April Fools!

Today marks another milestone as we head into the month of April and the shares are still flowing! I never imagined I could keep it going this long, but here we are. I keep saying that the coffers are almost empty and it's true, but I keep scraping the sides of the barrel and something always seems to fall out. I can count the number of unfinished files on my hard drive on my fingers now, so the end is near (Repent!). But I'm not stopping yet. Today is a pretty yellow & brown marbled record from the budget label king, Tops. This music was probably reissued a dozen or more times throughout the sixties (usually without White Christmas so they wouldn't have to pay anyone any songwriting royalties), but this appears to be it's first issue. It's a sister album to a couple of records I recorded and shared out early in the season over at my pal Buster's excellent blog. (Go get 'em if you don't have 'em yet.) It's simple choral stuff but it has a sound that really takes you back to that period in history. This is The Fireside Carolers-Let's All Sing Our Christmas Favorites (Tops/Mayfair 9676S, Stereo, 1959). Enjoy!

1. O, Come All Ye Faithful
2. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
3. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
4. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
5. Jingle Bells
6. The First Noel
7. Silent Night
8. White Christmas
9. Deck The Halls; Joy To The World
10. O Little Town Of Bethlehem

MEGA

Life Words

From one college group to the next, that's been the story of the blog this season. If it's not college groups or high school groups, middle schools or elementaries, it's churches or civic groups. I usually avoid such things but I feel like I need to work my way though the hundreds of these records in my collection. There's usually something of interest on each one of them, at least worth one listen. Occasionally there's something you'll want to hear again, but if you're like me, you can't remember what it was. This is The Word Of Life Collegians-The Sights & Sounds Of Christmas (Word Of Life Fellowship 8511, Stereo, 1985). Just in case you're curious, Word Of Life Bible Institute, the people behind this album, do not appear to be associated with the Lutherans, or any other denomination. They have a campus here in Florida just a couple counties north of me (as well as one in New York state). That would explain how this album came to me, it didn't have to travel very far. Sometimes the forensics of album dispersion are easy, other times they are hard.

1. Here We Come A-Caroling
2. Jingle Bells
3. O Holy Night
4. Silent Night! Holy Night!
5. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
6. White Christmas
7. Ring The Bells
8. The Best Gift I Ever Got For Christmas
9. Toyland
10. Frosty, The Snowman
11. They Need Love
12. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
13. While By My Sheep
14. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
15. Angels We Have Heard On High

MEGA

Not That Carthage

I thought it odd that one of the major cities of the millennium before Christmas became a thing would have recorded an album of Christmas music, and I was right to be suspicious. Turns out this Carthage is a liberal arts college in Kenosha, Wisconsin, affiliated with, you guessed it, the Lutherans, and has nothing at all to do with the city of Carthage in Tunisia. Thought maybe I had something there for a minute, but it's just another college choir doing their best. Still plenty here to enjoy though, so give it a listen. This is The Carthage College Choir-Christmas Music From Carthage (No Label S80-383-2148 (Kenosha, Wisconsin), Stereo, 1972). Nice cover!

1. Joy To The World
2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
4. Mary Had A Baby
5. The First Noel
6. Silent Night
7. O Come, All Ye Faithful
8. For Unto Us A Child Is Born
9. Hallelujah Chorus
10. Virga Jesse Floruit
11. Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming
12. While By My Sheep
13. Song Of The Stable Boy
14. Get Thyself Up, Now Arise

MEGA

The Allergies?

I don't speak or read Spanish, but sometimes I try to interpret what I'm seeing based on similarities to words in English. When I saw the artist on this record, I thought maybe it said The Allergies of Texas Hats. I don't think that's correct because it seems silly, but I've seen worse things. Let's check in with Google Translate and see what it comes back with. Oh, OK, that makes more sense. "The Joyful Ones From Hato Tejas", that's what it says. Hato Tejas appears to be a small city in Puerto Rico, so now it all makes sense. No traditional carols here, I'm afraid, but it certainly is joyful. This is Los Alegres De Hato Tejas-Parranda Tipica (Gema LPG-3004, Mono).

