Super Saturday Good Night

Before this latest Super Saturday draws to a close, I wanted to squeeze in one last share for you all. How about this remaster (and stereo-ification) of a share from 2008. I finally found a stereo copy of this one at the same time I found three of the four additional Salvation Army-Army of Stars records I shared with you today. They were all in the same box so it was a pretty exciting day for me. Rare that I find multiple records I'm excited about these days, but it does still happen. Larry was the organist on a TV show that aired in the northeastern US during the sixties, probably right near the end of such a career being a viable option. This sort of playing on TV was not what the kids were wanting to see (or hear) when they turned on their sets, but their parents still had fond memories of the days when tuning in meant using a radio, not a TV. Imagine a show these days that just featured one guy playing an instrument. Even PBS has trouble pulling that off these days. But back in the day, this was still pretty common. This is Larry Ferrari-I Wish You The Merriest (Sure SS Volume 703, Stereo, 1966). Enjoy!

1. We Need A Little Christmas
2. Sleigh Ride
3. Medley: It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas; Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!; Reprise-It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas
4. Silver Bells
5. You're All I Want For Christmas
6. Medley: Christmas Bells; I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day; Reprise-Christmas Bells
7. Winter Wonderland
8. Little Drummer Boy
9. We Wish You The Merriest
10. Medley: There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays; I'll Be Home For Christmas
11. White Christmas
12. Medley: Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town; Jingle Bells; Frosty The Snowman
13. The Christmas Song
14. Blue Christmas

MEGA

Super Salvation Saturday-Bonus 4

This is the last of the new additions to the Army Of Stars collection I have for you today, and it just happens to be the year of my birth. Glad I was able to fill in that blank. This is We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Salvation Army, Army Of Stars, Western Territory, Public Relations Department, 39248, Stereo, 1970). The guest star here is one of the last surviving major artists from the Fifties, Pat Boone. He took a lot of static for covering the music of Black artists back in the day, somehow making the songs more palatable for white audiences, but would those artists have been able to break through without that exposure? Maybe, maybe not, but I doubt it was Boone himself deciding which records to cover and which songs to sing. Anyhow, I'll stop pontificating and instead allow my buddy Buster to do his thing once again and tell us all about this record and the artists there-in. (Don't forget to visit Buster over at his blog and download all sorts of Christmas music that I somehow missed.) Take it away, Buster:

The 1970 Army of Stars program presented a well-known singer (Pat Boone) in a spoken word presentation, along with the usual coterie of artists from the San Francisco Opera, Rex Koury and the Army of Stars Orchestra and the Azusa Pacific College Choir.

Pat Boone

Once again, the big star was identified as "host commentator" although he does not host the show. Pat Boone instead narrates the story of Jesus' birth, to background music led by (and presumably composed by) Rex Koury.

Shigemi Matsumoto

Pat's contribution was at the start of side 2. To jump back to the beginning of the record, we first hear from the very welcome Shigemi Matsumoto, a most accomplished soprano, who presents "Rejoice Greatly" from Handel's Messiah. She was then at the San Francisco company, and it appears she still teaches. The recital hall at her alma mater, Cal State-Northridge, is named for her.

Ella Lee

Soprano Ella Lee had leading roles not only at the San Francisco Opera, but in Chicago and throughout Europe during a long career. Here she sings the Franck setting of "Panis Angelicus."

The next artist from the San Francisco company is baritone James (Jimmy) Farrar, who was with the company only in 1969. I can find little information on him, but I can tell you he was a talented vocalist. Here he is heard with the Azusa Pacific Choir in the "Cantique de Noël."

Donna Petersen

Mezzo-soprano Donna Petersen, in contrast, was with the company for the better part of 30 years, joining as far back as 1952. She sings the Schubert setting of "Ave Maria."

Peter Lagger

The Swiss bass Peter Lagger primarily appeared in Europe, but was in a San Francisco production of Mozart's The Magic Flute in 1969. Here he presents Sarastro's aria "Within These Holy Portals" from that score. (The Papagena in that production was Shigemi Matsumoto.)

Also on the LP, the Azusa Pacific Choir can be heard in "What Child Is This" and the Army of Stars Orchestra in "Silent Night" and "Toyland." The soloists, choir and orchestra assemble for a concluding performance of "Joy to the World."

Now that you know all the details, here's the track list and the download. Thanks for sticking with me as I try to run this series. I think at this point I'm missing 1965 and 1986 (and I have my eye on an auction for a cheap copy of 1986...).

