Christmas In July 2026-Part 16

Another day, another batch of Christmas music from non-Christmas albums for you. I hope this music is helping you to cool off just a bit, I suspect it's pretty hot no matter where you are in the northern hemisphere. If you're below the equator, then you don't need to worry about the heat for another six months. Enjoy it while it lasts.

1. Archie Fisher & Garnet Rogers-The Long And Lonely Winter (Off The Map, 1986)

Can't tell you much about this one. Just one of those random LPs I picked up for no reason and found a winter-themed song on there. This may turn out to be a track from someone's favorite album, or it may be something that no one has ever heard of before. We'll see.

2. Stanley Black Conducting The London Festival Orchestra AKA The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra-Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy (Tchaikovsky-Nutcracker Suite/Serenade For Strings, 1967)

A nutcracker a day keeps the doctor away!

3. Kermit Leslie And His Orchestra-The Little Toy Shop (A Holiday In Hi-Fi, 1958)

This one is a little interesting. I shared this music with you before, but it was from a 10" record. This time it's from a 12" re-release from a few years later with some extra tracks. It didn't go anywhere the second time around since it was mono in a world that was about to go crazy with stereo. But it's still good music.

4. The Bob Brookmeyer Small Band-Moonlight In Vermont (The Bob Brookmeyer Small Band, 1978)

Nice version from this double album. Once again, no idea who Bob Brookmeyer is or what's up with his small band.

5. The Yoder Families-The Bells (Come Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs)

This is a track from the LP proudly displayed up top. I think the song is a version of a track popularized by The King Family and rarely performed elsewhere that I know of. The lyrics are based on an Edgar Allen Poe poem!

6. Don Costa-A Hazy Shade Of Winter (Don Costa's Instrumental Versions Of Simon & Garfunkel, 1968)

Is this the closest Don Costa ever came to recording a Christmas song? That can't be. I think he did some work for Don Ho on his Christmas stuff, but I can't think of anything else. Sinatra maybe. Anyhow, enjoy this Christmas-adjacent song from him.

7. Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation-Mary's Little Boy Child (Savor The Flavors For Chorale Ensemble 1977-1978, 1977)

We sent you a free record! Buy our arrangements, please!

8. The Choir Of Leeds Parish Church-Directed By Simon Lindley-Michael Harris, Organ-Silent Night (Favourite Hymns And Christmas Carols, 1984)

Another track from this record raising some much needed funds for this English church.

9. Madison Junior And Senior Choir, David Alan Ayers-Director-Let There Be Peace On Earth (The Joy Of Christmas And Greats From America Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow)

Not strictly a Christmas song, but pretty tied to the spirit of the season.

10. The Crane Wind Ensemble, State University Of New York At Potsdam-Anthony J. Maiello, Director-Winterset (Music For Concert Band, 1985)

Yes, it's just a sheet music demo, but I always like it when they announce the song first. Hope there's something worth having in the pile today. Enjoy!

MEGA

Christmas In July 2026-Part 15

The fifteenth, that's pretty much the halfway mark. I hope you've enjoyed the season so far. I didn't think I'd have this much music, but as I've said earlier, it just started coming out of the woodwork a month or so ago. It's hard to find good cheap records anymore. Used to be I could go out and spend a few bucks and come home with some good stuff pretty much any weekend. Now you go places and not only are the pickings slim, they also seem to want an arm and a leg for the stuff. I bout two records at Goodwill in Tampa a couple weeks ago and paid $6.18 each! I rarely pay that much in real record stores, much less thrift stores. And they had that on all the records, not just the ones that were in good shape or maybe name bands. But it was stuff I wanted and at this point if I haven't stumbled across it, I need to pay up to get it sometimes. One record was mint and the other one had white paint specs all over it that I had to pop off one at a time with my fingernail. But at least I didn't have to pay the shipping on Discogs, that's another pet peeve of mine, but I'll save it for another day. What music have I got in the pile for you today?

1. The Senior Choir Of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church-Walter H. Schurr, Conducting-Hope (A Song For Christmas Eve) (Woods AKA Music At Woods, 1976)

A good song from an interesting find. I thought the cover was neat, too. And the name of the group reminded me of this Christmas collection I shared a couple years back. Absolutely no relation but I like to point you at good stuff in the archives when I have good reason.