1. Flores De Amistad
2. Santo Nombre De Jesus
3. A Las Zarandelas
4. Llego La Navidad
5. Hermoso Bouquet
06. Aguinaldo Puertorriqueño
7. Llegaron Los Reyes
8. Aguinaldo
9. Saludo
10. Hasta Aqui Llegamos
11. De La Montaña Venimos
12. Seis Chorreao

MEGA

Noël, Again

This next share is a companion piece to something I posted earlier in the season, but didn't have ready at the time. I don't do a good of finishing things together sometimes, mostly because I try to do too much and lose track of some of the little connections. Anyhow, this record is a collection of Noëls, similar to this one I shared with you back in February. There are even a few tracks in common between the two, as well as both artists being named Jean. You can see why I really should have shared both of these albums out as a pair. But I can't cry over spilled milk, at least I was able to finish it up before the season ended. (What's that you say, the season ended a long time ago? I suppose you're correct, but it's always Christmas in your heart!) This is Jean-Louis Gil-Noëls Francaise A L'Orgue (EMI (France) 2C 069-12.577, Stereo, 1973). Enjoy!

01. Où S'en Vont Ces Gays Bergers?
02. Michaut Qui Causoit Ce Grand Bruit
03. Carillon En Fa Majeur
04. Noël Provençal: Tambourin
05. Chantons de Voix Hautaine
06. Noël En Forme de Pastorale
07. Noël No 10 (Grand Jeu Et Duo)
08. Noël No 11 (Récit En Taille)
09. Noël No 12-Noël Suisse (Grand Jeu Et Duo)
10. Joseph Est Bien Marié
11. Noëls Bourguignons: Ah Jô Deu De Pubelle - Grand Dei, Ribon, Rebeine
12. Votre Bonté, Grand Dieu

MEGA

No Coro

Time for even more Navidad en Espanol, only this time I don't think it involves any kiddies. This is all a nice female vocal that I think will be a little more up your alley, or at least it's more up my alley. I think everything here is an original song, so no standard carols or hymns. You'll enjoy it, trust me. This is Luisa De Cordoba-Villancicos Navideños (Christmas Carols) (Montilla FM 84, 1956). If that label looks familiar to you, as it did to me, that's because I've shared out another Christmas record from this same company in the past. Love that cover, too!

PS-Today is another record date, it's four months since I started posting Christmas music for the 2025 season! Not too many days left, I promise. The end is nigh, as they say, but not quite yet. Stay tuned!

1. Con Seda Verde (Manchego)
2. Crestianos, Cantad Conmigo (Argentino)
3. Con El Vin Virinvin (Gallego)
4. Mi Negro Ta Contento (Afro-Cubano)
5. Fuerte Jaleo (Canario)
6. Zumba Que Zumba (Mejicano)
7. Ande, Que Ande, Que Ande (Andaluz)
8. Esta Noche Anocho (Asturiano)
9. Apurate, Niña (Chileno)
10. Montadico En Mi Burro (Aragonés)
11. Cholito Toca Y Retoca (Peruano)
12. Por Que Tocas (Extremeño)

MEGA

Coro Dos

Time for another LP full of singing kids. And not just singing, but singing in Spanish! I know you've been waiting a long time to hear more of that. Well, since yesterday at least. This is Coro Y Rondalla Alegria-Villanicos Tradicionales (Alhambra (Spain/Columbia) CPS 9021, Stereo, 1968). How do records from Columbia wind up in my collection? That's a question I can't answer, I'm afraid. I hunt for Christmas records a lot, and these things just find me sometimes. Enjoy!

