Almost Forgot

I had meant to post this single the other day when I posted the two full LPs by The David Randolph Singers.  This is a single long medley by those same folks from ten years later.  Judging by the Wallace Laboratories label, I'm guessing this was some sort of promo item, but both of my copies are lacking their original sleeves, so I can't really say much about it.  The B side was a non-Christmas classical piece, so all you're getting is the A side.  This is the David Randolph Singers-1961-A Special Christmas Music Medley (Wallace Laboratories 7" 33 RPM 1961, Mono, 1961).  The medley consists of Christmas Eve Is Drawing Nigh, We Are Not Daily Beggars, Gloucestershire Wassailers' Song and God Bless The Master.

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Crappy Harmonicas

If you don't appreciate that Mulcays EP I just shared with you, download this cheapo LP by the Don Les version of The Harmonicats and see how much worse things could be.  I've been sharing this out since 2006, and it hasn't gotten any better with age.  I so wanted this to be a good album, given all of the great things The Harmonicats did in their career, but I guess Jerry Murad was the talented one.  Anyhow, if you want to give it a listen, this is The Don Les Harmonicats-Christmas With The Don Les Harmonicats (Halo 1005, Stereo).

1. White Christmas
2. The Christmas Song
3. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
4. Jingle Bells
5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
6. Silent Night
7. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
8. March Of The Three Kings
9. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
10. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear

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And Their Electric Harmonicas, Too!

 I've been slacking in my hopes of posting a 7" record for you every day, so I'm trying to get back on track with that tonight.  This time, I've got a great little EP from The Mulcays, a harmonica group who made the Christmas music that The Harmonicats never did.  Sometimes it leans a little Hawaiian, too, so imagine if The Harmonicats had made a Christmas single on Maui, and that's pretty close to what you get here.  I shared one of these tracks a long time ago, but from a two track single (this one has four).  Turns out this package was designed to be given as a sort of musical Christmas card, before they had microchips to make such a thing happen.  You'll see a scan in the download of the card opened up, with a little pocket to tuck the record in.  I would have been very happy to have gotten this as a card back in the early fifties.  (Of course, I was still years away from being born, but stranger things have happened.)  Please download and enjoy The Mulcays And Their Electric Harmonicas-Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year (Card-N-Song by Cardinal Records 7" 45 RPM EP 103, Mono, 1954).

1. Silent Night, Holy Night
2. Jingle Bells
3. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
4. White Christmas

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The Second Night Of Chanukah

I've been slacking on my Chanukah shares, but I'm back again with another LP before you here on the, what is this, the fourth night?  This one probably isn't as good as my first Chanukah share of the year, but it's still pretty good.  I'm just happy that I was able to find some LPs to share this year.  Chanukah records are much harder to find than Christmas records.  This time around it's kids doing the singing instead of someone singing to kids, so that much is different.  Please download and listen to Temple B'Nai Abraham Of Essex County School Choir-Vivienne K. Bender, Director With Dr. Joachim Prinz-Children Sing On Hanukah (Tikva T-88, Mono).

1. Hava Narima
2. Dr. Joachim Prinz-Narration
3. Blessings
4. Hanerot Halalu
5. Al Ha Nisim
6. Maoz Tsur
7. Hanukah Hanukah
8. S'Vivon Sov Sov Sov
9. Sov Sov S'Vivon
10. Ner Li
11. I Have A Little Dreydl
12. Mi Yimalel
13. Y'Mey Ha Hanukah
14. Dr. Joachim Prinz-Narration
15. To Our Great God
16. Father In Heaven
17. Hava Narima

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South America Way

One more old share to revisit before we head back to the US mainland, and that's this 10 incher from Brazil.  I almost said something about leaving our Spanish language records, but then I remembered that they speak Portuguese in Brazil, not Spanish.  Such a rookie mistake. I first shared this record back in 2006, and it's proven to be a popular download.  I'm sure you'll like it, too, if you haven't downloaded it already.  This is Natal no Brasil (Copacabana CLP 3087, 10" 33 RPM, Mono).

