As is tradition, I've got some Chanukah music for you after all of the Christmas music from July. Unfortunately, I've only got one track, and it's a new copy of something I've shared before, but at least it's something. For all of our Jewish friends, enjoy!
1. Unknown Artist-Eight Nights Of Hanukah (Now And Long Ago-Silver Burdett Songs From Music For Living-Album 09)
Greetings, and welcome to the last day of Christmas in July for 2024! It's been a long slow trip to get to the end here, but I think it was worth the trouble. We've found some good Christmas music that I think you otherwise wouldn't be aware of and had a lot of fun doing it. As is the custom around here, the end of the month is when we celebrate New Year's Eve, so I've got a double handful of songs about the end of the year for you today. We start out with something a bit classical, veer off to some surprising late 80's music, a rerun for the kiddies, the inevitable Mrs. Mills, then we finish with a short song from one of that endless stream of JFK-related comedy records that didn't seem so funny after the assassination. You've got to love the variety of stuff around here. Enjoy!
1. Golden Age Singers-Dennis Nesbitt, Continuo-A New Year's Song (Locke-The Music Of Matthew Locke For Voices And Viols, 1973)
2. God's Little Monkeys-New Year's Honours (New Maps Of Hell, 1989)
3. Jerry Bock With Nancy, Debbie, Cathy, Ginnie, Robert, Gary, Seth, David And George-Happy Old Year (Songs About Animals, 1962)
4. Mrs. Mills With The Jubilee Singers Directed By Mike Sammes-Auld Lang Syne (Mrs Mills Jubilee Party, 1977)
5. Christopher Weeks-Auld Lang Syne Off (My Son, The President, 1962)
Day the thirtieth! I was starting to think this month might go on forever. I know you thought I was going to bump it up to eight tracks today, but I couldn't get that one last track. The record was just so scratched up, I couldn't get it to play without multiple skips and the sections without skips still sounded pretty bad. So I'll keep an eye out for another copy of that record and hopefully share it with you some other year. It's pretty rare that I come across a record that I can't get something out of, I've surprised myself with some of the things I've been able to recover, but this one just resisted everything I tried to do. Forwards, backwards, different needles, different speeds, different weights on the needle, I tried all my tricks, but no joy. Not important, I guess, but I needed something to talk about today. What's in the pile on the next-to-the-last day of CiJ? Meh, I'm tired of trying to think up things to say about what's in the share, it is what it is. I'll tell you the best track here is Bingle Jells by The Nutty Squirrels, I was really excited to finally dig up a copy of that one. It's in mono though, so I'd still like to find a stereo copy, but at least I know it's worth finding now. Download and enjoy!
1. Joseph Gershenson-Christmas Holly (Inter: Love Theme From "Madame X" and My Heart Still Hears The Music) (Madame X, 1966)
2. Unknown Artist-Winter (Now And Long Ago-Silver Burdett Songs From Music For Living-Album 09)
3. Don Mitchell-The Winter Of My Storm (The Ballad Of Lucy Lum And Other Delights!, 1977)
4. Madeira Beach Junior High School Concert Band-Paul T. Nicholson, Conductor-Themes From The Nutcracker Suite (Madeira Beach Junior High School Concert Band, 1969)
5. Jim Curnow-Christmas Concert March (Studio P/R In Concert-New Concert Band Music for 1978-79, 1978)
6. Sascha Burland And Don Elliot With The Nutty Squirrels-Arranged And Conducted By Billy Mure-Bingle Jells (A Hard Day's Night And Other Smashes, 1964)
7. Ray Heatherton And Orchestra-Created, Produced And Directed By Hal Gross-Winter Song (All About Days, Months And Seasons Of The Year, 1968)
Day 29, and I'm finally going to bump you up to seven shares in a day. I wish I'd been able to share that much with you every day this month, but it just wasn't in the cards. I think that no matter how much I had to share, I'd always wish I had just a little bit more. Probably a bit of a character fault there, but so be it. Anyhow, with so many tracks, you get a good variety of stuff here. First track is probably the funkiest thing here, in a very seventies, white-bread, trying too hard way. You'll dig it. Some soundtrack music, a sweetly swinging White Christmas, more Christmas for the kiddies, a Nutcracker tune, the second version of the same song from the Belles of Saint Mary's (not their real name unfortunately) and bringing up the rear is a short snippet of a sampler track. I noticed recently that the music software I've been using this year (MediaMonkey) has been dropping in the year as 2024 if I don't have a year entered. Not sure I like that, I'll have to dig into the settings to see if I can tell it to leave it blank if there's no data there. Sorry if that's been messing up your discographical information. This is the first time in many, many years I've not used my old copy of iTunes to do all the final exporting of shares. That's why I was able to give you FLAC files this year in addition to the MP3s. Dunno know if it's worth the trouble, but hopefully some of you appreciate it. Anyhow, I'll stop blathering now, enjoy the music!