1. Shigemi Matsumoto-Rejoice Greatly Daughter Of Zion--Messiah
2. Ella Lee-Panis Angelicus
3. Rex Koury And Army Of Stars Orchestra-Toyland
4. Azusa Pacific College Choir-What Child Is This
5. Rex Koury And Army Of Stars Orchestra-Army Of Stars Theme
6. Pat Boone With Rex Koury And Army Of Stars Orchestra-The Christmas Story
7. Jimmy Farrar And Azusa Pacific College Choir-Cantique De Noel
8. Donna Peterson-Ave Maria
9. Peter Lagger-Within These Holy Portals--Magic Flute
10. Rex Koury And Army Of Stars Orchestra-Silent Night
11. Jimmy Farrar, Peter Lagger, Ella Lee, Shigemi Matsumoto, Donna Peterson, Azusa Pacific College Choir-Joy To The World

MEGA

Super Salvation Saturday-Bonus 3

This is the third new addition to the Army of Stars series that I shared out with you over a full Saturday a few weeks ago. And this is also the only new one that I sort of doubled up on. When I found this one in the boxes at Bananas in St. Pete, there were two copies. I pulled this record out of it's sleeve and the label matched the sleeve as expected. I opened the other one up and the label did not match the sleeve, it had vinyl from a different year inside of it. I still bought it thinking the vinyl had the music for another year that I needed, and it was better to have the music and no sleeve than to have the sleeve and no music. But when I got it home, I discovered that the vinyl I had bought was a duplicate of something I already had, I just didn't recognize it because I didn't have the sleeve to look at. Anyhow, I still came home with this new addition to the collection. This is Special Christmas Program (Salvation Army, Army Of Stars, Western Territorial Headquarters, Public Relations Department, CPM-122589, Mono, 1967). Speaking of not being correct, the track list on the back on the sleeve did not appear to match what was on the vinyl. The listing from the labels was a closer match, so if you're looking closely at the scans I've included in the downloads, you might find a few discrepancies. I did my best to match everything up.

Before we jump to the track list and download link, I'd like to welcome back my buddy Buster from Big 10-Inch Record with his stellar commentary about this record. As I keep saying, you need to be visiting his place all year long, not just at Christmas. He's always got something interesting to share, and the commentary is pretty amazing. That's why I asked him to have a go at these records, you'll get an education along with the music. So here he is, let's listen in:

The Army of Stars for 1967 were again mainly associated with the San Francisco Opera, including one repeat performer from the year before. Instead of Bing as the guest star, the Salvation Army called upon Eddie Albert, then riding high on the hog, so to speak, as the star of television's rural hit, Green Acres.

Eddie Albert

Albert was a good choice; a personable, public spirited fellow then in the midst of a long, distinguished career. The wonder is that they didn't ask him to sing - he had been in several hit musicals and had even made a few records.

What he does do is recite "What Do You See in Christmas," earnest thoughts of uncertain origin about the holiday. Albert did like these sentimental pieces; he once recorded an entire LP of the poems of Edgar Guest.

Note that the back cover had him providing "Christmas Greetings" at the end of side one; instead he appears near the end of side two. In fact, the order of pieces on the cover is in several ways different from the sequence on the LP.

Rex Koury

Before we get to the singers on the program, let me tell you a bit about Rex Koury, who was the music director for many of these Army of Stars productions. He actually started out as a boy theater organist, only switching to the piano, conducting and writing music when that profession went downhill (the talkies, you know). Eventually he became an ABC and then NBC staff conductor, which he was while making these records. Koury wrote both the "Army of Stars Theme" and "A Child's Christmas" heard on this program.

Dorothy Warenskjold

Dorothy Warenskjold is the first vocal star we hear from. This excellent soprano was a protege of Gaetano Merola, who once headed the San Francisco Opera, and was a member of the ensemble throughout his tenure. At the same time, she was popular on the radio, often appearing in such shows as The Railroad Hour with Gordon MacRae. (Their Capitol recording of selections from Romberg's The Student Prince can be found on my blog.) Here, she presents Franck's setting of the "Panis Angelicus."

Next, bass Joshua Hecht makes a return appearance on the program, this time with "The Quest" (usually called "The Impossible Dream") from the then Off-Broadway show The Man of La Mancha.

Carol Kirkpatrick

Soprano Carol Kirkpatrick had won first prize in the San Francisco Opera's audition program then appeared with the company for several years before teaching. She sings the "Cantique de Noël (O Holy Night)."

Adib Fazah

Baritone Adib Fazah was mainly associated with the New York City Opera, where he appeared for 25 years in many leading roles. For this record he presents "But who may abide" from Handel's Messiah.

Also on the program, as usual during these years, is the Azusa Pacific College Choir, who sing "What Child Is This (Greensleeves)."

Thanks, Buster. I own the record but I still learn stuff from reading your commentary that I didn't know. Now, on with the show!