1. Elizete Cardoso com Orquestra e Cõro de Severino Filho-Cantiga De Natal
2. Black-Out comm Orquestra e Cõro-Natal Das Criancas
3. Ángela Maria com Orquestra e Cõro-Outros Natais
4. Sõnia Delfino com Orquestra e Cõro do Club do Guri-Sino De Belem (Jingle Bells)
5. Ángela Maria e João Dias com Orquestra-Papai Noel Esqueceu
6. Leny Eversong com Aloysio, seu Conjunto e Cõro-Prece De Natal
7. Duo Brasil Moreno com Orquestra e Cõro-Noite Feliz
8. Altamiro Carrilho e Sua Bandinha-Boas Festas

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En Puerto Rico

 I shared a couple of South American Christmas albums with you this morning, so I thought I'd follow up with this Puerto Rican Christmas LP, a gift from your Kelvinator dealer.  I had a couple different copies of this one, the biggest difference between them being the label styles.  One had the old style label, shown below, and the other had a newer, Dyna-Groove era label, so this LP was being used by Kelvinator for quite a few years.  I didn't really find the music to be all that Christmas sounding, but it's not bad.  Perhaps it will bring back good memories for you if you're familiar with the songs.  This is Marco Antonio Muñiz, Orquesta De Luis Cardenas-Navidad En Puerto Rico (RCA Victor MKL-1800, Producid y Distribuido por Kelvinator Sales Of Puerto Rico, Inc., Mono).

1. Triste Navidad
2. Noche De Navidad
3. Preparese Mi Compadre
4. Navidad Contigo
5. Asi Es Mi Navidad
6. Felices Pascuas
7. Aguinaldo De La Virgen
8. Brisas De Navidad
9. Aguinaldo De Las Flores
10. De La Montaña Venimos
11. Cantares De Navidad
12. La Rosa Blanca

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July 2007

Same as I did last week, I want to highlight an old collection that features the best from my annual Christmas in July share-a-thon, this time from 2007.  Each summer I record and share Christmas and holiday music from non-holiday records, usually sharing 100 to 200 songs all told, some good, some bad, most of it in the middle somewhere.  Then between summer and winter, I try to sift through it all and put together a collection that features the very best of what I found.  What you're looking at here is that collection, circa 2007.  I think there's some really great stuff on here, and it holds together well as an album.  So grab yourself a copy of The Absolute Best Tracks From Ernie (Not Bert)'s Christmas In July 2007 Edition.  You'll be glad you did.  The track list is below, and each title links to the day I originally shared the track, in case you want to learn a bit more about it.  Links to the complete download are at the bottom.

1. Nickelodeon-Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
2. Ashtabula High School A Cappella Choir-Carol Of The Bells
3. Joanne Wheatley & Hal Kanner-Baby, It's Cold Outside
4. IBM 7090 Computer-Joy To The World
5. Ron Goodwin-Xmas It Ain't
6. Fred Sateriale's Big Band-Toyland Cha Cha Cha
7. Hugo Winterhalter-Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Cha Cha
8. Earl Grant-Snowfall
9. Ferrante & Teicher-Happy Sleigh Ride
10. Bing Crosby-The Secret Of Christmas
11. Count Basie & The Mills Brothers-December
12. Connee Boswell-White Christmas
13. Andre Previn & David Rose-Blue Holiday
14. Waldorf "Punch & Judy" Orchestra-Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers
15. University Singers-Go Where I Send Thee
16. Sunshine-The Very First Christmas Day
17. Stan Wolowic-Happy Holiday
18. Sarah Vaughn & Billy Eckstine-I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
19. Al Melgard-Jolly Coppersmith
20. Alfred Apaka-It's Snowing In Hawaii
21. Lawrence Welk-Holiday
22. The Klokken Ringers-Silver Bells
23. Ray Conniff-An Improvisation On "Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy"
24. The Robert de Cormier Folk Singers-The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy
25. The 'Promises, Promises' Cast-Christmas Day
26. Glenn Miller-It Happened In Sun Valley
27. Martin Denny-Snowflakes In Summer
28. Ruby Murray-Christmastime In Ireland
29. The Robin Hood Orchestra-Silent Night
30. John Gary-Let There Be Peace On Earth (Let It Begin With Me)
31. Gordon Jenkins-Happy New Year

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Quito Christmas

 As promised here's another record from South America recorded by and with missionaries there.  I think I like this one a little better than the last one, but that's just my personal preference.  I can't tell you too much about it, really, but it sounds nice and has a great cover.  Surely you'd have bought this one if you'd seen it before I did.  This is Christmas At Quito (Singspiration/Zondervan ZLP-546, Mono).  Dig those vibes!

