Christmas In July '24-Day 26

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)

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Christmas In July '24-Day 25

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)

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The Best From July 2023

And here is a collection of what I thought were the best tracks from last year's celebration of Christmas in July. Looking over the tracklisting, I see that I had an awful lot of variations on The Twelve Days Of Christmas. They were too good to just pick one, so I spaced them out a bit and threw them all in there for you. They range all over the place, except I don't think anybody does it straight. Well, that's not true. I see the USAF Academy Symphonic Band in there, I'm sure they play it the way it's supposed to be, though you don't get any lyrics with that one. What else is in the stack? A great live track, some spoken word comedy, a few near-Christmas tracks that I thought were good enough to include, a right-wing Christmas fantasy, even a great 80's rocker. Oh, and give a listen to Cowboy's Christmas Ball, then go listen to The Killers song by the same name. Now tell me they never heard that first version when they were younger. Anyhow, there's lots of good music in here, far more than will fit on the old fashioned Cee Dee, but I'm trying to think outside of the box here. (Anybody still burn these things to disc?) The cover stained glass image is from the Duomo di Milano in Milan, Italy. Actually, it's in the museum next door. At some point, they replaced all the stained glass in the cathedral with modern reproductions because the ancient originals leaked badly whenever it rained. So this is an up-close photo of one of those original bits of glass. Sorry about the marks over the face of the baby Jesus, that's just the way it was. I'll stop talking now, please download and enjoy The Very Best Of Christmas In July From Ernie (Not Bert) 2023!

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

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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...)

Christmas In July '24-Day 24

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)

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Christmas In July '24-Day 23

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)

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Christmas In July '24-Day 22

If my calculations are correct, all three songs today are new to the blog and being shared here for the first time ever! I could be wrong, but I'm not going to dig too deep to prove myself wrong. So what's in the download? Track one is a sort-of Christmas-adjacent song from the great Jackie DeShannon. She wants you to keep her warm during the cold, cold winter. Track two is a bunch of kiddies singing about snowflakes. And bringing up the rear is some Russians with their balalaika's ringing. Enjoy!

1. Jackie DeShannon-Keep Me Warm (Songs, 1971)
2. 6th Level Students, Hayfield Secondary School, Fairfax, Virginia-Dr. Rhonda Fleming, Conductor-Fran Tompkins, Accompanist-Winter Snowflakes (The 1983 Fairfax County Elementary Choral Festival, 1983)
3. The Osipov Balalaika Orchestra Conducted By Vitaly Gnutov & Viktor Dubrovsky With Valentina Levko-Over The Fields, Open Fields (The World Of The Balalaika, 1971)

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Christmas In July '24-Day 21

Lucky number 21, this month is finally old enough to drink. I've got the usual three tracks for you today, two new ones and a repeat from just last year. Not sure I wound up with a new copy of something I just shared last year, but that's the way these things work. The George Shearing track is an instrumental from an LP that features vocals from Mel Torme. I was a bit disappointed to find he didn't sing on this track, but I was still excited to find a Christmas song. Not the best take, I'm afraid, but you get what you get. Track two is a classical bit of fluff, written by someone who's billed as America's first great composer. And lastly the repeat track is a soundtrack cut that's kind of interesting. Enjoy!

1. George Shearing-Away In The Manger (Top Drawer, 1983)
2. The Gregg Smith Singers-Gregg Smith, Conductor-The Shepherd's Carol (The Continental Harmony-Music Of William Billings, 1969)
3. Conducted By Joseph Brooks-Christmas Song (Montage) (If Ever I See You Again, 1978)

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Christmas In July '24-Day 20

It's day 20 and that means we are almost two-thirds of the way through the month. Seems like just yesterday we were on day 19 (brought to you by Amazon Prime, home of Alexa and Jeremy Clarkson!) and now here we are. Time flies when you're having fun. I hope all these Christmassy wintertime songs are helping you cool off in this hot, hot summer. I know many spots here in the US are seeing record-high temperatures that make your shoes melt as you walk from your car to your destination. I hope things are better down in the Southern hemisphere, though you might be having a record cold winter for all I know. What I do know is that I've got three songs for you today. Nothing too noteworthy, except that the zither track is the last one I have to share from that album so I hope you've enjoyed those. The others are a short sample piece of track, and a medley that's only sort of Christmas-adjacent. Enjoy!

