Christmas In July 2026-Part 30

Day 30, almost the end. Still got a lot of stuff to share out so we're definitely gonna go long this year. Maybe not as long as some seasons past (I think we went into September at least once) but still past the end of the month tomorrow. So don't tune us out just because the month is over. You'll want to stick it out all the way to the bitter end (there might be a surprise involved here, but I don't want to give anything away). Anyhow, let's see what's in the stack today.

1. The Concordia College Choir-Victor Hildner, Director-Fanfare For Christmas Day (The Concordia College Choir, 1956)

As has happened several times in the last few days, this is the last track from an album with a full side of Christmas music on it. That means I've been sharing tracks with you for a while now, but this is finally the end.

2. John Graas-Land Of Broken Toys (Coup de Graas Featuring John Graas, 1958)

Interesting bit of jazzy stuff that I thought was sort of Christmas-adjacent. Not familiar with John Graas, but he sure does look dour on the cover of this LP. Is that so we'll take his horn playing more seriously?

3. The Madrid National Orchestra/Orchestre Nationale De France-Henri Tomasi, Conductor-Waltz Of The Flowers From The Nutcracker Ballet (Children's Introduction To Classical Music)

A good performance even though it's aimed at the kiddies. We haven't had a Nutcracker track for a few days, so consider that itch scratched.

4. Happy Louie And His Polka Band-Candy Candy Polka (Candy Candy Polka)

A Christmas-adjacent polka for you. I don't think we've had nearly enough polka this season, but this stuff can be hard to find. Pretty sure I've shared this one out before, but when have I let that stop me. It would be a much shorter season if I had to share out all new stuff.

5. Jack Fina-Doll Dance (Jack Fina Plays Boogie Woogie Piano, 1965)

Boogie-woogie piano players seem to love this track. I see it pop up fairly frequently and have to grab it when I can. Is it Christmas? No, not really, but it's not so far off that I can't make it fit.

6. Mabel Mercer, Arranger-Conductor: George Cory-The Twelve Days Of Christmas (Once In A Blue Moon, 1958)

This is the from the headliner LP of the day, a great track that I've shared with you before. This is exactly the sort of thing I'm always looking for to share during Christmas in July. It's an actual honest-to-goodness Christmas song right in the middle of an album that otherwise has nothing to do with Christmas. And it's a great version on top of all that! With I had taken a straight picture of the sleeve though. I must have been on drugs that day or something...

7. Wayne Johnson, Baritone Soloist-No Room (Heart-Warming Songs)

I almost missed this one after I grabbed another track from this album. Then I started to think about what the title of the song might mean. Sure enough, it was all about how there was no room at the inn on that first Christmas night.

8. Camarata Conducting The Kingsway Symphony Orchestra & Chorus-Toyland-Finale ("Babes In Toyland") (The Great Victor Herbert, 1975)

I think this is the most recent LP I bought and ripped for you this season. I stopped at a thrift store on the way to a cardiology appointment a couple of days ago, and there it was. Looks like I shared tracks from it long ago, but I'm bringing it back today, now with a picture of the cover.

9. Unknown Artist-Wind Through The Olive Trees (Mockingbird Flight, 1975)

Here's another Christmas song that I almost missed. Never heard anything about olive trees being tied to Christmas, but it was stuck on the record with Christmas songs on either side of the playlist so I gave it a listen. And sure enough, it's Christmas content!

10. Toy Band-Toy Symphony-1st Movement (March And Dance With Toy Band-My First Golden Record Library Volume 10)

Yes, another track from that strange kiddie record. At least it's not Greensleeves. Still not very long though.

 And that's all I've got for this, the next to the last fay of the month. We'll see you again real soon, like tomorrow-soon. 

MEGA

Christmas In July 2026-Part 29

Day the 29th, we're getting towards the end now. Let's just jump right in, shall we?

1. Claude Thornhill-Snowfall (Claude Thornhill At Glen Island Casino 1941, 1971)

Yes, another recording of Snowfall by it's author Claude Thornhill. Always worth hearing again. Great sound for something recorded back before WWII, don'cha think?

2. The Peppermint Kandy Singers-I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony) (I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing. (In Perfect Harmony))

A Christmas-adjacent song from a kiddie group on a kiddie record. This same outfit put out a whole bunch of Christmas records back in the day, so if you like this, dig a little deeper.

