Navideños!

Let's head south of the border now with some lively music en Espanol! No idea if this is actually from Mexico or from some other Spanish-speaking country out there, but it's stuff I think you'll enjoy. It's all original music as far as I can tell, or at least no Christmas standards from America or Europe. For all I know, these are customary songs of whatever country produced it, but I kind of doubt it. I've noticed over the years that many of these Spanish-language Christmas records are mostly original material, possibly because the artist wants to have a giant hit the size of White Christmas and live off the royalties for the rest of their lives. OK, maybe not, I think it's just a cultural thing. This is Pedro Padilla Y Su Conjunto, Canta: José Ortiz-Aguinaldos Navideños (Alma LP-105, Mono).

1. Aires Navideños (Aguinaldo Costanero)
2. Cojo Lo Que Venga (Aguinaldo Orocoveño)
3. De Mi Lechon El Rabito (Seis Joropo)
4. Soñando Despierto (Seis Milonga)
5. Mucho Y Del Bueno (Llanera)
6. En La Navidad (Aguinaldo Isabelino)
7. Los Tres Santos Reyes (Aguinaldo Cagueño)
8. Las Trullas Que Te Ofreci (Aguinaldo)
9. No La He Vuelto A Ver (Aguinaldo Cayellano)
10. Borracho Y Pelao (Aguinaldo Orocoveño)

MEGA

Montebello (Not Monticello)

I love to pick up these privately pressed Christmas records, especially when they have a unique cover. Too often, groups will choose to go with a stock cover offered by the company pressing the record. That's fine if you need to save a little money, but it's really a missed opportunity to differentiate yourself a little bit from the crowd, and maybe offer a talented member of your group to make a contribution beyond just singing. I'm sure that was the reason I picked up this record in the first place and the reason I grabbed it this year to record. Let's see, do we know anything about this record? The flipside is completely blank so I guess that was their one cost-cutting measure here. Montebello doesn't seem all that common, so let's see if Google can tell us anything. Well, based on the address of the record label being in Burbank, California, this is from the Montebello School District, located just outside of LA. There are other Montebello's out there, so I could be wrong, but this seems the most likely choice. I also found a reference to a Kenneth L. Cook in a yearbook from Montebello High School, so I think this is our school. That yearbook was from 1958, though I don't think this recording is quite that old, but maybe. Anybody else find anything different? This is The A Cappella Choir Of Montebello-Christmas Concert (Location Recording Service LRS 2471, Mono).

1. Carol Of The Drum
2. Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine
3. Mary's Little Boy Chile
4. While Stars Their Vigil Keep
5. Glory To God In The Highest
6. Awake, Ye Shepherds
7. O Jesu So Sweet
8. Away In A Manger
9. The Shepherds' Story
10. The Christmas Symbol
11. Come To The Manger
12. Fanfare For Christmas Day
13. Sweet Holy Child
14. Today There Is Ringing
15. Christmas Is Just For Children

MEGA

Deutsch (Not Dutch)

There's been some chit-chat in the comment sections of the blog recently about Germany back before it was reunified. That sort of reminded me of this share that I wanted to finish and post here before I wrapped things up. I have lots of half-finished projects like this in the archives, I'm not sure what I'm going to be able to finish and what I'm going to have to leave un-done before I wrap up for the year. We'll just have to wait and see. But in the meantime, maybe you'd like to give a listen to these kids from the then-West Germany as they sing Christmas songs for you. This is Student Madrigal Choir Of Muenster, West Germany-Silent Night & Other Christmas Carols (No Label CO 3353, Stereo). A quick Google search tells us that this choir is a group from the University of Muenster, founded in 1947 and still going strong. No idea when this relic was released though. Enjoy!

