Christmas In July 2026-Part 34

Here we are on the 34th day of Christmas in July, it's not even July anymore but I'm still finding more stuff to share with you. In fact, I found eleven leftover tracks from last Christmas in July that I never got around to sharing! If you were around then, you might remember that I had a couple dozen of those arrangers' demo albums to share, many of which had a dozen or more tracks which made it hard to get them all shared in my allotted time. When the end of the month came along, I had these eleven tracks left, but they were almost all from the same company and from only a small handful of different albums. If memory serves, I had to go somewhere near the end of the month and was unable to post for a few days. I intended to post more when I returned but never got back into it. So those tracks have sat there unused for a year now and I figured I'd sprinkle them into the pile and make this year's sharity go a little further. Still going to have to duplicate some albums from day to day, but it's not as bad as doing it all in one day. Wish I had remembered I had those unused shares earlier in the season, but better late than never. Let's see what's in the stack!

1. Hylo Brown & The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers-Little Footprints In The Snow (Hylo Brown Meets The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, 1963)

We start the day off with some bluegrass featuring a couple of established artists joining forces on a great track.

2. Hoagy Carmichael With The Pacific Jazzmen-Arranged And Conducted By Johnny Mandel-Winter Moon (Hoagy Sings Carmichael, 1957)

The headline track of the day is the great Hoagy Carmichael. I really love that cover picture of him, huddled over that piano like he's tuckered out after a long piano recital. He doesn't have the best voice (like Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen or Tom Waits) but he makes up for it in feeling. He wrote a Christmas song that I've heard as performed by The Mills Brothers, I wonder if he recorded it at some point himself? Yes, looks like he did, and I shared it here, but it's not him on vocals. Looks like I actually shared out the track in question today sometime back nine years ago, but it was from a reissue, this time I've got the original LP.

3. Reginald Foort, F.R.C.O.-Nutcracker Suite: Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairies (Waltz And Ballet, 1956)

The Nutcracker nut of the day is from this organ spectacular album. I think this is also the last track from this LP I have to share with you. Getting closer to the end so I'm wrapping up a lot of different series pretty quickly. Can't have any loose ends, unlike last year...

4. Stuttgart Festival Band-William Harrison, Conductor-Greensleeves (Have Band Will Travel-Music Minus One Trombone)

The last of the play-along tracks from this album. Anybody out there play trombone? I don't think I know anyone who ever played that instrument.

5. The Drew University College Choir-Lester Berenbroick, Director-Carolyn Kessinger, Double Bass-This Day A Child Is Born (In Concert)

I kind of like the simple green cover of this one. The music is OK, but I was really drawn to that cover. I think if you put a great cover on a mediocre record, it sells better than a great record with a mediocre cover. You can't help but judge the book by it's cover sometimes.

6. The Robert Shaw Chorale-RCA Victor Orchestra-Robert Shaw, Conductor-Ave Maria (Hallelujah!-The World's Favorite Choruses, 1977)

Don't ask me which version of Ave Maria this is, I don't remember. They all seem to run together.

7. Mary O'Hara-Song For A Winter's Night (Mary O'Hara At The Royal Festival Hall, 1984)

I almost made this the featured LP today but I really liked that picture of Hoagy so I went with that. I think this is a Gordon Lightfoot song that's not very well known, but I always enjoy it when I hear it. This is supposed to be a live album, but the applause sounds dubbed in to me and the music sounds like it's from the studio, not the concert hall. Your mileage may vary though.

8. Jenson Publications-I Saw Three Ships (Superior New Works For Concert Band-Vol. IX, 1981)

And now we get into the leftover tracks. As I mentioned, these are all demo recordings of fancy arrangements being marketed to high school bands. They're not bad, but they're often simplistic and frequently faded out out long before the song is over. Can't be giving away complete tracks that somebody might try to steal and share during Christmas in July 45 years later...

9. Jenson Publications-Snow Trail (Superior New Works For Concert Band-Vol. IX, 1981)

Another song from the exact same album as the last one. Just go back and read what I wrote above one more time.