1. Mary Macgregor, Steve Brainard And The Edith Norberg Children Singers-Arranged And Conducted By David Karr-The Birth (He Lived The Good Life, 1973)
2. Composed And Conducted By David Amram-Mountain Snow (The Arrangement, 1969)
3. Earle Warren And The Countsmen-White Christmas (Earle Warren And The Countsmen, 1985)
4. Unknown Artist-I Saw Three Ships (Now And Long Ago-Silver Burdett Songs From Music For Living-Album 10 From Book 3)
5. The Cleveland Orchestra, Lorin Maazel Conducting-Dance Of The Mirlitons (From The Nutcracker Suite) (Digital Delights, 1986)
6. Saint Mary's College Women's Choir-Rick Sibley, Director-Vicki Bloome, Accompanist-The Bells Of Saint Mary's (A Saint Mary's Song)
7. Unknown Artist-Night Of Wonder (Choral Sampler For The Music Educator, 1980)
Day 28, almost to the end here. And surprise, surprise, I've got six tracks in the pile for you today. That's double what I've been sharing each day all month, so it's like two days in one. Another real mixed bag here, but some interesting stuff. Some more kiddie music, some seventies laid-back rock, some solo stuff from the guy behind The New Christy Minstrels, some near classical stuff, a really old Ave Maria and some Eighties music. Where else are you going to find a mix like that? Enjoy!
1. Unknown Artist-O Come, Little Children (Now And Long Ago-Silver Burdett Songs From Music For Living-Album 10 From Book 3)
2. Wilderness Road-Long Winter (Sold For Prevention Of Disease Only, 1973)
3. Randy Sparks & The Back Porch Majority-First Snow Of Winter (RS & The BPM-Initial Album, 1971)
4. The Gregg Smith Singers-Gregg Smith, Conductor-Boston (Christmas Anthem) (The Continental Harmony-Music Of William Billings, 1969)
5. Gracie Fields-Ave Maria (The World Of Gracie Fields Vol. 2, 1975)
6. Tracy Moore-Silent Night (Skypiece, 1983)
Another day closer to the end, and another day where I can share more tracks with you. We've gone most of the month with three tracks per day, yesterday was four tracks and today is five! How great is that? Wish I could have done that many all month, but it's just getting harder and harder to find these Christmas songs on non-Christmas records to share with you. They still turn up, but not like they used to. I guess part of that is because I don't spend the time hunting records like I used to. First the pandemic made me stay home for the better part of a year and then my GF moved in with me and there wasn't time or space to accumulate so many records. But I've still got a few for you and that's better than nothing. Let's see what's in Santa's sack for you today. I think the first track is a rerun. I remember being very excited when I found a nearly complete set of 10" records in a box that included a few Christmas tracks, but I realized while recording them that I'd gotten all the tracks years ago, likely from finding the records one at a time. Next up is a private press from Texas followed by a record that I can't remember a single thing about. Next up is the other Nutcracker Suite track by Gene Krupa that I found recently. Dunno why I've been sitting on that one so long, but I don't want to top-load the first part of the month with all the best music. Gotta save something for the end. Last is a song about the resurrection of Christ that has become a common Christmas song for whatever reason. And that's it, five more songs that get you a little closer to the complete collection. Enjoy!