1. O Heiland, Reiss Die Himmel Auf
2. Nun Komm, Der Heiden Heiland
3. Entre Le Boeuf Et L'ane Gris
4. Je Sais, Vierge Marie
5. Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging
6. Pujdem Spolem Do Betlema
7. Pasli Ovce Valasi
8. Nas Pantato Rozmily
9. Birjina Maite
10. Fum, Fum, Fum
11. Señora Doña Maria
12. Mary Had A Baby; Go, Tell It On The Mountain
13. Benedicamus Domino
14. Himmel Und Erde Von Jubel Erklingen
15. Das Heil Der Welt, Ein Kleines Kind
16. Schalf, Mein Kindelein
17. Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht
18. Vom Himmel Hoch, Da Komm Ich Her
19. Psalm XXXI

MEGA

Up On Cherry Hill

I've still got plenty of these church-based Christmas records to share with you, so don't think you're out of the woods just yet. For some reason, the name on this one reminds me of that old Disney move, The Lavender Hill Mob. Is that the name of it? Maybe it was The Lavender Hill Gang. I think Cloris Leachman was in it. I have vague memories of seeing it at a drive-in when I was a wee one. (I just looked it up and I am way off base in my memories. The movie it looks like I am thinking of is called The North Avenue Irregulars. How did I get the title so wrong?) Anyhow, none of that has anything to do with the share at hand, but lately I've been having a hard time coming up with anything to say about these old records, so that'll have to do as an introduction. This is The Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir And Festival Orchestra-The Boar's Head Festival (The Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church AR 3375 (Dearborn, Michigan), Stereo). Oh, looking at the cover again, I think I was under the impression this was a high school production, but it's not. I think many high schools have a madrigal concert around Christmas and The Boar's Head Carol seems to be a popular song and theme. I've been to a few of those things, sometimes they're OK, sometimes they are not. I'll let you decide what you think of this one.

1. Prelude
2. Deck The Halls
3. The Holly And The Ivy
4. Here We Come A-Wassailing
5. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
6. The Boar's Head Carol
7. I Sing Of A Maiden; Be Not Afraid; Gloria In Excelsis Deo
8. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
9. Kings To Thy Rising
10. What Child Is This
11. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence; Postlude

MEGA

Another European Christmas

Wow! Today is March 1st and I'm still sharing records from Christmas 2025. I certainly didn't set out to go this long, yet here we are. This is far and away the longest I've ever continued to share Christmas music on a daily basis in the 20 year history of the blog. One year I shared out collections of Christmas music from 78s I grabbed from the Internet Archive once a week for the entire year, but that would have totaled 52 shares and I've shared about 60 records since the beginning of 2026. And there are still a few records up my sleeve, so stay tuned. Today is a little something special in that it's popular music done by real recording artists with a focus on music from the European continent. I think I've shared out more than a handful of Christmas records by this same title, but this one is unique as far as I can tell. There's some interesting stuff on here, and some of the same sold stuff, but I think the good outweighs the boring. This is Christmas In Europe (Philips (Holland) 6300 014, Stereo). Big shoutout to Elizabeth J. Hester for buying this record all those years ago. If she hadn't done that, we wouldn't have this record to share today. I think I missing photoshopping her name out of a gift tag printed on the flip side of this sleeve. I noticed that as I was uploading this and didn't take the time to go back and fix it. I figure maybe that adds some character to this release, and gives Ms. Hester a bit of credit. The APO in here address means she was serving in the military, right? She didn't really live in NYC, that was just a mail drop for overseas soldiers, I think.

