In The News

Look at me, I'm famous! I merited a post on Facebook from a Christmas buddy of mine. Just to set the record straight though, I don't have anything to do with Buster's Big 10 Inch blog. We've worked together on a couple of posts this year, but his place is his and my place is mine. They are both worthy of your time. Thank you, Randy, for the mention!

Yet More Buddy, Yet More Bunny

You know what, I bet I can dig up even more Buddy & Bunny Burden for you. Turns out there are two more tracks on this compilation. One of them is a whole new track, and the other is a vocal version of a song that's an instrumental on the other albums. Not sure how much interest the other songs on this LP may hold for you, but they're not bad. Some names here that I'm sure you'll recognize. Bobby Russell, Bill Purcell, The Harmonicats! Give it a try, I'm sure you'll enjoy A Family Christmas Album-Something For Everybody (Halo Records HALO 1007, Stereo).

1. Bobby Russell-The Christmas Song

2. The Singleton Singers-12 Days Of Christmas

3. Bunny And Buddy Burden-Christmas Card

4. J.T. Adams-It's Christmas Time

5. Bill Pursell-Silent Night

6. Bobby Russell-Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

7. Ray Walker, Margie Singleton & Prissy Reed-Jingle Bells

8. Bunny And Buddy Burden-Christmas Polka

9. The Music City Choir-Deck The Halls

10. The Don Les Harmonicats-Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

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More Buddy, More Bunny

I'm not sure if I knew about this second Buddy & Bunny album back in the day, but if I did, I'm sure I thought it was just a reissues of the first. Turns out that it's not, though. Well, most of it is. This record omits two tracks from the LP I shared earlier (I'll Be Home For Christmas and Silver Bells), but they add Silent Night to this one. So you get a bonus track if you combine this LP with the other one. It's not every day that you find a new track from long ago, but here you go! This is Buddy & Bunny Burden-Christmas Organs (Halo Records HALO 1006, Stereo).

1. White Christmas
2. Frosty The Snowman
3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. Jingle Bell Rock
5. Sleigh Ride
6. The Christmas Polka
7. The Christmas Song
8. Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer
9. Silent Night
10. Jingle Bells

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The Return Of Buddy

I'm remastering one of my favorite shares here, something from my very first year here at the blog, 2005. Seems fitting that I should return to it here in 2025. This is a swinging organ-based album from the night club act Buddy and Bunny Burden. Gatlinburg, TN was not the tourist trap then that it is now, but it was still the place to be. These two entertained nightly and recorded a couple of albums including this Christmas entry. Buddy played the organ while Bunny played the drums and sometimes sang. Well, I think both of them were multi-instrumentalists, but that's where they concentrated. Buddy is still alive and with us, retired to Florida like so many folks of his generation. Last I spoke to him, he's still playing the organ and entertaining every chance he gets. I've always enjoyed this album and am proud to bring it back to you a sparkling remaster tonight. This is Buddy & Bunny Burden-Christmas Favorites (Modern Sound Christmas Album #5, Stereo). Stay tuned for more from this duo!

1. White Christmas
2. Frosty The Snowman
3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. Jingle Bell Rock
5. Sleigh Ride
6. Silver Bells
7. Christmas Polka
8. The Christmas Song
9. Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer
10. I'll Be Home For Christmas
11. Jingle Bells

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Anchor Store

When I was growing up, Sears was a large anchor store at the mall. For a few generations before mine, Sears was a giant catalog that you ordered everything you needed from, whether is was a car, a prefab house, overalls or baking supplies. I wasn't sure if there were even any stores left out there but a quick web search tells me the nearest one is over 100 miles away, but they're happy to let me order anything I want online (though to be honest, I don't see anything I need that I can get cheaper elsewhere online). I don't ever remember seeing records in their store, but they must have carried them at one point or another as evidenced by this Christmas release. It's the sort of silky smooth string record that some folks seem to really enjoy, but it's hard to tell one from the next. Maybe that's right up your alley and you can't get enough. If so, download and enjoy Sears Golden Strings-White Christmas (Sears SPSX-503, Stereo).