2. Bowmar Orchestral Library-March (Stories In Ballet And Opera)

Another piece of The Nutcracker from this library record. And if I'm linking to old shares that have no connection whatsoever today, here's another lost record.

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

A little piece of The Messiah from this school group. I know you've heard a lot from these guys, but they filled up half an LP with this stuff and I'm determined to share it all with you. Better than last year when I shared all of one record because it was the Christmas part of a two-record set. And here's another pointless link.

4. Charlie Manna-Produced And Directed By Michael Ross-Christmas Is Our Business (Manna-Live! More Comedy By Charlie Manna, 1962)

This is a neat little comic bit about the writing and selling of a Christmas song. There are some dated stereotypes here but it rings true to me. I've shared this before but I think it was in mono. This time I unsealed a stereo copy just for you. How about another useless link?

5. The Concordia College Choir-Victor Hildner, Director-Come Rejoicing (The Concordia College Choir, 1956)

Is this the first LP by this renowned college choir? I suspect it is, given that it's self-titled. Last I checked, it wasn't listed at Discogs, or if it was I missed it. Being missing over there at this point is either a sign that something is pretty rare, or no one cares very much about it. You can make up your own mind about which category this record falls into. Link.

6. Gooding Amusement's German Organ-Silver Bells (Christmas With The Gooding Band Organ, 1984)

I mentioned in a comment recently that there used to be a museum here in town that had a lot of those band organs in their collection, but they got rid of them and concentrated on fancy cars at some point before I moved to town. I still occasionally see records that were recorded on those machines and wonder what happened to them. I asked once when I visited the museum (which has since closed and been bulldozed to build a baseball field) but the lady said they got rid of them long ago. Shame. Unrelated link.

7. Bob Bradburn-In The Fields (AKA Natividad) (Happy Holiday With CHQT Radio's Bob Bradburn And The Jasper Place High School Stage Band)

Another track from this Canadian DJ. He claims a writing credit for this song, but I don't think it's actually something he wrote. I've shared other versions of this track before. Maybe it's a traditional thing, but I kind of doubt it. Linky-link.

8. Sammy Cahn-The Christmas Waltz (Words And Music Starring Sammy Cahn, 1975)

We finally get to the track from the highlighted LP at the top of this post. It's actually famed songwriter Sammy Cahn from a stage production where he talked about all the songs he's written in his career. I love finding stuff like this where you get a little bit of history behind some song you've heard all your life. Short but interesting. And another useless link for you.

9. Ann Richards-Orchestra Conducted By Bill Holman-Seasons Reasons (The Many Moods Of Ann Richards, 1960)

A nice little track from former Texas governor Ann Richards here for you. I guess former Louisiana governor Jimmie Davis didn't want to hog all the political glory. And while we're on the subject, how about a US Senator reciting his way through some Christmas classics? Maybe a fake attorney general would be more your speed? Anyhow, I'm just kidding, this is not the same Ann Richards that once led Texas. And she was a Democrat. Times were different back then. This Ann Richards was an acolyte of Stan Kenton, much like June Christy. And I think that's quite enough links for this entry.

10. The Arlingtones, Jay Giallombardo-Director, Soloist: J. Casaletto-Do You Hear What I Hear (A Chorus For All Seasons)

And bringing up the rear is another track from this baa-baa-shop chorus. If I look around a bit, I might actually be able to link to some relevant albums in the archives. 

I think that's enough tomfoolery for today. Please be my guest and download another half hour of Christmas music. 

MEGA

Christmas In July 2026-Part 14

Day fourteen, about which I have nothing interesting to say, sorry. 

1. Robert Douglas As Narrator, With The Children's Hour Orchestra And Singers Conducted By Larry H. Laberer-Winter To Spring (All About The Seasons, 1963)

A track that's brand new to Christmas in July from an album that was new to me this year. Hard to find these kiddie albums and even harder to find them in decent shape. This one was pretty nice. There will be at least one more track from this one for you later in the season.

