Once again, I rate a small mention in a major place on the internet! They linked to my blog in an article over at No Depression. That's something, isn't it? The article is about Chanukah music, or the lack there-of, and they linked to an old LP share from a couple of years ago. Of all the places and for all the reasons, I never thought I'd garner a mention for a Jewish music share at an alt-country magazine. The world is a funny place. :)
I had a chance to get out and shoot today, and I got lucky when I stumbled across this red rat snake. For some reason, he was hanging out in a tree right by a pretty popular nature trail near the beach. I don't think there was anything to eat up there, but I suspect he scared a tourist or two. I tried to grab him and pull him down out of the tree, but all I got for my trouble was a handful of red snake poop. I got a couple of decent pictures out of the encounter, though, so I guess the handful of poop was worth it. I can't think of the last time I got decent shots of a snake, they are pretty few and far between.
Never one to take the same picture as all the other tourists, I want to point out that I shot the wrong end of the famous bull in New York first. Of course, I walked around to the other end and got a normal shot, but I started elsewhere. This guy isn't on the actual Wall Street, as you might think, but just around the corner, on Broadway, I think it is.
Now that the big Christmas rush is over, I can go back to sharing some pictures with you. I'm thinking about going back and revisiting the photographs from some of the great places I visited this year. I didn't do a great job of showing you all of the great pictures I took this year, so I should be able to find plenty of pictures you haven't seen before. Like this cormorant. I know they are pretty common around here, but I didn't expect to find this one in New York Harbor, just off Staten Island. Look close and you'll see both The Statue Of Liberty and The Empire State Building in the background. Also, the location of the Twin Towers of The World Trade Center is on the right side of this picture. It was a bad day for pictures, but I had to get out and shoot anyway. I think I may have actually taken this on 9/11 of this year.
How sad to discover on the way home from Christmas last night that Eartha Kitt had passed away. She was an icon of music, and an even bigger icon of Christmas. I can't think of any other artist that had a larger presence at Christmas that recorded fewer Christmas songs. After her huge hit Santa Baby, I think she only had a couple of follow-up Christmas singles, and they're pretty hard to find. And her non-Christmas recordings are pretty good, too. I think this marks the third or fourth Christmas in a row we've lost someone who's made an important contribution to holiday music. Sad. Anyhow, you can find an alternate version of her Santa Baby at this earlier post. Eartha made this re-recording after she left RCA.
Hello Everybody! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas. I haven't had the chance to post anything for the past few days. I did have to spend a little time buying some presents and getting ready for my own Christmas. Hope you get everything your little heart desired under your tree. Now that the season is over, and can take a break and get a few more hours sleep. Big thanks to everyone who downloaded my music shares and sent me an email or left a comment. That's what makes it all worth while. I've got so much stuff to catch up on now, I don't even know where to start.
And here is the other kiddie record I promised you for this evening. If possible, this one is even worse than the last one. But you know you're going to download it and listen anyway. I tell you what, while I have your attention, let me point you towards Kiddie Records Weekly. They have all the good kiddie records, and they've been sharing them out for three years now. Also, they just announced that after taking a break for the past year, they are coming back for another year's worth of great music, starting January first! So head on over there and get some great kiddie music. For some poor-to-mediocre kiddie music, download Simon Says-Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer And Other Christmas Favorites (Record Guild Of America SSX-1, Mono).
1. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
2. Angels We Have Heard On High
3. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
4. The Night Before Christmas
5. Jingle Bells
6. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly
7. We Are Not Beggars
8. Joy To The World
9. The First Noel
10. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
11. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
12. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
13. O Come All Ye Faithful
14. Silent Night
Here's the first of two kiddie records I want to share with you tonight. I'd ever seen either of them before this year, but that doesn't always mean anything. Records that were in wide release in one area of the country sometimes saw no distribution whatsoever in a different area. But living in Florida, I often get the best of both worlds. When folks retire to this area from all over the country, they bring their record collections with them. Then, when they downsize or clear out, or, sometimes pass away, those records make their way to my local thrift stores, and I get stuff from everywhere. Perhaps that's the story with these records. With the kids grown and gone, who needs kiddie Christmas records? But enough small talk, please download Santa's Toy Shop Party (Panda Children's Records PAN X001, Mono). Half of this record is Christmas, but the other side is only marginally related. You'll see what I mean when you give it a listen. Oh, the artist on that cover is George Buckett. Not sure if I like it or not...
1. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
2. Jingle Bells
3. Up On The House Tops
4. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas
5. Santa's Surprise
6. Toy Town
7. Alakazam, The Magic Man
8. Wooden Soldiers On Parade
9. I Want A Teddy Bear
Another week closer to Christmas! This will probably be the last wrap-up that I post for you, since there are only four days left to Christmas. This past week has seen a real slowdown in my shares, I'm afraid. I've still put up plenty of new stuff, but the reposts of older stuff have pretty much been non-existent. And don't even ask about my 27 Days Of Christmas collection, 'cause I don't know what happened, either. But Christmas will come again next year, and maybe things will be better then. Here's what all I shared with you this week.:
Jimmy Sturt-Polka Christmas In My Hometown
The Men's Choir Of St. Hedwig's-Polish Christmas Carols
Bob Braun-Christmas In Your Heart
The Three Suns-A Ding Dong Dandy Christmas! (Now in Stereo)
Richard Ellsasser-Michael Carr's Wintertime Suite
The Somerset Strings-Music For Christmas At Home
Christmas With Terry Charles
The Henry Snow Singers-The Little Drummer Boy
Emilien Allard-Noels au Carillon de l'Oratoire Saint-Joseph (rerun)
John Klein-Let's Ring The Bells All Around The Christmas Tree (Now in Stereo)
John Klein-Caroling On The Carillon
Fontanna-Christmas At Home
Dartmouth Glee Club-White Christmas On The Campus
Owen Bradley-Organ And Chimes
Noel Stevens Woodwind Quintet-The Noel Sound
The Third Week:
Favorite Songs Of Christmas
Bert Jones-Christmas Messages In Music
Arthur Godfrey-All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth (Now in Stereo)
Ruth Welcome-Christmas In Zitherland (rerun)
Cyril Stapleton-Children's Christmas Album (rerun)
Bob Kames-Merry Christmas
Bob Kames-Happy Holidays
Bob Kames-It's Christmas Time
Bob Kames-15 Songs Of Christmas
Lester Lanin-Christmas Dance Party (Now in Stereo)
George Chiainia-Music Of The Holiday Season
The Holiday Bells-Ring The Bells On Christmas Day
John Robert Carwithen-The Bells On Christmas Morn
A Christmas Sampler (rerun)
The Jimmy Joyce Singers-A Christmas To Remember (rerun)
The Randolph Singers-Christmas Carols, Volume 2
We Wish You A Merry Christmas (rerun)
Music Boxes For Christmas
The Sounds Of Christmas
Bianco-Joy To The World (rerun)
Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (rerun)
The Gene Lowell Chorus-Caroling Caroling
The Deutschmeister Band-Christmas Carols
The Second Week:
Seeburg Music Library (rerun)
Muzak Christmas (rerun)
Muzak-Stimulus Progression Number Three-Christmas
Roger Williams-Christmas Time (rerun)
George Greeley-The 22 Best Loved Christmas Piano Concertos
Paul Mauriat-The Christmas Album (rerun)
Raymond Lefevre-Merry Christmas (rerun)
Dino Martinelli Plays Music For Christmas
The Music City Choral-Christmas Favorites Featuring Little Drummer Boy
A Family Christmas Album (rerun)
Buddy & Bunny Burden-Christmas Favorites (rerun)
The Music City Choral And Orchestra-White Christmas And Other Holiday Favorites (rerun)
The Pete King Chorale-Christmas Time (Now In Stereo!)
Yank Lawson & Bob Haggart-Hark The Herald Angels Swing (rerun)
Robert Way-New England Sleigh Ride (Remastered)
Pebbles & Bamm-Bamm Singing Songs Of Christmas
Sy Mann-Everybody's Christmas Favorites (rerun)
The Moog Machine-Christmas Becomes Electric (rerun)
Madrid Concert Orchestra And Chorus-Christmas In Spain
Grace Castagnetta-Christmas On The Siena Pianoforte (rerun)
Merry Christmas From (rerun)
Ace Cannon-Christmas Cheers
Charo-(Mamacita) Donde Esta Santa Claus (rerun)
Arthur Lynds Bigelow-Christmas Carillon
Arthur Lynds Bigelow & Marjorie MacComb-Ring! Christmas Bells (rerun)
Marion Anderson Sings Christmas Carols
The Lighthouse Singers-Christmas Carols (rerun)
Yogi Yorgesson-Yingle Bells (rerun)
Johnny Nash-Prince Of Peace
The Ralph Hunter Choir-Christmas Surprises (remaster)
Heidi, The Pocketbook Doll-The Night Before Christmas
Gary Mann-Blues For Baby Jesus (rerun)
Frankie Yankovic-Christmas Party (rerun)