10. Jenson Publications-Christmas Greetings (New Music For Concert Band-Volume 27-Easy Edition, 1990)

At least this one is from a different LP, but it's still more of the same. That's all I've got for you today, so take it or leave it. Thanks for stopping by, we'll see you tomorrow. 

MEGA

Christmas In July 2026-Part 33

G'day, welcome to the second day of the slightly-extended Christmas in July celebration this year. I've got a few more goodies in the pile so we're going into extra innings to get it all out to you. We've got too much fork for just one fork, as they say. Make your own overtime play on words here if you wish, I'm too tired to come up with more. Anyhow, the Christmas keep on coming... 

1. Margo Smith-Six Weeks Every Summer And Christmas Every Other Year (Song Bird, 1976)

It's got Christmas in the title, that makes it a Christmas song, even if it's really about the price of fame on a married performer and her kids. I had forgotten about this song until it showed up on this LP recently. I think I've shared a version of it many years ago, but not this one. Turns out this is not the hit version so I'll need to keep looking for that one.

2. Lynn Roberts, Carmen Baron & Juda Campbell-My Christmas Wish (Holiday Songs For All Occasions, 1978)

From an album for the kiddies that covered a lot of different holidays, this is the Christmas-appropriate song.

3. The Merrill Stanton Voices-Pine Cones And Holly Berries (With "It's Beginning To Look Like Christmas") (Meredith Willson's Here's Love, 1963)

One of my favorite collections of songs from this musical, I might even like it better than the official cast album. The performances here are really infectious, assuming that's a good thing. You'll want to sing along, is that a better description?

4. Bowmar Orchestral Library-Arabian Dance (Stories In Ballet And Opera)

The last of the tracks I have for you from this library recording. And the only Nutcracker track of the day as far as I can tell.

5. Living Marimbas-Arranged And Conducted By Leo Addeo-Greensleeves (Love Is Blue, 1968)

You had living guitars, living voices, living pianos, living strings, living brass, why not a living marimba? This was the age of the Tijuawannabes, a whole subculture of groups trying to be the backing band for Herb Alpert. And the sound of the marimbas was a big part of that.

6. Urbie Green-Ave Maria (Bein' Green, 1972)

I thought about having a theme day for Urbie Green, but I didn't make the appropriate notes to keep track of all the different recordings I had this year that he appeared on. After I recorded this track, I started seeing his name pop up as a sideman playing trombone on all sorts of other records. I really should have written them down. I could even have thrown in a track from that trombone accompaniment record if you were inspired by hearing Urbie play. For the record, I recall that Mitchell Kezin, creator of the movie about Christmas record collectors, stated once that his next project after Bob Dorough would be about Urbie Green. We discussed a number of his albums at one point and Mitchell was pretty excited about diving into it someday. Unfortunately, Mitchell passed away before he finished that Bob Dorough project and long before he could start anything about Urbie. I wonder what happened to all that live footage he shot of Dorough in the final years of both their lives? I hope it finds an outlet someday where it can be documented and appreciated.

7. Teddi King With Loonis McGlohon, Pianist-Blackberry Winter (Lovers & Losers, 1976)

I need to pull this up and compare it to the song of the same name by Mitch Miller. I'm not sure if they're the same or not.

8. Chorus-Christmas At Hampton Court (Reprise) (Rex, 1976)

I probably should have attributed this to the Chorus from "Rex", but I was lazy and didn't think about it. You'll remember this record as the one that features a Christmas song with a part sung by a very young Glenn Close.

9. Judy Garland-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (That's Entertainment, Part 2, 1976)

It's a bit of a ringer, but it showed up on a non-Christmas album so it counts. For those who don't remember, That's Entertainment was a series of movies that featured highlights and outtakes from musicals put out during the heyday of such things. I can remember seeing it on TV when I was little, or maybe it was specials cut from the movies I saw. Anyhow, this is the version Judy sang in the movie, and it's a little rough.

10. Toy Band-Toy Symphony-3rd Movement (March And Dance With Toy Band-My First Golden Record Library Volume 10)

Finally, the last track I have to share from this kiddie record. Some things just aren't that exciting but I still share them for whatever reason.

That's the end for today, hope you hear something you enjoy! 

