Super Saturday, Armed Forces Version 12

We conclude our broadcast day with a record from the US Coast Guard. I think they're the only branch of the military that's charged with a peacetime mission, they protect our coast. I think it times of war they come under the jurisdiction of the Navy, but otherwise they're not a military organization, or something like that. They can do things that would otherwise be considered an act of war. It's all a little fuzzy and above my head, and not really germane to this post. This is The US Coast Guard Band-The Musical Sounds Of The Season (The United States Coast Guard KM 6993, Stereo). I feel like this is another one of those digital recordings where there are very quiet and very loud parts that aren't quite balanced out. Be prepared to do a lot of adjusting with your volume control. Hope you enjoyed today's military Christmas records. There are a lot more in the archives, take a look around with a few key words and you'll be surprised how many you can find. It's all good stuff.

1. A Christmas Festival
2. Twas The Night Before Christmas
3. An English Folk Christmas
4. Fantasy On God Rest Ye' Merry Gentlemen
5. Sleigh Ride
6. March Carillon
7. Jingle Bells
8. Russian Christmas Music

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Super Saturday, Armed Forces Version 11

Time to move on from the Air Force and visit the Navy. This is the only 2xLP record I have for you today and one of only two double LP military records I can think of. This one consists of four 15 minute shows, each of which begins and ends with Sleigh Ride. That adds up to an awful lot of Sleigh Ride, but the songs in-between are much more varied. You get vocals, sea shanties, banjo freakouts, a little bit of everything. I remember a buddy of mine posting about this album a couple of years ago and I wished I had it. This year it turned out that I had it in the collection all along, I just didn't know about it. I hate when that happens. This is The US Navy Band-Christmas Greetings (The Recruiting Advertising Department Of The Navy Recruiting Command 2xLP No Number, Stereo). Enjoy!

1. Program 1: Sleighride; White Christmas; Mary Had A Baby; Go Tell it On The Mountain; Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town; Sleighride
2. Program 2: Sleighride; The Little Drummer Boy; The Secret Of Christmas; Sleighride
3. Program 3: Sleighride; Jingle Bells; Thank You Very Much; Mary Had A Baby; Go Tell It On The Mountain; Sleighride
4. Program 4: Sleighride; Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas; The Little Drummer Boy; Sleighride

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Super Saturday, Armed Forces Version 10

If my research is correct, this is the last Air Force Christmas record I have for you, and it's not even the whole Air Force. It's the Tactical Air Command, a command located in Virginia, so close to the main unit in DC, but not the same thing. Still every bit as good though, don't get me wrong. You really can't go wrong with any of these military records I'm sharing today. I'm curious as to why there are so many linked to the Air Force and so few linked to the other branches of the service. If you go through the archives and look for these things, there are a few Navy, maybe a couple Army, no Marines and a Coast Guard or two, but the vast majority of these connect to the Air Force. I'm sure there's a reason, but I don't know what it is. Give me your best guess in the comments. This is United States Air Force Tactical Air Command Band-Major Lowell E. Graham, Commander-Season's Greetings (Tactical Air Command, MC-20750, Stereo). This may be the last Air Force record, but there's still more to come today. Stay tuned!

1. Joy To The World
2. Suite Of Carols
3. "Pops" Christmas Medley: Let It Snow; Jingle Bell Rock; Winter Wonderland; Silver Bells; The Christmas Song
4. Sleigh Ride
5. Deck The Halls
6. We Three Kings
7. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
8. Voices Of Christmas: Jingle Bells; Santa Claus Is Coming To Town; Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer; White Christmas; O Little Town Of Bethlehem; Adeste Fidelis; Silent Night

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Super Saturday, Armed Forces Version 9

We skip ahead now to a much later date, and a different kind of show altogether. Gone are the guest stars and the Air Force musicians take center stage. They've always been around and they've always been good, now they get a chance to step to the forefront and strut their stuff. This is The USAF Symphony Orchestra And Singing Sergeants-Major James M. Bankhead, Conductor-The Many Moods Of Christmas (The US Air Force, No Number, Stereo, 1986). Pretty sure this is a new share for me, something I have put up at the blog before. About time I get something new up today. I seem to remember that this is a then-new digital recording, so the quiet parts are really quiet and the loud parts are really loud, so don't be surprised if sometimes you can't hear it and other times you can't stand it. It's weird.