1. HCJB Radio Staff Choral Ensemble-Fanfare
2. Vern Van Hovel And Joe Springer-Come To Bethlehem (Adorad Al Nino)
3. Gene Jordan-O Come, All Ye Faithful
4. HCJB Radio Staff Men;s Chorus-Come, O Ye Shepherds (Venid Pastores)
5. Dolores Van Der Puy-Come To His Manger Bed
6. Jeanne Odell-Silent Night
7. HCJB Radio Staff Ensemble-Glorious Is Thy Name
8. Joe Springer-Christmas Candle
9. Dixie Dean-Joy To The World
10. Ruth Jordan-Though Christ A Thousand Times
11. Jack And Ruth Shalanko-Unto Us
12. Vern Van Hovel-Mary's Boy Child

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Without A Latin Lilt

Here's one that's been off my radar for quite a while around here, but someone mentioned it in a request, so I'm gonna bring it back.  I think I first shared this back in 2006, and that may have been the only time it ever showed up.  It's interesting versions of some Christmas carols & local songs as recorded by a missionary in South America.  I think I've got a similar new share I can pair with this later, so this makes for a nice little rock-block here at the blog.The title of this one claims a Latin lilt, but I don't hear it.  It's certainly not what I think of when I think of Latin Christmas music.  But try it and see what you think.  This is Bruce Woodman Presents Christmas Carols With A Latin Lilt (SAC 1002, Stereo)

1. Luis Palau-Introduction
2. Bruce Woodman-Come, Oh Ye Shepherds
3. Bruce Woodman-Silent Night
4. Luis Palau-Introduction
5. Bruce Woodman-En La Noche Los Pastores Velan (The Night Watch Of The Shepherds)
6. Lois Hat Vasconez-There's A Song In The Air
7. Luis Palau-Introduction
8. Bruce Woodman-Salvador Admirable (Wonderful Savior)
9. Luis Palau-Introduction
10. Bruce Woodman-Blessed Palestine
11. Bill Fasig-What Child Is This?
12. Bruce Woodman-It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
13. Luis Palau-Introduction
14. Delores Baklenko-It's Christmas Time
15. Bill Fasig-The First Noel

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Navidad

One nice thing about having such a huge history of posts is that I can pick and choose what I reshare.  You've probably notice that I reshare some of the same stuff year after year, those would be my favorites.  And this one has crept into my favorites list over the past two years, since first showing up here in 2008.  It's not a big name band, it's not a huge major label, but it's good music.  I don't think there's anything on here that you'd consider a Christmas standard, either.  No White Christmas or Silent Night.  No Rudolph or even Santa songs.  But if you listen to it, it still sounds like Christmas, no doubt about it and I think that's a rare thing.  So if you haven't already got this one, you really should download The Madrid Concert Orchestra And Chorus-Victorino Echevarria, Arranger-Conductor-Christmas In Spain (United Artists UAS 6059, Stereo, 1959).

1. Zumba Zum
2. Long Live St Joseph And The Child (Viva San Jose Y El Nino)
3. Sleep Little Jesus (Dorm Jesuset)
4. Where Are You Going Little Shepherd? (Adonde Vas, Pastorcito?)
5. Tan-Tan
6. Sing Little Ones (Chicetes, Cantem)
7. And There Is A Star (Y Es Una Estrella)
8. To Bethlehem (A Betlem, Si Us Plau)
9. Between The Straw And The Ice (Entre La Paja Y El Hielo)
10. From Egypt To Bethlehem (De Egipto Para Belene)
11. The Child Came Down From Heaven (El Nino Bajo Del Cielo)
12. Lotan-Dago
13. The Tambourines Are Playing (Suenen Las Panderetas)
14. Bolo, Bolo, Bolo

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The Very Merriest

One of the great lost space-age pop Christmas records is this very one you're looking at.  Featuring a great deal of the Christmas output of the immortal Esquivel, as well as Ray Martin, The Skip-Jacks and Mimi Hines, this LP is very hard to find, yet very, very good.  For many years now, I've shared out about half of it, omitting the tracks by Esquivel because they were on CD.  Well, I've decided to change that this year.  Because those Esquivel tracks are out of print, and have been for so long with no sign of a return, I'm going to give you the whole thing.  I've also re-recorded it this year, so it sounds better than ever.  (And my scan of the cover is much better than the old one, too.)  So please, be my honored guest and download The Merriest of Christmas Pops (RCA Victor LSP-2032, 1959)

