Christmas In July 2020-17
Happy Friday! Are you ready for some more Christmas music? I hope so, because that's all I've got for you. Let's see what's in the bag!
1. A Christmas Celebration by who-knows-who from New Vistas For Concert Band Vol. VII (Jenson Publications 2xLP JP-1100, Stereo, 1980). A surprisingly long demo medley, though with lots of fades between sections.
2. The Winter Of My Discontent by Jackie And Roy from The Glory Of Love (ABC-Paramount ABC 120, Mono, 1956). For those who don't know, this is Jackie Cain & Roy Kral, a couple who had quite the long career on records.
3. Jingle Bells by The Alley Singers...Phil Stern And Al Brennan from Side By Side (RCA Victor LPM-1629, Mono, 1958). Supposedly, these two are actually Freddy Morgan and Mousie Garner from Spike Jones' band. The rest of the album is a bit less straightforward than this track, but it's still not quite up there with Spike. But who is, really?
4. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring by Midway Christian Church Choir, Rev. Roy Roberson-Director, Mrs. David Phillips-Organist from In Our Own Way We Praise (Midway Records LP 1800 (Midway, Kentucky), Mono). Have we heard from this group already this year? I can't remember and we're only ten days in...
5. Wassail by The Cantata Singers In Quakertown, Ifor Jones Conducting, Bonnie Fix Keller At The Organ from A Service Of Lessons And Carols (CS CSQ1001, Stereo, 1975). Now this one I know we've seen already this month. Not sure why my eyes keep being drawn to stuff I've already shared from when there are so many LPs I haven't even started into yet.
6. Go Tell It On The Mountain by Princeton Theological Seminary Choir-Dr. David Hugh Jones, Director from Princeton Seminary Choir (RCA Victor LPM-1903, Mono, 1959). And another one we've seen again and again already.
7. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm by Les Brown And His Band Of Renown from That Sound Of Renown (Coral CRL 57030, Mono, 1956). Was this the hit version? I don't think so, I believe the hit was on Columbia, though it came out after Les had left the label. But I'm going from memory here, so I could easily be wrong.
8. Brazilian Sleigh Bells by George Wright from George Wright Plays Organ Classics Volume IV (Picc-A-Dilly PIC-3337, Stereo, 1980). I believe this is the exact same version I shared with you earlier in the season, but from a cleverly disguised reissue. Sorry about the duplication.
9. At The Town In The Snow by Carmen Cavallaro-The Poet Of The Piano from Cherry Blossom Time-Popular Melodies Of Japan (Decca DL 74545, Stereo, 1964). From his LP of Japanese songs and melodies.
10. Jelly Belly by Jon Thomas from Big Beat On The Organ (Mercury Wing SRW-1658, Electronic Stereo, 1963). Don't know why I thought this might be Christmas related, but I liked the cover image of a large beet on an organ keyboard. Oh, I remember, I grabbed it because of Santa's belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly!
11. Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year by Dennis Farnon And His Orchestra from Caution! Men Swinging (RCA Victor LPM-1495, Mono, 1957). Caution!
12. Schnee Walzer-Snow Waltz by Marv Herzog from One More Polka Before We Slow It Down (Sound Sound-1061, Stereo, 1974). Haven't had a polka in a while, so here you go.
13. O Hearken Ye by Regina High School Chorus-Ms. Marianne Antonich, Director from Christmas & Spring Concerts 1977-1978 (Melody Recording KM 2623, Stereo, 1978). Some high school hijinks.
14. Greensleeves by The Brussels World's Fair Orchestra, Conducted By Peter Plum from Strings Around The World (Omega Disk OSL 23, Stereo, 1958). This was the world's fair that featured that building that looked like a giant atom. I think it was on the cover.
15. Holiday For Strings by David Rose And His Orchestra from The Very Best of David Rose-David Rose And His Orchestra Play The Compositions Of David Rose (MGM SE 4155, Stereo, 1963). You knew this was coming, didn't you? I've shared out all his other holiday-titled songs, so this one was all I had left.
And that's it, fifteen more tracks! Gotta be something in there you'll enjoy. Let me know your favorites.
I think you are right about Les Brown and I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, a song that incidentally was introduced by Alice Faye (and Dick Powell) when she was a big star and before she married Phil Harris.
ReplyDeleteIs there really a big beet on the cover of the Big Beat on the Organ record? I like that!
Isn't it odd how often that Brussels World's Fair record turns up?
I would never joke about beets!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.discogs.com/Jon-Thomas-Big-Beat-On-The-Organ/master/891536
I think there were a lot of those Brussels World's Fair records, but they do turn up surprisingly often.
The first track shared is a great demo sampler. I did find the fade outs to be annoying, but the selection and the talent on this one is pretty good, so I appreciated it.
ReplyDeleteI found that the Princeton Choir did a good job on their rendition of Go Tell It On the Mountain. A bit of a slower pace, but the vocals seemed solid.
Thanks Buster and Ernie for the insight on the Les Brown track, which I enjoyed!
Interesting to hear the Brazilian Sleigh Bells on the organ. Still quite lively I have to say.
The Snow Waltz track was surprisingly good. Can't say why I enjoyed it, but I did :)
Finally, I found that the Greensleeves track shared in this post had a "Living Strings" vibe to it.
Good to know that someone is actually listening to these tracks. Thanks for the comments, Patrick!
ReplyDelete