1. Rex Koury And The Army Of Stars Orchestra-Army Of Stars Theme
2. Dorothy Warenskjold-Panis Angelicus
3. Joshua Hecht-The Quest From The Man Of La Mancha
4. Azusa Pacific College Choir-Earle Anderson, Director-What Child Is This (Greensleeves)
5. Rex Koury And The Army Of Stars Orchestra-A Child's Christmas
6. Carol Kirkpatrick & Azusa Pacific College Choir-Earle Anderson, Director-Cantique De Noel
7. Adib Fazah-But Who May Abide--Messiah
8. Rex Koury And The Army Of Stars Orchestra-Christmas Medley
9. Eddie Albert-What Do You See In Christmas
10. Rex Koury And The Army Of Stars Orchestra-Army Of Stars Closing Theme

MEGA

Super Salvation Saturday-Bonus 2

Here's another entry into the Army of Stars series that I didn't own before the 2025 Sharity Season began. I count myself extremely lucky to have found four more entries into this series in this year alone. These things are pretty rare to begin with and I managed to find four new ones. I must be the luckiest guy in the world right at the moment. And it wasn't like I found a whole big pile of these records and I grabbed the ones I needed. No, the only records I found were ones that I didn't have. I found three of them at a single record store, then I found a fourth one a week later in a different store. I consider it to be a bit of a Christmas miracle. This is Special Christmas Program (Salvation Army, Army Of Stars, Western Territorial Headquarters, Public Relations Department, CPM 12-2548, Mono, 1966).

Same as the earlier post, I welcome my friend Buster from Big10InchRecord.blogspot.com who can tell us more about this record than I possibly can. Go give him a visit and tell him Ernie sent you. Here's what he had to say about this record:

The Army of Stars for 1966 were again chosen from the world of opera, as was the tradition for the Salvation Army.

But first, let's talk about the big name for the record, who was the biggest name in Christmas programming - along with Rudolph, Frosty and Santa himself, of course: Bing Crosby. Unlike the 1963 program, where Vincent Price introduced the record, Der Bingle provides Christmas greetings at the end of the album's first side.

As for the singers, on the back cover, the Salvation Army helpfully provided some notion of who the various participants were, but let me add a few comments.

Joshua Hecht

Bass Joshua Hecht was appearing with the San Francisco Opera and the New York City Opera at the time this record was made. He also sang at the Met and in many European opera houses. For this program he performed the Albert Hay Malotte setting of "The Lord's Prayer."

Reri Grist

Reri Grist - who is still with us - had a fascinating career. The soprano appeared both in musicals and in opera when young, including the role of Consuelo in West Side Story, where she introduced "Somewhere." But she soon was to be in demand in opera. She was with the San Francisco Opera at the time of this record, while also appearing in major European houses. Also, she had started her Met career earlier in 1966, and remained associated with that company for the next 13 years. She sings "Sweet Little Jesus Boy," a spiritual by Robert MacGimsey that dates from 1934.

Sándor Kónya

Sándor Kónya was a Hungarian tenor who appeared all over the world, including in San Francisco and the Met, where he was a member of the troupe for 14 years. He was renowned both in German and Italian opera roles. For this record, he performed the "Ingemisco" from Verdi's Requiem. Not exactly a Christmas classic, to be sure.

Gwen Curatilo

Soprano Gwen Curatilo also was associated with the San Francisco company when this record was made, but soon would move into teaching, becoming head of the California State University, Chico opera program for many years. She sings the hymn "Ho, Ev’ry One that Thirsteth."

In addition to these performers, Rex Koury and the orchestra present his instrumental "Christmas Morn" and the Azusa Pacific College Choir sing "O Little Town of Bethlehem."

Thanks, Buster! And now, here's the track list and the download link for you.

1. Army Of Stars Orchestra With Bing Crosby-Army Of Stars Theme
2. Joshua Hecht-The Lord's Prayer
3. Reri Grist-Sweet Little Jesus Boy
4. Sándor Kónya-The Ingemisco (From Requiem)
5. Bing Crosby With Rex Koury And Army Of Stars Orchestra-Christmas Greetings
6. Rex Koury & Army Of Stars Orchestra-Christmas Morn
7. Gwen Curatilo With Azusa Pacific College Choir-Ho, Everyone That Thirsteth, Come Ye To The Waters
8. Azusa Pacific College Choir-Oh, Little Town Of Bethlehem

MEGA

Super Salvation Saturday-Bonus 1

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I spent the whole Saturday sharing out records from the Salvation Army, with a special emphasis on their long-running Army of Stars series? Well, right before those shares started going live on the blog, I happened to get real lucky and I found four more entries in the series. I was pretty excited about being able to share more of the series with you, but I wasn't able to get them all ripped and processed in time to share them then. So today for the second half of this Super Saturday, I'm diving back into the well of opera singers and celebrity spokespeople that were so popular some weeks ago. Christmas has come and gone but I hope you still have some room in your collection for these. I'll begin with Army Of Stars (The Salvation Army Western Territorial Headquarters, Public Relations Department, CPM-12-2448, Mono, 1963). This now becomes the oldest of the Army of Stars records I have in my collection (not counting the 16" transcription disc that Buster ripped for me). This is also the oldest one listed at Discogs that's not a 16" record. Could this be the first year they pressed up commercial LPs? I'm not sure, but maybe.