1. Suite I: Good Christian Men, Rejoice; Silent Night; Patapan; O Come, All Ye Faithful
2. Suite II: O Sanctissima; Joy To The World; Away In A Manger; Fum Fum Fum; March Of The Kings
3. Suite III: What Child Is This?; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella; Angels We Have Heard On High
4. Suite IV: Break Forth, O Beauteous Heav'nly Light; The First Nowell; O Little Town Of Bethlehem; I Saw Three Ships; Deck The Halls

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Super Saturday, Armed Forces Version 8

More of the same theme here that we've established with our last few records (though I think this is the last of the series). The big name here is Rosemary Clooney and the flip side is filled with a live show at the Grand Ole Opry. You don't get much more country than that. Again I'm presenting this as a couple of side-long radio shows, I'm too lazy to cut these into tracks. This is Two Sides Of Christmas (The Directorate Of Advertising, HQ USAF Recruiting Service, No Number, Stereo, 1974). This is another share that goes back to 2007. I must have really been on a roll that year.

1. Rosemary Clooney, The Falconaires And The Jack Halloran Choir-It's Christmas
2. Archie Campbell, Dottie West, Charlie McCoy And The Jordanaires-Christmas At Opryland

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Super Saturday, Armed Forces Version 7

We're falling into a routine here on these records. Couple of country artists on one side, big name pop artist on the flip. Well, I say pop. Popular music was all over the place in 1973. I don't think it would have been weird to hear Ray Conniff alongside The Doors or a solo track from one of The Beatles on the radio at the time. The market wasn't as segmented as it would become. Probably a lot fewer stations so everything had to share a limited space. These days there are more stations (or channels these days) than you can shake a stick at, so everything can be fitted into it's own lane and Metallica will never have to rub elbows with Lady Gaga. Well, there are always awards shows...  Anyhow, the share of the moment is An Old Fashioned Christmas (US Air Force Recruiting Service Directorate Of Advertising, No Number, Stereo, 1973). When did I first share this? 2007, look like. That's a long time ago, the thrid year of this blog.

1. Sonny James And Connie Smith With The Jordanaires-An Old Fashioned Christmas: Christmas In My Hometown; My Christmas Dream; While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks; Silver Bells; A Chitmas Lullaby/Silent Night; The Star Still Shines; White Christmas
2. Ray Conniff, His Orchestra And Chorus With Roger Carroll-An Old Fashioned Christmas: Here We Come A'Caroling; Here Comes Santa Claus; Deck The Halls; The Real Meaning Of Christmas; It Came Upon The Midnight Clear; The Christmas Song; Frosty The Snowman; Santa Claus Is Coming To Town; O Come All Ye Faithful/We Wish You A Merry Christmas

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Super Saturday, Armed Forces Version 6

We're up to 1972 now, back when I has a small toddler wandering around and bumping into furniture. Those were the days. Little did I know how complex life was going to become once I was wearing big boy pants. The guest stars seem to be getting bigger now. Johnny Mathis was pretty huge at the time and our two country artists weren't slouches on the charts. I don't think either Jim Ed Brown or Dottie West recorded Christmas albums on their own, though I think they put out some singles. Everything here by those two was recorded just for this LP. The Johnny Mathis selections I think were pulled straight from his Christmas records, so the interview bits are the real draw here. Just for you, this is Christmas At Home (The Directorate Of Advertising, HQ USAF Recruiting Service, No Number, Stereo, 1972). I appear to have shared this out back in 2018 though I could swear it was earlier.

