I almost forgot that I'm supposed to share this out on Christmas Eve. This one is for all the little ones out there who might be having trouble getting to sleep on this special night. If that description fits your house, please download and enjoy 'Twas The Night Before Christmas (RCA Camden CAS-1101, Stereo, 1968). I've been sharing this one on Christmas Eve since 2006.
Merry Christmas Everybody!
I know it's late, but I wanted to get one more little thing up for you guys this year. See that little stereo at the top of this record jacket? That's the magic word. I've been in love with this record ever since I first heard a couple of tracks from it shared out over at Lee's Music You (Possibly) Won't Hear Anyplace Else many years ago. I eventually found and shared a mono copy, but this year I finally stumbled across a nice stereo copy. I've been meaning to share this with you all season, but I just today got the chance to put the package together and share it. The scanning was a pain since pretty much every pass I made had blue and yellow streaks in it. The flip side is all shades of gray, yet it scanned blue. I guess this thing is on the fritz, and it's not gonna get fixed until after the holiday. Oh, and one of the tracks skipped very quietly, so I had to go back and re-record that just now. But without further ado, here it is, my last share of the season, We Wish You A Merry Christmas-15 Great Christmas Favorites Sung By Warner Bros. Stars (Warner Bros WS1337, Stereo, 1959). Have a Merry Christmas, y'all!
1. Efrem Zimbalist Jr.-Adeste Fideles
2. Warner Bros. Stars-Deck The Halls
3. Connie Stevens-Away In A Manger
4. Edward Byrnes-Yulesville
5. Peter Brown-Winter Wonderland
6. Ray Danton-God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
7. Poncie Ponce-Mele Kalikimaka
8. Eddie Cole-Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
9. Bob Conrad-White Christmas
10. Dorothy Provine-Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
11. Clint Walker-Silver Bells
12. Roger Moore-Once In Royal David's City
13. Warner Bros. Male Chorus-Star Carol
14. Ty Hardin-It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
15. Warner Bros. Stars-We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Anybody out there still looking for something to get me for Christmas? How about a hardcover copy of my blog? Looks like it would run two volumes at about $144 ea. Makes a great stocking stuffer. I may have to buy myself the $8 digital version if no one comes through for Christmas.
This is one of the things that I lost when my hard drive crashed earlier this year. I had a stereo copy of this ripped and ready to share when I found a stereo tape of it! I had recorded that, but hadn't cut it into sections when the hard drive decided to take an early retirement. So you're going to have to make due with my same old mono share dating all the way back to 2005. But it's still a great record. You get songs from Dennis Day, and the occasional bit featuring the famous Jack Benny. That alone is worth more than the price of admission. I know the scan above shows the stereo logo across the top, but I just put it up there for no good reason back in the day. In fact, stereo copies omit the banner across the bottom highlighting the presence of Jack Benny. But enough talk, please download Dennis Day Sings "Christmas Is For The Family" Featuring Lou Hollingsworth At The Wurlitzer Electronic Organ & The Vail Boys Choir With Full Orchestra (Design Records DLP-X-1, Mono). Just a little over 24 hours to Christmas. Are you ready yet?
1. Dennis Day & Jack Benny-I'm Ready Dennis
2. Jingle Bells
3. White Christmas
4. May Santa Fill Our Hearts
5. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
6. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
7. Christmas Is For The Family
8. Dennis Day & Jack Benny-Dennis
9. Silent Night
10. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
11. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
12. Oh Holy Night
13. Away In A Manger
14. Oh, Come All Ye Faithful/The First Noel/God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
15. Dennis Day & Jack Benny-Oh Mr. Benny
Here's the lost soundtrack to a lost television special from 1968. The Night Before Christmas isn't one of those specials they repeat every year, or at least they don't include it in their 25 Nights Of Christmas programming (which seems to include every special Christmas presentation known to man, plus a few unknowns...). I shared this out in 2007, and you can read more about it there. I'd write more here, but I'm still a little under the weather and bed is calling my name. Please download and enjoy The Norman Luboff Choir-The Night Before Christmas (Elba Productions, Stereo, 1968).
1. Savory Serenade
2. Wintertime
3. Lullaby Time
4. The Night Before Christmas
5. The Morning Of Christmas
You may have noticed that I sharply curtailed my sharity today. It's a combination of a couple of things. I started feeling under the weather yesterday (and today hasn't been one iota better) and it's getting pretty close to Christmas. I don't think the folks on my nice list are going to be too impressed when I give them a CD of some Christmas music I ripped. So I need to find some time to do a little Christmas shopping. But I really can't do that until I feel better. So curling up on the couch under a blanket is going to take precedence over sitting in front of the glowing monitor for a bit. Besides, I think you have more than enough music already. But here's one more, from 2006. Please 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, Mono).