1. Esquivel, His Orchestra And Chorus-White Christmas
2. The Skip-Jacks With Esquivel And His Orchestra-The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
3. Mimi Hines With Ray Martin And His Orchestra-I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
4. Ray Martin, His Orchestra And Chorus-Winter Wonderland
5. The Skip-Jacks With Esquivel And His Orchestra-Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
6. Mimi Hines With Ray Martin And His Orchestra-Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
7. Esquivel, His Orchestra And Chorus-Frosty The Snow Man
8. Ray Martin, His Orchestra And Chorus-I'll Be Home For Christmas
9. Mimi Hines With Ray Martin's Orchestra-All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)
10. Esquivel, His Orchestra And Chorus-Blue Christmas
11. Mimi Hines With Ray Martin's Orchestra And Chorus-Santa Baby
12. Esquivel, His Orchestra And Chorus-Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town

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Ugh.  Nevermind.  iTunes.  $7.99.

If getting this great Christmas LP in it's entirety isn't enough for you, there's a bonus track that I first shared with you last year.  From Joyous Noel (Reader's Digest RDA 57A), there's an alternate take of Mimi Hines With Ray Martin's Orchestra-I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus that's different from the one above.  It's in mono while the LP above is in stereo, but it's neat to hear the song from a slightly different take.  This has also been run through ClickRepair since last year, so it'll sound better than the copy you might have downloaded before.

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Christmas With The Patch Cables

While I'm sharing out some of my most popular old downloads, I have to throw in this classic first shared in 2005.  From that late 60's era when the Moog synthesizer became a popular musical accessory, or even the occasional lead instrument, this was one of the few Christmas releases.  Oh, sure, there were others, some of them better or more popular, but there were very few, and this one is required listening.  So if you prefer your Christmas carols a bit on the bleep-bloop side, please download The Moog Machine-Christmas Becomes Electric (Columbia CS 9959, Stereo, 1969).

1. Jingle Bells
2. Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. We Three Kings
4. Deck The Halls
5. Silent Night
6. Joy To The World
7. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
8. O Come, All Ye Faithful
9. Carol Of The Bells
10. The Little Drummer Boy
11. O Holy Night
12. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
13. Patapan
14. The First Noel
15. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
16. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
17. Twelve Days Of Christmas

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This makes seven of my top ten downloads re-shared.  I guess I need to go ahead and dig out those other three and reshare those.  Stay tuned!

Felix (Not Oscar)

Yet another of my best-sellers, this share from 2006 is another fancy gatefold album from the early 60's.  I guess back in the day, a gatefold sleeve for a single LP signaled quality.  This one even featured a die-cut hole in the sleeve, much like RCA's Stereo Action series. Unfortunately, on my copy, the cutter missed the spot it was aiming for, and you can see a big sliver of unprinted cover.  I suppose I could have PhotoShopped that out, but I'm a big fan of scanning and sharing them just as they are.  For your listening pleasure, this is The Fantastic Strings Of Felix Slatkin-Season's Greetings (Liberty Premier Series LSS 14013, Stereo, 1961).

1. White Christmas
2. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
4. Joy To The World
5. O Holy Night
6. Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)
7. Deck The Halls
8. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
9. The First Noel
10. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
11. Away In A Manger
12. Silent Night

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Santa Says

Here's a good one that I've seen around at other blogs, but I've never taken a stab at it until now.  Fellow named Walt Jacobs evidently released some of the tracks on this LP independently around Chicago at some point, and it did well enough that Capitol decided to pick it up nationally.  They added some stuff, and that was how we wound up with this LP.  I'm hoping someone out there has some more info, or maybe one of those original records.  Drop me a comment and share your knowledge, I'd sure appreciate it.  If this LP looks like your cup of tea, please download Santa Claus (Walt Jacobs)-Santa's Own Christmas (Capitol T2836, 1967, Mono).