1. Jingle Bells  

2. White Christmas  

3. March Of The Toys  

4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town  

5. Toyland  

6. The First Noel  

7. Silent Night  

8. O Come All Ye Faithful  

9. O Little Town Of Bethlehem  

10. We Three Kings Of Orient Are  

11. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing  

12. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear  

13. Angels We Have Heard On High  

14. Jingle Bells 

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Where's Mokena?

Whoa, is it early. The things I do for you Christmas music lovers. I'm going to post this and go back to bed for another hour. Sometimes the cover of a record is just too good to pass up, especially if it's cheap in a thrift store. My collection is filled with such things and that's the pile this record came from. Isn't that a great cover? A lot of homemade greatness right there. I didn't realize until much later that the vinyl is a beautiful translucent green, adding to the goodness of this package. It may just be a bunch of kids singing, but it's still a great record for your collection. This is Christmas In Mokena (No Label WFC-763 Green Vinyl, Stereo, 1967). Great song selection here, too. Some things I don't think I've heard before. By the way, Mokena appears to be a small city in the Chicago exurbs, way southwest of town. Now you know.

1. Morning Kindergarten-Sharon Connolly, Director-Alma McCarthy, Pianist-Santa's Workshop
2. First Grade-Sharon Connolly, Director-Alma McCarthy, Pianist-The Angel Bank
3. Second Grade-Sharon Connolly, Director-Alma McCarthy, Pianist-Zumba, Zumba
4. Third Grade-Sharon Connolly, Director-Alma McCarthy, Pianist-How Far Is It To Bethlehem?
5. Afternoon Kindergarten-Sharon Connolly, Director-Alma McCarthy, Pianist-Christmas Bells
6. Fifth Grade-Sharon Connolly, Director-Alma McCarthy, Pianist-The Babe Of Bethlehem
7. Fifth Grade-Sharon Connolly, Director-Alma McCarthy, Pianist-Go Tell It On The Mountain
8. Fourth Grade-Sharon Connolly, Director-Alma McCarthy, Pianist-Burgundian Carol
9. Fourth Grade-Sharon Connolly, Director-Alma McCarthy, Pianist-The Wassail Song
10. Dave Guth-Sharon Connolly, Director-Alma McCarthy, Pianist-A 'Soalin
11. The Singing Meteors-Sharon Connolly, Director-Alma McCarthy, Pianist-Glory To God
12. The Singing Meteors-Sharon Connolly, Director-Alma McCarthy, Pianist-Do You Hear What I Hear?
13. The Singing Meteors-Sharon Connolly, Director-Alma McCarthy, Pianist-Ukranian (SIC) Bell Carol
14. The Singing Meteors-Sharon Connolly, Director-Alma McCarthy, Pianist-Christmas Day
15. Sixth Grade Chorus-Sharon Connolly, Director-Alma McCarthy, Pianist-The Holly And The Ivy
16. Sixth Grade Chorus-Sharon Connolly, Director-Alma McCarthy, Pianist-Ding Dong Merrily On High
17. Sixth Grade Chorus-Sharon Connolly, Director-Alma McCarthy, Pianist-Sleep Little Tiny King

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Jeanne & John

Many times this month I'm going to tell you about little surprises that popped up as I was recording my Christmas music for sharing this year. This is another one of those little coincidences that keep things interesting. You'll note that this album is by the same two folks as that last record, only this time they're credited under their full names. It wasn't until well into the editing process that I realized I had two albums by this same not-a-couple. Pretty sure I didn't buy these two records together, didn't have them on the shelf together, didn't know they had anything to do with each other until I noticed the two similar names. But a little investigation showed that I had two of a kind, and that's about the best hand I can hope for. (Well, that's not true, already this season I've shown up a time or two with four of a kind, and full houses aren't all that rare. So I guess two of a kind isn't going to beat a Yahtzee very often). Anyhow, here's another LP from this pair, John McKay & Jeanne Rogers-The Spirit Of Christmas (Master Music MM-1010-LPS, Stereo). I'll go ahead and make a little bit of fun of their outfits again, though I have to mention that I think I had a light blue suit like that when I was a kid. It was the Seventies, what can I say?