1. Wuppertaler Chor, Ltg. Franz Schneider-Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht
2. Gals And Pals-När Jüldagsmorgen Glimmar
3. Wiener Sängerknaben-O Du Fröhliche
4. De Leeuweriken (Childrenchoir)-De Herdertjes Lagen Bij Nachte
5. Mozarteum Chamber Choir-Chorus Master: Ernst Hinreiner; Camerata Acadeica of The Salzburg Mozarteum, Franz Sauer: Organ; Conductor Bernard Paumgartner-Ave Verum Corpus KV 618
6. The London Symphony Choir, The London Symphony Orchestra, Conductor: Colin Davis-For Unto Us A Child Is Born (From "Messiah")
7. Paul Mauriat And His Orchestra-Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant
8. Eila Pienimäki-Helkää Pienet Tiu'ut
9. The Mike Sammes Singers-Little Drummer Boy
10. Mixed Chorus-Accorri A Betlemme
11. Ray Adams With Girls' Choir-Jeg Er Så Glad Hvér Julekveld
12. Nana Mouskouri-Christos Genate

MEGA

That'll Leave A Scar

Last day of February and I can't believe I'm still sharing Christmas records. I've never gone this far into the new year because I'm usually too burned out on Christmas music by the time January rolls around and I don't have anything in the can ready to post. This year was a bit different since I recorded so much stuff ahead of time, then I was gone most of the actual Christmas season. So I hope you're really enjoying all of the bonus stuff this year. I know it's a bunch of non-pop stuff, but there are still treasures in these records to be found. Here's hoping you'll find something good in this one. This is Scarsdale Community Baptist Church Senior Choir-Candlelight Carol Service And Christmas Eve Carol Service (Recorded Publications Company AZB-47461/47462, Stereo, 1968). The Scarsdale community here appears to be located in New York and it looks like the Baptist Church there is still going strong.

1. Exaltation
2. Processional Hymn "O Come, All Ye Faithful"
3. Opening Sentences
4. The Sleep Of The Infant Jesus
5. Wind Through The Olive Trees
6. Sleep, My Jesus, Sleep
7. Masters In This Hall
8. Wonder! Wonder!
9. Magnificat From Christmas Oratorio
10. Pastorale From Le Prologue De Jesus
11. Call To Worship
12. Processional Hymn "Hark The Herald Angels Sing"
13. A Lute Carol
14. O Come, O Come, Emmanual
15. The Annunciation
16. He Is Born (Il Est Ne)
17. Indian Christmas Carol
18. Guiding Star Carol
19. Eastern Monarchs
20. O Holy Night (Cantique De Noel)

MEGA

Just A Little North

Here's a record put out by a church choir in the city just to the north of me, Bradenton, Florida. I lived there for quite a few years in a rental apartment before I bought my condo just across the county line in Sarasota, so I feel I have a pretty deep connection with the town. I can even remember coming down here in the summers as a kid to go to the beach. Taking a look at this place on the map, it looks like it's not too far from the office of my endocrinologist where I have an appointment next week. Maybe I should drive by and get a current picture. Looking at the latest images on Street View, I feel like I've driven by it before. It's pretty big and their website says they've been in the same spot since 1956, so they're pretty old as well. Now you can enjoy the sound of a Christmas presentation there in the year I was born. This is West Bradenton Baptist Church-Annual Program Of Christmas Music (Mark Custom Records MC 3074, Stereo, 1970). That stock cover image has likely been used on dozens of albums, but probably not many Christmas records. It's eerily reminiscent of my view of sunset when I lived in Bradenton. I was new to photography at the time and I was constantly removing the screen from my third-floor window and leaning out to shoot pictures of the sunset. The row of trees in the foreground separated our apartments from the tonier houses on the other side of the wooded area. Good memories.

1. Prelude-The First Noel
2. Processional-Silent Night
3. Anthem-Glory To God In The Highest
4. Cantata-A City Of The King
5. Cantata-A City Of The King (Continued-Part 2)
6. Hallelujah Chorus-The Messiah

MEGA

Great Danes

I was really interested to hear the music behind this cover, but it's not really my sort of thing. It's a kiddie choir, but it's not the fun kind of kiddie choir. Too many pre-pubescent kids singing in a very high register and it makes my ears hurt. I do like the cover image and wish my copy didn't have all that take holding the edges together. If you want to hear some really high-pitched kids singing a nice international selection of Christmas songs, this is St. Clement Danes Chorale-Conducted By Martindale Sidwell-Organ: John Langdon-Christmas Carols Around The World (Marble Arch (England) MALS 1365, Stereo, 1970). Enjoy!