The First Week:
Hank Sylvern-Christmas In Hi-Fi: Chimes, Bells And Organ
Larry Ferrari-I Wish You The Merriest
Loretta Young-The Littlest Angel and Gregory Peck-Lullaby Of Christmas (rerun)
Burgess Meredith With Joe Reisman's Orchestra And Chorus-Christmas Classics 1963 (rerun)
Frank Chacksfield-Music For A Merry Christmas (rerun)
Nelson Riddle-Avon Wishes You A Happy Holiday And A Joyous New Year (rerun)
Avon Goes On Record (rerun)
Christmas With Ogden Nash
Felix Slatkin-Season's Greetings (rerun)
Saint Patrick's Cathedral Choir Sings Christmas Carols (rerun)
Saint Patrick's Cathedral Choir Sings Christmas Songs (rerun)
Jimmie Davis-It's Christmas Time Again
Pete Fountain-Candy Clarinet (rerun)
Big 'Tiny' Little-Christmas With Big Tiny Little (rerun)
Veo Gray And The Jodie Lyons Singers-A Christmas Happening
Lorne Greene-Must Be Santa 45 (rerun)
The Sisters Of Divine Providence-Christmas Mosaic (rerun)
The Glen Riddle Franciscans-Choral Group-Sisters Of St. Francis-We Sing Of Christmas (rerun)
The Bison Glee Club-The Joy Of Christmas (rerun)
The Cardinal's Cathedral Choristers-Carols Of The Nations
Christmas In Cleveland (rerun)
A Kimball Christmas (rerun)
The Candy Store-Turned On Christmas
Christmas 1968 With The Going Thing (rerun)
The Joy Strings-Well Seasoned (rerun)
Maurice Copeland-How We Got Our Christmas Customs
Maurice Copeland & Adele Scott-Squanto And The First Thanksgiving
Spencer Ross-Thanksgiving Day Parade 45 (rerun)
The Blazers & The Yodelin' Guides-Track!
Ray Conrad-The Cotton-Pickin' Lift Tower And Other Skiing Songs (rerun)
Six Family Mountain-Takin' A Ride With The Wind (rerun)
Thanks again for all your support and comments!
If there's one thing you can't have too much of at Christmas time, it's polka music! And here's a good one, the first time I've shared out a double record here at the blog. Record one is fun polkas, and record two is more traditional Polish Christmas music, but you'll enjoy it all. I didn't think I was going to be able to bring you this one this year. I pulled out a copy and started to record it, but I only had one of the two records. Several months later I discovered another copy in the archives, and it had both records in it. So that allowed me to finish up the recording and share it. Please download and enjoy Jimmy Sturr And His Orchestra With The Jimmy Sturr Singers & The Matusz Singers-Polka Christmas In My Hometown (Starr Records/Bruno-Dean Enterprises R-BS-116, Stereo, 1979).
1. Christmas In My Hometown
2. Churchbells Are Ringing
3. Jingle Bells Polka
4. The Christmas Song
5. Santa's Super Sonic Sleigh
6. On This Christmas Day
7. O! Holy Night
8. Twinkle Toes
9. Little Boy Jesus
10. Merry Christmas Polka
11. Wśród Nocnej Ciszy (In The Still Of The Night)
12. Dzisiaj W Betlejem (Today In Bethlehem)
13. Przylecieli Aniolkowie (The Angels Came)
14. W Zlobie Lezy (Away In A Manger)
15. My Tez Pastuszkowie (We Too Are Shepherds)
16. Pojdzmy Wszyscy Do Stajenki (To The Manger)
17. Sliczna Panienka (Beautiful Lady)
18. Medrcy Swiata (Kings Of The World)
19. Lulajze Jezuniu (Sleep Little Jesus)
20. Pasterze Mili (Shepherds Mild)
21. Tryumfy Krola Niebieskiego (Triumphant King Of Heaven)
22. Hej W Dzien Narodzenia (Hail! The Day Of His Birth)
23. Nowy Rok Biezy (New Year Begins)
Several weeks ago, I told a buddy of mine at work about a couple albums I had of Polish Christmas music. He didn't seem to care at the time, but later he asked me when they'd come around. As Christmas got closer, he asked more and more. So I'm finally getting to this record the Sunday before Christmas. Sorry it's so late, but at least I got to it. There are so many records I recorded this year that I'm not going to be able to share like I wanted to. Life has a way of changing your plans for you sometimes, whether you like it or not. But that's all beside the point, you're here for some Christmas music. Please download The Men's Choir Of St. Hedwig's-Polish Christmas Carols (Custom Pressed By Columbia Record Production SRS-513, Stereo).