1. Campana Sobre Campana
2. En El Portal De Belen
3. Dime Niño ¿De Quien Eres?
4. En Un Borriquillo
5. Pastores De Belen
6. Al Son De Los Panderos
7. A Belen Pastorcitos
8. Esta Noche Es Nochebuena
9. Los Peces En El Rio
10. Alegria Alegria
11. Fun-Fun-Fun
12. Zumba, Zumbale Al Pandero
13. Ande, Ande, Ande
14. Bamba Gitana

MEGA

Coro Uno

What have I got left in the pile here as I slowly run out of shares? How about some kids singing in Spanish? I'm sure I've shared plenty of that already with you this year, but there's always one or two more in the pile to finish up and share out. This is Coro Parroquial Del Sufragio-Cantemos ¡Villancicos! (De Oro (Columbia) LDD-50000, Mono). Sometimes I find these South American records that have a permanently attached plastic wrap that covers both the inside and the outside of the sleeve. The cardboard printed bits are permanently sealed inside of it and I didn't want to cut it apart for my own selfish purposes. That's why the scan doesn't look the best, I'm trying to scan through the plastic sleeve. Hope you're still able to enjoy the music.

PS-Today marks three months since Christmas! I never imagined I would still be sharing Christmas music with you this long after the holiday. This has to be some sort of record.

1. Anton
2. Vamos Pastores
3. Cantad, Cantad
4. Ha Nacido Dios
5. Duerme Niño
6. A La Nanita Nana
7. Venid, Venid, Venid
8. Al Niño Divino
9. Pastores Venid
10. Viva Jesus

MEGA

Presidential

Almost ran out of Christmas shares there for a bit. I got busy this past weekend and didn't create any new posts like I meant to. I'm typing this with nothing in the queue for tomorrow, something that hasn't happened in quite a while now. Nearly all the posts this season have been in the can days, weeks or even months ahead of their actual posting time and date. That makes it a lot easier for me to manage sometimes, but it's hard to respond to things by sharing a topical post once in a while. Anyhow, that's just me blathering on about something you don't need to know. Up next is what I think the only post I've ever made from a school named after a US president. Closest thing I can think of is the Burl Ives record where he plays the favorite Christmas songs of the presidents. I was pretty proud of that one, even digging up a special educational version with spoken word bits between the songs! The record today isn't quite that exciting, but it's a nice catch nonetheless. This is Woodrow Wilson High School-Carol Fantasy (Location Recording Service LRS-1263-2081 (Long Beach, California), Mono, 1963). I like that cover, it's certainly something a little out of the ordinary for these types of releases. Certainly not a stock photo. The label notes that this is the seventh Christmas album from these guys, I suspect I'm not going to be able to complete this series anytime soon, if ever.

1. Processional Hodie
2. Caroling, Caroling
3. We'll Dress The House
4. Nigh Bethlehem
5. Come Dear Children
6. Carol Festival
7. Hodie Christus Natus Est
8. Christ Of The Snow
9. Il Est Ne (He Is Born)
10. Yuletide Overture
11. O Jesu Sweet
12. Holly Berries
13. The Star Carol
14. Carol Of The Bells
15. Angels O'er The Fields
16. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring

MEGA

What's Opera, Doc?

I'll tell you what's opera, this record is opera. I like to listen to and bring you all different kinds of Christmas music, but I think opera is the hardest for me to get into. I've barely listened to this one so I hope it sounds OK. It's just not my bag at all. Hopefully someone out there will be able to enjoy and appreciate it. This is Chelsea Opera Group Orchestra And Chorus-Frank Bridge "The Christmas Rose" (Pavilion/Pearl (England) SHE 582, Stereo, 1983). I've scanned a few of the bonus items I found in this record, too. There's a flyer from the record company advertising other releases and a hand-written summary of the performance as well. You just never know what you'll find in the sleeves of old records.

1. Introduction
2. Scene I
3. Scene II
4. Scene III

MEGA

High Times

A quickie for you today, I'm tired and too lazy to write anything up. This is High Point Regional High School-Christmas Concert Dec. 1972 (Trutone Records LP 520346, Stereo, 1972). The High Point in question here appears to be in New Jersey. I was hoping it was in North Carolina, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Enjoy!