As a special surprise, I've asked Buster to do some commentary on each of these records. He does a better job than I at contextualizing the whole thing, adding a little bit of bio about each of the artists and places the music in it's proper setting. If you haven't been to his place, I strongly recommend you go visit him just as soon as you're done here. And now, here's what Buster had to say about this record:

Jolly old Vince

In 1963, the Salvation Army's Western district was continuing with its tradition of a Christmas program under the title "An Army of Stars." For this year, the program was introduced by an actor whose image was hardly that of a jolly elf. He was Vincent Price, who at the time was specializing in Edgar Allen Poe based horror movies.

Price was good at those roles, but there always was a tongue-in-cheek aspect to his personality, which he would later show in such popular American game shows as "Hollywood Squares." Here he introduces the proceedings, then, to paraphrase The Raven, was heard nevermore.

Most of the vocalists appearing in 1963 were associated with the San Francisco Opera - the Salvation Army's Western District is located in that city. But two of the stars had broader experience, which we will get to soon.

Bass-baritone Donald Drain was one of the San Francisco folks, spending 1960-65 with the company. He sings "O Thou Sublime Sweet Evening Star" from Wagner's Tannhäuser.

Carol Todd

Soprano Carol Todd was then new to the San Francisco troupe; she was just beginning her career. Her contribution is the Bach-Gounod setting of "Ave Maria."

Raymond Manton

The fine tenor Raymond Manton of the San Francisco company was tasked with the John Jacob Niles setting of "I Wonder as I Wander," which he handles well in an arrangement that's a bit overblown.

Giorgio Tozzi

The following two songs are presented by the best-known artists on the program. Bass Giorgio Tozzi was a mainstay of the Metropolitan Opera - and his voice was known to millions from the film version of South Pacific, where he dubbed Rossano Brazzi's singing. Tozzi is excellent in Bizet's setting of the "Agnus Dei."

Side note: Tozzi put out a full Christmas LP with fellow Met star Rosalind Elias. You can find it on my blog here.

Kerstin Meyer

Kerstin Meyer was an internationally famous Swedish mezzo-soprano who mainly appeared in European opera houses. She presents perhaps the most unusual item on the program: the German Christmas song "Mariae Wiegenlied" (Mary's Lullaby) by the late Romantic composer Max Reger. This is a gorgeous work (belying Reger's reputation for producing turgid music). Note that the cover and label get the title a little wrong - it's Mary's, not Maria's, lullaby.

Tozzi returns with the Azuza College Choir for the hymn "How Great Thou Art." Then follows Kerstin Meyer and Carol Todd in another superb piece, the "Evening Prayer" from Humperdinck's opera Hänsel und Gretel. In the opera, it is what the lost children sing before they go to sleep, at which time a flock of angels appear to protect them. The music and the scene are extraordinary. Unfortunately, the two singers here are not well matched.

For the finale, the soloists join the choir for "O Little Town of Bethlehem."

To me, this is one of the finest entries in the Army of Stars series.

1. The Army Of Stars Orchestra With Vincent Price-Army Of Stars Theme
2. Donald Drain-O Thou Sublime Sweet Evening Star - 'Tannhauser'
3. Carol Todd-Ave Maria
4. Raymond Manton-I Wonder As I Wander
5. Giorgio Tozzi-Agnus Dei
6. Kerstin Meyer-Maria's Lullaby
7. Giorgio Tozzi & Azusa College Chorale-A Capella Choir-How Great Thou Art
8. Kerstin Meyer & Carol Todd-Evening Prayer From 'Hansel & Gretel'
9. Donald Drain, Giorgio Tozzi, Raymond Manton, Kerstin Meyer, Carold Todd, Azusa College Chorale-A Capella Choir-O Little Town Of Bethlehem

MEGA

Super Saturday-Local Radio Edition 7

This is the last entry I have in the series, and it's the only one I know of that was never reissued by another radio station in any form. I don't know if they just quit selling this music or if the series had run it's course and no one wanted to buy it anymore or who knows what. It's really more of the same, there are no surprises here. Same Choraleers, though the bonus track features The Texas Girls Choir this time instead of the boys. There's also another track from The Vocal Majority featuring vocals from one of the station DJs. This same track in this same version actually appears on the Christmas LP put out by The Vocal Majority a few years later so I guess they must have liked it. I believe all the other tracks these releases and the VM album have in common are re-recordings. This is KVIL Christmas Vol III (FairWest Enterprises FW-KVIL 84, Stereo, 1984). As I said, this is the last of these I have for you, but Discogs lists a dozen more, and I'm sure there are more beyond that out there. If you have a record you'd like to contribute, I'd love to have it and expand on this collection next year. Drop me a line and we can arrange a transaction. If you've already ripped one, please drop a download link into the comments so we can compare and contrast.