2. The New Hope Singers-Lea Ann Yarbro-Reading (New Hope For You!)

A short spoken word from another new record. The best is yet to come from this LP so keep checking back.

3. Hope Publishing Company, Somerset Press, Agape-It's Christmas (The Very Best Sacred Choral Music, 1979)

Please buy our arrangements! Here's what they sound like.

4. Poldi Zeitlin, Pianist-Hobby Horse (Tchaikovsky 24 Pieces For The Piano-Masterwork Series For The Young Musician, 1952)

Another short track from this piano album. Somewhere I have a David Rose piece called The Sad, Sad Rocking Horse that I think would cozy up nicely with this one.

5. Reginald Foort, F.R.C.O.-Nutcracker Suite: Dance Of The Flutes (Waltz And Ballet, 1956)

A second bit of The Nutcracker from Mr. Foort and his organ.

6. Lloyd Lindroth And His Quartet-Holiday For Strings (Harpist's Bazaar)

The track from the LP cover shown up top. I was excited when I found it a month or so ago, but then I discovered that I'd shared out the track years ago. Then two weeks later I saw another copy of the album at another thrift store. Some days I feel like I've been sharing out these types of tracks for too long.

7. Norman Luboff Choir-New Symphony Orchestra Of London-Leopold Stokowski, Conductor-Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring (Hallulajah!-The World's Favorite Choruses, 1977)

Always good to hear a little something from the Norman Luboff Choir, even if it's on a bargain collection.

8. The Merrill Stanton Voices-That Man Over There (Meredith Willson's Here's Love, 1963)

A second group that's good to hear from, though I don't think these guys released any Christmas albums in their career. Unless I'm forgetting about something...

9. Gooding Amusement's German Organ-Petersburger Schlittenfahrt Gallop (Christmas With The Gooding Band Organ, 1984)

I'm sure I mentioned before that I've shared out tracks from this LP before, but I never flipped it over and grabbed this one. I probably didn't know that the title translates to Petersburg Sleigh Ride. Now I know that so I'm sharing it with you. Enjoy!

10. Jenson Publications-Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree (Jenson Publications Presents...Warner Bros. Finest For Concert Band, 1983)

And that brings us along to the last song of the day, the second demo of the day trying to sell you their musical arrangement. They make nice filler but I do get tired of sharing them. They probably wouldn't be so bad if I didn't constantly point them out. Anyhow, that's the end of today's sharity. Give it a download and a listen, we'll see you again tomorrow, same blog time, same blog channel! 

MEGA

Christmas In July 2026-Part 13

Lucky number thirteen today! I've got an extra long batch of tracks for you today, including what I think is our only two-parter of the month, a spoken-word story about wintertime. There's also an almost-side-long version of the entire Babes In Toyland operetta as arranged for the kiddies and a long ballet selection dedicated to our favorite season. So settle back and clear your calendar, you're going to need some time to listen to this one.

 1. Yevgeny Svetlanov-Philharmonia Orchestra-Scene 1: Winter, Introduction-Four Variations (Frost, Ice, Hail And Snow) & Coda (Glazunov: The Seasons, 1978)

First up is the ballet I mentioned. There were no bands on the LP dividing one track from the next, so I had to listen to the music closely and decide for myself when winter ended and spring began. After I'd done that, I went back and compared the earlier time I'd shared this track with you, and I appear to have divided the seasons in a different spot, by about 3 minutes! This version is longer than that one, but I have no idea which is correct. Give it a listen and let me know what you think.

2. Billy Mure, Jack Grimes And Cast-Babes In Toyland (The Wizard Of Oz/Babes In Toyland, 1963)

As I mentioned above, the entire Victor Herbert operetta, only arranged for the kiddies. No idea how it compares to the original, but it sounds nice.

3. Red Garter-Winter Wonderland (Santa's Musical Grog)

Another fun track from Red and the gang. Wish I knew more about these folks.

4. Stanley Black Conducting The London Festival Orchestra AKA The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra-Russian Dance (Trepak) (Tchaikovsky-Nutcracker Suite/Serenade For Strings, 1967)

More Nutcracker goodness from Phase 4 stalwart Stanley Black.