1. There's A Song In The Air; Joy To The World
2. Go Tell It On The Mountain
3. I Wonder As I Wander
4. Angels We Have Heard On High
5. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
6. We'll Sing About Jesus; Jesus Is Born
7. O Holy Night
8. We Three Kings
9. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
10. Deck The Halls
11. Jingle Bells; We Wish You A Merry Christmas

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John & Jeanne

Here's a fun album from a couple who are married to different people. I guess that means they aren't a couple, but if you're like me, every time you see a man and a woman singing together, you just assume they're a couple. How 'bout those outfits though? That's half the fun of these old records. High fashion at the time is pretty weird from today's vantage point. Enjoy it while you can, pretty sure your kids will be making fun of you in old pictures someday. This is John & Jeanne-Our Favorite Christmas Carols (Master Music MM-1004-LPS, Stereo). Enjoy, and come back soon.

1. Joy To The World
2. What Child Is This
3. Silent Night
4. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
5. O Come All Ye Faithful
6. The First Noel
7. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
8. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
9. Away In A Manger
10. O Holy Night

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Lutheran Day, Part 4

Time for the final installment of Lutheran-fest today. I don't know if this is the best of the bunch, but sure do love the cover. And you can't tell from the scan, but it was also the glossiest cover of them all. This thing looked like the hood of a '57 Corvette with ten coats of gloss clear on it.  The music? Well, it's some local choirs doing their best. Don't say I didn't warn you. But it sure does look nice. This is Because It's Christmas (Delta XCTV-63356/63357, Mono).

1. Luther North A Cappella Choir-Directed By Gerhard P. Schroth-Our Father  
2. Luther North A Cappella Choir-Directed By Gerhard P. Schroth-We've Been A While A-Wandering  
3. Luther North A Cappella Choir-Directed By Gerhard P. Schroth-Keeping Holy Vigil  
4. Luther North A Cappella Choir-Directed By Gerhard P. Schroth-An Austrian Cradle Song  
5. Luther North A Cappella Choir-Directed By Gerhard P. Schroth-A Joyous Christmas Song (Sung In Norwegian)  
6. Luther North A Cappella Choir-Directed By Gerhard P. Schroth-De Glory Manger  
7. Luther North A Cappella Choir-Directed By Gerhard P. Schroth-Alleluia  
8. The Lutheran Choir Of Chicago-Directed By Gerhard P. Schroth-The Godly Stranger  
9. The Lutheran Choir Of Chicago-Directed By Gerhard P. Schroth-Slovak Carols  
10. The Lutheran Choir Of Chicago-Directed By Gerhard P. Schroth-Hosanna To The Son Of David  
11. The Lutheran Choir Of Chicago-Directed By Gerhard P. Schroth-A Spotless Rose  
12. The Lutheran Choir Of Chicago-Directed By Gerhard P. Schroth-Lullaby Song  
13. The Lutheran Choir Of Chicago-Directed By Gerhard P. Schroth-Heavenly Night  
14. The Lutheran Choir Of Chicago-Directed By Gerhard P. Schroth-Song Of Mary

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Lutheran Day, Part 3

Time for the third installment of today's celebration of Lutherans and Christmas music. It may seem like a weird combination but it works, that's all I know.  This is the second installment of Christmas music from our friends at The Lutheran Brotherhood, though I should have shared this one first since I expect it same earlier. More of the same good stuff though. This is The Lutheran Brotherhood Singers-Christmas (Lutheran Brotherhood 5-5982, Stereo, 1966).

1. Carol Of The Mistletoe Singers  

2. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing  

3. O Little Town Of Bethlehem  

4. Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head  

5. Hasten Now, Ye Shepherds  

6. Good King Wenceslas  

7. O Come, All Ye Faithful  

8. Noel: Rise From Thy Crib  

9. Silent Night  

10. A Joyous Christmas Song  

11. In Bethlehem  

12. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen  

13. O, Ru-Ru-Ru, My Little Jesu  

14. I Saw Three Ships  

15. In Her Arms  

16. Masters In This Hall  

17. A Merry Christmas  

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Lutheran Day, Part 2

As promised, here's the second installment of music by Lutherans for Lutherans. Well, anyone can enjoy it if they give it a try, and you certainly should. Reading the liner notes on this one, I understand it's produced by some sort of insurance collective for Lutheran church members. I don't know all the details, but it seems like an interesting idea. Hoping one of me readers can chime in with some more details since I'm too lazy to do the research myself. This is The Lutheran Brotherhood Singers-Christmas With The Lutheran Brotherhood Singers (Lutheran Brotherhood E-504, Stereo).