1. Unknown Artist-Carol Of The Birds (Now And Long Ago-Silver Burdett Songs From Music For Living-Album 10 From Book 3)
2. Bel Canto Singers Of Boles Home, Quinlan, Texas-Directed By Dan Parkerson-Larry Davis, Soloist-What Child Is This (Count Your Blessings-Songs Of The Bel Canto Singers, Album 4)
3. Ray Repp-In The Month Of December (The Time Has Not Come True, 1969)
4. Gene Krupa-Arranged And Coducted By George Williams-March (From "The Nutcracker Suite") (Classics In Percussion!, 1961)
5. Sanctuary Choir And Sanctuary Orchestra Of The Music Ministry Of First Baptist Church Atlanta-Hallelujah (The Atlanta Passion Play, 1982)
I've finally gotten all the tracks from vinyl that I'm going to be able to share this season, and I've counted everything out from here to the end of the month. That means I can share four tracks with you today instead of the usual three! Isn't that exciting? Not that it's a big change since one of them is a sampler track that's incomplete and another is pretty short as such things go. Another track is by a girl's choir at a school named after St. Mary. Shouldn't they be called The Belles of St. Mary's? I dunno, it's a conundrum. The last track is another goodie by Cleo Laine, so enjoy!
1. Saint Mary's College Women's Choir-Rick Sibley, Director-Vicki Bloome, Accompanist-The Bells Of Saint Mary's (A Saint Mary's Song)
2. Unknown Artist-Tambourine Noel (Choral Sampler For The Music Educator, 1980)
3. Unknown Artist-Bells (Now And Long Ago-Silver Burdett Songs From Music For Living-Album 09)
4. Cleo Laine Featuring The Music Of John Dankworth-Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind (As You Like It) (This Is...Cleo Laine: Shakespeare-And All That Jazz, 1964)
Day 25! I can see the end from here! What's the theme of the day? Well, I've already shared tracks from all these artists and albums, so if you liked their earlier shares, you'll also like these new tracks. At least I hope you do. I just noticed that the first two tracks have a similar credit for Sanctuary Choir And Orchestra, but they're for different churches. Still in the South, but pretty far apart. The last track is from up north in that mistake by the lake, though I don't think anyone calls Cleveland that anymore. Last time I checked, the Cuyahoga River was nice and clean and no longer flammable. Anyhow, that's what's in the download today for you. Enjoy!
1. Sanctuary Choir And Sanctuary Orchestra Of The Music Ministry Of First Baptist Church Atlanta-What Did You Say Was The Baby's Name? (The Atlanta Passion Play, 1982)
2. Willa Dorsey And The Sanctuary Choir And Orchestra Of First Baptist Church, Dallas Texas, Directed By Gary Moore-Go Tell It On The Mountain (Spirituals For All Seasons, 1977)
3. The Cleveland Orchestra, Lorin Maazel Conducting-Waltz Of The Flowers (From The Nutcracker Suite) (Digital Delights, 1986)
1. Bobby Lester & The Moonglows-Hey Santa Claus-Live
2. Charlie Barnet And His Orchestra-Piano Solo: Jack Wilson, Jr.-Muted Trumpet Solo: Conte Candoli-Snowfall
3. United States Air Force Academy Symphonic Band-Conducted By Major Herman Vincent-The Twelve Days Of Christmas
4. Shorty Rogers-Andre Previn Orchestra-40° Below
5. Pasadena Roof Orchestra-Savoy Christmas Medley
6. Elaine Stritch-Orchestra Under The Direction Of Deane Kincaide-Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
7. Rick Dees And The Cast Of Idiots-Merry Christmas (Wherever You Are)
8. Eddie Bond-Christmas In Heaven
9. Lord Buckley-Scrooge
10. All-City Choir-Susan Van Dyck, Chairman-Nancy Ferguson, Coordinator-Fat Jolly Man