1. Jim Ed Brown With Dottie West-Christmas At Home
2. Johnny Mathis With Roger Carroll-Christmas With Johnny Mathis: The First Noel; Silver Bells; I'll Be Home For Christmas; The Christmas Song; Silent Night

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Super Saturday, Armed Forces Version 5

From 1969, we skip ahead to 1971 and a selection of music from the USAF Cadet Chorale without any guest artists on one side and some Christmas greetings and songs on the flip side. Looks like I somehow found time to cut this one into individual tracks for you, but to keep it at least somewhat consistent with my other shares, there's a link below for you to download the uncut version as well. Enjoy! This is A Christmas Present...From Your United States Air Force Recruiter (No Label, No Number, For The United States Air Force, Stereo, 1971). Let's see, have I shared this one before? Pretty sure I have. Oh, not until 2016.

1. Lt. Phil Miller, Narrator-Intro-Christmas From The Ramparts
2. United States Air Force Cadet Chorale Under The Direction Of Dr. Roger Boyd-Sing We Now Of Christmas
3. Lt. Phil Miller, Narrator-Intro 2
4. United States Air Force Cadet Chorale Under The Direction Of Dr. Roger Boyd-Sleigh Ride
5. Lt. Phil Miller, Narrator-Intro 3
6. United States Air Force Cadet Chorale Under The Direction Of Dr. Roger Boyd-God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
7. Lt. Phil Miller, Narrator-Intro 4
8. United States Air Force Cadet Chorale Under The Direction Of Dr. Roger Boyd-O Tannenbaum
9. Lt. Phil Miller, Narrator-Intro 5
10. United States Air Force Cadet Chorale Under The Direction Of Dr. Roger Boyd-Medley: O Come All Ye Faithful; O, Little Town Of Bethlehem; Joy To The World

11. Lt. Phil Miller, Narrator-Intro 6
12. United States Air Force Cadet Chorale Under The Direction Of Dr. Roger Boyd-What Child Is This
13. Lt. Phil Miller, Narrator-Intro 7
14. United States Air Force Cadet Chorale Under The Direction Of Dr. Roger Boyd-The Little Drummer Boy
15. Lt. Phil Miller, Narrator-Intro 8
16. United States Air Force Cadet Chorale Under The Direction Of Dr. Roger Boyd-Do You Hear What I Hear
17. Lt. Phil Miller, Narrator-Intro 9
18. United States Air Force Cadet Chorale Under The Direction Of Dr. Roger Boyd-Silent Night
19. John Davidson-For The United States Air Force (Over 'Silent Night')
20. John Davidson-The Christmas Song
21. Rick Hansen Of New Christy Minstrels-For The United States Air Force (Over 'White Christmas')
22. New Christy Minstrels-Sing Hosanna Hallelujah
23. Jose Feliciano-For The United States Air Force (Over 'Silver Bells')
24. Jose Feliciano-Feliz Navidad
25. Eddy Arnold-For The United States Air Force (Over 'Jingle Bells')
26. Eddy Arnold-I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
27. Alan Osmond Of The Osmond Brothers-For The United States Air Force (Over 'Little Drummer Boy')
28. The Osmond Brothers-Jingle Bells

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Super Saturday, Armed Forces Version 4

Our next radio show is from 1969 and features a few second-tier country stars on one side with gospel artists on the flip. I say second-tier, but that doesn't make them bad artists. Everyone loves the Jordanaires, even if it's mostly for their work with Elvis. Again, I'm presenting these as the complete radio shows they are, not as a collection of individual snippets. Back when I first shared this in 2007, I think I may have cut it into pieces for you, but I'm much too lazy for that this year. Please give a listen to Country Christmas (Advertising Division, HQ U.S. Air Force, No Number, Stereo, 1969).