1. Festive Procession  
2. Hodie Christus Natus Est  
3. Prayer On Christmas Eve  
4. The Snow Lay On The Ground  
5. Holly Tree  
6. A Boy Was Born  
7. O Little Town Of Bethlehem  
8. While Shepherds Watched  
9. Cherry Tree Carol  
10. Fum, Fum, Fum  
11. Silent Night, Holy Night  
12. The Lord Is A Mighty God  
13. There Shall A Star  
14. Three Movements From Gloria: Gloria  
15. Three Movements From Gloria: Et In Terra Pax  
16. Three Movements From Gloria: Cum Sancto Spiritu  
17. Alfred Burt Carols: Caroling, Caroling; All On A Christmas Morning; We'll Dress The House  
18. Glory Alleluia  

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Lutheran Day, Part 1

Welcome to part one of our special celebration of Lutherans! Don't ask me how they got their own day, when no other religions even get mentioned around here very much. I guess the only reason I can offer is that I somehow ended up with four records that have pretty specific connections to Lutherans and they all wound up in the share pile. We start out with this goody that's typical of the Word label, a Christian outfit that caters to all believers (and non-believers, too, I guess). It's good stuff, but there's better stuff to come. Well, better is a subjective thing. I'll just say that the covers get shinier and more attractive. This is Lutheran Hour Choir-Christmas Carols (Word W-4020-LP, Mono, 1962).

1. A Child Is Born In Bethlehem  
2. Joy To The World  
3. The First Noel  
4. What Child Is This  
5. Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming  
6. Angels From The Realms Of Glory  
7. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear  
8. Medley: O Come All Ye Faithful And O Thou Joyful Day  
9. Thee With Tender Care I'll Cherish  
10. Gabriel's Message  
11. Babe Of Beauty  
12. Coventry Carol  
13. Before The Paling Of The Stars  
14. Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head  
15. As Lately We Watched  
16. Praise God, The Lord, Ye Sons Of Men  

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It's Snowing!

Time for some more late-night listening. What can I dig up for you this fine evening? Here's a nice remaster from back in the day, 2008 to be exact. I'm sure I've brought it back a few times since then, but I don't think I've ever remastered it for you and that's exactly what I've done for you tonight. It's a brand new rip and a brand new scan for 2025. About the only think I remember about this release from back in 2008 is that I had to do some work to get that big red W on the front cover. For some reason, it was obscured on my copy and I had to scan a different release and drop it in on the cover. This year, I initially scanned the same copy with plans to do the same sort of cut-and-paste job as back then, but a second copy showed up in the archives later and I was able to get a good scan after all. Not that my scans are the greatest this year anyway. I think my scanner is getting old. Everything is coming out too dark and I'm screwing up the colors a bit when I lighten the image. It's not the worst year of scans I've ever had, but it's not the best. I'm also doing far to many records to spend a lot of time on each scan. That's not to say I haven't spent multiple hours on some of them, but not many. Some of them were just unpresentable in their initial state, usually because the record had ben drawn on or taped up somehow. There's always something to clean up. The scanning process seems to highlight every single flaw in a cover, even if you thought it was pristine when you put it on the glass. Maybe I'm just too picky. Anyhow, this is The Henry Snow Singers-The Little Drummer Boy And Other Christmas Favorites (Whitehall (Westminster) WH 20023, Mono, 1959).

1. The Little Drummer Boy
2. Adeste Fidelis
3. Away In A Manger
4. Joy To The World!
5. The First Noel
6. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
7. Silent Night
8. Deck The Halls
9. O! Little Town Of Bethlehem
10. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
11. Angels We Have Heard On High
12. Good King Wenceslas
13. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
14. Holly Green (And Cotton Candy White)

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Missed One

Uh oh, I just noticed that I didn't have a share ready to pop up in the 8 pm time slot this evening. You probably wouldn't notice, but I did. Let me see what I can throw up here real fast. It'll just be a few minutes late. I have so much stuff here, surely I can find something to post real quick. Here's a fundraising album for a children's home somewhere around here local, though I'm not quite sure where. I need to go back and read the liner notes but I'm in a bit of a hurry to get this up. Take a look at the scans in the download and you'll know more about this than I do. I remember there being some fun stuff on here. It's a combination of kids singing and some adults associated with the home as well, so don't be afraid to give it a listen. This is Dr. Lindy A. McGowan & Lighthouse Childrens' Home-His Children At Christmas (Land O' Roses ALG 68-35, Stereo). I feel like this is a double stock cover. We've seen this overall design before, as well as the ornament picture inside the main design being used as the entire cover. Weird.