1. As With Gladness Men Of Old
2. A Child Is Born In Bethlehem
3. In Dulci Jubilo
4. O Bambino
5. A Carol For Children
6. Christ Came To Bethlehem
7. Do You Hear What I Hear?
8. African Noel
9. Variations On An Echo Carol
10. Christmas Medley: Let It Snow; I'll Be Home For Christmas; Home For The Holidays
11. Now Is The Caroling Season
12. Love Came Down At Christmas
13. Sing We Noel
14. Caroling, Caroling
15. Rock-A-My-Baby
16. The Christmas Song
17. The Christmas Waltz

MEGA

Who's Walther?

I'm a little confused by the name of this next group. La Porte is the name of the city in Indiana where the group hails from, but what does Walther League mean? Hmmm, a quick Google search tells me that the Walther League was a youth group associated with, you guessed it, the Lutherans. Time and time again this season, these religious group records have been somehow tied back to the Lutheran church. They must be a denomination that loves to sing. I see where the Walther League was disbanded as an entity in 1968, so this record must predate that. This cover was super glossy, and features an image I haven't seen on other Delta pressings. Perhaps it's a custom image created just for this record. Anybody else ever seen this one? Don't be afraid to pipe up if this one is familiar to you. While you're leaving that comment, give it listen! This is La Porte Walther League Chorus-The Shepherds Story (Delta XCTV 97247/97248 (La Porte, Indiana), Mono, c. 1964).

1. Wake, Awake, For Night Is Flying
2. All Glory, Laud, And Honor
3. God Of Our Fathers
4. I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked
5. By Babylon's Wave
6. Abide With Me
7. Gloria In Excelsis
8. My Soul Doth Magnify The Lord
9. Christmas Day
10. Carol Of The Bells
11. Away In A Manger
12. The Shepherd's Story

MEGA

Lovely Rita

Here's another church choir for you, something that seems to be a staple of the blog this season. There's not a huge amount of commercial Christmas music left out there that I can share without fear of stepping on someone's toes, but there are a ton of these privately produced records that I share with you and hopefully breathe some life back into them. I do wish they were a little more creative with the covers, though. I feel like there are only so many stock image covers and I've shared one or more example of each of them with you this season. Have we seen this one before, I'm not sure at this point. And why are so many of these records from Ohio? Well, that one's fairly easy. When it's time to retire in Ohio, you just drive straight down I-75 and stop when you get to a nice spot in Florida. It's like the new mother road. This is St. Rita Choir-Sing Noel (Dick Wooley 22810 (St. Rita Roman Catholic Church-Solon, Ohio), Stereo). Enjoy!

1. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
2. The First Noel
3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
4. O Come All Ye Faithful
5. What Child Is This?
6. Silent Night
7. Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light (From "Christmas Oratorio")
8. Tell Us, Shepherd Maids (Based On French Canadian "D'ou Viens-Tu, Bergere")
9. Lo' How A Rose 'Ere Blooming
10. The Snow Lay All Around
11. What Shall We Give?
12. Ave Maria (From "Convent Mass In C")
13. Panis Angelicus

MEGA

That Was Easy

I'm trying to figure out if this high school was really named after Staples, the office supply chain store. Seems unlikely since they didn't come up with corporate sponsorship until some time well after this album was released, especially for primary education schools. I'm sure there were business schools named after big donors at the time, and certainly athletic fields or stadiums. But high schools? There has to be another reason behind that odd name. Looks like this Staples is in Minnesota, where the thought of a corporate sponsorship is even more unlikely than in a major coastal city. OK, Wikipedia to the rescue. I see this high school is in the city of Staples, formerly Staples Mills, and was named for two prominent lumbermen in the area with the surname Staples. Unusual name, but at least there's a good reason for it. If you wanna hear what Christmas in Staples, Minnesota sounds like, please download Staples High School Chamber Choir-Ye Olde Christmas (Encore Productions E-159 (Staples, Minnesota), Stereo).

1. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
2. Lirum Lirum
3. Ave Verum Corpus
4. Ave Maria
5. Why Weeps, Alas! My Lady-Love
6. Os Justi Meditabitur Sapientiam
7. I Have Longed For Thy Saving Health
8. Fum, Fum, Fum
9. The Holly And The Ivy
10. Christmas Love
11. What Child Is This?
12. Adeste Fideles
13. Deck The Hall
14. Silent Night
15. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

MEGA

Tannenbaum Three

The final entry in our short celebration of The Living Christmas Tree is this entry from spring break capitol of the world, Daytona Beach! Well, former capitol, I guess it's not as popular a spot as it once was when I was of the age when I cared about such things. I think I went once during that time of year, and it was truly crazy. Most of the rest of the year it's a sleepy little village on the water with a lot of old hotels and a million nearly-deserted bars. I guess it gets busy during bike week, and when there's a race in town, but it's strangely sleepy the rest of the time. I guess it's busy enough to support a church or two though, and one of them produced this Christmas record with a fair number of unique tracks for us to enjoy. Please download and give a listen to The Voice Of Victory Choir And Orchestra-The Living Christmas Tree (No Label, No Number (First Baptist Church, Daytona Beach, Florida), Stereo, 1984).

1. The Living Christmas Tree
2. Christmas Is A Time For Children
3. Come
4. Ring Christmas Bells
5. Let There Be Joy
6. O For A Thousand Voices
7. He Shall Feed His Flock
8. Hosanna
9. How Should A King Come
10. The Splendor Of Christmas Lights

MEGA

Tannenbaum Two

Time for part two of our Living Christmas Tree extravaganza, this time hailing from the home of Disneyland, Anaheim, California! I don't think Anaheim is all that large of a city, so I'm sure this band put in an appearance or two at Disneyland over the years, likely performing some of the material from this LP during the holiday season. I will also award this album the best Christmas tree cover of the batch (even though you haven't seen all of them just yet). The colors and the quality of the photo really stand out in my mind, someone worked really hard to make this image come to fruition. I hope you find the music as pleasing as I find the cover image. This is Western High School A Cappella Choir-The Singing Christmas Tree (National Custom Recording NCR12-671 (Anaheim, California), Stereo).

1. Echo, Noel
2. Sing Gloria
3. O Come, Emmanuel
4. Emitte Spiritum Tuum
5. Carol Of The New Prince
6. Behold That Star
7. Carol Of The Bells
8. O Holy Night
9. Carol Of The Drum
10. A Joyous Christmas Song
11. Silent Night
12. Hallelujah Chorus-"Messiah"

MEGA

Tannenbaum One

This is the first of several records I'm gonna share with you featuring a 'Living Christmas Tree' performance. I was digging through my remaining shares and realized several of them had this theme running through them so I've gathered them together and am going to share them one at a time over the next few days. Back during the season this would probably have been a Super Saturday series of records, but here in the off-season I don't have the drive or shares to post more than one thing a day. The Living Christmas Tree appears to be a tradition among choirs at Christmas where they build a bunch of risers and stand on them to form the shape of a Christmas tree. I'm sure it looks cool and all, but I don't think the effect comes across on record. Thankfully they always include a picture of the performance on the album cover so you can image what they must have looked like as you listen. I, personally, would be scared to death if I had to sing while standing on a rickety structure high off the ground with flaming candles and flammable polyester choir robes all around. This first installment comes from a church not more than 30 miles away from my condo, so it's safe to say these folks could be neighbors of mine. This is Northside Baptist Church-The Living Christmas Tree (Hope Recordings CR-14 (Northside Baptist Church, St. Petersburg, Florida), Stereo). I've shared plenty of other Living Christmas Tree records with you in the past, let me see if I can drop some links in here for you. Here's one, here's another, and another. Oh, here's number four.