1. The Jordanaires With Marion Worth, Warner Mack And Ray Walker-A Christmas Party With The Jordanaires
2. The Florida Boys And The Singing Rambos-The Gospel Sounds Of Christmas

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Super Saturday, Armed Forces Version 3

Time for the first of the classic USAF radio shows that I've been sharing with you for years, only this time I've remastered the whole lot so they're going to sound about as good as I can make them sound. This first one is undated, though there's likely something on it I missed that would nail down the date for it. And it's a little special because it features songs and Christmas greetings on the flip side, where most of them feature a second show on that side. Those greetings make excellent drop-ins for your Christmas mixes. I often listen to my collection on random play and it's neat when a greeting from some one pops up. This is Eddy Arnold Sings Christmas (The Advertising Division, HQ U.S. Air Force, No Number, Stereo). I didn't cut that first side show into tracks because I wanted to present it as the radio show in which it was released. That, and I was too lazy to cut it. Many of the shares today are going to be like that. I was very lazy. Oh, almost forgot to mention, I first recorded and shared this record back in 2007.

1. Eddy Arnold With The Jordanaires-Eddy Arnold Sings Christmas
2. Sandler & Young-Christmas Greeting
3. Sandler & Young-I Sing Noel
4. Wayne Newton-Christmas Greeting
5. Wayne Newton-Little Drummer Boy
6. Robert Goulet-Christmas Greeting
7. Robert Goulet-God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
8. Mary Wilson Of The Supremes-Christmas Greeting
9. The Supremes-Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
10. Mel Torme-Christmas Greeting
11. Mel Torme-Christmas Song

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Super Saturday, Armed Forces Version 2

The second entry in today's military parade is another fairly generic entry into the catalog. This one is a bit more sophisticated than the previous record I shared with you, but it's still not nearly so slick as the later ones I have to share. Certainly a lovely cover and some fine music. I'm sure you'll find something to enjoy on The US Air Force Band-Christmas Music By The U.S. Air Force Band (The US Air Force GXTV 98459/98460, Stereo). Again, this is a remaster of a very old share, but I can't seem to find the old share. My search abilities are weak at the moment. Maybe I've never shared this but I sure think I have...

1. Deck The Halls-Intro
2. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
3. Intro 2
4. The Christmas Song
5. Intro 3
6. I'll Be Home For Christmas
7. Intro 4
8. A Visit From Saint Nicholas
9. White Christmas
10. Intro 5
11. Jingle Bells
12. Joy To The World-Intro
13. The First Noel
14. Intro 2
15. Silent Night
16. Deck The Hall
17. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
18. We Three Kings
19. The Christmas Story
20. O Come All Ye Faithful
21. Outro

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I've also got this one in an uncut format for you, where it's just presented as two straight radio shows for your listening pleasure. This is probably more representative of the way it was meant to be heard. This time it's Christmas Music By The U.S. Air Force Band (The US Air Force GXTV 98459/98460, Stereo).

1. The Air Force Symphony In Blue And The Airmen Of Note With Vocalist Sergeant Jerry Whitman-Holiday Serenade
2. The Air Force Orchestra And The Singing Sergeants With Special Christmas Narration By Walt Tease-Christmas Serenade

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Super Saturday, Armed Forces Version 1

Let's get an early start on this Super Saturday, the day of the week where I try to bury you with so many shares you cry uncle and run away vowing never to listen to Christmas music again. Well, I hope that doesn't happen, but I'm sure there are plenty of folks who have given up on keeping up at this point. Just buy yourself a big fat external hard drive and keep downloading, it will be fine. Today I'm diving into a deep pool of Christmas records recorded by members of the United States military in their spare time. I think the time frame for all these releases is the mid-60's to the mid-80's, only two decades but a large change in the role of the US military. At the beginning of that time frame we were still deeply involved in the mess that was Vietnam, but by the end we were relatively peaceful with only minor skirmishes here and there that didn't really affect the folks here in the US. Certainly no one knew the issues that were to pop up another twenty years on with 9/11 and the conflicts that stretched out from that. I'm sure there are still military bands pumping out music to this day (and the tradition stretches back much further than the records I'm sharing, through Glen Miller and John Philip Sousa, past the fife and drum corps of the American Revolution and beyond.) But where to start? Here's a nice but generic record, likely from the mid-Sixties (but I really have no idea) that collects up a few performances on the A side and then includes some promotional message on the B side. It's as good a place to start as any. This is Holiday Greetings And Best Wishes (The U.S. Air Force XMB-536/537, Stereo). Not all of the records I share today will be new shares, though they will all be remasters if I've shared them before. This one first came to you in 2007.