1. Unknown Artist-It's Christmas (Choral Sampler For The Music Educator, 1980)
2. St. Joseph's Church-Folk Group-Directors: Doreen DiFiore and Sue Tozzi-Love Is The Answer and Let There Be Peace On Earth (Alleluia! Sing To The Lord)
3. Willie Dittrich-Stille Nacht (The Singing Zither-Christmas Music & Old Time Hymns, 1969)

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Christmas In July '24-Day 19

Day 19 is brought to you by Amazon Prime, where every day is a prime chance to separate you from your money. Not a whole lot of Christmas in today's share I'm afraid, but plenty of holiday-adjacent tracks. End of December is probably more of a New Year's song, but he mentions Christmas a couple of times so I left it in the Christmas pile. Feel free to retag it if you'd like. The we listen to our repeat track of the day featuring the always interesting Oscar Brand. Lastly we get the irrepressible Mrs. Mills doing a Christmas-via-commercial song for you. Anything that features Mike Sammes can't be bad, right? And I recently saw two mentions of Mrs. Mills' piano which I guess is more famous these days than she is. Paul McCartney pointed it out and played a bit in a documentary on Abbey Road Studios, and then it got a mention from Dr. Who in an episode where they traveled back in time to visit Abbey Road and meet The Beatles. Odd coincidence there, but that's the way it goes. Give 'em a listen and see what you think. Enjoy!

1. Randy Edelman-End Of December (The Laughter And The Tears, 1972)
2. Oscar Brand-The Frozen Logger (Paul Bunyan In Story And Song, 1969)
3. Mrs. Mills With The Jubilee Singers Directed By Mike Sammes-I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony) (Mrs Mills Jubilee Party, 1977)

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Christmas In July '24-Day 18

Today's post is brought to you by the letter 'W'! (For those of you that haven't seen it, go watch the Jim Henson documentary "Idea Man" on Disney+, it's great.) I've got three tracks today from artists whose names begin with the letter 'W', and only one of them is a rerun from a past year. Let's see what's in the pile. Up first is our favorite new group name of the year, The Wintersauce Chorale. Then there's a long dronefest from The Wind Harp, an actual aeolian harp that plays music as the wind blows across the strings. You'll either like it or you won't. Bringing up the rear is a rerun from The World Vision Korean Orphan Choir. Interesting selection today, I'll give it that. Enjoy!

1. The Wintersauce Chorale-George Guilbault, Director-Brian Marble, Associate Conductor & Accompanist-Ave Maria (Winters Are Warmer)
2. The Wind Harp-Winterwhite (Song From The Hill, 1972)
3. The World Vision Korean Orphan Choir Directed By Soo Chul Chang With Ralph Carmichael And His Orchestra-Jingle Bells (The World Vision Korean Orphan Choir, 1962)

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Christmas In July '24-Day 17

Day 17, a rare prime number day. I'm sure Amazon will try to co-opt that somehow, but for now, we'll just try to enjoy it for what it is. And what it is is another collection of three Christmas songs from non-Christmas albums. The first is a surprisingly funky take on Shakespeare from Cleo Laine, the second is Silver Bells on a zither, and the third is another sample track from a music publisher. This one is a complete track, so that's nice compared to the others that are just one minute samples. All good stuff, I'm sure you'll enjoy.

1. Cleo Laine Featuring The Music Of John Dankworth-Winter (Love's Labour's Lost) (This Is...Cleo Laine: Shakespeare-And All That Jazz, 1964)
2. Willie Dittrich-Silver Bells (The Singing Zither-Christmas Music & Old Time Hymns, 1969)
3. Al Cobine-Trilogy Of European Carols (Come All Ye Shepherds (Czech); Joseph Lieber, Joseph Mein (German); The March Of The Kings (Old French)) (Studio P/R In Concert-New Concert Band Music for 1978-79, 1978)

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