1. Marilyn Dunne-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
2. Bill Salisbury & Children-Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
3. Steve Boalt-The Christmas Song
4. The Certain Sounds-White Christmas
5. The Moon Sisters-Keep Christ In Christmas
6. Trio: Dorothy Moon, John & Marilyn Dunne-Christ Is Christmas
7. John Dunne-What Child Is This?
8. Steve Boalt-The Angels Sang
9. Steve Boalt & Choir-O Little Town Of Bethlehem
10. Dorothy Moon, Choir & Orchestra-No Room
11. Melinda Moon, Choir & Orchestra-Silent Night
12. Steve Boalt-In My Heart I Believe
13. Choir & Orchestra-Wise Men Still Seek Him
14. Steve Boalt, Choir & Orchestra-The Story Of Christmas

MEGA

More Elly

If that last share of soprano Elly Ameling was your thing, then you'll be happy to see this second Christmas album from her. I recorded an awful lot of Christmas music last year and was excited when I discovered a couple different albums by the same artist. It wasn't until later that I decided her music wasn't really up my alley. But I persisted and put the same effort into her music that I put into all my shares, so I hope you can enjoy her style. This is Elly Ameling-Christmas With Elly Ameling/Wiehnacht Mit Elly Ameling/Elly Ameling Chante Noël (CBS Masterworks M 36677, Stereo, 1980). Lots of different titles on this one, I guess they didn't want to have to re-title it if they sold it in a different country.

1. Cantate Pastorale Per La Nativita 'O Di Betlemme Altera'
2. Weihnachtsgefühl
3. Mariä Wiegenlied, Op.76 No.52
4. Epiphanias
5. Weihnachtslieder, Op.8
6. Berceuse
7. Villancio Castellano
8. Villancio Vasco

MEGA

Elly (Not Mae)

Talk about something outside of my comfort zone, this is it. Elly has a soprano that can cut right to the heart of the matter, so to speak. But I try to share all sorts of Christmas music with you and perhaps this is right up your alley. Wikipedia tells me that Elly is Dutch and that she's still with us at the ripe old age of 93, so you go girl! Why not be a little adventurous and give a listen to Elly Ameling-Christmas Songs From Europe (Peters International PLE 092, Stereo, 1977).

1. As I Sat On A Sunny Bank
2. Sweet Was The Song
3. In Dulci Jubilo
4. Ecce Nova Gaudia
5. Nun Wiegen Wir Das Kindlein (from The Tabulaturbuch Henricus Beginiker, 1622)
6. Uff'm Berge
7. Geistliches Wiegenlied, Op. 91, No. 2
8. Cantilene Pro Adventu "Ein' Magd, Ein' Dienerin"
9. O Suver Maecht Van Ysraël
10. Klein, Klein Jezuken
11. Cansó de Nadal
12. Villancico - Baile De Nadal
13. Villancico de Córdoba
14. Villancico Andaluz
15. Entre Le Boeuf Et L'âne Gris
16. L'appel Des Bergers
17. Noël Pour L'amour De Marie
18. Noël Des Enfants Qui N'ont Plus De Maisons
19. Noël Des Jouets

MEGA

An Airy Christmas

I'm not the biggest fan of these slickly-produced records. I think I prefer the older single-microphone recorded live in performance records. But that's just me. I know the sound here is much better than on those older recordings and most people prefer a record that's easy to listen to. But something is lost when you get more than a single take. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with this record, I'm just sharing my opinion. This is Church Of The Savior Choir And Orchestra-Christmas In The Air! (Wayne Concert Series WCS 1283, Stereo, 1983). Enjoy! Oh, and they stole this title from Walter Schumann.