5. Unknown Artist-Snows Are Falling (AKA Snow Is Falling On Mauna Kea) (Evenings In Paradise)

Our track from the headlining LP shown up at the top of the post. Anything on 49th State label is going to be interesting so I was very excited to be able to bring you something Christmas-adjacent. Shame they couldn't bother to ID the artist anywhere on the album.

6. Ed Begley-Snow-Bound (Beginning) (The Barefoot Boy And Other Poems By John Greenleaf Whittier Including Snow-Bound, Complete)
7. Ed Begley-Snow-Bound (Conclusion) (The Barefoot Boy And Other Poems By John Greenleaf Whittier Including Snow-Bound, Complete)

A winter story in two parts for you. I don't know much about Ed Begley, but I can remember when his son was a fixture on TV. He made a but of a name for himself later by driving an electric car long before such a thing went mainstream.

8. Jenson Publications-Rudolph's Christmas Overture (Jenson Publications Presents...Warner Bros. Finest For Concert Band, 1983)

The first of our two demo tracks for the day. I hope Johnny Marks got his proper payment for the use of Rudolph in this one.

9. Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation-Alleluia (Savor The Flavors For Chorale Ensemble 1977-1978, 1977)

Demo track number two, something much more sacred than Rudolph.

10. Stuttgart Festival Band-William Harrison, Conductor-O Come, All Ye Faithful (Have Band Will Travel-Music Minus One Trombone)

And coming in last is a track you're supposed to play along with on your trombone. Good luck with that. This brings day 13 to it's rightful end. Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the music! 

MEGA 

Update: I've re-edit the Glazunov track, should end in the right place now. Thanks, Buster! 

Christmas In July 2026-Part 12

Day twelve, movin' right along... Looks like I've gone heavy on the releases with a large number of Christmas songs today. They're in no way, shape or form bad songs, they're just performed by names that are likely pretty familiar to you by now. We're rapidly approaching the halfway point of the season and many of these artists with a lot of songs will start to fade away as I work my way through them, freeing up the rest of the season for more varied playlists. I figure that's a better approach than throwing them all out there at the end of the month. I guess it probably doesn't matter either way but I live to keep it interesting.

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

Another nice track performed on the big band organ. And the first of two versions of Jingle Bells I seem to have dropped in today's pile. Sorry about that, I try to avoid it but I don't always pay close enough attention to these things.

2. The Concordia College Choir-Victor Hildner, Director-O Come, All Ye Faithful (The Concordia College Choir, 1956)

More music from this mid-century choir, a period long before Glee popularized such singing on TV and Pitch Perfect glamorized it at the movies.

3. Bowmar Orchestral Library-Overture Miniature (Nutcracker Suite) (Stories In Ballet And Opera)

Like I said, it's wall-to-wall repeat artists today. This one is a library track, likely designed for all your production needs.

4. Hope Publishing Company, Somerset Press, Agape-O Mary Had A Little Boy (The Very Best Sacred Choral Music, 1979)

The only actual sheet-music-sales-demo album in the stack today. There'll be more tomorrow if you like that sort of thing.

5. Kurt Baum-Jingle Bells (Hammond Favorieten Gespeeld Door Kurt Baum, 1973)

My favorite track of the day, which is why I put the LP cover at the top of the post. Our second version of Jingle Bells today, but as performed on a Hammond organ instead of a band organ. I was pretty happy when I pulled this record up and flipped it over.

6. Glenn Yarbrough-We Won't Freeze (We Survived The Madness, 1968)

A good track that I believe actually mentions Christmas in the lyrics. I've shared it before but I don't recall the drab cover. I think this song even made the best-of collection that year if I'm not mistaken.

7. Moira Anderson With Arrangements And Orchestra Conducted By Peter Knight-The Christ-Child's Lullaby (Moira Anderson's Scotland, 1968)

A nice little carol sung with a delightful accent. Another great new find this season.

8. The Arlingtones, Jay Giallombardo-Director, Soloist: R. Hook-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (A Chorus For All Seasons)

More music from the barbershop. Those guys just sing and sing and sing, but I have to wait in line for hours to get a haircut.