1. The Air Force Symphony Orchestra-Program 1
2. The Air Force Symphony Orchestra-Program 2
3. The Air Force Symphony Orchestra-Program 3
4. Unknown Artist-Band 1
5. Unknown Artist-Band 2
6. Unknown Artist-Band 3
7. Unknown Artist-Band 4
8. Unknown Artist-Band 5
9. Unknown Artist-Band 6

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Little Carols

I couldn't dig up any more Christmas in French for you tonight (though I suspect more will turn up later, it always shows up when you're least expecting it). Instead here's another religious record I thought was worth sharing. Actually, it's better than that, it's a religious school record, which means little kids singing! This is The Bishop's Choristers-Directed By Rev. C. Chilicki-Little Carols By Little Men (Gregorian Institute Of America CA-12, Mono). Isn't that an adorable cover? And with red vinyl! I seem to recall when cutting this up I cut everything into tracks, then later compared the my cut to the track list. They listed several things as medleys, but they really were, there were clear gaps between each song and the next. That's how you wound up with 24 tracks, I guess they were just short versions instead of true medleys.

1. God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
2. Silent Night
3. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
4. Child In A Manger
5. Carol Of The Bells
6. In Midnight Stillness
7. Merrily To Bethlehem
8. Jesous Ahatonia
9. Ihr Kinderlein
10. Les Agnes
11. El Rorro
12. Lullajze Jezuniu
13. Canzone D'i Zampognari
14. Nu Ar Det Juligen
15. Tu Lumen Et Splendor
16. A Solis Ortus Cardine
17. Ibant Magi
18. In Dulci Jubilo
19. Susanni
20. Christmas Hymn
21. Mary's Lullaby
22. Carol Of The Drum
23. Sleigh Ride
24. Holiday For Strings

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Noël (Again)

Our tour of those sections of Canada who speak French continues now with S. Gisèle Pilon et Les Tournesols d'Oshawa-Noël (MARC Productions WRC1-1756 (Canada), Stereo). Lots of fun singing on this one. Is that a little bit of Tijuana horn I hear on there? Wish there was more of that around.

1. Le Bonhomme Hiver (Winter Wonderland – Let It Snow)
2. Sa Maman L'Appelait Jésus
3. Le P'tit Renne Au Nez Rouge (Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer)
4. Petit Garçon (Old Toy Trains)
5. Silver Bells
6. Promenade En Traîneau (Sleigh Ride)
7. Petit Papa Noël
8. Danser Autour De Vert Sapin
9. Noël Blanc (White Christmas)
10. Joyeux Noël (Christmas Song)

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Chants

You want some more Christmas music in French? Well, you're going to have to settle for French Canadian because that's all I got in the pile. This is a budget label issue of a various artist collection that doesn't identify the different artists. I saw a version at Discogs that does ID the different artists, but I didn't really have enough confidence in it to do so myself. Your mileage may vary and perhaps there's someone here who is familiar enough with these artists to confirm who's who here. This is Unknown Artist-14 Chants de Noël (Succes (Canada) 14CN-6, Mono). Sorry about the big sticker right there on the front cover. I couldn't really photoshop that out. If memory serves, there's a price of $1.98 under there.

1. Noël Blanc
2. Noël Est Dans Mon Coeur
3. Noël Noël
4. Minuit Chrétien
5. Petit Papa Noël
6. Vive Le Vent
7. Oui C'est Le Temps Des Fêtes
8. Venez Divin Messie
9. Les Agnes Dans Nos Campagnes
10. Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant
11. Ça Bergers Assemblons-Nous
12. Dans Cet Étable
13. D'où Viens-Tu Bergére
14. Sainte Nuit

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Noels

How about a little French Christmas? I was pretty excited when I found this French Christmas record in the archives, go it all recorded, then later came across a slightly retitled US issue of the same record. I scanned that one for you as well as the French version, both covers are in the download. I didn't record the US release and compare though, but I'm pretty sure they are identical. If you like lush versions of Christmas carols, this record is for you! Please download and enjoy Caravelli-Noels Par Caravelli (CBS (France) 84539, Stereo, 1980).