1. O Come, All Ye Faithful
2. Joy To The World
3. Christmas In The Air
4. Silent Night
5. Three Kings Of Orient
6. Bright, Bright The Holly Berries
7. I Saw Three Ships
8. Ding, Dong, Merrily
9. And The Glory Of The Lord
10. Of The Father's Love Begotten
11. How Should A King Come
12. The Blessed Son Of God
13. Become
14. O Come, Let Us Adore Him

MEGA

Soft And Simple

How can you go wrong with an album title like The Soft Sounds Of Christmas? I know plenty of people who would love to have a compilation of Christmas music that fits into that category. Imagine sitting by a warm fire on a cold, snowy evening listening to the soft sounds of Christmas coming from the hi-fi, mixing in with the crackling noise of a burning yule log. It's all very cozy. Not much info on this record to go on, but I think the Woodlan in question is a school in Indiana, not too far from Fort Wayne. I have no idea how I find these things, they just sort of turn up on their own. This is Woodlan Presents The Soft Sounds Of Christmas (Century 41106, Stereo). This is another familiar stock photograph, but I don't think I've ever shared anything with this same image. If I have, please let me know when.

1. Mixed Chorus-Marlene Everson, Director-Joy To The World
2. Mixed Chorus-Marlene Everson, Director-Whispers The Falling Snow
3. Mixed Chorus-Marlene Everson, Director-Sing We Noel
4. Mixed Chorus-Marlene Everson, Director-Ding, Dong! Merrily On High
5. Mixed Chorus-Marlene Everson, Director-The Joyful News
6. Mixed Chorus-Marlene Everson, Director-Jazz Gloria
7. Mixed Chorus-Marlene Everson, Director-Bring A Torch
8. Girls Glee Club-Marlene Everson, Director-Written In De Holy Book
9. Girls Glee Club-Marlene Everson, Director-Do You Hear What I Hear?
10. Girls Glee Club-Marlene Everson, Director-Lovely Child, Holy Child [Fade In]
11. Girls Glee Club-Marlene Everson, Director-Christmas Is Coming Again
12. Girls Glee Club-Marlene Everson, Director-Savior Child
13. Swing Choir-Marlene Everson, Director-Strangers In The Streets
14. Swing Choir-Marlene Everson, Director-Hurry Home For Christmas
15. Swing Choir-Marlene Everson, Director-Christmas Is
16. Swing Choir-Marlene Everson, Director-No Golden Carriage, No Bright Toy

MEGA

Let's Go Bowling

I was about to write up this post talking about how I've got this Christmas record from Kentucky for you, then I thought maybe I should look and see where Bowling Green University is. I thought it was in Bowling Green, Kentucky, but I was mistaken. Turns out it is in Bowling Green, Ohio. We've listened to quite a few records from Ohio this season, I'm not even going to bother to link to any of them. And we've heard from quite a few small liberal arts colleges, too. Only thing we're missing here is some link to the Lutherans, but I don't see anything that ties them to any one religion. Oh well, can't have everything. I will give it a few extra points for the familiar stock cover. Let me see if I can find another album to link to that has this same cover image. (It's hard to search for images based on the cover art. Can I do that through Google image search at my own blog? Hmmm, I need to figure that out.) Here's a similar cover on an LP I shared out about a month and a half ago (also from Ohio; surprise, surprise) but I'm sure there are more around here somewhere. This is Bowling Green State University Collegiate Chorale-Bowling Green State University Collegiate Chorale (Quadraphenomena STD-1011/2568, Stereo). Great label name on this one, Quadraphenomena!

1. Joy To The World
2. Caroling, Caroling
3. I Wonder As I Wander
4. Go Tell It On The Mountain
5. Still, Still, Still
6. Havia Belen Va Un Borrico
7. Fum, Fum, Fum
8. Christ Was Born On Christmas Day
9. Hosanna
10. My Dancing Day
11. La Virgen Lava Panales
12. Hear The Bells Ringing
13. The Boar's Head Carol
14. Here, Mid The Ass And Oxen Mild
15. Praise And Elation
16. Pat-A-Pan
17. Carol Of The Birds
18. The Little Drummer Boy
19. Carol Of The Bells
20. Amen

MEGA

Who's Evan?