1. The KVIL Choraleers-Trumpet Solo: Jack Evans-Vocal Solos: John Hooper and Abby Anderson-Jingle Bells; Sleigh Ride
2. The KVIL Choraleers-Tenor Sax Solo: Pete Brewer-Merry Christmas, Darling
3. The KVIL Choraleers-Flute Solo: Pete Brewer-Christmas Is The Warmest Time Of The Year
4. Texas Girls' Choir-Guitar Solo: Larry Rolando-White Christmas
5. The KVIL Choraleers-Vocal Solo: Bill McGraw-Medley: Caroling, Caroling; Deck The Hall; O Tannenbaum; We Wish You A Merry Christmas
6. The KVIL Choraleers-Medley: O Come, O Come Emmanuel; What Child Is This; Gentle Mary Laid Her Child; Angels From The Realms Of Glory
7. The KVIL Choraleers-The Little Drummer Boy (Carol Of The Drum)
8. The Vocal Majority Featuring KVIL's Peggy Sears Newman-Coventry Carol; Away In A Manger
9. The KVIL Choraleers-Silver Bells; Mistletoe And Holly
10. The KVIL Choraleers-Toyland; Sleep Well Little Children
11. The KVIL Choraleers-The Wassail Song [KVIL]

MEGA

Super Saturday-Local Radio Edition 6

This was the last record in this series to come my way, arriving after the season had begun. Most everything I've shared with you all year has been done and in the can for a few months, but I had to do a rush job on this one to be able to get it out to you along with all the others. This is another instance where they used a custom cover instead of repurposing the original KVIL Volume Two cover. It also features more custom local tracks than any of the other records I've shared, nearly all of side two is unique, only the last track is a studio group, and that's a custom jingle for this station so I guess it's pretty unique in it's own way. This is called A KIMN Christmas on the labels, but I preferred the name on the cover, KIMN-Christmas In The Rockies (FairWest FW-KIMN 85, Stereo, 1985). Enjoy! Oh, almost forgot to mention, this record came to me in a trade from a fellow Christmas collector. I'm always up for such a thing though it's hard to find something I don't have. But I like a lot of weird stuff that may not be of much value to you. For me, I was excited to get another addition to this set.

(Another side note, there is no group name for the studio performers on this record. I gave them the name The KIMN Choraleers to bring this inline with the other records I've found in this series. So if you go looking for them, you won't find that name anywhere that I know of.)

1. The KIMN Choraleers-The Christmas Waltz
2. The KIMN Choraleers-Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
3. The KIMN Choraleers-I'll Be Home For Christmas; White Christmas
4. The KIMN Choraleers-Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming; I Saw Three Ships
5. The KIMN Choraleers-Medley: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence; Away In A Manger; Good Christian Men Rejoice; Adeste Fideles
6. The Arvada Center Orchestra And Chorus-Conducted By Jurgen De Lemos-The Hallelujah Chorus (From Handel's Messiah)
7. The D.U. Tuba Ensemble-Medley: Angels We Have Heard On High; The Wassail Song; Joy To The World
8. The Colorado Children's Chorale-Conducted By Duain Wolfe-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
9. The Colorado Children's Chorale-Conducted By Duain Wolfe-Silent Night
10. The Colorado Philharmonic Orchestra-Conducted By Carl Topilow-Sleigh Ride
11. The KIMN Choraleers-Cool Winter Nights [KIMN]

MEGA

Super Saturday-Local Radio Edition 5

I've shown you a couple of instances where this series of radio station releases used the same cover with only minor differences, but here's an example of a custom cover that some stations utilized. I suspect that a station opting to use a custom cover had to pay a little bit more, and likely provide the artwork they wanted to use. Notice that the design on the flip side and the labels is still the same across the series, so they didn't pay any extra to redesign any of that. Once again, there is no overall artist credit given for the re-used tracks here, so I made up an artist name for those tracks that is consistent with all the other entries I had.  Looks like there are three local artists inserted into the mix here, including a retelling of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas by a group of DJs. And of course we get the ending track with the call letters sung over the music. Are you starting to feel like you've heard all this before? Back in 1983, there was no internet so it was likely difficult for consumers to find out that this same music was being released by radio stations all across the country. At least most of them inserted a custom track or two to make it a more interesting experience. This is A WTIC 1080 Christmas In New England (FairWest Studios JSS-KVIL 82-WTIC, Stereo, 1983).