1. Jingle Bells
2. Noël Blanc (White Christmas)
3. L'Enfant Au Tambour (Little Drummer Boy)
4. What Child Is This (Greensleeves)
5. Ave Maria
6. Joie Pour Le Monde (Joy To The World)
7. Silent Night (Douce Nuit Sainte Nuit)
8. Le Petit Renne Au Nez Rouge
9. Le Premier Noël (The First Noël)
10. Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant
11. Mon Beau Sapin (O Tannenbaum)
12. La Petite Ville de Bethleem
13. Minuit Chrétien (O Holy Night)

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The Only One

You may or may not remember that last year was devoted to the 7" 45 RPM records here at the blog (Starts here, ends here). I shared out hundreds of those little records, 45 at a time, for 45 days in a row (with five more batches of 45 at the end of bonus stuff that I'd recorded throughout the month). It was a grand celebration of the art of the Christmas single and I pretty much exhausted my stash of those records. But as fate would have it, I was gifted a 45 during the course of the last year that I absolutely have to share with you. It's from Japan, was never released in the US and it features one of the stars of Sesame Street! You might remember Bob as one of the human stars of Sesame street from the premiere of the show through 2016. Millions upon millions of children grew up with him as one of the characters that helped kids learn life lessons alongside a giant bird, a trash can denizen, a Count who loved to count, a green frog reporter and two roommates who later had a blog named for them. As the saying goes, Bob was big in Japan where he released a few albums and singles, but his career never caught fire here in the US. I think he got his start singing with Mitch Miller in the States, but his recording career didn't catch fire until his records got released overseas. The Japanese fans loved him. This Christmas EP came out there in 1966 and never had a US counterpart as far as I know. I've lusted after it for a few years and earlier this year I got an email from a Christmas music buddy asking for my address. He wouldn't tell me why, and a week or so later this record appeared in my mailbox. I'm eternally grateful to the Christmas music community that exists online, I'm frequently the recipient of cool stuff like this, but I have to say that the is one of the most unexpected things I've ever gotten! So many thanks for this record, and I'm sure everyone who downloads and enjoys it will leave a nice thank you as well.  This is Bob McGrath-Christmas With Bob McGrath (CBS (Japan) 7" 33 RPM YSS-10002-JC, Stereo,1966), the only 7" record I have to share with you this year. I guess technically this record wouldn't have been part of my single celebration last year since it spins at 33 RPM, but that's a minor technicality. I shared out several sets of 7" records that spun at 33 RPM last year as well, but that was a pretty small pile of records compared to the 45s.

1. White Christmas  
2. Silent Night, Holy Night  
3. Jingle Bells  
4. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town

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Power Pak Plus

I almost forgot I had this sampler album from Power Pak that features tracks from what's probably all the albums in the instrument-focused series I've been sharing with you. Going by the track listing here, I'm missing a handful of instruments. Going to have to dig those up somehow, though I've probably already got half of them somewhere in the archives, I just can't lay my hands on them. Looks like we need saxophone, banjos, steel guitars and harmonicas. So I guess I'm missing more instruments than I have. That's too bad. This collection also misleadingly advertises Bobby Helms and his big hit Jingle Bell Rock right there on the cover, but this is not the hit version and doesn't really rock very much at all. Poor guy recorded that song half a dozen or more times trying to relive the glory days for other labels over the years. I was working towards gathering them all up at one point, but it's a daunting task and I just wasn't up for it. I kept spotting new versions and I couldn't tell if it was something new or a reissue of something I already had. Gonna take a braver person than I to put that catalog project together. Anyhow, for the more discerning collectors out there, this is Christmas Album (Power Pak/Gusto PO-507, Stereo, 1974).

