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