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)
I know that some of you folks who come by the blog here are also fans of FaLaLaLaLa. Well, in case you haven't noticed, that site is down. Story I heard is that he's become too popular, and his ISP booted him. He's found a new host for the website and is in the process of moving things, but it might still be a little while before he gets things up and running. Unfortunately, you can't put Christmas on hold, so The King is up against a pretty solid deadline. I'll let you know more as soon as I hear something. Maintaining a site like that is a real labor of love, but sometimes love stinks.
I've shared plenty of records with you this season that feature the Wurlitzer organ, but I think this may be the only one that features the Kimball organ. And the main reason for that would be that this record was put out by the Kimball company in a bid to get you to buy their organs. Makes sense... Not much more I can say about this one, except that it's one of the records I've been sharing here since 2005, and I'll probably be sharing it for many more years to come. Please download A Kimball Christmas (KPO 82-004, Stereo, 1982).
1. Byron Melcher-Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers
2. John Norton-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
3. Hal Vincent-Mary's Little Boy Chile
4. Bill Ryder-Silver Bells
5. Byron Melcher-Just A Closer Walk With Thee
6. Byron Melcher-Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
7. Hal Vincent-Blue Christmas
8. John Norton-Christmas Medley
9. Wade Bray-Sleighride
10. Bill Ryder-O Holy Night
From the 2008 Sharity Season, this is a curious record that appears to have come with a doll. Or maybe you ordered the record after you got the doll. Or maybe you get the record during the year and then hope the doll showed up for Christmas? I don't know, I never played with dolls. But here's you chance to listen to Christmas through a doll's ears. Or something like that. Please download Heidi-The Night Before Christmas (Majorette M-304, Mono, 1965).
1. Introduction
2. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
3. Silent Night
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
5. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
6. O Christmas Tree
7. Deck The Halls
8. Frosty The Snowman
9. Joy To The World
10. The First Noel
11. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
12. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
13. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
14. And The Night Before Christmas Story
It's taken me way too long to finish this, but here it is. This is a collection of the best tracks I shared out this year during Christmas In July. I think it will give you a good idea of what goes on around here during the month of July. Each of the tracks on here was pulled from a non-holiday LP, which means you're liable to miss it come the holiday season. But I don't want that to happen, so I compile and share these out during July. I think I shared well over 200 songs this year, and I think these are the 31 best. Each track below is linked to the day I originally shared it, in case you want to read more about it. Please download and enjoy Ernie (Not Bert)'s The Very Best From Christmas In July 2009-Life's A Beach (Ernie (Not Bert), 2009).
1. The Weavers-Santa Claus Is Coming (It's Almost Day)
2. John Klein, Orchestra And Chorus By Leo Addeo-Sweet Nutcracker!
3. Perry Como With The London Boy Singers-Christmas Dream
4. 101 Strings-Ski Run
5. Larry Chesky And His Orchestra-Sun Valley Polka
6. Johnny Dyno-Jingle Bells-Polka
7. Tom T. Hall-Christmas Is
8. Skitch Henderson, His Piano And Orchestra-I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
9. The McGuire Sisters With Orchestra Directed By Dick Jacobs-Children's Holiday
10. The Honolulu Symphony Orchestra Conducted By George Barati-Mele Kalikimaka
11. Roger Miller-Footprints In The Snow
12. The Duluth Accordionaires, Directed By John Copiskey-Brazilian Sleigh Bells
13. Lockhart Cougar Chorus-Will The Real Santa Please Stand Up
14. The Merrill Staton Voices-That Man Over There
15. David Rose And His Orchestra-The Sad, Sad Rocking Horse
16. Eddie Albert-Let There Be Peace On Earth
17. Fay McKay-Twelve Daze Of Christmas
18. Dick Shawn, Arranged And Conducted By Milton DeLugg-My Favorite Things
19. Jane Morgan-The Marvelous Toy
20. Anna Russell With Eugene Rankin And Arthur Hoberman-Let Us Hang The Holly
21. The Ray Charles Singers-A Toy For A Boy
22. Jack Shaindlin Conducting The Cinerama Symphony Orchestra-Hup-Sa-Sa
23. Leroy Anderson-Song Of The Bells
24. Merle Haggard-Blue Christmas
25. Kurt Wege & His Orchstra-Sleigh Ride
26. Ernie Maxwell-The Bells Of St. Mary
27. Esquivel, His Piano And His Orchestra-Snowfall
28. Ray Bohr-Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers
29. Polyphon Music Box-Silent Night
30. Jimmy Soul-Rockin' Santa
31. Eddie Lawrence, The Old Philosopher-What Do You Want For Christmas
This is a little bit more on the operatic side of things than what I usually like, but I don't think it's so far into that territory that you can't enjoy it. I posted this last year in response to a post by CaptOT at his blog of a later 12" LP from Ms. Anderson. I think his post is still good, and now mine is too. Please help yourself to Marion Anderson Sings Christmas Carols With Franz Rupp At The Piano (RCA Victor Red Seal 10" 33 RPM LM 7008, Mono).