3. Cynthia Clawson-Take Us Home For Christmas (Finest Hour, 1981)

This is the song from the LP featured up top. It's a nice little song from a gospel album. I try to check every gospel album I flip across, they seem to have a higher hit-rate for Christmas songs than secular albums. You just never know, really.

4. Kermit Leslie And His Orchestra-Walking On Ice (A Holiday In Hi-Fi, 1958)

Another chilly song from this album. Really nice mid-century stuff here.

5. The Jesus And Mary Choral Group-Vocal Solo By Mother Mary Of Joy, R.J.M-One Little Candle (These Things I Wish For You, 1962)

More singing nuns. They look like they're having a lot of fun in the cover picture. Whoopie Goldberg would fit right in with this group.

6. Ira Ironstrings-Hot Toddy (Ira Ironstrings Destroys The Big Bands, 1962)

You can't go wrong with Ira Ironstrings, aka Alvino Rey. If you really dig this, dig up their full Christmas album, it's worth finding for the cover alone. I think Real Gone put it out on CD a few years back, so I can't share it here.

7. Buddy Greco And Strings-Arranged And Conducted By Robert Mersey-Moonlight In Vermont (Soft And Gentle, 1963)

I don't know why, but I always think Buddy Greco is the same person as Buddy Rich. Clearly that's not the case, but that's the way my head is wired. Happens with plenty of other people too. As you'll hear, this Buddy is a fine vocalist, you'll dig it.

8. The Choir Of Leeds Parish Church-Directed By Simon Lindley-Michael Harris, Organ-Mary's Boy Child (Favourite Hymns And Christmas Carols, 1984)

I suspect this is the last song I have to share with you from this LP and it's side full of Christmas music. I think it's all been good stuff.

9. Toy Band-Coventry Carol (March And Dance With Toy Band-My First Golden Record Library Volume 10)

As promised, an actual Christmas song from this kiddie record. Enjoy!

10. Nick Dean And His Deans Of Dixie-Green Sleeves (The New Sound Of Folk-Dixie)

I didn't have anymore versions of Greensleeves from the kiddie record above, so here's a version by someone else. No idea why they think the title is two words instead of one.

And that's it for today. Another strong selection of music here. Grab it and give a listen. 

MEGA

Christmas In July 2026-Part 28

Last week of the month, but likely not the last week of the sharity. We had a little poll last week and even though we didn't get too many votes, I'm going to declare that the winner was to extend the season for a few days rather than try to cram in all the music I have left here in the last few days. So don't forget to keep stopping by even though the calendar may say August. While we wait for that, let's jump into the pile of music I've got for you today. 

1. New York Percussion Trio-Sleigh Bells (AKA Sleigh Ride) (GE Stereophonic High-Fidelity Presents Selections In Stereo-Colorful Excerpts From 15 Brilliant Albums)

We start with the awesome version of Sleigh Ride, something I've shared with you before but well worth a revisit. I think I ordered a cheap version of this LP a few years ago from Discogs because I couldn't find it, but this one is something I found in the wild. That to me always makes it sound a little bit better.

2. St. Cecilia's Men's Choir, Conducted By C. Irving Guyer, Accompanied By The Civic Symphony Of Springfield-Adeste Fidelis (Glory To God In The Highest, 1965)

One more track from these guys for you, this time joined in by a local symphony. I think this is the record that I shared earlier in the season and pointed out that it used the same stock cover image as another record I'd pulled some music from. Don't think that's ever happened before in July, but it's fairly often I get more than one record with the same stock cover image in December.

3. Madison Junior Choir, David Alan Ayers-Director-Gloria Tibi Domine (The Joy Of Christmas And Greats From America Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow)

The last track I have for you from a full side of this record, and the only track that only features the junior high group if I'm remembering correctly. Most of the tracks featured a combination of the junior and senior high choirs.

4. José Iturbi, Pianist-November (Troika En Traineaux in E) (No. 11 from "The Months," Op. 37a) (Music To Remember, 1956)

I can't tell you how many times I've flipped past this record in the past twenty years and never noticed there was something on it I could share with you. It's a Tchaikovsky track from a selection of songs he wrote for each month of the year. This particular track is for November but it's about a sleigh ride and has been used as the basis for a few Christmas songs in modern times. You'll likely recognize it.