1. Narodzil Sie Jezus Chrystus (Christ Is Born)
2. W Zlobie Lezy (In The Manger)
3. Dzisiaj W Betlejem (Today In Bethlehem)
4. Tryumfy Krola Niebieskiego (Triumph Of The Heavenly King)
5. Sliczna Panienka (Beautiful Maiden)
6. Wesola Nowine (Happy Tidings)
7. Wsrod Nocnej Ciszy (At Midnight)
8. Pospieszcie (Hasten Shepherds)
9. Kolysanka (Lullaby)
10. Lulajze (Go To Sleep)
11. Znarodzenia Pana (Master's Birth)
12. A De-ste Fideles
13. Chrystus, Chrystus (Christ, Christ)
I meant to put this one up as soon as The Captain posted his Ruth Lyons shares, but I forgot. The fellow you're looking at above is Bob Braun, and for many years he was Ruth Lyons' sidekick on television. When she retired, he took over the top spot. Now, I didn't know any of that when I bought this record, I just grabbed it because it was something and someone I'd never seen before. I became suspicious when I saw the song writing credits on here, and then I actually stopped and read the liner notes, and I knew I had something I needed to share. So please be my guest and download Bob Braun, Orchestra Conducted By Leroy Holmes-Christmas In Your Heart (United Artists UAS 6664, Stereo, 1968).
1. Christmas In Your Heart
2. Everywhere The Bells Are Ringing
3. Do You Hear What I Hear
4. A Marshmellow (sic) World
5. A Child's First Christmas
6. Let's Light The Christmas Tree
7. Christmas Lullaby
8. Winter Wonderland
9. That's What Christmas Means To Me
10. I'll Be Home For Christmas
11. Christmas Medley
I think I mentioned that I went to the beach for sunset tonight. Little did I know I was going to get a picture of something I'd never shot before. Seconds after the sun actually set, I noticed that there were dolphins cavorting offshore. The shot above was actually something I shot right before I noticed them, so I wasn't intending to photograph the dolphin, he just snuck into the shot. But that's not the unique shot
Apparently, the dolphins were hunting, and they herded a whole school of fish in towards shore. Well, the birds got wind of what was going on, and they started joining in the fun. Suddenly, the water seemed to boiling with fish and birds. I just started shooting like a madman, and I actually got a fish up out of the water. Look at the lower left in the shot above. He's up, out of the water, and gasping for, um, water. But there he is! This is already a crop of a larger shot, so I didn't want to zoom in too much closer, but you can see him quite clearly. I had plenty of shots of disturbed water, but this appears to be the only one you can see the actual fish in. Pretty cool, eh?
And this was just another pelican shot I found that I liked. It's easy to get them in the air, but hard to get their wings in an attractive and recognizable position.
I went to the beach tonight for the first time in ages, and I took some pictures, also for the first time in ages. I've been so busy with the Christmas music that I haven't gotten the chance to go out and shoot as much as I should. I hope you don't mind getting these great bird shots tonight instead of more Christmas music. I'm starting to think maybe I've done enough of that this year. Maybe. Maybe not. I don't know yet. But here are four shots I picked out almost at random to share with you. I took all of these these evening as the sun was setting.
The time has come, my friends, to share with you what is perhaps the greatest instrumental Christmas album of all time. I brought it to you last year in a mono version, and this year I am happy to present you with this stereo copy. I didn't find this in a record store, or a junk store, or even at any of my other usual haunts. No, this one was a gift. I'm not going to tell you who sent it to me, but suffice it to say I thank him every day for it. I know this has been shared out all over the internets, but this is my copy and I'm extremely happy to share it with you. Please download The Three Suns-A Ding Dong Dandy Christmas! (RCA Victor LSP-2054, Stereo, 1959). I would normally share out all of my old Three Suns Christmas records along with this new addition today, but I'm busy. So search the blog for Three Suns, and all your Christmas wishes will be granted.
This is a curious record that I've been holding back for no good reason. The music is your standard pop organ from the fifties, and the cover is great (my scan doesn't do it justice) but the real treat here are the song titles. Whoever came up with these names is a genius! I know the music was written by Michael Carr, so he probably came up with these titles, but you never know. Have a quick gander at them below, and you'll know that you need to download Richard Ellsasser-Michael Carr's Wintertime Suite (MGM E3284 (Richard Ellsasser Playing The Organ of the John Hays Hammond, Jr. Museum, Gloucester, Massachusetts), Mono, 1955). I just wish the music was as great as those titles. But you'll still enjoy it.
