Morton, Not Elliot

Tonight's Christmas record is something I've been holding back for a while because my blogging buddy Buster shared it out previously, and I didn't want to step on his toes.  But here it is anyway, I hope he won't mind.  In fact, his version probably sounds better than mine, so if you didn't get it already, go download it now, then come back and get mine. I don't know much about Morton Gould, as his recordings tend more towards the classical, but he does occasionally dabble in the pop domain, not sure if that's by choice, or if his label made him do it on occasion.  But when it comes to Christmas music, there is a large overlap in what's considered highbrow and what's popular, and that's kind of where this record lies, right in the middle somewhere.  I'll just call it enjoyable!  This is Morton Gould And His Orchestra-Christmas Music For Orchestra (Columbia Masterworks 10" 33 RPM ML 2065, 1949, Mono).

1. Moderately Moving (Kings Of Orient; The Babe Of Bethlehem; Rocking; Greensleeves)
2. Briskly (Boar's Head Carol; Patapan; Carol Of Service)
3. Slowly Moving (Come, Love We God; Coventry Carol; The Holly And The Ivy)
4. Gay And Jubilant (Irish Carol; God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen; Wassail Song; My Dancing Day)
5. The First Nowell
6. Silent Night
7. O Little Town Of Bethlehem; Away In A Manger
8. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
9. Adeste Fideles

MEGA

Make Room For Danny

Here's another oddball 45 I found this past year, something I really wasn't expecting.  Side one of this single from Danny Thomas is a song from the TV special Cricket On The Hearth, something I've shared out around here before (and you should go grab that one, because it has a stereo version of the A side).  But the second side here appears to be unique to this single, though, and it's a nice little song.  I'm not the biggest fan of Danny's voice, but I suppose some of you are, and you'll enjoy the song itself as a nice bit of Christmas music. This is Danny Thomas-The First Christmas b/w Christmas Story (RCA Victor 7" 45 RPM 47-9342 Not For Sale, Mono, 1967).  And I think there's another single from Danny around here somewhere...

MEGA

In The Woods

Here's another single to drag the Christmas season out with.  Not much info about this one, hoping maybe one of you can suss out some details beyond what I found over at Discogs. If you look up this record over there, it's the only entry for the Woodman family.  But if you follow the writer of both of these songs, Edward O. Harriman, you'll see that he has another record where he wrote two songs, and it turns out to be the same two songs, just performed by a different artist, Patti Delaney. At least she shows one other entry besides these two Christmas songs.  I'm leaning towards song poem here, but it's probably too good for that, and the label doesn't scream ripoff.  Again, if anyone knows anything here, please leave us some info in the comments.  This is Dea Woodman & Woody Woodman Combo-Big Red Sleigh b/w On Another Christmas Day (Rockland 7" 45 RPM RI 2318, Mono, 1964). Huh, just noticed that 45cat puts this is 1966 instead of 1964...

MEGA

RFK

I found another full LP to share with you tonight. I skipped right over this one a bunch of times during the season, mostly because I didn't think it was very good, but perhaps you're like me and you want to hear it anyway.  I'm not sure why I don't find it funny. I suspect it's because I'm not super familiar with Bobby Kennedy, since I didn't live through his heyday and he was assassinated before he could finish his run for the White House. I don't think this album was very popular back in it's day, either, probably for that same reason.  Or maybe people just weren't entertained by it. I learned from the back of the sleeve that it was a Broadway show and technically this is the soundtrack to that show.  Maybe it would be funnier in person while watching it. My favorite bit was RFK trying to assemble a bike while listening to the instructions on a record. I'm sure that bit would be funnier if you could see him thrashing around with the bike parts. Give it a listen and let me know what you think.  This is Senator Bobby's Christmas Album (Columbia CS 9576, Stereo, 1967). For more political non-humor, follow this link.

1. Scene 1-The Opening-The Gift List
2. Scene 2-The Christmas Haircut
3. Scene 3-What To Get The Kids
4. Scene 4-Christmas Eve With The Senator
5. Scene 5-The Fitting
6. Scene 6-Trimming The Tree
7. Scene 7-The Staff Office Party (Musical Number: Fame & Fortune)
8. Scene 1-Cooking Christmas Dinner
9. Scene 2-The Christmas Cards
10. Scene 3-The Christmas Night Show

MEGA

A New Oldie

The share tonight is sort of a remaster, but sort of not. I shared out one side of this record many years ago, back in 2007, as part of a compilation I used to put together called 26 Days Of Christmas.  Well, actually it was 25 Days Of Christmas, then 26 Days Of Christmas, then 27 Days Of Christmas the last year I did it, but I never finished that year. Anyhow, the theme each year was just a random song from some random record that I happened to like at the moment, with no real plan or plot or anything, just something I found recently or liked at the moment.  It made for interesting compilations, but it was hard to keep up with and I wasn't very good at it.  More than once I wound up with the same song on the collection several times, just by different artists. I guess I should have paid a little better attention.  But anyhow, I recently found a nice clean promo copy of this old 45, so I thought I'd rip it anew and share it with you, including the flip side this time. I think it's pretty good stuff, and the Chree-See-Mus song is a great little tune if you've never heard of it.  This is one of only two versions I've ever heard, so I guess it was never very popular.  For your Tuesday night enjoyment, this is Commander Shea School Boys' Choir-St. Cecilia's Parish, New York City-White Christmas b/w Chree-See-Mus (Cadence 7" 45 RPM 1375 "Disc Jockey Record-Not For Sale", Mono, 1959).

MEGA

The Best You've Ever Heard

Continuing on with 7" EPs that came from that same Goodwill store in Bradenton, FL (though on different visits), tonight I have this great freebie that came from RCA Victor when you bought a gift certificate. Or at least that's what I think it is for.  The cover is a gatefold, with one side for the little record, and the other side for a gift certificate.  My copy didn't come with the certificate, I'm sure someone cashed it in at some point, I believe it was worth three albums, so I couldn't imagine someone who enjoyed music not using it. I was a little surprised that I couldn't find any mention of this record anywhere on the internet, surely it's not that rare, but it may be the sort of thing that didn't survive the trip through time down to today. It doesn't have any rare music on it, in fact it's pretty common stuff that I wouldn't normally share, but I'm making an exception since it seems to be so rare. I'm sharing it more for the package and the artwork than anything else. I like it, and I hope you do too!  This is To Make This The Best Christmas You've Ever Heard (RCA Victor 7" 45 RPM SPA-7-16 Not For Sale (With Gift Certificate), Mono, 1955).

1. George Melachrino And Orchestra-Silent Night
2. Ralph Flanagan And His Orchestra-Winter Wonderland
3. The Three Suns-Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
4. Hugo Winterhalter And His Orchestra-White Christmas

MEGA

Organ In Green

Today's contribution is a beautiful green 7" of organ music from one Bob Ward. Discogs tell me that the record is also available on red vinyl, so a collectors work is never done. There are six songs listed on the sleeve and the label, but the songs all run together on each side, so you only get two tracks in the download. Stuff like this is hard to find, and harder still with the original picture sleeve.  So download this one and enjoy the complete package.  This is Bob Ward At The Hammond Organ-Merry Christmas 'Specially For You (No Label 7" 33 RPM Transparent Green Vinyl V13868, Mono). Pretty sure this record came from the same Goodwill as that last one, but not at the same time.

1. Silent Night; O' Little Town Of Bethlehem; The First Noel
2. Jingle Bells; Santa Claus Is Coming To Town; We Wish You A Merry Christmas

MEGA