Christmas In July 2018-Day 12
Day 12 already? Time flies when you're having fun. I hope you're enjoying this music as much as I am. A few goodies already this year, but I'm really trying to save some good stuff for the second half. If I haven't shared out something that strikes your fancy yet, just keep listening, there's bound to be something good coming. Here's ten more tracks that might tickle your fancy!
1. I'll Be Home For Christmas by Willie Dittrich, from an album I just found today, The Singing Zither-Christmas Music & Old Time Hymns (Jim Loyd Presents 1002 (WMT Radio, Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Stereo). That's right, Christmas music on the zither! And the whole second side of the album is Christmas, so I'll have plenty more of this stuff, whether you love it or not.
2. Virgin Mary Had A Little Baby by Tom Paslé from the various artists LP Folk Festival (ABC-Paramount ABC-408, Mono, 1962). I tell you, sometimes these old folk albums are a Christmas goldmine some days!
3. Frontier Christmas (Harlow & The Mrs.), a comedy skit by Hudson & Landry from their album Right Off! (Dore LP-329, Stereo, 1973). I think I've shared this track with you before, but it was from a best-of album. This appears to be the original, though I think it came out on 45 before the album release. Don't know if that was any different.
4. Doll Dance by Del Castillo from Half & Half (Concert Recording CR-0028, Stereo). More organ for you.
5. Waltz Of The Flowers, your only Nutcracker song of the night, plucked on guitar by Los Indios Tabajaras from Casually Classic (RCA Victor LSP-3505, Stereo, 1966). I think these guys released a Christmas single at some point, but I've never found it. Anyone have any knowledge of that?
6. Summer Me, Winter Me (From "Picasso Summer") by Enoch Light And The Light Brigade from The Best Of The Movie Themes 1970 (Project 3 PR 5046SD, Stereo, 1970). I really wish Enoch had recorded a whole Christmas album at some point. The random stuff that came out on his label are all interesting, but there's not enough of it.
7. Sleigh Ride (not the Leroy Anderson tune) as done by the amazing Shari Lewis With Lambchop And Charley Horse With Marty Gold And His Orchestra, Lan O'Kun At The Piano, from her classic children's LP Fun In Shariland (RCA Camden CAL-1006 (Reissue of LBY-1006, 1958), Mono, 1960). Great stuff! This is what keeps me digging through those piles of raw vinyl.
8. Carol Of The Bells by The Singing Sergeants from Serenade In Blue-Series Eleven (Programs 131-143) (United States Air Force 7xLP Suggested Air Date: October-December 1969, Stereo, 1969). Another thing I wish I could find more of. These military releases are all good stuff.
9. Ave Maria (Franz Schubert) by Bob Beck At The Outdoor Organ from the album The Grotto Organs In Reverie (Adon, Oregon Ltd. V8844, Mono). I told you I had a lot of organ tracks to share this year. Perhaps you didn't believe me. I've still got a stack of them to record!
10. Italian Jingle Bells by Lou Monte With Hugo Winterhalter's Orchestra And Chorus, a track I can't help but rerun year after year after year, every time I see the album Lou Monte Sings Songs For Pizza Lovers (RCA Victor LPM-1877, Mono, 1958). Another artist I wish had a larger Christmas catalog.
And that's it. Feels like a very eclectic set, but than most days feel that way. Gotta be something in there for everyone tonight.
Zippyshare
Excellent class, today! Thanks, especially, for Shari Lewis & Lambchop. I remember watching her show when I was a kid. God, I'm freakin' old.
ReplyDeletei really got to hand it to the producers of these old records. they did stuff good and bad which just wouldn’t be done today. take bob beck at the outdoor organ. am i wrong? or is there a nestling overhead chirping insistently for a meal while bob’s churning out schubert. and i know that i’m on record for not being much on organ music. but if you’re going to record del castillo in flagrante delicto, why would you do so from the other side of the rink?
ReplyDeleteas for willie dittrich’s zither, i listened. he’s not welcome.
Only here would you find "The Grotto Organs in Reverie."
ReplyDeletebarba - Loved the crack about dittrich not being "welcome".
I shared a whole organ lp one christmas that had birds singing along thtoughtge whole thing. They even talked about it in the liner notes.
ReplyDeleteAny share involving Shari Lewis immediately goes to the top of my listening pile. Thank you.
ReplyDelete