11. Alice Day-Medley: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas; Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
12. The Newport Youth Band Under The Direction Of Marshall Brown-Lemon Drop
13. Diane Leslie-Christmas Song
14. Marni Nixon-Orchestral Accompaniments By Ed Jurey-Christmas Tree Angel
15. MacLean & MacLean-Nine Days Of Christmas
16. Buddy Tate, His Tenor Sax And Orchestra-Snowy White Christmas
17. The Rave-Ups-The Night Before Christmas (Hey Baby)
18. Barbara E. Leigh & The Everlov'ins-I Saw Mama Kissing Santa Claus (AKA I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause)
19. Allen Keller And Trombones-Kai Winding-Urbie Green-Nick Travis-Paul Falise-Christmas Road
20. Silver Burdett Company-Cowboys' Christmas Ball
21. Chris Rea-Joys Of Christmas
22. Original Salty Dogs Jazz Band-Santa Claus Blues
23. Wini Beatty With Rhett Fink And The Folkniks-Christmas Medley
24. The Munich Symphony Orchestra-Christmas Morning
25. George Jones-New Baby For Christmas
26. Steve Addiss & Bill Crofut-12 Days With Khrushchev
27. The University Of Texas Longhorn Band-Glenn A. Richter, Director-My Favorite Things
28. Marlene VerPlanck-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
29. Cecile Frenette-Soon It Will Be Christmas
30. Paul Belanger-Old Fashioned Christmas
31. Conducted By Joseph Brooks-Christmas Song (Montage)
32. Lulu Belle & Scotty-The Empty Christmas Stocking
33. The Kings-This Christmas
Don't miss the 2022 Best-Of that I shared earlier this season, and then there was 2021, a 2020, a 2019, a 2018, a 2017, no 2016, a 2015, but no 2014, and no 2013. There's a 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 and a 2006. If that's not enough goody for you, I did a series of ten (one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten) second-best collections that I think are just as good as the stuff that made the main collections. And if that's not enough for you, just poke around, I'm sure you'll find something somewhere here at the blog that will placate you.
(I think Google just recently made a change to how you upload images for the blog. They haven't changed anything in ages, but the upload interface was different today. Interesting...)
Getting a little hectic around here. First I post yesterday's share late in the day and then I almost forgot to create a post for today. I've got to get things whipped into shape before the end of the month gets here. In the pot today is another short sample track for you, a newish thing that doesn't sound Christmas at all even though it's right there in the title, and another track from Rose. Enjoy!
1. Unknown Artist-Swingin' Jingle Bells (Choral Sampler For The Music Educator, 1980)
2. The Popular Front-A Puppy For Christmas (A Heartbeat Of Laughing, 1986)
3. Rose Maddox-Willies Winter Love (Reckless Love & Bold Adventure, 1977)
Day 23! And another small collection of all new songs for you! Track one is from the soundtrack for a passion play in Atlanta, track two is another gospel number from Willa Dorsey and track three is a half-Christmas medley from the best-named group ever! Enjoy!
1. Sanctuary Choir And Sanctuary Orchestra Of The Music Ministry Of First Baptist Church Atlanta-Overture/Festival Of Christmas Hymns (The Atlanta Passion Play, 1982)
2. Willa Dorsey And The Sanctuary Choir And Orchestra Of First Baptist Church, Dallas Texas, Directed By Gary Moore-Bethlehem, Tiny Town (Spirituals For All Seasons, 1977)
3. The Wintersauce Chorale-George Guilbault, Director-Brian Marble, Associate Conductor & Accompanist-Remember Radio: Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!; I'm Old Fashioned (Winters Are Warmer)
