Christmas In July 2026-Part 24

If my numbers are correct, this share gets me down to just under 100 songs left in the pile. Which is a good thing because with only about seven days left, it means I can start sharing a few more songs per day, or perhaps I can go longer than the 31 days in July. Do you have a preference? Let's take a vote. Leave me a comment. Do you want more songs per day, or would you like a few extra days tacked onto the end? Better vote fast though because I'll have to start sharing out more songs quickly, it may even be too late.

1. Red Garter-Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Santa's Musical Grog)

One more song from a long side of Christmas tunes on this record. Wish some more info on this band would turn up. It's one of those things where the details have just been lost to time and bad memories.

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

Our Nutcracker installment of the day.

3. John Gary-Thank The Lord (For This Thanksgiving Day) (John Gary)

A Thanksgiving track, so I should have shared it at the beginning of the season but I didn't have it at the time. Didn't know about it in fact, a visitor mentioned it and I happened to stumble across it last Saturday at the gay thrift store. It's pretty good, wish I'd had it at the beginning of the year. I think this will make the best-of for sure. This budget-label release gathers up tracks that Gary recorded at small labels (or maybe just one label, not sure) before he hit the big time. I'm sure it competed with much more deliberate album releases at the time it came out.

4. Leopold Stokowski And His Orchestra-Shepherd's Christmas Music (In Dulci Jubilo-A Baroque Concert, 1967)

Stoki plays for some shepherds at Christmas time. I hope they appreciate the effort.

5. Unknown Artists-That Man Over There (From The Score Of Meredith Willson's Here's Love 10" 33 RPM)

Another great track from that rare ten inch demo recording I dug up a couple months ago. Compare this version to what's on the official sound track and you can see how much it changed.

6. The Eric Rogers Chorale And Orchestra-Hallelujah (Glory, Glory, Hallelujah, 1964)

Nobody beats the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on this one, but they give it a good try.

7. Victor Borge-The Little Match Girl (Victor Borge Presents His Own Enchanting Version Of Hans Christian Anderson, 1966)

The headliner track today, something I shared out long ago and I'm bringing it back today. This LP of Hans Christian Anderson stories as 'remembered' by musical comedian Victor Borge way created for Eastern Air Lines, they love to fly and it shows!

8. The Hal Kanner Orchestra And Chorus Featuring Sylvia And Keith Textor, Dick Brown, Jerry Packer, Bernie Nee, The Four Ladies, The Four Gentlemen-I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (Love And Marriage, 1956)

I'd never heard of this group before turning up this LP. I was a little impressed at the list of participants, though to be honest the only person I really knew was Keith Textor. He got his own entry in the RCA Victor Stereo Action series back in the day. Not sure if this recording rises to the level of all that, but it's nice.

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

A nice version from a budget compilation. This might be the same as one I shared earlier, I didn't check it closely enough. maybe, maybe not.

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

And the obligatory daily version of Greensleeves from this kiddie record with the random dialog bits included. Enjoy! 

MEGA

Christmas In July 2026-Part 23

Day 23, who remembers the KLF, aka The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu? Their magic number was 23. I guess that doesn't matter much but it was the only thing that came to mind today. There is a little bit of a theme today, many of the tracks are by unknown singer-songwriter types with songs that have a winter connection of some sort. Enjoy!

1. The Kinsman Quartet-Go Tell It On The Mountain (The Kinsman Quartet, 1971)

This was a lot more interesting than I was expecting. They did a good job with this arrangement.

2. Gordon Bok With Ann Mayo Muir-Snow Gull (Bay Of Fundy And Other Songs, 1975)

This is more in the folk vein that the singer-songwriter category, but I thought it sort of fit in.

3. Archie Fisher & Garnet Rogers-The Winter It Is Past (Off The Map, 1986)

The first of the themed selections today. No idea who these guys are, which is the same with all the artists today. Maybe someone who is familiar with one or both of these folks can chime in with some info.

4. Jim Reeves-The Blizzard (40 Golden Greats, 1975)

Not a singer-songwriter, he just kind of snuck in here because I needed another song. But always good to hear from him.

5. Richard And Miche-In Silence Of Snow (Take A Chance, 1983)

I got the impression from the cover image that these two were married, but I have no idea really.

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

Our daily Greensleeves bit with an excerpt of story on top for good measure. I warned you there were a lot of these bits...

7. Eli Kaniel-The Insulted Winter (Eli Kaniel Sings For You, 1973)

Not sure if he wrote this or not, but I sort of figured it fit in here. I assume that's Hebrew he's singing since this LP is from Israel. Not sure what he means by Insulted Winter, and I don't speak the language so someone is going to have to explain it to me.

8. Odetta-Chilly Winds (Odetta At The Gate Of Horn, 1957)

Back to the folky stuff here with the well-known Odetta. Is this the oldest track in the pile today, I think it is.