MEGA

Christmas In July 2026-Part 32

Welcome to the first day of Christmas in July in August! We don't often go this long, but this year has been very generous with the records, so we're doing what we need to do and going long.

1. Poldi Zeitlin, Pianist-Winter Morning (Tchaikovsky 24 Pieces For The Piano-Masterwork Series For The Young Musician, 1952)

This is the last track from a long series of songs from this album. I don't think it was quite the whole side, but it was a big chunk. They're all nice little piano pieces, some of them even sounded like Tchaikovsky to my untrained ear, not sure why.

2. The JM Choral Group-Novices And Postulates Of The Religious Of Jesus And Mary-Mother Marie Laetitia, R.J.M., Director-Ave Maria (Patterns In Song, 1960)

And this is the last of a few tracks by these singing nuns-in-training. I don't know why, but I always enjoy the nuns.

3. The Parris Mitchell Voices Featuring Chips Murphie-We Need A Little Christmas (The Parris Mitchell Voices Sing The Hit Songs From Sweet Charity-Fiddler On The Roof-Mame-Man Of La Mancha, 1966)

Great Christmas track that turns up in the middle of this otherwise normal album. I've shared this one with you before, but now you get to see the cover, so enjoy.

4. Boston Pops Orchestra-Arthur Fiedler, Conductor-March Of The Toys (Great American Marches, 1976)

I'm not sure, but I think this record was a compilation of previously recorded stuff, they just pulled together everything they had that could be called a march and put it on one record. Good version though.

5. The Yoder Families-On Christmas Night (Come Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs)

I was just in the thrift store a couple days ago where I found this record, and I found the record below there. You just never know, but you find more if you go a lot. I recommend at least three times a day, but you can go more if you like.

6. Camarata Conducting The Kingsway Symphony Orchestra-March Of The Toys ("Babes In Toyland") (The Great Victor Herbert, 1975)

Oh, great, I'm sharing this song for the second time today. How do I let this happen? Quality control is out of control around here, I'm going to have to speak to a manager!

7. Jenson Publications-Joyous Season (Jenson Publications Presents...Warner Bros. Finest For Concert Band, 1983)

What's this? A publisher's demo track? I thought we were done with those. Where did that manager go?

8. Joe Reisman And His Orchestra And Chorus-The Ice Skater (On The Wings Of Romance) (Sid And Marty Krofft's Les Poupées de Paris, 1964)

And we're finally down to the highlighted album of the day. I was not aware of this LP at al until it turned up at a goodwill store a month of two ago. I was going to buy it before I saw that there was a winter track on it, so finding that was just a bonus. This is one of the only songs on the album that doesn't feature a guest star, but Joe Reisman is enough for us. (Check out more Joe Reisman Christmas in the archives, and be sure to check the comments for a working link!) Other songs on the album feature a galaxy of guest stars that would make a great episode of The Love Boat. Bing Crosby, Pearl Bailey, Milton Berle, Phil Silvers, Gene Kelly, Liberace, Cyd Charisse, the list just goes on and on. And it's all in support of a puppet show from Sid & Marty Kroft! I had no idea this thing existed. Now I need to find it in stereo, that'll probably take another 20 years of searching.

9. Lou Fortunate-I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony) (Hurray For God!, 1973)

I just liked this one for the cover.

10. Toy Band-Toy Symphony-2nd Movement (March And Dance With Toy Band-My First Golden Record Library Volume 10)

Last and least is a short track from this kiddie record. You'll recognize the tune, or at least I did. Does this track have the random narration on it, I didn't remember if it does or not. Either way, doesn't matter, it's still better than those snippets of Greensleeves that I was sharing before.

And that's it, the first post of August. Still a few more to come so keep checking back.