1. O Come All Ye Faithful
2. Away In A Manger
3. Consider The Lilies
4. He Loves Me
5. If That Isn't Love
6. Heavenly Father I Appreciate You
7. Alleliuah-Silent Night (Medley)
8. Jesus Christ Is Coming Again
9. Silver Bells
10. Jingle Bells
11. Rudolph
12. White Christmas
13. It's Bubbling
14. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

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Agway

I've got another record here for you that I picked up just for the cover. It's a great example of that Seventies design aesthetic that used weird earthy colors. I think this is exactly the sort of color palette that Miami Vice came along and destroyed in the early Eighties with all their pastel pinks. But it's a nice design even if the colors are odd by today's standards. This is The Hamilton College Male Choir, Brass Choir, Woodwinds, Strings And Organ-An American Christmas (A Lexington Productions Recording/Agway Holiday Heritage Series LS1607, Stereo, 1967). Agway appears to have been a local store of some sort, I think they still exist today. And even though this is listed as part of a special holiday series, there is only this one entry as far as I can tell.

1. Joy To The World
2. Silent Night
3. Gloria In Excelsis Deo
4. Sir Christemas
5. Three Carols For Brass: In Thee Is Gladness; All My Heart This Christmas Rejoices; Unto Us A Child Is Born
6. Schlaf Mein Kindelein (Sleep, Little Child)
7. Brothers, Lift Your Voices
8. In Dulci Jubilo (Good Christian Men, Rejoice)
9. Adeste Fideles
10. The Kings Fanfare
11. Angels We Have Heard On High
12. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
13. In The Bleak Midwinter
14. What Child Is This
15. Hodie Aparuit (Today He Appeared)
16. The Heavens Are Telling
17. Of The Father's Love Begotten
18. Schlaf Wohl (Sleep Well)
19. Sing We Noel
20. La Serafina (The Angel)
21. Coventry Carol
22. Three Kings

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US 27

Here's another record that features Christmas music from a roadside attraction, only we're on the other end of the country this time and I believe it's still there. I wonder if they have a gift shop where you can buy CDs of music from the chapel. I love souvenir records like this from out-of-the-way places. I have a few albums of music recorded at Disneyland in the early years of the park, but Christmas music is harder to find, especially from such a small, regional place. I hope you can appreciate it as much as I do. This is Mrs. Alvin Davis-Music Of Christmas From The Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel (Callaway Gardens PRP 34921/34922, Stereo, 1971).

1. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
2. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
3. There's A Song In The Air
4. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
5. O Holy Night
6. Away In A Manger
7. O Come, All Ye Faithful
8. What Child Is This
9. Silent Night, Holy Night
10. Angels We Have Heard On High
11. Joy To The World
12. Silver Bells
13. Jingle Bells
14. White Christmas
15. Do You Hear What I Hear
16. Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer
17. The Christmas Song
18. I'll Be Home For Christmas

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Grape Juice

Here's a souvenir LP from a long-lost attraction in California called Welch's Mountain Fantasy. There's not a whole lot of info floating around out there on the internet about it, but it appears to have been a sort of time capsule located in the California mountains. Best date I could find for the theme park/ghost town attraction was post-1979, but it certainly feels a bit older. The music here is nothing special, just a collection of music boxes playing some of the usual Christmas tunes. But the idea of a release from a short-lived attraction on the other side of the country is pretty appealing to me. If that sort of thing appeal to you as well, download it and give it a listen. If anyone can fill in the details of this place, please do. No artist is listed, as is typical of these music box releases, so I think I listed Welch's as the artist. There's a good chance this is a reissue of a music box collection recorded and released elsewhere, but maybe they really did record their own collection for this release. This is Welch's Mountain Fantasy Presents The Christmas Music Box (Custom Fidelity for Welch's Mountain Fantasy CFS-3031, Stereo).