1. King Winter
2. Happy Fat Man (With A Sleigh Full Of Toys)
3. Winter In Mexico
4. Home For Christmas
5. Winter Setting
6. December Has A Warm Heart
7. Red Indian Snowman
8. Eight Very Busy Little Reindeer
9. Star In The East
10. Holly And Ivy And Mistletoe
11. Jack Frost, Incorporated
12. Ring In The New Year
You know what you need tonight? How about some nice relaxing Christmas music? Yeah, I think that's the ticket. Love this cover, but the music is a bit mellow on this one. Not only is it mellow, it's also scratchy. You'll have to pardon the sound, and I think there are three tracks here that skip. Sorry about that, but I've never seen this LP before, and I wanted to share it out for the great cover. So be my guest and download The Somerset Strings-Music For Christmas At Home (Epic LN 3159, Mono).
1. Sleigh Ride (skips)
2. White Christmas
3. Silent Night, Holy Night
4. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (skips)
5. Good King Wenceslas
6. The First Nowell
7. Jingle Bells
8. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
9. Once In Royal David's City
10. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
11. Away In A Manger
12. O Come All Ye Faithful (skips)
Tonight's share may be of limited interest to most of you, but for the locals, you may appreciate it. Up in Dunedin, Florida, there's a pipe organ called The Kirk. Well, maybe the building is called The Kirk, and the organ is called The Duchess, I'm a little unsure of how it works. I don't know if all pipe organs have names, but this one does. And that organ is shepherded by Mr. Terry Charles. I know all this because of the liner notes on this LP, and from the website that seems to have gone un-updated for a while, but perhaps it's still active. Anyhow, every once in a while, I'd stumble across a Christmas LP recorded by this guy at this organ, but not the one you see above. There's another one that is much more common, it's green where this one is red, and you can actually buy that one from the artist at the website above. But this one, I've only ever seen it once, and there's no mention of it on the website. I checked, and it is different from the green one. I've no idea why it's not also on the website, but because it's not up there, I can share it with you. Please be my guest and download Terry Charles-Christmas With Terry Charles-Wurlitzer Pipe Organ (Private Pressing SYB-635/636, Stereo).
1. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. The First Noel
4. Angels We Have Heard On High
5. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
6. As With Gladness Men Of Old
7. Angels From The Realms Of Glory
8. Joy To The World
9. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
10. Silver Bells
11. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
12. I'll Be Home For Christmas
13. Silent Night
14. O Holy Night
This is not another carillon LP, I promise. Instead, this record features some great singing from a group I'd never heard of before. And with an album cover like this, how could I pass it up? I'd also never heard of this Whitehall label, which is apparently a subsidiary of Westminster. Who knew? Pretty good stuff on here, so don't miss out. Go ahead and download The Henry Snow Singers-The Little Drummer Boy And Other Christmas Favorites (Whitehall WH 20023 (A Product Of Westminster), Mono). Anyone know any more about this one?
1. The Little Drummer Boy
2. Adeste Fidelis
3. Away In A Manger
4. Joy To The World
5. The First Noel
6. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
7. Silent Night
8. Deck The Halls
9. O! Little Town Of Bethlehem
10. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
11. Angels We Have Heard On High
12. Good King Wenceslas
13. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
14. Holly Green (And Cotton Candy White)
This last song I think I have seen as a single. It almost sounds like a different group. Much more modern take than anything else on here. There's got to be a story here, but I don't know what it is. And I mean besides the fact that cotton candy is not white. Everyone knows it's either blue or pink, like baby boys or baby girls.
Here's another nice rerun of a great carillon LP that I've never seen elsewhere. I think this one of the few LPs I've shared out that hail from the great white north known as Canada. But don't hold that against it, this is good stuff. Please be my guest and download Emilien Allard-Noels au Carillon de l'Oratoire Saint-Joseph (Carols At The Carillon Of Saint Joseph's Oratory) (RCA Victor of Canada LCP-1024).
1. Minuit, Cretiens (O Holy Night)
2. Sainte Nuit (Silent Night)
3. Venez Pasteurs
4. Gesu Bambino
5. Dans Cette Etable
6. Les Agnes Dans Nos Campagnes
7. Ca, Bergers Assemblons-Nous
8. Adeste Fideles
9. Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant
10. D'ou Viens-Tu Bergere?
11. Silence Le Ciel
12. Noel (d'Aquin)
This one is something to replace an earlier mono share of the same LP. I know it's a carillon record, but this one is different. This time, John Klein is joined by an orchestra and chorus directed by the one and only Henri Rene. You know that's gonna be good. So don't hesitate, please download John Klein, Orchestra And Chorus Arranged And Conducted By Henri Rene-Let's Ring The Bells All Around The Christmas Tree (RCA Victor LSP-2914, Stereo, 1964). It's all good. I've also thrown the book in that I found stuffed in the stereo copy, same as the mono copy, so don't be surprised. It'll teach you all about carillons.