MEGA

Christmas In July 2026-Part 31

Welcome to the last day of the month! This is the date where we usually share out all of the New Year-themed tracks I've gathered up and today is no exception. But first, a short story. This blog started a little over 21 years ago and it's tumbled along from year to year with modest increases in the number of visitors here and there, with big spikes around Christmas because, well, that's my jam. But in the past couple of years, something has changed. I couldn't figure out what that something was for the longest time but I think I finally have a reasonable explanation. What's happened is that the blog traffic has shot through the roof. We never had 100,000 hits in a single December before, but we got over a million in December last year, slightly less than we got in November before that, an off month! Since than we've had a few months with well over a million hits for absolutely no fathomable reason. Day before yesterday, we got half a million hits in a single day. None of these increased hit rates were resulting in more comments or more downloads, so I suspected it was some sort of bot traffic, like search engines indexing the site. But it was too much, too frequently and from too many difference sources. Some investigation revealed that it was people looking for content to train their AI models. A company comes in, hits every single one of the thousands of posts I've made over the years (6647 total, not counting this one), then hits them all a second time just for fun. Sometimes they focus on a single post for whatever reason, loading it thousands of times in just a few short minutes. My recent traffic numbers are just crazy. I can't tell you which Christmas in July post got viewed the most because there are so many hits on some random post from 2012. I'm not lamenting the rise of AI, mind you. Instead I'm laughing at the thought of the crazy stuff I post on here being incorporated into some database somewhere where it can be spit out again in some unrelated situation. Who knows when the Christmas harp and it's prevalence in modern music will pop up somewhere, but I'll have a hand in making it slightly more important. And Christmas in July? That's going to be right on the tip of every AI agent's tongue for the next decade or more. Just imagine the outsized influence I'm going to have in this niche category! Anyhow, just me on my soap box. Let's get to the music, shall we?

1. Edmund Lyndeck, George Hearn, David Vosburgh & Norman A. Large-Orchestra & Chorus Conducted By Paul Gemignani-New Year's Eve (A Doll's Life, 1982)

Today's new year sharity begins with a pair of tracks from the soundtrack to a musical from Comden & Green. Looks like I've shared these with you before, but I didn't remember them and the cover didn't look familiar. I think that means I share too much...

2. Peter Gallagher & Betsy Joslyn-Orchestra & Chorus Conducted By Paul Gemignani-New Year's Eve (Reprise)/Stay With Me, Nora (A Doll's Life, 1982)

Ditto whatever I said about the track above since this comes from the same LP. I usually try not to share out two or more things from the same album at the same time, or two of the same song, but today is special If it's related to New Year's Day or New Year's Eve, it's coming out in the pile today.

3. Lynn Roberts, Carmen Baron & Juda Campbell-Feliz Año Nuevo (Holiday Songs For All Occasions, 1978)

A nice little Happy New Year song for you in Spanish, you don't get that every day. Feel like I've shared this one out before but I'm too lazy to look.

4. Myro Glass, Baritone, With Beth-El Choir-Piano, Organ And Orchestra Directed By Walter Goldman-B'rosh Hashono (On New Years) (Synagogue, Israeli And Yiddish Music, 1958)

This track is from the album shown up at the top pf the post. I thought I was going to get some Chanukah music from it when I first picked it up, but then I was excited to get a New Year's song instead. Not that I don't need some good Chanukah music, but I like finding things that I wasn't expecting. And yes, that is the front of the album. I believe the back side was blank.

5. The Daphne Hellman Quartet-Springtime In Scotland: Loch Lomond; The Campbells Are Coming; Comin' Thro' The Rye; Auld Lang Syne (Holiday For Harp, 1959)

You have to sit through a medley to get to the New Year's content on this one, but it's not so bad.

6. The Nighthawks-Auld Lang Syne (S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. Presents The Nighthawks)

Your only barbershop entry of the day. What did I just say about sharing the same song more than once a day? Well, you're getting this one a lot more than just the once.

7. Ladies Of The Courte, Spoken By Lorna Stephen, Herald's Proclamation By Tom Grieve-Auld Lang Syne (Melodie At Dalhousie Courte, 1975)

I think this is some sort of dinner theater presentation in Scotland. Gotta love finding the interesting records out there. Not sure how much actual New Year content there is here, but the tune is familiar.

8. Maurey Page At The Exciting Hammond Organ-Auld Lang Syne (Organ Oldies, 1962)

Yet another version of Auld Lang Syne brings op the rear of this short set of New Year's music today. Don't forget that we're going to keep the fun going for a few more days next month, so be sure to keep coming back for a little while longer. I assure you it will be worth your time. 

MEGA 

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