1. Jingle Bells  

2. White Christmas  

3. Silent Night, Holy Night  

4. Oh Come All Ye Faithful  

5. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing  

6. The Monastery Bells  

7. Skater's Waltz  

8. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town  

9. Song From "The Tyrolean"  

10. Silver Bell Song  

11. Wiener Blut  

12. Ave Maria (Prayer)  

13. The Holy City Song  

14. On Sonetissima (Christmas Song) 

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A Bank Is Its People

Time for an early morning share. Is anyone awake out there? I thought this was going to be another religious release, but it turned out to be a little better then that. I think it's a local community group that somehow got a big sponsor in a local savings bank. You never know what you're going to get with something like this and I think this one is better than average.  Add it to your collection today!  This is The Concert Singers-A Program Of Christmas Music (Fleetwood  Recording Co, BMC5162 For The Lynn Five Cents Savings Bank, Stereo). There was an entire concert program stuffed in the sleeve of this one. I scanned the whole thing and put it in the download for you. Enjoy!

1. Torches
2. Behold A Star
3. Tryste Noel
4. Still, Still, Still
5. Jesus Child
6. In Excelsis Gloria
7. Christmas Day
8. From "The Messiah": And The Glory Of The Lord
9. From "The Messiah": Glory To God
10. From "The Messiah": For Unto Us A Child Is Born
11. From "The Messiah": Hallelujah Chorus

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Angel Eyes

Here's another spoken word Christmas record for you. I used to try to share these all out at once but I've been spacing them out this year for some reason. I'm sure there are more in the big bucket o' shares that I will get to in due time, but this one rose to the top as I was perusing the list just now. Every time I think I have all the Christmas related records on the great spoken-word label Caedmon, another one comes along and surprises me. This one held an even bigger surprise when I saw who provided the background music. None other than Enoch Light's buddy Dick Hyman! This guy must have released close to a hundred (maybe more) records across every label Enoch Light ever owned, and when all those were done he just kept going for a whole host of independents. I believe he's still alive and living not too far from me, but I don't know if he's still recording. It wouldn't surprise me, to tell you the truth. So show him a little love and download Dame Judith Anderson-Music Composed And Performed By Dick Hyman-The Littlest Angel (Caedmon TC 1384, Stereo, 1973). This one is really long but the stories are enjoyable. You've probably heard the story about The Little Angel a million times, but the b-side was a new one on me.

1. The Littlest Angel
2. The Bells Of Christmas

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Ruby Red

How could you possibly pass up a great cover like that one? You may not care about carolers and an organ, but the music is really secondary when you come across a great looking album you've never seen before. And did I mention it comes on beautiful transparent red vinyl? I guess a lot of these small-label records came on colored vinyl as a way to set them apart from the majors. People see them these days and think they are rare items, but they're really much more common than you might think. Plus they only ever got pressed once, so there's no such thing as a second pressing on plain black vinyl. I had a record store guy try to charge me a premium price for some obscure religious 10" Christmas record that happened to be on clear red vinyl. He wouldn't listen when I tried to tell him that didn't make it worth one dime more, but he told me in no uncertain terms to go away. Oh well, I didn't need yet another obscure religious Christmas record, I already have more than anyone needs. And you can have one more too if you just download Jack Rains Carolers & Lorin Whitney, Organ-Christmas Carols (Sacred Records LP 9048, Transparent Red Vinyl, Mono).

1. Star Of The East
2. Joy To The World; Come All Ye Faithful
3. Angels We Have Heard On High; Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
4. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; Angels From The Realms Of Glory
5. Silent Night
6. Shepherds Shake Off Your Drowsy Sleep
7. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
8. The March Of Three Kings; The Golden Carol
9. Luther's Cradle Hymn
10. Away In A Manger
11. O Come All Ye Faithful; It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

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The Friendly Skies

Here's a new one for you, a Christmas album put out by an airline! Never seen such a thing, but now we'll see it together. This is Frohe Weihnachten (Lufthansa (Germany) F 667.599, Stereo). It's an interesting collection of Christmas music, including at least one track on the zither, one on a music box and whole lot of other things that make this an eclectic listen. Enjoy!