1. Silent Night; O Little Town Of Bethlehem; We Wish You A Merry Christmas
2. All Around The Christmas Tree
3. Sleigh Ride
4. Joy To The World; Adeste Fideles; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
5. The Little Drummer Boy
6. O Holy Night
7. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen; O Christmas Tree; Deck The Halls
8. I'll Be Home For Christmas
9. Greensleeves
10. Away In A Manger; The First Noel; It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
11. The Christmas Song
12. Ave Maria (Bach-Gounod)
A couple years ago, I went on a rampage and shared out all the LPs I could find by John Klein. Well, I missed one. This LP, released on Columbia, had escaped me until this year. But now I'm making up for that oversight, and sharing this one with you. Please download John Klein-Caroling On The Carillon-A New Sound Of Christmas (Columbia CL 1056, Mono, 1957). I think you'll really enjoy it.
1. Joy To The World
2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. Away In A Manger
4. Deck The Hall With Boughs Of Holly
5. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
6. Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
7. The First Nowell
8. What Child Is This?
9. O Tannenbaum
10. O Holy Night
11. O Come All Ye Faithful
12. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
13. Come, Shepherds, Rise
14. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
15. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
16. Coventry Carol
17. Good Christian Men, Rejoice
18. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
19. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
20. Silent Night, Holy Night
Update: Somebody finally made the old analog record available in a new digital format. Head on over to iTunes, and you can download this one. They don't have the original artwork, though, so be sure you grab a copy of my scan up above first.
First, let me ask you this. With that cover, how could you possibly pass this record up? You know you want it, you need it, you have to have it. I don't know much about the guy named Fontanna who made this record, but I've seen quite a few of his records out there, the cover of one I shared with you a long, long time ago. Since then, I've picked up quite a few of his releases. This record is quite nice, and there are some songs here that you never hear. So please judge this book by it's cover and download Fontanna, His Orchestra And Chorus-Christmas At Home (Masterseal MS-81, Mono, 1958).
1. Silent Night
2. Joy To The World
3. Let It Snow
4. Snow Flakes
5. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
6. You Are All I Want For Xmas
7. Adeste Fidelis (sic)
8. White Christmas
9. Winter Wonderland
10. I'll Be Home For Xmas
11. One Little Candle
12. Silver Bells
13. Night Before Xmas
14. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
Looks like it's going to be another quick night around here, but I'm giving you this really good share, so I think that helps make up for the lack of posting around here. This LP features a great college chorus singing great arrangements of some songs that you don't hear often. When was the last time you heard someone besides Bing Crosby sing The Secret Of Christmas? I'm guessing it's been a long time. And as a very special bonus, these guys sing a version of Jingle Bells with some new lyrics (by Hal Dickinson) that I'd never heard before, and the arrangement is credited to Glenn Miller and William Finnegan! (That's right, Bill Finegan of Sauter-Finegan! No idea why they misspelled his last name, but that's what it said. Oh, go visit Lee for the original version of Sauter-Finegan's Midnight Sleighride. It's great stuff!) So please be my guest and download Dartmouth Glee Club-Paul R. Zeller, Director-White Christmas On The Campus (United Artists UAL 3102, Mono).
1. Happy Holiday
2. O Come All Ye Faithful
3. White Christmas
4. Angels We Have Heard On High
5. The Secret Of Christmas
6. What Child Is This?
7. The Christmas Song
8. Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming
9. Sleigh Ride
10. The First Noel
11. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
12. Mid Ox And Ass
13. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen-NOT Included (Sorry, there were too many skips in this one, I couldn't save it...)
14. Here A Torch Jeanette Isabella
15. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
16. Jingle Bells
As my second throw-it-up-and-get-to-bed share of the night, I offer this LP from Owen Bradley. If you know who that is, then you'll probably be interested in this. If you have no idea, you might want to pass. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but this one is more about the name recognition. Please download Organ And Chimes Played By Owen Bradley (Coral CRL 57071, Mono, 1956).
I'm pretty tired tonight, so I'm just going to throw up a couple of things real quick and let you guys download someone else's shares for a change. Not that I'm sharing out something from someone else, but you won't be busy here at Ernie (Not Bert) tonight. This first one is an oddball that appears to be from a local. Noel Stevens is (or was) a music professor at USF up in Tampa. I suspect this was a vanity album that he put out to capitalize on his great name. And the music isn't too shabby, either. Please download the Noel Stevens Woodwind Quintette With Harpsichord-The Noel Sound (Fuller FR-0021, Stereo, 1967).
