Tammi (Not Heidi)

I can't throw Heidi up without throwing up another doll that appeared to be from the same year, and may or may not exist in the same universe.  This was all before my time, but people have told me they remember these things.  I first shared this LP with you back in 2010, and I'm bringing it back again tonight as part of what's turning into fake-kiddie-vocal day here at the blog.  Hope you're enjoying it.  This is Tammy-Merry Christmas With Tammy (Little World Records (Ideal Toy Corp., Midnight Music) LW-906, Mono, 1965). (In case you're wondering who the Pepper is on track 13, she's Tammy's little sister.  Only 5 inches tall!)

1. Intro
2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
3. O Christmas Tree
4. Deck The Halls
5. Silent Night
6. Winter Wonderland
7. Joy To The World
8. Greensleeves
9. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
10. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
11. O Come All Ye Faithful
12. Jingle Bells
13. The Story Of The Night Before Christmas-With Pepper!
14. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

MEGA

Heidi (Not Pippi)

Since I'm sure you all loved the last two Little Marcy shares, here's something that's a little along the same lines.   I guess Heidi was a semi-popular doll in the mid-Sixties, at least popular enough to have made and released her own record.  And I've been sharing that record with you ever since 2008.  In that time, I've heard from several people who remember the doll, but not too many who remember the record.  I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's not all that memorable.  But if you need some more fake kiddie vocals in your Christmas music collection, please download Heidi-The Night Before Christmas (Majorette M-304, Mono, 1965).

1. Introduction
2. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
3. Silent Night
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
5. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
6. O Christmas Tree
7. Deck The Halls
8. Frosty The Snowman
9. Joy To The World
10. The First Noel
11. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
12. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
13. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
14. And The Night Before Christmas Story

MEGA

Mas Marcy

What's that you say?  You didn't get enough Marcy yet?  Well, it turns out you're in luck, because she made another Christmas album, and I stumbled across a copy sometime in the last year and I'm bringing it to you tonight!  This one has some original songs that really are quite nice, as well as some old standards and a little bit of overlap with the other record, even professional backup singers!  But overall a worthwhile addition to your Christmas celebration.  Please be my guest and download Marcy Tigner-Christmas Is On It's Way With Little Marcy (Word Wonder World Series K-706, Stereo, 1969).  (Whoops, almost posted this with two track 12's.  Should be fixed now with a track 13.)

1. Christmas Is On It's Way
2. Colored Christmas Lights
3. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
4. Silver Bells
5. Winter Wonderland
6. Jingle Bells
7. The Little Drummer Boy
8. Away In A Manger
9. Over In Bethlehem
10. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
11. Joy To The World
12. May The Christ Child Dwell Within You
13. Silent Night

MEGA

Marcy Returns!

What's that you say?  I hear you requesting the return of Marcy Tigner and her singing doll, also named Marcy?  Well, since you asked for it, here she is, and she's a true Christmas gem! This is Marcy Tigner-Christmas With Marcy (Corner Stone MT 113-LP, Mono, 1965).  If you don't know who Marcy is you might need to do some Googling, or you can just download and listen along, then you'll understand.  I first shared her with you in 2012, and I don't think she's made a reappearance since then, but I'm not certain.  I don't know how I could have avoided her for so long.  Oh, by the way, this is a new re-encoding of the original WAV files, but at a higher bitrate so you can more clearly hear the Christmas miracle that is Marcy. Enjoy!

1. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
2. Silent Night
3. Away In A Manger
4. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
5. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
6. His Name Is Wonderful
7. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
8. Suzy Snowflake
9. Silver Bells
10. White Christmas
11. C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
12. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
13. O, Come All Ye Faithful

MEGA

One For The Kettle

Here's one that's dedicated to our special visitor who spends his time out front of a store ringing the bell at a red kettle for The Salvation Army.  This record is from the great Westminster label, a label that I've been following for years and trying to collect up all their Christmas issues.  Somehow this one had escaped me for a long time, but here it is, in glorious stereo. I hope you enjoy The Salvation Army New York Staff Band And Male Chorus-Christmas With The Salvation Army (Westminster WST 15015, Stereo, 1958).