1. Little Bells-Glöckchen
2. Der Bielefelder Kinderchor-Ltg.: Friedrich Oberschelp-O Du Fröhliche
3. Münchner Bürger Sänger Zunft-Dir.: Gottfried Huber mit Hackbrett und Gitarre-O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum
4. Stuttgarter Hymnus-Chorknaben-Kommet Ihr Hirten
5. Hermann Prey, Bariton-Tölzer Knabenchor, Das Symphonie-Orchester Graunke-Leise Rieselt Der Schnee
6. Sängerkreis Solingen-Meigen; Dir.: Arnold Kempkens mit Streoichquartett und Celesta-Alle Jahre Wieder
7. Alfons Bauer, Zither; Lisl Fanderl, Hackbrett-Weihnachtliche Saitenmusik
8. Music Box With Percussion-Musikdose Mit Schlagwerk
9. Der Bielefelder Kinderchor; Ltg.: Friedrich Oberschlep-Ihr Kinderlein Kommet
10. Die Sonntagskinder;Dir.: Dr. Rudolf Becher; Gesamtzeit Des Medley's-Es Ist Für Uns Eine Zeit Angekommen; Kling Glöckchen; Morgen Kinder Wird's Was Geben
11. Heinz Schachtner Und Sein Orchester-Süßer Die Glocken Nie Klingen
12. Berlin-Spandauer Männergesangverein; Dir.: Otto Ruthenberg mit Orgel-Am Weihnachtsbaume Die Lichter Brennen
13. Chor Vom Bergischen Land; Dir.: Hans Lonberg mit Streichorchester-Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht
14. Little Bells-Glöckengeläute

MEGA

FDR

How do you follow up a really good share? Maybe something that's not so good? I feel like there is going to be a lot of up and down this season. I was pretty indiscriminate about what I grabbed and record, I just wanted to grab as much as I could early in the year and commit the vinyl to digital. I wanted to spread out the load instead of trying to do everything in the month before the season started, and I think it worked out well. I've got a lot of good records and a lot of bad records in the pile to share, and sometimes you and I will differ as to which is which. Let's take this one for instance. I'm sure I grabbed it because of that cover. (Now I have to try and remember where I've seen it before. Pretty sure I shared it here at the blog... Found it!!) It's just kids singing, which some people love and some people won't even take a chance on. I always say you should take a chance on anything, so here's your opportunity to give something different a try. This is Roosevelt Elementary School-Mrs. Marjorie B. Seavey, Director-Holiday Memories (Roosevelt School 0320, Stereo). Interesting song selection on here, that's always a good sign. The kids get to have a little fun instead of singing the same old hymns.

1. Holiday Of Love
2. Silver Bells
3. Over The River (And Through The Woods)
4. Lowly Birth
5. Joy To The World
6. Angels We Have Heard On High
7. Hark Ye What Angel Voices
8. Jingle Bell Rock!
9. The Ballad Of The Donkey
10. I'm Getting Nuttin' For Christmas
11. Oh Little Boy Jesus
12. I Heard The Bells
13. White Christmas
14. O Bambino
15. O Tannenbaum
16. Are My Ears On Straight?
17. Jingle Bells
18. Have A Holly Jolly Christmas

MEGA

Frenchy

Another in a long parade of local color I'm bringing you this year is this LP from Frenchy Boutan and his friends, hailing from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I have no idea when or where I found the album, it just sort of turned up in the collection one day when I was looking for something to record. I'm glad it turned up though because it's better than it really has any right to be. There's nothing super original here, but it's all well done and very listenable. Looks like Frenchy was a DJ in Wisconsin and retired to Largo, Florida in later years. That's not too far from me, so it's easy to imagine this LP could have been brought down here by the man himself, or perhaps one of his fans. Always a pleasure to find something this enjoyable that you've never heard before. Give a listen to Frenchy Boutan And Friends-A Merry Christmas With Frenchy Boutan And Friends (Claremont Records 21069, Stereo).