Our endless trek back and forth across the United States this season brings us to Evansville, Indiana next. This record is a slicker production than most, I think it was actually recorded in a studio rather than in a live concert a few weeks before Christmas. Well worth a listen or even two, which is more than I can say about a majority of these records. This is The University Of Evansville Studio Orchestra & The UE Choral-Ayres-A University Of Evansville Christmas! (University Of Evansville Recording Project UERP-92782, Stereo, 1982). I think I misspelled Evansville a few times in the track tags of this one. Apologies for that. You'll have to go in and update that once you've download it. Don't forget!

1. Joy To The World/Angels We Have Heard On High
2. The First Nowell
3. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
4. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
5. Silent Night
6. Oh Come, All Ye Faithful
6. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
8. Deck The Halls
9. Sleigh Ride
10. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
11. Frosty The Snowman
12. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
13. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
14. Christmas Song/White Christmas
15. Jingle Bells
16. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

MEGA

Nifty Fifty States

I got to wondering recently how many of the fifty US states I have shared records from, so I thought I'd see how hard it would be to make a list. First thing I did was download a list of all the states, now I have to search the blog and see what I can link up. I'm not necessarily throwing in any old record with a connection to a state. Ideally it has the name of the state in the title, or it's from a school associated with the state. I tried to avoid tenuous connections.

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Wow, I thought I had more states than that. 23 out of 50, less than half. I would have bet money I had more than half. I'm going to have to work harder to find some of these states, fill in some of the gaps. If you've got some records from a missing state you'd like to share, please get in touch!

And just for good measure I'll throw in Washington, DC and Puerto Rico. Do I have any other US territories or protectorates? I feel like I've got something else, lemme think about it for a sec. I think I'm remembering Tonga, which is not a part of the US.

Bogota (Not Columbia)

From Columbus, Ohio yesterday, we travel to Bogota, Columbia today! Wait, no, I'm mistaken. Looks like this Bogota is in New Jersey. I do know that it's a bit older than the last few shares of school choirs, going all the way back to 1962. That's 64 years ago, so this record is able to collect early Social Security! And the kids who made the record are likely not with us anymore, though I'm sure a few of them have made it this far. But statistically speaking, not many of them are likely to still be around. For your listening enjoyment, this is 1962 Bogota High School A Cappella Choir-1962 Bogota High School A Cappella Choir (Century 15698, Mono, 1962). And how about that stock cover image? Here's a link to one other use of it that I can think of off the top of my head.

1. I Saw Three Ships
2. Thou Must Leave Thy Lowly Dwelling
3. Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates
4. Go Tell It On The Mountain
5. Carol Of The Drum
6. Czecho Slovakian Dance Song
7. The Last Words Of David
8. Master Of Human Destinies
9. Touro-Louro-Louro
10. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
11. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas
12. O Holy Night

MEGA

A Capital Idea

The next installment in this never-ending Christmas season features another unique cover design likely designed by a student. I love these custom cover images. This was from the era when a photograph might have proven to be too expensive to reproduce but a two color image was easily and cheaply printed. Capital University appears to be in Columbus, Ohio, though I've never heard of it. And who would have imagined, it appears to be associated with a local Lutheran church. Those Lutheran's are just turning up everywhere this season. Please download and enjoy Capital University Chapel Choir-Christmas Music (The Coronet Recording Co. LPS 3029, Stereo).

1. O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)
2. Silent Night
3. What Child Is This?
4. Infant Holy
5. Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head
6. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
7. Angels We Have Heard On High
8. Love Came Down At Christmas
9. The Virgin's Slumber Song
10. A Virgin Unspotted
11. The Holly And The Ivy
12. In The Bleak Mid-Winter
13. The Shepherd's Carol
14. Beautiful Savior

MEGA