9. Marsha Malamet-Coney Island Winter (Coney Island Winter, 1969)

The title track to our headlining LP today. I've visited Coney Island in the winter, and it really does look pretty lonely like that. Not like the beaches here in Florida where it's always a bit crowded.

10. Malcolm Dalglish & Grey Larsen-Christ Child's Lullaby (Banish Misfortune, 1977)

Our last selection today and the last of the themed selections.  Again, if you know who any of these folks are, please chime in and tell us all about them I love to hear about the folks whose music I share.

That reminds me, I got a comment recently on an old post from 2018 (which was actually a rerun from 2008) by a guy who's father played on the record in question. We exchanged a couple of emails and I was able to ID another Christmas record in the collection that featured his father's playing (actually the exact same tracks, but that's a long story). I love it when stuff like that happens, even if it takes eighteen years. Don't make me wait that long to hear about someone in today's share!

MEGA

Christmas In July 2026-Part 22

 

Howdy! Welcome to day twenty-two! Gotta be some good stuff in the pile today, I just know it. Let's dive in and see how deep the water is.

1. Leopold Stokowski And His Orchestra-Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring (In Dulci Jubilo-A Baroque Concert, 1967)

We start with one of the great conductors and his take on a Bach classic. 

2. Red Garter-Jingle Bells (Santa's Musical Grog)

More musical grog from the man too cool to wear a black garter.

3. The Art Van Damme Quintet-The Things We Did Last Summer (The Many Moods Of Art, 1972)

This is the second version of this song by Art we've shared with you this season, only this time it's in stereo. I was surprised to find both versions in the same day at the same store, and they are both pulled from double albums! I was worried they were the same but give them a listen and you'll see that they aren't the same performance.

4. Tony Mottola-My Favorite Things (From "The Sound Of Music") (My Favorite Things-The Best Of Tony Mottola, America's Favorite Guitarist, 1975)

A not-really-Christmas track from America's favorite guitarist, or at least Enoch Light's favorite. Looks like I did a horrible job of photographing this album cover. I need to get my eyes calibrated back to a straight line.

5. The Rainbow Sound Of Bianco, His Harp And Orchestra-Greensleeves (Your All-Time Favorite Songs (As Chosen By Members Of The RCA Victor Record Club), 1964)

Who doesn't love Bianco and his harp? Certainly the members of the RCA Victor record club do, he was a popular offering in their club that wasn't available in stores. And if you really enjoy his style, he's got a full Christmas record that you can download right here, also a record club exclusive!

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

Another short version of Greensleeves (same as the track above, sorry) with a little bit of weird out-of-context narration. You need some randomness in your life.

7. Bowmar Orchestral Library-Waltz Of The Flowers (Stories In Ballet And Opera)

Library music, and today's only Nutcracker representation.

8. Stuttgart Festival Band-William Harrison, Conductor-Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Have Band Will Travel-Music Minus One Trombone)

Break out your trombone, I've got some music here that you need to complete.

9. Unknown Artist-Jolly Old Saint Nicholas (Mockingbird Flight, 1975)

An actual Christmas song, but one with no credits. Still very enjoyable.

10. Valery Lloyd-Watts, Piano-Cradle Song (Recital Favorites, 1978)

From an LP dedicated to the Suzuki Method of piano education. It's a nice little version and the cover is pretty nice, too. 

Is that it? I think it is. Plenty of goodies in the pile today, hope you found something to enjoy. If not, come back tomorrow, I've got more for you. 

MEGA 

Christmas In July 2026-Part 21

Day 21, finally old enough to drink, make mine a double! Nothing else too special about today, I'm afraid, just another ten tracks towards a giant collection of Christmas music for you to enjoy when the time is right.

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

We begin with the first part of some weird bits from this kiddie record. Yes, the tune is Greensleeves, which for our purposes is the same as What Child Is This, but there's some weird story going on here that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I think you're going to get a small piece of this record from today right on through to the end of the month, and none of them are going to make much sense. But nothing about this blog really makes sense...

2. The Four Preps-The Things We Did Last Summer (The Things We Did Last Summer, 1958)

This is the track from our headliner LP up above. I just couldn't pass up that nice beachy scene that is the exact opposite of the wintertime sentiments of this song.

3. Ted Alan Worth-San Francisco Civic Chorale Chamber Chorus-A Cradle Carol (Great Hymns Of Faith-Praise To The Lord)

Ted is an organist who has graced this blog before, but this time he brought some vocalists along for the ride and think the song is more enjoyable for having them.

4. Wayne Johnson, Baritone Soloist-Let There Be Peace On Earth (Heart-Warming Songs)

A fairly local record, from the small town of Holiday here in Florida, just up the coast from St. Pete. This record had some pretty bad damage to the surface, but the software was able to clean most of it up. I think you'll get the idea.