1. Frenchy Boutan-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas  

2. Jan Castle-The Christmas Song  

3. Frenchy Boutan And Jan Castle-Blue Christmas  

4. Frenchy Boutan-C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S  

5. Frenchy Boutan And Jan Castle, Wendy And Carrie Travis-Holiday On Ice  

6. Frenchy Boutan And Jan Castle, Wendy And Carrie Travis-Winter Wonderland  

7. Frenchy Boutan-Will Santy Come To Old Shanty Town?  

8. Frenchy Boutan-Christmas In Killarney  

9. Frenchy Boutan, Wendy And Carrie Travis-Bless You Little Sleepy Head  

10. Jimmy Merrick-Organ Medley: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer; Santa Claus Is Coming To Town  

11. Frenchy Boutan-What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?  

MEGA 

Little Christmas On The Prairie

So many records to share this year, I don't know how I'll fit them all in. But I'm giving it the old college try. This time it's a neat album that touts it's midwest roots, which I love. Who wouldn't enjoy a Christmas on the prairie? Certainly these folks enjoy it and so will you. This is Prairie Choristers-Christmas On The Prairie (Crusade Enterprises SPC...1012, Stereo). If you enjoy this record, stay tuned, I've got some Christmas goodies from some people who once liked in a little house out on the prairie, if you get my drift...

1. Christmas Carol
2. Glory To God
3. Joy To The World
4. Star Of The East
5. Once In Royal David's City
6. Away In A Manger
7. Glory To God In The Highest
8. Christians, Awake!
9. The Star And The Wise Men
10. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
11. O Come, Little Children
12. Far, Far Away On Judea's Plains
13. The Babe Of Bethlehem
14. Silent Night

MEGA

Bock Bock

I was a little surprised to find out that the artist behind this record is the same as that last one. Sure, he hides behind a few pseudonyms, but he's not too hidden. I believe each of the made-up artists on this record also released a full-length LP of music appropriate to whatever instrument they're hyping with the name, but none of those are Christmas albums. Only this pseudo-various artists record is of the holiday variety. And it's an interesting mix of stuff. Give it a listen and see what you think. From the mixed-up world of Fred Bock, this is The Sunday Series-A Tribute To Christmas (Image VII VII-7739, Stereo, 1976).

1. Sunday Trombones-Arranged & Conducted By Fred Bock-Joy To The World
2. Sunday Pianos-Arranged & Conducted By Fred Bock-Away In A Manger
3. Sunday Singers-Arranged & Conducted By Fred Bock-While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night
4. Sunday Strings-Arranged & Conducted By Fred Bock-Over In Bethlehem
5. Sunday Saxes-Arranged & Conducted By Fred Bock-Hark The Herald Angels Sing
6. Sunday Guitars-Arranged & Conducted By Fred Bock-We Three Kings
7. Sunday Organ-Arranged & Conducted By Fred Bock-Star Of The East
8. Sunday Pianos-Arranged & Conducted By Fred Bock-Deck The Halls
9. Sunday Strings-Arranged & Conducted By Fred Bock-Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne
10. Sunday Singers-Arranged & Conducted By Fred Bock-Do You Hear What I Hear
11. Sunday Trombones-Arranged & Conducted By Fred Bock-O Come All Ye Faithful
12. Sunday Guitars-Arranged & Conducted By Fred Bock-O Little Town Of Bethlehem
13. Sunday Saxes-Arranged & Conducted By Fred Bock-Silent Night

MEGA

Bock

If there's one style of record I have the most of for you this season, it's religious records. It seemed like two out of every three records I ripped were performed by some sort of religious organization. I don't think I finished processing all of those, so you're not going to get quite that many in the shares, but you're going to get a lot of them. And many of them are better than you think, even better than they have any right to be. I seem to recall hearing a Moog right in the middle of one recently, but for the life of me I can't remember which one it was. So if you're listening to a random record from me and you suddenly hear the electronic waverings of Robert Moog, don't say I didn't warn you. I don't think it's this record though, but you never know. This one is just organ music, so I won't claim it's anything special, but there's room for everything in my collection. This is Fred Bock-Upon A Midnight Clear (Impact R-3479, Stereo, 1977).

1. The First Noel
2. We Three Kings
3. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
4. I Wonder As I Wander
5. Away In A Manger
6. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
7. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
8. O Holy Night
9. O Little Town of Bethlehem
10. Joy to the World!
11. Some Children See Him
12. Angels, We Have Heard on High
13. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
14. O Come, All Ye Faithful
15. Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne
16. Silent Night

MEGA