1. Christmas Joy (March Medley)
2. Echo Hymn
3. Spirit Of Christmas (March Medley)
4. Silent Night
5. Westminster Hymn
6. Beautiful Savior (Grand March)
7. The Carolers (March Medley)
8. Cantique De Noel
9. Christmas Tidings (Medley)
10. O Come, Emmanuel
11. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
12. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

MEGA

Old Fred

One of my plans for this Christmas season is to bring you a wide range of Christmas music from around the world.  And to kick that off, I wanted to bring back this golden oldie from 2010, a sampler featuring many tracks from the long-running Capitol series of Christmas albums from around the world.   Not only do you get the music, you also get Fred Waring narrating it all, telling you a little bit about who and what you are hearing.  It's a great package, and I was really excited when I found it years ago in a Goodwill store in Ruskin, FL. So please give a listen to this great primer for things to come here on the old blog.  This is Christmas Around The World-Selections From New Capitol Christmas Albums 1957 (Capitol Records PRO 424 (Christmas Around The World)/425 (Christmas In Hi-Fi), 1957, Mono).  If you enjoy this, stay tuned all month, because I have Christmas records to share with you from six of the seven continents!  (As far as I know, Antarctica hasn't produced any Christmas music yet, but I'd love to be proven wrong.)

Side 1

1. Fred Waring-Narration
2. Christmas In Italy-Buon Natale
3. Fred Waring-Narration
4. Christmas In Sweden-Julpotpourri Danser
5. Fred Waring-Narration
6. Christmas In England-The First Noel-Away In A Manger-Bring In The Holly Bough Medley
7. Fred Waring-Narration
8. Christmas In Germany-O Tannenbaum
9. Fred Waring-Narration
10. Christmas In Holland-Gloria In Escelsis Deo
11. Fred Waring-Narration
12. Christmas In Spain-Villancico Del Vestitidito
13. Fred Waring-Narration
14. Christmas In France-Dans Cette Etable
15. Fred Waring-Narration
16. Christmas In Mexico-Aldehuela De Belem
17. Fred Waring-Narration
18. Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians-The Christmas Song

Side 2

1. Fred Waring-Narration
2. The Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra-The First Noel
3. Fred Waring-Narration
4. The Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra-Hark The Herald Angels Sing
5. Fred Waring-Narration
6. Frank Sinatra-It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
7. Fred Waring-Narration
8. Frank Sinatra-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
9. Fred Waring-Narration
10. The Roger Wagner Chorale-Adeste Fidelis
11. Fred Waring-Narration
12. Jackie Gleason-Winter Wonderland
13. Fred Waring-Narration
14. Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians-Sleigh Ride
15. Fred Waring-Narration
16. Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians-Silver Bells

MEGA

Back To The Apollo

Here's another record from the vaults for you, something I recorded in the dark ages of 2011, which if memory serves was the first year I discovered ClickRepair.  And things haven't been the same since.  I still wasn't releasing things in a full bitrate, so you're going to have to live with something less than optimal, and I'm sure it's mono, so don't be surprised.  If you're still interested, this is Christmas With The Internationally Famous Apollo Club (Soma MG 1216, Mono).

1. Shepherds, Awake
2. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
3. Mary Had A Baby
4. Carol Of The Bells
5. Silent Night
6. The Innkeeper's Carol
7. As It Fell Upon The Night
8. O Bone Jesu
9. Oh Come All Ye Faithful
10. Luther's Cradle Hymn
11. Deck The Halls

MEGA

Wait, I shared out the wrong version.  I have this is a fresh full bitrate re-encode.  Grab the current link and get it in a little better fidelity-10:18 PM-E(NB)

Sweet And Lowrey

If you made it through those first two organ demo LPs, you're going to love this one.  I mean that sincerely because this one brings something new to the table.  Some of these tracks feature vocals, and not just random voices either (look for the asterisks!).  They feature something along the lines of a Vocoder or Sonovox.  It's hard to explain, but you'll know what I mean when you download and play the music of Lowrey Brings Joy To The World (Lowrey 802219, Stereo, 1982).  I'm serious, download this, you'll want to put some of these tracks on your annual Christmas comp!

1. Steve Eaklor-Away In A Manger *
2. Seth Rye-Jingle Bells
3. Dave Smith-Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. Dennis Awe-O Little Town Of Bethlehem
5. DyAnne Awe-O Come All Ye Faithful
6. Dave Smith-Hark! The Herald Angels Sing *
7. Dennis Awe-White Christmas
8. Steve Eaklor-Joy To The World
9. Seth Rye-Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
10. Dennis Awe-Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
11. Seth Rye-Here Comes Santa Claus
12. DyAnne Awe-Sleigh Ride
13. Steve Eaklor-Silver Bells
14. Dave Smith-The Christmas Song

And yes, Dennis Awe and DyAnne Awe are married.  There's also a scanned card in the package that you tells you how to get a songbook that will let you play Christmas music like this on your Lowrey organ!