1. Bobby Helms-Jingle Bell Rock
2. Dee Mullins-Remember Bethlehem
3. Nashville Sax Featuring Jerry Tuttle-Here Comes Santa Claus
4. Nashville Banjos Featuring Vic Jordan-Little Drummer Boy
5. Nashville Vibes Featuring Don Tweedy-Silver Bells
6. Jeannie & Al-Winter Wonderland
7. Jimmy Griggs-White Christmas
8. Nashville Steel Guitars Featuring Jim Baker-Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
9. Nashville Pianos Featuring Willie Rainsford-The Christmas Song
10. Little Roy Wiggins-Blue Christmas
11. Nashville Harmonica Featuring Randy Charles-Silent Night
12. Nashville Guitars Featuring Dale Sellers-Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

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Piano

It's one minute to midnight and I'm posting the last record I have in this Power Pak series focusing in on different instruments. This entry is for the piano and features an artist who we've actually heard from before. I won't swear that I haven't shared anything that featured the other artists in this series before, but it's hard to keep track of everything I've ever shared. If you can think of something that links to this or any other artist I've featured, please don't be shy about leaving a comment pointing it out. I love to make connections between new and past shares but sometimes I don't take the time to do the proper research on every share like I should. Here is Willie Rainsford-Piano Voices Of Christmas (Power Pak PO 505, Stereo, 1973).

1. White Christmas
2. Winter Wonderland
3. Blue Christmas
4. Christmas Song
5. Little Drummer Boy
6. O' Little Town Of Bethlehem
7. Silver Bells
8. Silent Night
9. Christmas In My Home Town
10. Jingle Bell Rock
11. Here Comes Santa Claus
12. Rock Around The Christmas Tree

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Guitar

Here's the guitar-based entry in this series of instrument-focused Christmas albums from Power Pak. With a name like Power Pak and a distributor like Gusto, you know these are likely the highest quality records you could buy from a rack at the truckstop. This is Dale Sellers-Christmas Guitars (Power Pak PO 503, Stereo, 1973). Again, I suspect all these tracks were recorded at the same time and then mixed down for each record. They all feature that odd title of 'Rock Around The Christmas Tree'.

1. White Christmas
2. Winter Wonderland
3. Blue Christmas
4. Christmas Song
5. Little Drummer Boy
6. O' Little Town Of Bethlehem
7. Silver Bells
8. Silent Night
9. Christmas In My Home Town
10. Jingle Bell Rock
11. Here Comes Santa Claus
12. Rock Around The Christmas Tree

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Vibes

Starting a short series here of these LPs on Power Pak that focus on different instruments. Each one of them features very similar titles and I strongly suspect they were all recorded in the same session, then mixed to highlight the instrument being featured. I'm just making a few assumptions here, but they seem too similar to be a coincidence. This one features the vibraphone or if you prefer, the xylophone. I think I much prefer Xylophone because there aren't enough words out there that start with the letter X. This entry is Don Tweedy-Christmas Vibes (Power Pak PO 231, Stereo, 1973).

1. White Christmas
2. Winter Wonderland
3. Blue Christmas
4. Christmas Song
5. Little Drummer Boy
6. O' Little Town Of Bethlehem
7. Silver Bells
8. Silent Night
9. Christmas In My Home Town
10. Jingle Bell Rock
11. Here Comes Santa Claus
12. Rock Around The Christmas Tree

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Another Ernie

As I mentioned in that last post, here's another record that features on the hitherto unknown NAM label. Well, unknown to me at least, you may have heard of it before. And if you have, where and why? Anyhow, this post is about a fellow Ernie and is apparently a different album than the one I shared by him 15 years ago! (Look for a new download link in the comments over there.) This one is more of the same, really, so I don't know if you need a second one or not. But I think it's worth a download if you're on the fence. I see there was a price sticker on the front cover that I couldn't clone out (or maybe I just didn't want to take the time). Sorry about that. Hope you can enjoy it anyway. This is Ernie Berger-Carols Organ And Chimes (NAN WGX-99, Mono).