1. Sir Christmas (English)
2. Hail, Blessed Virgin Mary (Italian)
3. Hodie Christus Natus Est (French)
4. The Infant King (Basque)
5. I Sing Of A Maiden (English)
6. The Three Drovers (Australian)
7. De Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy (West Indian)
8. A Chinese Christmas Cradle Song (Chinese)
9. Mary Had A Baby (Negro Spiritual)
10. Polish Carol (Polish)
11. Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine (German)
12. O Tannenbaum (German)
13. The Angels And The Shepherds (Bohemian)

MEGA

Oh Delaware, My Delaware

As near as I can tell, this is the first record I've ever shared from the small state of Delaware. I almost went to Delaware once when I was on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake in Maryland, but I wound up not doing it. Too many things competing for my time in the area, including all of the museums of the Smithsonian in nearby Washington, DC. Adding one small state to my life list wasn't nearly as appealing as seeing our nation's treasures. Anyhow, as I think I've mentioned a few times this long season, I gave a lot of thought to trying to share a Christmas record that came from each state in the union. There are lots of states I couldn't find, but I did record quite a few before I gave up and this is one of those. From the University of Delaware in Newark (No, not the one in NJ, this is about 108 miles SW of that one), this is University Of Delaware Choral Organizations-Carols And Noels (Ken-Del LP S5582, Stereo). The keen-eyed visitors will notice there is a song listed in the tracklisting that turns out to have not been pressed into the vinyl. New Year's Carol by the Women's Chamber Ensemble appears to have been cut from the lineup after the label and sleeves had been printed. Oh, well.

1. Concert Choir-University Of Delaware-The Holly And The Ivy
2. Concert Choir-University Of Delaware-Silent Night, Holy Night
3. Concert Choir-University Of Delaware-While Shepherds Watched
4. Concert Choir-University Of Delaware-George Broske, Organist-Shepherd's Farewell
5. Concert Choir-University Of Delaware-We Wish You A Merry Christmas
6. Madrigal Singers-University Of Delaware-As I Sat Under A Sycamore Tree
7. Women's Chamber Ensemble-University Of Delaware-Arthur Roberts, Pianoforte-Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine
8. Chamber Singers-University Of Delaware-God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
9. Chamber Singers-University Of Delaware-Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
10. Chamber Singers-University Of Delaware-David Lutz, Pianoforte-Good King Wenceslas
11. Chamber Singers-University Of Delaware-Angels We Have Heard On High
12. Chamber Singers-University Of Delaware-Virginia Hughes, Soprano-David Lutz, Pianoforte-O Holy Night
13. Choral Union-University Of Delaware-Deck The Halls
14. Choral Union-University Of Delaware-Adeste Fidelis
15. Choral Union-University Of Delaware-The First Noel
16. Choral Union-University Of Delaware-Joy To The World

MEGA

The Kids From Nashville

Once upon a time, there was a choir of children based out of Nashville. Not sure how it happened, but they released two Christmas records in the same year. Neither of them seems to have been very popular, but I seem to have stumbled across one of them in my years of record collecting. Not sure if I'll ever dig up the other one, but maybe. Curiously enough, this group still seems to be going, though I don't see where they've released much more music. If you like that sort of thing, with a fine production sheen on top of it, this is Nashville Children's Chorus-Family Christmas Favorites (Heartland/Warner Special Products OP-3521 B, Stereo, 1990). Enjoy!

1. Joy To The World
2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. O Holy Night
4. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
5. Carol Of The Bells
6. Silent Night
7. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
8. Little Drummer Boy
9. Away In A Manger
10. The First Noel
11. O Come All Ye Faithful
12. Go Tell It On The Mountain

MEGA