Christmas In July 2019-Part 41

Time to make the doughnuts, err, I mean, time to share some more Christmas music!  Another ten tracks for the true connoisseur!

1. Lawrence Welk-Violin Solo By Dick Kesner-Vocal By The Glee Club-Ave Maria from Songs Of Faith (Coral CRL 57191, Mono, 1957).  The violin in this one reminded me of the Frankenstein movie I watched the other day.  The blind man who befriends Frankenstein's monster plays the violin, and the song is Ave Maria.

2. Ray Champa Orchestra-Holiday Polka from Let's Polka With The Orchestras Of Al Tercek And Ray Champa (Piknik PLP 506, Mono).  Who doesn't love a little holiday polka music!  And the cover on this one is ever so slightly NSFW, so go out there on the internets and find a copy for yourself, I'm keeping mine.

3. Paul Mickelson And Tedd Smith-Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring (Jesus, Lover Of My Soul) from Open The Gates Of The Temple (RCA Victor LPM 1098, Mono, 1955). Another track that I have a lot of versions to dish out this year.  Enjoy it again and again and again!

4. The Northern Illinois University Wind Ensemble-Stephen Squires, Conductor-Christmas Wish from Alfred Young Concert Band Music (Alfred Publishing No Number, Stereo, 1988).  Another rare demo recording that's actually credited to someone. I need to find a good use for the spoken introductions from these demo recordings.  Would it be too annoying to put them in front of every song in a comp?  Of course they'd be introing a different song, but it could be funny.

5. Jimmy Joyce-Orchestra Conducted By Billy Liebert And Carl Brandt-Department Store Santa Claus from The Garbage Collector In Beverly Hills (Warner Bros BS 1254, Stereo, 1959).  Another old favorite that still brings a smile to my face whenever I hear it. I love this early stuff on Warner Bros!

6. The Lutheran Church Of The Good Shepherd-Midge Payne, Director-Drummer Boy from Shepherd Choir 1978 (Audio Engineering Associates AEA-1221, Stereo, 1978).  Another version that omits Little at the beginning of the title.  How curious.

7. The Northern Illinois University Wind Ensemble-Stephen Squires, Conductor-Hark! The Herald Angels Sing from Alfred Young Concert Band Music (Alfred Publishing No Number, Stereo, 1988).  Wait a minute.  Another demo track.  And from the same record as number four?  I need more sleep.  Sorry about that.

8. Ferrante And Teicher-Holiday For Strings from Dynamic Twin Pianos (United Artists Ultra Audio WWS-8504, Stereo, 1960).  A little more exciting than the Roger Williams version we heard last. Is that first bit backwards?

9. First United Methodist Church Concert Handbell Choir-James A Kruse, Director-Jesus Christ, Superstar from 1972 Festival Program (Mark MC-5019, Stereo, 1972).  This must have been lumped in with a bunch of other Christmas songs, or I don't think I would have counted it as Christmas.  But it's handbells, so maybe...

10. Greg & Steve-Jingle Bell Rock from Holidays And Special Times (Youngheart Records YR009-R, Stereo, 1989).  Music for the kiddies, but I do have another version coming up that's something to hear.

And that's it for now.  Sorry about doubling up on that one artist/album, I've been trying not to do any of that.  Here's the download for the day, see you again real soon.