1. The WTIC Caroleers-Trumpet Solo: Chuck Schmidt-The Christmas Waltz
2. The WTIC Caroleers-Flugelhorn Solo: Jack Evans-Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
3. The WTIC Caroleers-Solo: John Hooper-I'll Be Home For Christmas; White Christmas
4. The WTIC Caroleers-Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming; I Saw Three Ships
5. The WTIC Caroleers-Solo: Debby Hooper-Medley: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence; Away In A Manger; Good Christian Men Rejoice; Adeste Fideles
6. Bob Steele, Steve Morris, Tom Tyler, Arnold Dean And Mark Davis-A Visit From St. Nicholas
7. The Mountain Laurel Chorus-Charlene Fahey, Director-Christmas Chopsticks; Christmas
8. The WTIC Caroleers-Solos: Kay Henrikson & Cindy Sterling-Winter Wonderland; Let It Snow
9. The Hopewell Concert Choir-George Engram, Director-Solo: Narcissus Hinton-Organ: Kurt Carr-Go Tell It On The Mountain
10. The WTIC Caroleers-Solo: Sheldon Curry-Medley: Joy To The World!; God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Angels We Have Heard On High; Silent Night
11. The WTIC Caroleers-We Wish You A Merry Christmas [WTIC]

MEGA

Super Saturday-Local Radio Edition 4

Here's another version of the 1982 KVIL music with the 1983 KVIL cover, also released in 1983. I think you'll find that the artists that make up the bulk of this recording are not credited as a group anywhere on the release (though there are some individual credits for solos, as well as some general personnel credits, but no band name). I attributed it to the 94-Q/WQXI Caroleers to keep this release in line with the others we've seen previously. There are a couple of local ringers here, two tracks performed by a number of DJs at the radio station in question. That's what set this release apart from all the others. Actually, if you look this series up at Discogs, they are all lumped together as versions of a single release. Few of the detail listings even mention the different tracks. I need to straighten out the ones I know about, but it's going to take a lot of work. In the meantime, here's the latest entry in our survey of America's top radio stations of the Eighties, A 94-Q/WQXI Christmas (FairWest Studios JSS-KVIL 82-WQXI, Stereo, 1983). As is customary now, we get a call letter callout over the music of the last track. Think of that as the signature of this series.

1. The 94-Q/WQXI Caroleers-Trumpet Solo: Chuck Schmidt-The Christmas Waltz
2. The 94-Q/WQXI Caroleers-Flugelhorn Solo: Jack Evans-Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
3. The 94-Q/WQXI Caroleers-Solo: John Hooper-I'll Be Home For Christmas; White Christmas
4. The 94-Q/WQXI Caroleers-Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming; I Saw Three Ships
5. The 94-Q/WQXI Caroleers-Solo: Debby Hooper-Medley: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence; Away In A Manger; Good Christian Men Rejoice; Adeste Fideles
6. The 94-Q/WQXI Caroleers-Solo: Sheldon Curry-Medley: Joy To The World!; God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Angels We Have Heard On High; Silent Night
7. Jerome Olds, Tom Grose And Jim Boling-This Christmas
8. The 94-Q/WQXI Caroleers-Solos: Kay Henrikson & Cindy Sterling-Winter Wonderland; Let It Snow!
9. Jerome Olds, Tom Grose And Jim Boling-Christmas At Home
10. The 94-Q/WQXI Caroleers-Trombone Solo: John Osborne-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
11. The 94-Q/WQXI Caroleers-We Wish You A Merry Christmas! [94-Q/WQXI]

MEGA

Super Saturday-Local Radio Edition 3

Here's where things start to get interesting. This cover should look familiar, except for the name of the radio station at the top. All those years I was seeing this cover and thought I was seeing the same album, but I was wrong. I could have been seeing any number of variations on the theme (as we'll see). This particular one is from my home market of Tampa Bay, so it's likely this is the one I was seeing so many of over the years. A close look at the tracklist reveals no local artists, and many of the tracks are recyled from the first KVIL record from two years earlier. Not sure of the provenance of the other tracks, but I believe they're by the same studio group as all the others, here christened The Q105 Choraleers. If you're paying real close attention, you'll notice that track four here was actually credited to The Texas Boys Choir on that original release, but now it's credited to the anonymous studio group. I fell like the reason they went with this over is because it's kind of generic and doesn't shown the skyline of the city it was recorded in. That's just speculation on my part, but as we'll see, this was a popular cover choice. For now, this is The Q105 Choraleers-A Q105 Christmas (FairWest FS-Q105-84, Stereo, 1984). Oh, and you get the call signs sung over the last track again. It's a nice personalized touch.

