later on.  Oh, I think I forgot to mention, this choir is out of Falls Church, Virginia.  I usually try to put that in the comment section of the MP3 tags, but I forgot.

Fourth up is Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring by Ethel Smith, which I think is a rerun.  Not sure if I had it in stereo before, but this time I do.  I pulled this from her album Seated One Day At The Organ (Decca DL 78902, Stereo, 1959).

Bringing up the rear tonight is a rerun from another set of sisters, this time The Lennon Sisters-Arranged And Conducted By Jimmie Haskell performing Ave Maria from the LP The Lennon Sisters' Favorites (Dot DLP 25481, Stereo, 1963).  Certainly a good note to end on tonight.

That's all for today.  Hopefully I can catch up tomorrow and then stay current through the end.  But you never know, we'll do the best we can.  Here's your download link, have a good night.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 23

Time for another great installment of Christmas In July!  Are you ready?

Track one is Winternacht (Sleigh-Ride), a long organ piece that was recorded very quietly on the vinyl, so I had a little bit of a challenge getting a good recording.  I think it came out just fine, though, for what it is.  The artist is Ted Alan Worth and the LP is Ted Alan Worth In Concert On The Rodgers Touring Organ (Organarts MG-7-202,815/816, Stereo, 1978).

Track two is a different song called Sleigh Ride, one with which you are probably much more familiar, by Red Carter, another track from his great LP Santa's Grog (Frog Recordings RG 001, Stereo).

Track three is something I was a little bit excited about, for reasons that only record collectors will truly understand.  There's a Capitol Christmas record from the fifties called Merry Christmas To You! that came out twice, the first time with 16 tracks, the second time with only 12.  I've had the 12 track version for a long time, but only recently found the 16 track version.  I was pretty sure that I had the missing 4 tracks elsewhere, but it was nice to have the original LP complete.  Anyhow, one of the missing four tracks was by the same artist as this version of Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers, The Louis Castellucci Military Band.  I pulled this track from a set of 4-45's comprising the album Here Comes The Band-Stirring Marches (Capitol CDF 150, Mono, 1947).  That date is actually for the 78 RPM version, but I couldn't find when they 45's came out.  Long story, but I was excited about this find. (The original track in question is Sleigh Ride, I think...)

Track four is a soundtrack song from The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie (20th Century Fox S-4207, Stereo, 1969) called Winter Like My Life Is Passing (To Climb The Stars).  The track is written by Rod McKuen but performed by Arthur Greenslade.  Interesting.

Track five, the only rerun for this share, is Baby, It's Cold Outside by Henry Mancini, His Orchestra And Chorus, from the double album The Academy Award Songs-31 "Oscar" Winners (RCA Victor 2xLP LSP-6013, Stereo, 1966).  You can never go wrong with Henry Mancini.

And there you have it, five more tracks.  Here's the download link.  But stay tuned, I'm trying to get a second set of songs up tonight to help me get caught up a little bit.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 22

I'm back!  Did you miss me?  Two days ago, I accidentally cut the fiber optic cable that supplies our TV and internet with the lawnmower, and they just came out today to fix it.  And now the cable is stretched all across the yard, right on top of everything.  I guess they're supposed to be out sometime soon to bury it, but no mowing until that's taken care of.  In the meantime, I missed a few days of posts.  I'll do my best to get caught up, but no guarantees.  You'd think I would have been busy recording music while I couldn't post, but no, I was too tuckered out to spin many records.  But I've got some music for you tonight, let's have a look.

I'm starting out with yet another track by Red Carter from his LP Santa's Musical Grog (Frog Recording, Ltd. RG 001, Stereo).  This time it's Jingle Bells.  Wish I knew more about this album, it's pretty good stuff.

Track two is a story from Johnny Bond called Winter Blizzard.  It's a little bit of cornpone for you from the LP 10 Little Bottles And Other Tall Tales And Songs For Boozers! (Starday SLP 333, Mono, 1965).  I'm guessing I wasn't the target market for this sort of thing.  Justin Wilson, he ain't.

Thirdly we have a very short version of I Wonder As I Wander by Fred Waring And The Pennsylvanians-Dorothy Arms, Soloist from the Broadway soundtrack Hear! Hear! (Decca DL 9031, Mono, 1955).  Not sure if Fred Waring could perform on Broadway these days.  Mostly because he's dead, but you get my meaning...

Fourth is Away In A Manger, another track by James A. Miller and friends from Happy Time Nursery Songs (Herald Press 10" 33 RPM HP 1001-33 1/3, Mono).  Not too shabby.

Last song tonight is a rerun, but such a good one.  This is Christmas In Killarney by Ruby Murray With Norrie Paramor's Music from the Capitol Of The World LP Irish (And Proud Of It) (Capitol ST10327, Stereo, 1963).  Pretty sure I shared this out years ago in mono, then again from the original UK version in stereo, now again from the US Capitol stereo pressing.  It's just that good folks.  She also had a single Christmas track on the English edition of Capitol's Christmas Around The World record. The Very First Christmas Of All is the name of that track.  Look it up, it's worth your hearing.

And that's it, another five songs for you.  Here's the download link, and if I don't cut up the new fiber cable, I'll see you again tomorrow.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 21

Another day, another share.  Let's go...

Up first is Eddie Higgins With Milt Hinton And Bobby Rosengarden doing Sleigh Ride from the LP By Request (Statiras SLP 8079, Stereo, 1986).  Well beyond the usual time frame of this blog, but good stuff, so I wanted to share it.  A little bit of Midnight Sleigh Ride thrown in there as well, if you're paying attention.

