Men & Boys

Up next is a rare album that features singing from both men and boys. I actually don't know how rare that is but it struck me as funny. Don't know why, it just did. I have a strange sense of humor sometimes. I had to check just now to see if this was by chance a Lutheran church, but it appears to be Anglican, about whom I know nothing. Let's go look that up. First thing it says is that they are in-between Catholics and Protestants, and in some countries they are called Episcopalians. Well, that I've heard of, so now we know. You didn't expect to learn anything at the blog today, did you? We can all learn a little something, it's not painful. This is The Men And Boys Of The Choir Of St. Matthias' Church-This Day (No Label (Canada), MS-10783, Stereo), enjoy! (It looks like I got the name of the singers wrong here. The cover actually calls them The Boys And Men Of St. Matthias' Church, so I got the men and boys backwards. And it's also just listed as The Choir Of St. Matthias' Church on the labels, so there's that...)

1. Good King Wenceslas
2. A Spotless Rose
3. The Sussex Carol
4. In The Bleak Midwinter
5. The Holly And The Ivy
6. Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day
7. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
8. I Saw Three Ships
9. There Is No Rose
10. Sir Christemas
11. Coventry Carol
12. Shepherd's Pipe Carol
13. Adan Lay Ybounden
14. The Twelve Days Of Christmas

MEGA

A Little Hubris

Been holding back this LP for a long time now because I wasn't happy with the images I had of the inside of the gatefold, but I'll go ahead and share it with you now because I'm tired of worrying about it. The reason I had to photograph it instead of scanning it was because it's a rare pop-up gatefold Christmas LP! We've seen a few of these before, but I can't think of any off the top that I've been able to share because they're usually collections of the same old songs performed by the same old artists you can download at any legit streaming service, but this one is a little different. It's all in Spanish and this particular copy was made for the Peruvian market. Not every day you come across a (second) record from Peru, but leave it to me to find something. I think there's a little something disturbing about the imagery inside the popup though, but you tell me what you think. The band has decided to add themselves into a nice little tableau of the Nativity. Not sure I would have approved of that design decision, but here we are. What do you think, is that appropriate? Either way, this is Parchis-Villancicos (Discos America (Peru) ELD-02.10.1028, Stereo, 1980). Enjoy!

01. Campana Sobre Campana
02. Los Peces En El Rio
03. Navidades Blancas (White Christmas)
04. Rin, Rin
05. Dime Ñiño, ¿De Quién Eres?
06. Arre, Borriquito
07. Noche De Paz
08. ¡Ay! Del Chiquirritín
09. Ande, Ande, Ande
10. Jingle Bells
11. El Pequeño Tambolillero
12. Canta, Rie Y Bebe

MEGA

Opa!

Time to pay a short visit to the ancient culture that is Greece. All the glory that is Christmas occurred long after the heyday of the Ancient Greek empire, but that doesn't mean modern-day Greece hasn't embraced the spirit of the season. This short but sweet collection came out as part of the Capitol Of The World series, but a decade or so later than the original entries in the series. It's got a nice selection of local favorites and no sign of the usual Western carols that sometimes sneak into these collections from other cultures. Note that this is not the first time we've touched on the Greek celebration of Christmas, there was at least one other share that featured songs from that country, though I'm not sure how authentic that one was. This one was recorded in-country, and I think you'll really enjoy it. This is The Eusebia Choir-A Greek Christmas (Capitol SM-10489, Mono (from a Duophonic fake stereo record), 1968). Enjoy! Two different covers for this one. I think the one above is the original, but I'm not 100% sure.

1. Christmas
2. The Christ Is Born
3. Star Of The Dawn
4. Come To Our Manger
5. Christmas Night
6. Glory In The Highest
7. Winter
8. New Year's Day
9. Welcome
10. Children's Prayer
11. One Precious Heart

MEGA

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