1. The Christmas Waltz
2. Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
3. I'll Be Home For Christmas; White Christmas
4. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming; I Saw Three Ships
5. Medley: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence; Away In A Manger; Good Christian Men Rejoice; Adeste Fidelis
6. Medley: Joy To The World; God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Angels We Have Heard On High; Silent Night
7. Johnny, Bring The Pine Tree In
8. Winter Wonderland; Let It Snow!
9. Do You Hear What I Hear
10. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
11. We Wish You A Merry Christmas [Q105]

MEGA

Super Saturday-Local Radio Edition 2

The record I previously shared with you must have been pretty successful for KVIL because they followed it up with this record the very next year. This cover is the one that I saw all those times at Goodwill stores and dollar record bins. Well, at least some version of this cover. We'll get to that, but first let's talk about this album. The same KVIL Choraleers make up the majority of the LP, with added tracks from two of the same bonus artists as last time, The Vocal Majority and The Texas Boys Choir. We also get a nice little call sign sung over the last track, same as on the last album. (Did I forget to mention that in the earlier post? Sorry.) This album is cut from the exact same cloth as the previous one, so if you liked it, please grab KVIL Christmas Vol II (FairWest Studios JSS-KVIL 83, Stereo, 1983). The producer on all these records is Robert Sterling, and one of the soloists is Cindy Sterling. Coincidence?

1. The KVIL Choraleers-Deck The Halls; It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
2. The KVIL Choraleers-Do You Hear What I Hear
3. The Vocal Majority-The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
4. The KVIL Choraleers-Solo: Cindy Sterling-Happy Holiday; Home For The Holidays
5. The KVIL Choraleers-Solo: Sheldon Curry-Carol Of The Bells; I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
6. The KVIL Choraleers-We Need A Little Christmas; It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
7. The KVIL Choraleers-Piano Solo: Frank Hames-Christmas Is
8. The Texas Boys Choir-Good King Wenceslas
9. The KVIL Choraleers-Solo: Dan Alexander-Johnny, Bring The Pine Tree In
10. The KVIL Choraleers-Solo: Abby Anderson-Medley: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; O Little Town Of Bethlehem; The First Noel; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
11. The KVIL Choraleers-Deck The Halls [KVIL]

MEGA

Super Saturday-Local Radio Edition 1

For many years, I've seen a bunch of records in the thrift store bins that I always thought were the same until I looked a little bit closer this year. I discovered a bit of an interesting story that I hope to illustrate a little bit for you today with a series of records that have a lot in common and also feature a little bit of local cover. The story starts with this record from a Dallas radio station in 1982. I have to assume that's part of the Dallas skyline reflected in the ornament on the cover, but I can't be sure. I don't remember it looking like that when I was there, but they only thing I wanted to see was Dealey Plaza. This appears to be mostly a collection of very polished studio recordings by performers who usually sing radio jingles, here credited as The KVIL Choraleers. The company that made this seemed to specialize in such things for radio stations. I see lots of references to them on the web, but they don't seem to be in business any longer. The balance of the record is filled out with some local groups like The Texas Boys Choir, The North Texas State University Brass Choir and even The Vocal Majority, a group that went on to a little bit of fame and pretty good Christmas album. That's the beginning of the story, stay tuned for more. This is is A KVIL Christmas (FairWest Studios JSS-KVIL82, Stereo, 1982).

1. The KVIL Choraleers-Trumpet Solo: Chuck Schmidt-Arranged And Conducted By Robert Sterling-The Christmas Waltz
2. The KVIL Choraleers-Flugelhorn Solo: Jack Evans-Arranged And Conducted By Robert Sterling-Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
3. The KVIL Choraleers-Solo: John Hooper-Arranged And Conducted By Robert Sterling-I'll Be Home For Christmas; White Christmas
4. The North Texas State University Brass Choir-Conducted By Royce Lumpkin-Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming; I Saw Three Ships
5. The KVIL Choraleers-Solo: Debby Hooper-Arranged And Conducted By Sheldon Curry-Medley; Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence; Away In A Manger; Good Christian Men Rejoice; Adeste Fideles
6. The KVIL Choraleers-Solo: Sheldon Curry-Arranged And Conducted By Sheldon Curry-Medley: Joy To The World!; God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Angels We Have Heard On High; Silent Night
7. The Texas Boys Choir-In Dulci Jubilo
8. The KVIL Choraleers-Solos: Kay Henrikson & Cindy Sterling-Arranged And Conducted By Robert Sterling-Winter Wonderland; Let It Snow!
9. The Vocal Majority-The Secret Of Christmas
10. The KVIL Choraleers-Trombone Solo: John Osborne-Arranged And Conducted By Robert Sterling-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
11. The KVIL Choraleers-Conducted By Sheldon Curry-We Wish You A Merry Christmas [KVIL]