1. Adeste Fidelis  
2. Hark The Herald Angels Sing  
3. Ave Maria  
4. O Tannenbaum  
5. O Sanctissima  
6. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear  
7. Silent Night  
8. Away In A Manger & Joy To The World  
9. We Three Kings Of Orient Are  
10. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly  
11. The First Noel  
12. O Little Town Of Bethlehem  
13. Oh Holy Night  
14. Jingle Bells  

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Windsor Knot

I've really been enjoying sharing things with you this year that are off the beaten path. Whether it's local music or private press or just plain rare stuff, it's a lot of fun. This one comes under the heading of never having seen it before. I've been collecting Christmas music for 30 years or more to some degree, but this one popped up and was new to my eyes. That happens now and then and it's always a pleasant surprise. Too much of the Christmas stuff I find is familiar releases or re-releases, especially new records. So it's always refreshing to find something I've never seen before. I think I stumbled across this record at a dirty little thrift store in North Port that had small stacks of records all over the store, hidden away in places you wouldn't expect. I always start with the first, biggest pile of records I see in a store, but then I'll poke around just in case there are more elsewhere. And in this case, that strategy paid off. Not all of the music here is Christmas, I suspect they were just throwing something out there and they needed to fill up the vinyl to make it look like a worthwhile purchase. I'm not familiar with this label, but I think it's needs to be filed in the budget drawer. (If memory serves, I've got another record from this same label coming up next. Weird how these things come together sometimes.) Please download and enjoy The Windsor Strings-A Family Christmas (NAN 1014-MGX-S, Stereo).

1. White Christmas  

2. Ave Maria  

3. Greensleeves (What Child Is This)  

4. Poem  

5. Loves Dream  

6. Christmas Fantasy: Hark The Herald Angels Sing; Silent Night; Jingle Bells; There's No Place Like Home  

7. Midnight Bells  

8. Caprice Vienna  

9. Invitation 

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It's Alive!

I'm not sure if the artist here is supposed to be Living Sound or Larry Dalton. It seems to switch back and forth depending on where you're looking. I checked at Discogs and some of the other entries in his catalog are the same way, so we'll try to have it both ways the same as he does. This is Living Sound (Larry Dalton)-Christmas Praises (Living Sound LS 104, Stereo).

1. O Little Town Of Bethlehem; Away In A Manger
2. Silent Night
3. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
4. I Wonder As I Wander
5. Coventry Carol
6. O Come All Ye Faithful
7. Go Tell It On The Mountain
8. What Child Is This
9. Pastoral Symphony
10. Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming

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10-12

One minute to midnight and time to share the last ten inch record of the day. I saved this one for last because it came to me without a cover and I hate to post things that aren't complete. But it's got a great song that I previously only had on a 78. Which I guess is also also ten inches in diameter, but it's just not really the same thing. All of the tracks on this collection appear to have previously only come out on 78 RPM records and as far as I know, this is they're only appearance on vinyl. Not that the sound is much better here. Like I said, this came to me without a cover so it did not live an easy life. And it sounds a bit like it was mastered from some of those old 78s to begin with. Budget labels do strange things sometimes. Anyhow, there are some good songs here, and one great one. Give it a listen and see if you can guess which one I love. Mark Warnow And His Orchestra-Dick Todd, Lanny Ross, Danny O'Neil, Varsity Caroleers-Songs For Christmas (Royale 10" 33 RPM LP 41, Mono 1952). Not all of those vocalists appear on all songs, that's just the way there were mentioned on the label. If you dig up copies of all those old 78s, you can probably figure out who sang on what. I'm not even sure Mark Warnow is the orchestra leader on all these, but that's what the label says. Enjoy!

1. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
2. Good King Wenceslas; Tannenbaum; Deck The Hall
3. The First Noel; Away In The Manger
4. The Winter Song
5. All Around The Xmas Tree
6. Happy Little Songs: Skip To My Lou; Polly Wolly Doodle; Arkansas Traveler; Jingle Bells
7. Here Comes Santa Claus
8. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

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