MEGA

Baldwin (Not Alec)

Maybe it's a good thing that I waited so long to remaster that old Kimball organ share, because in the meantime, I found this record.  It's pretty much the same thing, only for Baldwin organs. Not much difference between that last record and this one, so if you liked that, you'll like this.  If you didn't, well then this might not be the right blog for you.  Be a dear and download Songs Of Christmas On The Baldwin Organs (Baldwin Piano And Organ Company 443B-2669, Stereo, c. 1980s).

1. Jerry Gerard-Improvisation On "Lasst Uns Erfeuen"
2. Bene Hammel-Overture From "For Unto Us A Child Is Born"
3. Jerry Gerard-Gloria
4. Dewey Kuhn-Lullaby On Christmas Eve
5. Bene Hammel-Christmas Chorale; Good News From Heaven The Angels Bring
6. Bene Hammel-Variations On A "Noel"
7. Bene Hammel-Carol Improvisation
8. Frank Stitt-White Christmas
9. Frank Stitt-Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
10. Scott Gillespie-The Christmas Song
11. Scott Gillespie-Sleigh Ride
12. Hal Vincent-Have Yourself A Merry Christmas
13. Hal Vincent-I'll Be Home For Christmas
14. John Tolleson-Silver Bells
15. John Tolleson-Jingle Bells

MEGA

Kimball (Not Pinball)

The first remaster of the season, this is a collection of tracks showing you what you can do with your new organ from Kimball. I first shared this out way, way back in 2005, and I've been meaning to revisit it for quite a while now, just never had the chance.  But this year I finally found the time, so here's a beautiful new rip for you, from a sealed copy I found a few years back.  I also noticed that there are two cover variations, so there are plenty of scans in the download.  I try to be thorough about these things when I can.  If you ever bought a Kimball organ, these tracks might bring back some memories.  If not, they may put you to sleep.  Sorry.  This is A Kimball Christmas (Kimball Piano & Organ Co. KPO 82-004, Stereo, 1982).

1. Byron Melcher-Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers
2. John Norton-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
3. Hal Vincent-Mary's Little Boy Chile
4. Bill Ryder-Silver Bells
5. Byron Melcher-Just A Closer Walk With Thee
6. Byron Melcher-Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
7. Hal Vincent-Blue Christmas
8. John Norton-Christmas Madley: Jingle Bells; Let It Snow; Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer; Winter Wonderland
9. Wade Bray-Sleighride
10. Bill Ryder-O Holy Night

MEGA

Not The Best...

Not to scare you off so early in the season, but here's the first reshare from years' past, and it's a doozy.  One of the most annoying organ and chime records I've ever found, but I was so excited when I discovered it.  I had to know who or what Chimeatron was!  Well, turns out it ain't much.  So I'll throw this one back up in the middle of the night and hope that no one notices.  I first shared this one out in 2008, and tried to re-record it in 2012 but couldn't sit through it.  Your mileage may vary. This is George Chiainia, Organ, With Chimes By Chimeatron-Music Of The Holiday Season-Organ And Chimes (Colonial LP-272, Stereo). This is a stereo copy, but I found it in a mono sleeve.  Didn't help.

1. White Christmas
2. O Come All Ye Faithful
3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
4. Oh Holy Night
5. Joy To The World
6. Angels We Have Heard On High
7. Away In The Manger
8. Noel
9. Silent Night
10. Jingle Bells
11. Oh How Joyfully
12. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
13. In Dulce Jubilo
14. Beautiful Savior
15. We Three Kings
16. Lo How A Rose

MEGA

A Lutheran Christmas

Next up for the start of the season is a set of Christmas vignettes put out by the Lutheran Church and played in the middle of the night on a radio station near you. I know this because there were notes written on the sleeve telling the DJs when to play the cuts, and to make sure they played the correct one.  I airbrushed out all of that on the official cover scan, but if you look in the folder, there's a version with all the notes and changes intact.  (You'll also notice there's no back cover scan, that's because the back cover was blank and I didn't see much point in scanning it.  That's a tradition that will continue out the Christmas season, so don't be surprised.)  I love these radio-station-only releases, and managed to get my hands on quite a few of them this year to share with you.  I'm going to try to share most of them out here at the beginning of the season just in case you haven't finished your Christmas compilation yet and want to drop in some weird spoken-word stuff.  (Don't forget to let me know if you put any of my stuff on your comp, and send me a copy!)  This is The American Lutheran Church-Stable Born-A New Series Of Christmas Programs For All Radio Formats (Lutheran Records KB 3359, Mono, c. 1960's).