5. Dean Jones-Arranged And Conducted By Shorty Rogers-Chilly Winds (Introducing Dean Jones, 1963)

This is the song from the album I put up at the top of the post. Do you recognize that guy mugging it up on the cover with himself? Dean Jones was an actor who had his biggest success with Disney in the 60s. You might remember him from That Darn Cat and The Love Bug. I didn't know he had released an album and I didn't know there was something wintry on there that I could share. I actually found this in a small thrift store in Felton, CA, a small mountain town just outside Santa Cruz during a visit earlier this year. Always excited to bring a record home from a trip.

6. Unknown Artist-Jingle Bells (Mockingbird Flight, 1975)

A happy little Christmas song from this five-record set of classroom records. Wis I knew who to credit for this, but there wasn't very specific info on the box.

7. Ted Alan Worth-Prelude On "I Wonder As I Wander" (Great Hymns Of Faith-Praise To The Lord)

Some organ noodling for your listening pleasure.

8. Valery Lloyd-Watts, Piano-Christmas-Day Secrets (Recital Favorites, 1978)

Some piano noodling for your listening pleasure.

9. Lorna Dallas, Terry Mitchell And Laurel Ford-Medley (Excerpt): The Things We Did Last Summer; Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow (Words And Music Starring Sammy Cahn, 1975)

A short medley cut from a much larger medley on the flip side of this record documenting a show where Sammy Cahn talked about all the songs he wrote during his career. Not exactly sure who's singing on which songs, those three names were attached to the entire medley with no specifics given.

10. Toy Band-Theme VIII (March And Dance With Toy Band-My First Golden Record Library Volume 10)

Last up is the final short section of Greensleeves from this kiddie record. Not the last share I pulled from it though, but the other selections will be better, I promise.

And that's all I've got for you on this fine Tuesday. Hope you heard something you enjoyed. Come back tomorrow for more of the same. 

MEGA

Christmas In July 2026-Part 27

Day 27, just another day around these parts to be honest. I've got nothing interesting to say about it. On to the music... 

1. Gooding Amusement's German Organ-Silent Night (Christmas With The Gooding Band Organ, 1984)

Last track from this LP, I promise. I checked.

2. Paul Mauriat And His Orchestra-The Little Drummer Boy (Listen Too! The Fabulous Paul Mauriat Orchestra, 1965)

No idea why this Christmas tune showed up on this album when he'd release a full Christmas album just two years later. Maybe it was a dry run, I dunno. Was it a single track that got subsumed into an American release? I'm too lazy to do the research right this second.

3. The Banjo Barons-Arranged And Conducted By Marty Manning-Honolulu Punch; Hawaiian Holiday; Mele Kalikimaka (Golden Hawaiian Hits, 1963)

More Christmas banjo medley fun from these guys. Were they a real band or just a studio conglomerate put together by Manning? The world may never know.

4. Unknown Artist-Sh-Sh, Snowflakes Falling (Mockingbird Flight, 1975)

Another uncredited song from this five record set created for classroom use. I think this was the first seasonal track I noticed on this set when I picked it up. I knew I needed it right then, but when I saw the other Christmas songs down further in the tracklist it was a must-buy.

5. Robert Douglas As Narrator, With The Children's Hour Orchestra And Singers Conducted By Larry H. Laberer-Frosty Winds (All About The Seasons, 1963)

Some cold-weather related stuff that I figured was close enough.

6. The Arlingtones, Jay Giallombardo-Director, Soloist: M. Fanizza-It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas (A Chorus For All Seasons)

Again, the last track from this side-long salute to Christmas. We'll miss these guys, and the other folks we're finishing up today.

7. The Eric Rogers Chorale And Orchestra-Ave Maria (Glory, Glory, Hallelujah, 1964)

The second and final track I have to share from these folks and this album. That's not really enough to wear out their welcome like some folks around here.

8. Jan DeGaetani, Soprano, Orchestrated And Conducted By Rayburn Wright-The Christ Child's Lullaby (Alec Wilder: Lullabies And Night Songs, 1985)

Good stuff, but I can't think of anything interesting to say about it, sorry.