MEGA

White After Christmas

As usual lately, here is a late-night religious Christmas record for you. I kind of like the typeface on the cover, though my scan makes the Merry Christmas part blend into the background a little too much. I thought maybe that part should be in white and the other bit should be in red, but when you name is White, it kind of needs to be in white on the cover. Here is Myrna White-Merry Christmas From Myrna White (Special Way, Ltd ST 803, Stereo, 1978). Enjoy!

1. Ring The Bells
2. Sweet Little Jesus Boy
3. I Heard The Bells
4. God Looked Down
5. O Holy Night
6. The Birthday Of A King
7. He Came As A Child
8. Mary's Little Boy Child
9. Who Is This Boy?
10. Angels We Have Heard On High

MEGA

Lord Have Mercy

Here's a nice little instrumental piano Christmas record with an air of mystery about it. There are more tracks on the vinyl than are listed on the sleeve or the labels. It's songs I'm not familiar with either, so I have no idea what the mystery track may be, or if I've even properly tagged the other tracks. I think I assumed the bonus track was dropped at the end of the side, which may or may not be right. Hoping one of my visitors can take a listen to this and maybe identify all of the songs here. As an added bonus, I believe all the songs here are medleys, so that's a lot more tracks to ID. This is Mercy Fernàndez-Encuentro Navideno (Rio Piedras Records AAD-1370, Stereo, 1978). Also, looks for the autographed version of the front cover in the download!

1. Medley (Al Fin Llegaron Las Navidades; Romance Campesino; De Las Montaña Venimos)
2. Medley (Jose Se Llamaba El Hombre; Alegre Vengo De La Montaña; Los Reyes Que Llegaron A Belen; Alegria)
3. Medley (La Rose Blanca; Si Me Dan Pasteles; A Las Carandelas; Traigo Un Ramillete; Seis Chorreao)
4. Medley (Las Nubes; Saludos, Saludos; Este Pobre Lechon; Repartiendo El Lechon; El Burrito)
5. Unknown
6. Medley (Feliz Navidad; Jingle Bells; Llego, Llego La Navidad)
7. Medley (Tu Eres La Causante De Las Penai Mias; Los Males De Micaela; A Quien No Le Gusta Eso)
8. Medley (Santo, Santo, Santo, Es El Señor; Que Buena Es Las Noche Buena; Yo Tenia Una Luz)
9. Medley (Poutpourri De Penas)
10. Medley (Esta Es La Parranda De Los Borincanos; Al Carnaval De Oriente Me Voy; Piano Merengue)

MEGA

Norman & Norman (& John)

Here are a couple versions of the same LP, only one of them leaves out one of the performers. These budget labels do some strange things sometimes, I tell you. I'm sure I picked up the album shown above because of the cool diecut cover with the 3D sections. The scan really doesn't do it justice with the foil reflecting a lot of light and making it sparkle (except for the taped bits, those don't sparkle...). You can see it's credited to an organist and someone else on the carillon. Then later I found the different issue shown down at the bottom, credited only to the organist. Are the bells missing on that release? No they are not, they just aren't credited. Poor guy, like he disappeared from the face of the earth. The second cover is pretty sparkly, too, with some added glitter here and there. Unfortunately, that makes it really rough on the record next to it in the stack. You've got to be careful how you store it, and don't pull it out of the stacks too often. And you won't have to ever pull this one out of the stacks because I've digitized it for you. Your choice, too, you can download the one with or without poor John. This is Norman Ward With/Without John Lloyd-The Glorious Organ And Chimes Of London Cathedral (Buckingham Records XS-960, Stereo, 1960). I also don't think this record has anything to do with London no matter what the cover might lead you to believe, either.

1. O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fidelis)
2. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
3. O Little Town Of Bethlehem; Joy To The World
4. Silent Night
5. The Christmas Chimes Are Pealing; I Saw Three Ships
6. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; While Shepherds Watched
7. Deck The Halls; We Three Kings Of Orient Are
8. The First Noel; O Christmas Tree (Tannenbaum)
9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; From Every Spire On Christmas Eve
10. Away In A Manger; What Child Is This? (Greensleeves)
11. Good King Wenceslas; Angels We Have Heard On High
12. O Holy Night

MEGA (With John)

MEGA (Without John)