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

Is this the only selection from The Nutcracker in the pile today? I think it is. Enjoy!

6. Malcolm Dalglish & Grey Larsen-The Three Little Drummers; Kate Caulfield's Jig; Paddy In London (Banish Misfortune, 1977)

There's not a whole lot of Christmas in this one, but I do remember hearing a version of the lead-in track Three Little Drummers on a Christmas LP by The Beers Family. That's the only time I've heard it refered to as a Christmas track, but I enjoyed hearing it again and threw it in the pile.

7. Melba Montgomery-Keep Me Warm (Melba Montgomery, 1973)

Melba is cold, go keep her warm.

8. Gooding Amusement's German Organ-Christmas Medley (Christmas With The Gooding Band Organ, 1984)

Another entry from this half-Christmas record. I don't remember what's in the medley, I hope it's not something from The Nutcracker.

9. Kermit Leslie And His Orchestra-Bermuda Holiday (A Holiday In Hi-Fi, 1958)

Another barely-related track from this great album. 

10. The Yoder Families-While By My Sheep (Come Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs)

I almost missed this one but I thought about it for a while and came back and recorded it. I think it may be the most Christmas song of the whole day.

And that's all I've got for you today, not a single sheet music demo track in the pile! I don't think I'm completely done with those just yet, but there aren't many left. Unless I find another album, of course. :) 

MEGA

Christmas In July 2026-Part 20

 

Welcome to day the twentieth! We're about 2/3 of the way through the month and that's cause enough for celebration! Hope you had a great weekend and didn't melt in the heat. This music will help you to cool off, I promise.

1. The Polka Kings-Peppermint Polka (A Beautiful Morning With The Polka Kings)

Don't think I've shared this fine polka with you before, though there has been plenty of candy-flavored music shared around these parts in the past.  This one sits proudly alongside all those others that came before it.

2. United States Coast Guard Band-LCDR William Broadwell, Director-March Of The Toys (Heritage Of The March, Volume 20, Herbert-Berg)

I found this record in a pile of others from the same series at a Goodwill earlier this year. I knew somewhere in that strange series of march records had to be a Christmas-related track. And sure enough, I found one by Victor Herbert, of course.

3. Werner Müller And His Orchestra-Sleigh Ride (Werner Müller Plays Leroy Anderson, 1964)

The better track from this Phase 4 treasure. I shared a less-Christmassy track with you earlier, but this is the one you really wanted. It's a rerun from the past, but I thought it worth sharing again.

4. The Concordia College Choir-Victor Hildner, Director-Carol Of The Drum (The Concordia College Choir, 1956)

Another track from these guys, but something with a bit of special interest. This is a version of a song later popularized by Harry Simeone as The Little Drummer Boy, for which he claimed a composing credit. Notice that most of the song existed as arranged by Katherine Davis well before Simeone got his hands on it. An arranger credit would be fine, but he didn't compose anything.

5. The Banjo Barons-Arranged And Conducted By Marty Manning-For You A Lei; An Old Hawaiian Custom; The Hawaiian Christmas Song (Golden Hawaiian Hits, 1963)

A rerun, but a good 'un. Hawaiian songs as played on the banjo. And a Christmas song at that. The early sixties were an odd time.

6. Hope Publishing Company, Somerset Press, Agape-Come Christmas Morning (The Very Best Sacred Choral Music, 1979)

More music to sell arrangements by. I'm getting close to the end of the pile of these things, I hope you're happy.

7. The Choir Of Leeds Parish Church-Directed By Simon Lindley-Michael Harris, Organ-De Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy (Favourite Hymns And Christmas Carols, 1984)

Another track from these folks trying to raise money to rehab their church. It's still there today, over forty years later, so they must have been successful in their quest.

8. St. Cecilia's Men's Choir, Conducted By C. Irving Guyer-Ave Maria (Glory To God In The Highest, 1965)

Another track from this record I previously shared. Remember, it's the one with the stock cover that was used on another record I shared something from. You don't remember? Oh well, I thought it was slightly memorable but I guess not.

9. Steve Allen-Piano Solos With Rhythm Accompaniment-Can I Wait Up For Santa Claus? (Allen Plays Allen, 1956)

My favorite track of the day, and one of the favorite of the season (it will show up on the best-of collection for this year I promise!). This is an piano instrumental version of a song Steve Allen composed and recorded with Ricky Vera back in 1953. It's not too Christmassy in this version, but if you're familiar with the original recording, it's fun to sing along with.

10. Stuttgart Festival Band-William Harrison, Conductor-Joy To The World (Have Band Will Travel-Music Minus One Trombone)

Another track that you can play your trombone along with. Enjoy! And that's it for the day, an excellent crop of music. Have a go and let me know what you think down in the comments. 

MEGA