9. Michael John, Glenn Close, Penny Fuller With Charles Rule-Christmas At Hampton Court (Rex, 1976)

Now we're getting somewhere. This is an interesting Christmas song from one of the few flop musicals written by Richard Rodgers. Supposedly it closed after a little over a month, but that was enough time to squeeze out a cast album, and lucky for us there's a Christmas track on there. And one of the credited vocalists on that track is none other that Glenn Close in one of her first stage performances. Listen close and you can tell it's her. Glenn is well known for having been in Up With People, but I didn't known she'd performed on Broadway and certainly didn't know she'd performed Christmas music in there. I think she also showed up on one of those Hallmark Christmas CDs, but that was much later.

10. Toy Band-Theme VII (March And Dance With Toy Band-My First Golden Record Library Volume 10)

Bringing up the rear, it's yet another short bit of Greensleeves with some out-of-context narration. Dig it. 

MEGA

Christmas In July 2026-Part 26

Day 26, we're really getting close to the end here. Seems like only yesterday we were on day 25. Time flies when you're having fun, I guess. Another pile of goodies here for you today, so dive in!

 1. The Christian Singers-Bruce Philip Johnson, Director-Teach The World To Sing (Everything Is Beautiful)

The tracks from today's headliner LP. I've usually been putting major label stuff as the leadoff picture but I decided to go with this homebrew LP today for no good reason. I find it interesting that this group was formed at Westover Air Force Base, likely sometime in the seventies. I know this is not strictly a Christmas song, but it sure does carry the sentiment of the season and it's use in a seasonal Coke commercial cemented the idea in many people's heads.

2. Directed By Nick Venet-Skiing Holiday (Theme From "Mr. Novak" And Other High School Themes, 1963)

I've shared this song out before, but I stumbled across two sealed stereo copies recently and couldn't pass it up. The previous share was in mono, so this is an upgrade. The fact that I cut it open is just icing on the cake. For the record, I didn't buy both copies, but I thought about it.

3. Arthur Smith-Snow Flake (The Arthur Smith Show Presents A Tribute To Jim Reeves, 1966)

A tribute to the great Jim Reeves, an artist we were talking about around here just recently. Funny how these things work sometimes. I enjoy this one whenever it comes up on random play so I'm sure you'll enjoy it as well.

4. Eydie Gormé-The Things We Did Last Summer (Love Is A Season, 1959)

Another good track from this record, but still not the highlight of the album. We'll get to that one soon enough, but enjoy this one while you can.

5. Charter Wind Ensemble Under The Direction Of Caesar Giovannini And Bill Holcombe-Caribbean Christmas (Charter Sound Series Volume 5-Concert Band, 1973)

Today's demo recording. These things have gotten pretty rare around here lately since I shared them out so heavily at the beginning of the season. I sort of miss them now.

6. Jack Fina-Skater's Boogie (Jack Fina Plays Boogie Woogie Piano, 1965)

Everybody in the mid-sixties had to do their adaptation on this song, probably because it was old and they didn't have to pay any songwriting royalties on it.

7. The Philadelphia Orchestra-Eugene Ormandy, Conductor-March Of The Toys (The Philadelphia Orchestra March Album, 1973)

Speaking of oldies without royalties, here's another classic that you can perform and claim an arrangement credit on.

8. Gordon Jenkins, His Piano, Orchestra And Chorus-White Christmas (The Great Movie Themes Of The 30's, 40's & 50's, 1964)

This one you had to pay royalties on and I'm sure Irving Berlin would call you out if he caught you not playing by the rules. It's short but it's sweet.

9. Toy Band-Theme VI (March And Dance With Toy Band-My First Golden Record Library Volume 10)

Installment number six in this never ending series of short bit of Greensleeves from a kiddie record. Who knew they'd reprise it so many times. I certainly had no idea when I picked it up. It was only as I was playing it that I realized what I'd gotten myself into.

10. The Baker's Dozen Of Yale-Moonlight In Vermont (Singing For The Love Of It, 1959)

One more private press record for today, this was a joint LP from the boys of Yale and the girls of Vassar. Not sure right this second where I got the date of 1959 for this one since Discogs says 1963. I wonder if whoever entered that saw a mention on the sleeve of someone from the class of '63 and thought that was the date of issue. Not worth worrying about really. Oh, wait, I figured it out. 1959 is mentioned as the current date on the back of the LP. I think the person who created the entry at Discogs left the date of the old entry he copied to create this one. That all makes sense.

That's the end of the pile and I'm tired of typing. Hope you enjoyed the music today, I'll see you again tomorrow! 

MEGA