1. Face Of A Mountain
2. God's Chosen
3. More Than A Vision
4. The Generation Of Mary
5. Man With A Problem
6. Of Course To Bethlehem
7. Angels And Shepherds
8. What Child Is This
9. One Dream
10. Two Kings
11. No Sword For Jesus
12. Twice Coming

MEGA

New Christmas Songs!

I never know where to start with my Christmas shares every year, so I have to just break down and pick something.  This year I decided to lead off with a little bit of polka for two reasons.  First, this LP is packed with almost all songs you've never heard before.  I know how much we all like to hear new songs for the season since it's easy to become burned out on the same twenty or so songs you hear on the radio this time of year.  And other than a single medley of (obscure) oldies on here, everything is new and improved!  Secondly, this is the record jacket I had to spend the most time cleaning up.  Even before I was able to scan it, I had to carefully soak off some residue from another sleeve that was stuck across half of the front.  I think I did pretty well for something that most folks wouldn't have looked at twice, much less actually bought.  Oh, I don't think you can tell from the scans, but this is pressed on really, really dark red vinyl.  I had to hold it up to the light to confirm that, but I was able to see through it just a bit, or at least see some light passing through it.  Anyhow, enough blah-blah-blah, you just want something to listen to while you digest all that turkey you ate today.  This is Walt Groller And His Orchestra-New Christmas Songs (Stella S-LP 948, Stereo, 1965).  You get vocals from The Pany Sisters here, too, if you're interested in that sort of thing.  There's also a flyer scan thrown in that I found in the sleeve, in case you wanted to order some more music from these guys or their label mates.

1. Church Bells Ringing
2. Old Fashioned Sleigh Ride
3. Christmas Everywhere
4. The Nicest Little Toy
5. We Can't Wait For Christmas
6. Snow, Snow, Beautiful Snow
7. Children Go To Sleep
8. Little Boy Jesus
9. Dear Old Santa Claus
10. Carol Of The Angels
11. I'll Hang My Heart On The Christmas Tree
12. Medley Of Christmas Songs

MEGA

Welcome Christmas!!!

Good evening, and welcome to Christmas 2018!  Now that the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers are put away, it's time to get this season underway.  I've got a ton of records that I want to share with you this year, one or two of which you may actually like, and a bunch that you'll listen to once and then never visit again.  Try and figure out which is which.  Those of you that have been here before will know the drill, but new folks just need to know that you click the button and download the old crappy album.  I've switched to MEGA this year, so I hope that works better for some folks.  I was tired of the pop-ups and malware threats from Zippyshare.  If I'm not sharing stuff out fast enough for you, you can always go back through Christmas in July 2018 where I think all the shares are still good.  That's over 400 Christmas songs taken from non-Christmas albums.  I've also gone back and put new download links in most of the new shares from last year, and even some of the ones from 2016.  That's a lot of music for you to sort through and enjoy.  Some of it's good, some of it's bad, but all of it has been forgotten by time until I brought it back into the digital age.  All of these shares are from my own collection of old vinyl & shellac discs, most dating back to the 50's and 60's, but some are older, some are newer.  You just never know what you're going to find in the back rooms of thrift stores and charity shops.  I've grabbed records from stores all over the country while on vacation or various trips.  Some people send me records they think I might like, and some things come from eBay or online sales, though those are pretty few and far between.  Most of the records you'll see here I spent a buck on, so don't expect any sonic miracles, but I think some of them came out pretty good.  The only thing I ask of you is to leave a comment once in a while.  I like getting comments.  Tell me what you think about the records.  If you have something to add, that's great.  We love to hear from the people that made the music, too.  I can't tell you how many times we've heard from people who's parents or grandparents were in the featured band, and they've never heard the music before.  That's nice.  Anyhow, the shares should start popping up shortly.  Thanks for stopping by in this, our 13th year!