1. Silent Night
2. Oh! Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)
4. The First Noel
5. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
6. Cantique De Noel
7. Angel's Song
8. Hallelujah
A nice LP here from a singing chorus. I guess all choruses sing, but you know what I mean. At least I hope you know what I mean. Warner Bros. put out some really good Christmas records in their first few years and this is no exception. I first shared this out just last year, but if you missed it, please download The Gene Lowell Chorus-Caroling, Caroling (Warner Bros. WS 1233, Stereo, 1958).
1. Joy To The World
2. The First Noel
3. I Saw Three Ships-O Little Town Of Bethlehem-Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
5. Still, Still, Still
6. Adeste Fidelis (O Come All Ye Faithful)
7. Westminster Carol (Angels We Have Heard On High)
8. Silent Night
9. Merry Christmas One And All
10. The Wassail Song-O Christmas Tree-The Holly And The Ivy
11. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
12. Caroling, Caroling
I almost forgot that I didn't tell you when my second calendar came in. This one is for the shop we have in Cleveland, Ohio, so it's a montage of sights in downtown Cleveland. I only visited Cleveland once last year, so that didn't give me much time to get many really good pictures. We settled on these 5 and I collaged them together. Let me see, what's in the picture... Starting from the left, that's the lighthouse in Lake Erie that marks the opening to the Cuyahoga River. Next up is the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, designed by I.M. Pei. Then there's a long jetty sticking out into Lake Erie behind the Science Center. Then we have the Key Tower and some skyscraper that I don't know the name of in downtown near sunset. And last is one of the many historic railroad bridges in The Flats district. I could look up the name of it, but it would take forever. All of the shots below were pictures we considered but wound up not using.
This is the view of downtown Cleveland from Wendy Park. This is my new favorite place to go when I'm in Cleveland.
This is the view of downtown from a marina in Ohio City, just the other side of the Cuyahoga River.
This is the full shot of that lighthouse that made the calendar.
The Cleveland Browns stadium.
And, of course, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
Here is the second album of Christmas tunes I promised from Mike Douglas this morning. This one is later than the first, and to my ears it's the lesser of the two. You may enjoy it, though. I believe I first brought you this in 2007, and I'm bringing it back today. This is The Mike Douglas Christmas Album (Word WSB-8815, Stereo, 1979).
1. Oh Holy Night
2. One Small Child
3. Do You Hear What I Hear?
4. What Child Is This?
5. Christmas Song
6. It's O.K. To Be A Kid At Christmas
7. Christmas Is Love
8. Thanks To You At Christmas
9. Special Delivery
10. Happy Birthday, Christmas
From the celebrity vocal folder, here's the first of two Christmas records from Mike Douglas. I first shared this in August of 2006, not long after Mike Douglas has passed away. It's actually much better than most albums of it's ilk, since Mike could actually sing. He was also quite the talker, which is where I know him from. I'm sure you're going to enjoy Mike Douglas-My Kind Of Christmas (Epic BN 26322, Stereo, 1967).
1. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
2. The First Noel
3. Do You Hear What I Hear?
4. O Holy Night
5. (The Story Of) The First Christmas Carol
6. White Christmas
7. Silent Night, Holy Night
8. Silver Bells
9. Ave Maria
10. Touch Hands On Christmas Morning
Here's a record you don't see every day, or at least I don't see it every day. Maybe it's a regional thing, but this is the only copy I've ever seen. It's part of Kapp's Medallion series, meant o show off all the great things about Stereo. They were well-recorded, well-engineered and unfortunately, higher-priced. Perhaps that explains the rarity part. As far as I know, this was the only Christmas entry in the series, but I could easily be proven wrong on that. I first shared this out back in 2007, and I'm bringing it back for you today. Please download The Medallion Orchestra And Chorus, Directed By John Paul Krance-The Sound Of Christmas-Deck The Halls (Medallion (Kapp) MS-7512, Stereo, 1960).
1. Joy To The World-Deck The Halls-The Wassial Song
2. Carol Of The Bells-The Little Drummer Boy
3. The Christmas Song
4. Hark The Herald Angels Sing-Away In A Manger-It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
5. White Christmas
6. Oh, Little Town Of Bethlehem-The First Noel
7. Oh, Tannenbaum-Angels We Have Heard On High
8. Silent Night
9. Jingle Bells-Winter Wonderland
10. We Three Kings Of Orient Are-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
11. What Child Is This?-The Coventry Carol
12. Adeste Fideles