9. André Previn With David Rose And His Orchestra-Blue Holiday (The Essential André Previn, 1963)

An oldie but a goodie. I know I've shared this before as released on albums by both Andre and David, but I think this is a different Andre LP than I ripped for you before. I could just be blanking out on the old cover, but I don't remember this one. Thought it might be a new version, but I don't think it is.

10. The Choir Of Leeds Parish Church-Directed By Simon Lindley-Michael Harris, Organ-In The Bleak Mid-Winter (Favourite Hymns And Christmas Carols, 1984)

Bringing up the rear is another track from this fundraising LP. Glad they put this together and that a copy of it made it's way across the pond so I could share it with you here in 2026. It's funny how these things come together. That's all I've got for now, go download some music and try to stay cool. 

MEGA

Christmas In July 2026-Part 11

Happy Saturday! I feel like I get fewer visitors on the weekends. I don't have any numbers to prove that, but I think I get fewer comments and I'm interpreting that as fewer total visitors. Not sure why unless some of you read the blog at work. Is that true? Are you at work reading this right now? OK, maybe not. Anyhow, the most interesting thing I have for you today are two tracks from different records that used the same stock photo cover. I almost didn't notice until I was sitting there looking at it wondering why one of the stained glass windows was split into different sections that the others. Then I wondered the same thing on another record and realized it was the same picture. Weird how that works. They spent decades slowly making their way to me from who-knows-where and then somehow I'm able to put them together.

1. Moe Koffman-Lonely Shepherd (The Magic Flute Of Moe Koffman, 1984)

We start off the day with a shepherd song that is not the usual one associated with Moe Koffman. I knew the name seemed familiar when I spotted this LP but I had to do some digging before I realized he's the composer behind Swinging Shepherd Blues. That one will show up later, but for now you get this shepherd song written by James Last.

2. Rev. Arthur E. Thom-Sweet Little Jesus Boy (His Name Is Jesus, 1972)

This is the first of the two tracks from albums with shared stock cover images. It's from the one shown up at the top of the post. I can't tell you much about the Rev. Thom, but he released an album and I dug it up. Isn't that enough?

3. Red Garter-Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (Santa's Musical Grog)

One more cut from this album full of musical grog. Thankfully for us, it's half filled with Christmas grog.

4. Madison Junior And Senior Choir, David Alan Ayers-Director-Sleigh Ride (The Joy Of Christmas And Greats From America Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow)

Come on and take a sleigh ride with these school choirs. I didn't make a note in there about where this school was located. Anybody got a clue, maybe with the director's name?

5. Poldi Zeitlin, Pianist-The Sick Doll (Tchaikovsky 24 Pieces For The Piano-Masterwork Series For The Young Musician, 1952)

More piano music from Zeitlin and Tchaikovsky.

6. Sharalee Lucas-Come On, Ring Those Bells (The Ultimate Accompaniment Library, Medium-High Voice, Volumes 9, 10, 1979)

This one is a cover of a song made popular by Evie, from her LP that I shared out here a while back. I was sort of surprised to see it turn up on this sampler of karaoke tracks, but there it was.

7. Hope Publishing Company, Somerset Press, Agape-Noel! The Savior Is Born (The Very Best Sacred Choral Music, 1979)

Sheet music advertising, buy, buy, buy!

8. Six Fat Dutchmen-Jolly Sleigh Polka (Merry Polkas, 1957)

I'm sure I've shared this track out with you any number of times, but I always have to turn their records over and look when I see them, it's just such a fun band name.

9. St. Cecilia's Men's Choir, Conducted By C. Irving Guyer-Holy Night (Glory To God In The Highest, 1965)

And this is the other track from an LP with the shared cover image of the day. It's right below this text and seems to be from about seven years earlier than the one above. I guess they keep these images in circulation for a good long while to get the most value out of them.

10. Bowmar Orchestral Library-Dance Of The Toy Flutes (Stories In Ballet And Opera)

And one last library track for today bring us to the end. Hope there's something good in there for you. Try to stay cool out there! 

MEGA