Second, we have Pixie Holiday by Victor Young And His Orchestra-Harry Sukman At The Piano from the album Sugar And Spice (Decca DL 8466, Mono, 1958).  Interesting little song written by Mr. Sukman.

Third is I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm, a nice little version by Peter Yorke And His Concert Orchestra from The Melody Lingers On-The Music Of Irving Berlin And Victor Herbert (Decca DL 8240, Mono, 1956).  I tend to pick up and check any LP that claims to be a tribute to Irving Berlin, Victor Herbert, Nat King Cole, Frank Loesser, or anyone else with some famous Christmas music under their belt.  There's frequently a Christmas track in there somewhere...

Fourth is Carol Of The Animals, another good track by Tom Glazer With Jeffrey Alden-Orchestra Conducted By Tony Mottola, also from the LP I Like Holidays! (RCA Camden CAL-1055, Mono, 1964).  Still some goodies to come from this LP.

Last is the only rerun of the night, a version of Jingle Bells by The Brute Force Steel Band Of Antigua, B.W.I. from the various artists LP Brute Force Steel Bands Of Antigua, B.W.I. (Cook 1042, Mono, 1955).  Interesting, but it could be recorded a bit better, I think.

And that's it.  Nothing too exciting tonight.  Here's your download link, now go try to get some sleep, I know I will.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 20

How about that? 20 days!  We're getting there.  Let's jump right in.

Track one is Six White Boomers, including the spoken part you've probably never heard and the usual song about the six kangaroos that pull Santa's sleigh when he has to visit Australia in the middle of the summer.  As you probably know, this is by Rolf Harris, and I pulled it from the LP This Is Rolf Harris (EMI (Australia) OSX 7861, Mono).  Good, classic stuff.

Speaking of Australia, track two is The Bells Of St. Mary's by Slim Dusty And His Bushlanders from the LP Aussie Sing Song (Columbia (Australia) OSX 7668, Mono, 1962).  More good stuff from Down Under.

Heading back to the good ole USA, here's Duane Eddy-Arranged And Conducted By Marty Paich performing Long Lonely Days Of Winter from Lonely Guitar (RCA Victor LPM-2798, Mono, 1964).  Twangy!

Track four is Bells And Little Bells, a nice little track by David Carroll And His Orchestra from the excellent LP RePercussion (Mercury MG 20389, Mono, 1958). I really like this song for some reason.

Track five is a rerun from years past, but a good one.  The McGuire Sisters sing The Cactus Christmas Tree, taken not from their Christmas LP, but from Children's Holiday (Coral CRL 57097, Mono, 1957).

And that's it.  Nothing too long and involved tonight.  Here's the download link, see ya'll tomorrow.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 19

Here's 15 more minutes of Christmas fun for you in the middle of July.  It's hot outside, but it's nice and frosty around here.

Track one is The Virgin Mary by The Bek Brothers.  I recorded this from the LP BEK-oning (Cuca K-1120, Mono, 1964).  Really nice version of the folk tune.

Track number two is another track from Lawrence Welk, His Accordion And Orchestra, Rag Doll, and it's from that same old Nimble Fingers (Coral 2x7" 45 RPM RC-82005, Mono, 1955) album. I think this is the last track I pulled from that album.

Track three is from another Ernie, Ernie Freeman, doing I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm from Ernie Freeman Plays Irving Berlin (Imperial (Victor, Japan) LP 9022, Mono, 1956).  Nice warm version here. No idea how I stumbled across a Japanese pressing of this LP.

Track four is I Like Holidays, sort of a statement of fact for us here at the blog, performed by Tom Glazer With Jeffrey Alden-Orchestra Conducted By Tony Mottola from the album I Like Holidays! (RCA Camden CAL-1055, Mono, 1964).  This guy really loves holidays! More goodies to come from this one.

Finally, track five is Hallelujah Chorus For Orchestra by 101 Strings, pulled from the radio promo LP American Holidays/American Holidays And Special Occasions (Special Radio Copy, Mono).  Not a bad version, but I miss the voices.

That's it, five and out.  Here's the download link, see you all tomorrow.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 18

Another day, another dose of Christmas music, at least for the month of July.  Let's jump in, feet first, first time.

Track one is another selection from James A. Miller, et. al., and the album Happy Nursery Time Songs (Herald Press 10" 33 RPM HP 1001-33 1/3, Mono).  This time around the song is The Child Jesus.  Short and sweet.

Track two is Snowy Morning Blues by Butch Thompson from Trio West (Triangle Jazz T-105, Stereo, 1984).  I'm a bit unclear on the details, but Butch seems to be affiliated with Garrison Keiller and his Prairie Home Companion.  Perhaps a reader can fill in the details here.

Track three is some nutcracker action called Rumba De Fleur by Chuy Reyes And His Orchestra from the dance instruction LP Arthur Murray Favorites-Rhumbas (Capitol T1369, Mono, 1960).  Cool stuff.  This same LP featured a little bit of Mel Blanc on one of the tracks.  Nice little surprise while I was recording it.

Track four is Winter Joys (Sports d'Hiver) by Dolf Van Der Linden And His Orchestra.  I pulled this from the album Listen To Nature Sing (RCA Camden CAL-260, Mono, 1955).  You really never know what you're going to find when you pick up any given record.

Track five, and I think the only rerun for today, is Percy Faith And His Orchestra doing the Faith composition Brazilian Sleigh Bells in a stereo remake from his LP Carefree-The Music Of Percy Faith (Columbia CS 8360, Stereo, 1961).  I remember looking for this one for a long time before I finally found it.  And then I found it again, so you get a second copy.  Enjoy!

Since it's not even noon yet, I'm hoping to get another share up today to get us caught back up on the month.  So be sure to check back later tonight for more holiday stuff.  For now, here's your download link.