Congratulations to me. I hit 700,000 hits today, all told. That's since March of 2005 when I first started the blog. I think I put up a counter sometime in that first month, and I doubt if I got many hits during that early time. Thank you to all the folks who stop by from time to time, whether it's during the year to see my photography, or during the holiday season to enjoy some great old Christmas music. I appreciate your support!
(And to those of you who prefer the pictures to the Christmas music, just be patient for a couple more weeks.)
OK, I've made it through another week of constant Christmas music, and so have you. Here's my weekly wrap up that should help you make sure you grabbed all the shares you wanted to, and didn't miss anything that you might have liked. So far I've had a hair over 10,000 downloads this season, and I'm averaging about 3000 hits per day. That's not too bad, so thank you all for your support. And keep those comments coming!
Favorite Songs Of Christmas
Bert Jones-Christmas Messages In Music
Arthur Godfrey-All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth (Now in Stereo)
Ruth Welcome-Christmas In Zitherland (rerun)
Cyril Stapleton-Children's Christmas Album (rerun)
Bob Kames-Merry Christmas
Bob Kames-Happy Holidays
Bob Kames-It's Christmas Time
Bob Kames-15 Songs Of Christmas
Lester Lanin-Christmas Dance Party (Now in Stereo)
George Chiainia-Music Of The Holiday Season
The Holiday Bells-Ring The Bells On Christmas Day
John Robert Carwithen-The Bells On Christmas Morn
A Christmas Sampler (rerun)
The Jimmy Joyce Singers-A Christmas To Remember (rerun)
The Randolph Singers-Christmas Carols, Volume 2
We Wish You A Merry Christmas (rerun)
Music Boxes For Christmas
The Sounds Of Christmas
Bianco-Joy To The World (rerun)
Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (rerun)
The Gene Lowell Chorus-Caroling Caroling
The Deutschmeister Band-Christmas Carols
The Second Week:
Seeburg Music Library (rerun)
Muzak Christmas (rerun)
Muzak-Stimulus Progression Number Three-Christmas
Roger Williams-Christmas Time (rerun)
George Greeley-The 22 Best Loved Christmas Piano Concertos
Paul Mauriat-The Christmas Album (rerun)
Raymond Lefevre-Merry Christmas (rerun)
Dino Martinelli Plays Music For Christmas
The Music City Choral-Christmas Favorites Featuring Little Drummer Boy
A Family Christmas Album (rerun)
Buddy & Bunny Burden-Christmas Favorites (rerun)
The Music City Choral And Orchestra-White Christmas And Other Holiday Favorites (rerun)
The Pete King Chorale-Christmas Time (Now In Stereo!)
Yank Lawson & Bob Haggart-Hark The Herald Angels Swing (rerun)
Robert Way-New England Sleigh Ride (Remastered)
Pebbles & Bamm-Bamm Singing Songs Of Christmas
Sy Mann-Everybody's Christmas Favorites (rerun)
The Moog Machine-Christmas Becomes Electric (rerun)
Madrid Concert Orchestra And Chorus-Christmas In Spain
Grace Castagnetta-Christmas On The Siena Pianoforte (rerun)
Merry Christmas From (rerun)
Ace Cannon-Christmas Cheers
Charo-(Mamacita) Donde Esta Santa Claus (rerun)
Arthur Lynds Bigelow-Christmas Carillon
Arthur Lynds Bigelow & Marjorie MacComb-Ring! Christmas Bells (rerun)
Marion Anderson Sings Christmas Carols
The Lighthouse Singers-Christmas Carols (rerun)
Yogi Yorgesson-Yingle Bells (rerun)
Johnny Nash-Prince Of Peace
The Ralph Hunter Choir-Christmas Surprises (remaster)
Heidi, The Pocketbook Doll-The Night Before Christmas
Gary Mann-Blues For Baby Jesus (rerun)
Frankie Yankovic-Christmas Party (rerun)
The First Week:
Hank Sylvern-Christmas In Hi-Fi: Chimes, Bells And Organ
Larry Ferrari-I Wish You The Merriest
Loretta Young-The Littlest Angel and Gregory Peck-Lullaby Of Christmas (rerun)
Burgess Meredith With Joe Reisman's Orchestra And Chorus-Christmas Classics 1963 (rerun)
Frank Chacksfield-Music For A Merry Christmas (rerun)
Nelson Riddle-Avon Wishes You A Happy Holiday And A Joyous New Year (rerun)
Avon Goes On Record (rerun)
Christmas With Ogden Nash
Felix Slatkin-Season's Greetings (rerun)
Saint Patrick's Cathedral Choir Sings Christmas Carols (rerun)
Saint Patrick's Cathedral Choir Sings Christmas Songs (rerun)
Jimmie Davis-It's Christmas Time Again
Pete Fountain-Candy Clarinet (rerun)
Big 'Tiny' Little-Christmas With Big Tiny Little (rerun)
Veo Gray And The Jodie Lyons Singers-A Christmas Happening
Lorne Greene-Must Be Santa 45 (rerun)
The Sisters Of Divine Providence-Christmas Mosaic (rerun)
The Glen Riddle Franciscans-Choral Group-Sisters Of St. Francis-We Sing Of Christmas (rerun)
The Bison Glee Club-The Joy Of Christmas (rerun)
The Cardinal's Cathedral Choristers-Carols Of The Nations
Christmas In Cleveland (rerun)
A Kimball Christmas (rerun)
The Candy Store-Turned On Christmas
Christmas 1968 With The Going Thing (rerun)
The Joy Strings-Well Seasoned (rerun)
Maurice Copeland-How We Got Our Christmas Customs
Maurice Copeland & Adele Scott-Squanto And The First Thanksgiving
Spencer Ross-Thanksgiving Day Parade 45 (rerun)
The Blazers & The Yodelin' Guides-Track!
Ray Conrad-The Cotton-Pickin' Lift Tower And Other Skiing Songs (rerun)
Six Family Mountain-Takin' A Ride With The Wind (rerun)
Gettin' longer every week! I don't think I'm keeping up with the pace I set in those first couple weeks, but I'm doing OK. Thanks for all your support.
Another great addition to 27 Days of Christmas is this great song from the great Roy Rogers and his lovely wife, Dale Evans. Recorded a little past his prime in 1967, this is still an album that holds a special place in many people's hearts. I wanted to share out the whole thing with you, but was surprised to find it on CD. So instead you get a great track for my compilation. Please download Roy Rogers And Dale Evans, Orchestra Arranged And Conducted By Bobby Hammack With The Bill Lee Singers-It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year from Christmas Is Always (Capitol ST 2818, Stereo, 1967).
Previous Tracks:
Bobby Vinton-Santa Must Be Polish
The Ames Brothers-Ting-A-Ling-A Jingle
Stan And Doug-I've Had A Very Merry Christmas
Randy Van Horne Singers-It Happened In Sun Valley
Mystery Orchestra And Chorus-Mystery Song
Luis Bordón-White Christmas
The Clancy Brothers-Jingle Bells (Buala Bas)
Keely Smith-Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
The De Paur Chorus-Christmas In The Tropics
Vincent Lopez-Here Comes The Fattest Man In Town
The 4 Seasons-Jungle Bells
Jimmy McGriff-Hip Santa
Lorne Greene-Christmas Is A-Comin' (May God Bless You)
Here's the second share of the evening from the Zondervan label. This time it's a budget-priced sampler from the label, featuring tracks from eleven different artists (and non of them are Bert Jones). I think I like this one a little better than the first, if only because it's a greater variety of music. Please download Favorite Songs Of Christmas (Zondervan ZLP 705, Mono).
1. 16 Singing Men-Go Tell It On The Mountain
2. HCJB Radio Staff-Come, O Ye Shepherds
3. Lorin Whitney-O Come All Ye Faithful
4. Calvin College A Capella Choir
5. Martha Branham-O Holy Night
6. Ralph Carmichael Orchestra And Chorus-Night Of Miracles
7. Csehy Musical Messengers-Angels We Have Heard On High
8. Back To The Bible Broadcast Choir-Hark The Herald Angels Sing
9. 16 Singing Men-No Room
10. Curt Davis-Joy To The World
11. Helen Barth-Silent Night
12. First Baptist Church Choir-Hallelujah Chorus
This is the first of two shares this evening from the religious Zondervan label. I don't know much about that label, and the last time I checked their website, they didn't mention making music any longer, but Wikipedia talks about it briefly. But I've got a couple of records that say otherwise, and I'm going to share them both with you. This first one is a collection of organ medleys that tell the story of the Nativity. According to the liner notes on the back of this record, Bert Jones was a popular organist in Pittsburgh, performing in bank lobbies. I can't imagine how many bank lobbies actually had organs in them, but this was a different time. I think you'll enjoy some of these, so please download Bert Jones-Christmas Messages In Music (Zondervan ZLP-559, Mono, 1964). I didn't think I was going to get a good recording of this for you, as it kept skipping all over the place. Then I found another copy of the record back in the archive. And this is a long one, clocking in at over 50 minutes. No idea how they squeezed that much music onto a single piece of vinyl.
1. The Night Of Nights
2. The Town Of Promise
3. The Angels Herald
4. The Birthday Of A King
5. Shepherds Watching
6. Stars Shine
7. Wise Men Journey
8. The Babe In The Manger
9. Joy To The World