1. Holiday On Ice-A Ride With Santa (Introduction)
2. Stories About The North Pole
3. The Story Of Small One (I just heard a skip in this one...Sorry)
4. What Santa Wants For Christmas
5. Jingle Bells
6. Up On The Housetop
7. Santa's Night Before Christmas
8. Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
9. Holiday On Ice-A Ride With Santa (Finale)

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Christmas Sounds

A little reshare from 2007 here, this LP is one of the lost orchestral treasures.  If you're into the whole Beautiful Music scene, then this is the record for you.  I think you'll really enjoy The Medallion Orchestra And Chorus, Directed By John Paul Krance-The Sound Of Christmas-Deck The Halls (Medallion (Kapp) MS-7512, Stereo, 1960).  If you've never seen this record before, it came in a fancy gatefold cover and probably sold for a bit of a premium.  That may explain why you don't see many copies of this lying around.

1. Joy To The World-Deck The Halls-The Wassail 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

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Long Live The King

I've been needing to get this one back out there, so here it is.  This is a great vocal Christmas album that should be on your shelf right next to Harry Simeone's Choral or Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians.  I know you've never heard of it, but download it anyway, you'll enjoy it.  First shared in mono back in 2007, this is the stereo version of The Pete King Chorale And Orchestra-Christmas Time (Kapp KS-3214, Stereo, 1960).

1. My Favorite Things
2. Silver Bells
3. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen-It Came Upon The Midnight Clear-Joy To The World
4. The Christmas Song (Featuring Beth Adlam)
5. Sleigh Ride
6. Adeste Fideles-Silent Night
7. The Night Before Christmas
8. The Little Drummer Boy
9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Featuring Beth Adlam)
10. Mary's Little Boy Child
11. The First Noel-Away In A Manger-Oh, Holy Night
12. White Christmas

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Where It All Comes From

Somebody asked a question in a comment and I thought I'd answer here in a post so anybody who's curious might see it.  Where do I get all this music?  Well, first off, I want to assure you it's all recorded from my own vinyl.  I'm not resharing stuff that I downloaded elsewhere or ripped from CD, it's all analog and it's all mine.  I usually spend my weekends haunting the thrift stores in Florida, looking through stacks of vinyl both large and small for anything that catches my eye.  99% of the stuff I buy costs $1 or less, and 80% of it comes from major thrift stores like Goodwill or Salvation Army.  There are a few non-name brand thrift stores that I visit on occasion, but they are hard to find if I'm not familiar with the area.  If I'm staying local, then there are quite a few of those independent shops that I frequent, but you can only visit the local stores so often before you've seen it all (and seen it more than once).  I know some of you visit these stores once in a while, flip through a stack of vinyl and only see copies of Mitch Miller, The Caroleers and Goodyear records, but trust me, there are treasures in there.  Sometimes, I go weeks without bringing home a single record worth recording, but sometimes I bring home a whole collection when some once-savvy collector decides to get rid of their old vinyl.  On days like that, I get a little excited and try to visit as many stores as possible thinking that somehow it's a lucky day.  Often as not, that doesn't work out, but I have to get excited about something.  Then I rush home and put all the good stuff on a special shelf where things accumulate until it's time to start ripping (but that's a different post entirely).  Regular visitors to the blog know that most of the year I use this space to share pictures I take around the area and from places I travel to.  Wherever I'm out and about, I always try to make time to find a thrift store or two to hit.  I've brought back records from Las Vegas, Washington and San Francisco in the past few years.  Last time I was in Cleveland, I bought so many that I had to get them shipped back to Florida for me.  Oh, and that reminds me, a couple of things I hope to share this year were gifts from folks online.  I get lots of offers from people who have Christmas records they want to send, but it rarely turns out to be something I'm interested in.  (Keep trying though, you never know!)  I'll be sure to point those out when I share them, giving plenty of credit where credit is due.  As far as buying stuff online (or eBay), that's pretty rare unless I want something specific.  If I've heard or heard of something and it really piques my interest, I'll seek it out.  But those things usually cost more than $1, and that limits how much stuff I can get.  Limiting what I pay allows me to sift through more stuff that may or may not pay off.  Anyhow, that's enough blathering for now.  Hope you enjoyed this small peek behind the curtain.  :)

Not For Chanukkah

One of my favorite (and my only) Chanukah share from the past is this great LP by Moishe Oysher and his daughter.  I've shared it out since 2006, and I've always enjoyed it when it comes on the old iTunes.  But I just recently discovered that it's available on CD, and that means I can't share it anymore.  You can head over here to get your own copy as part of a 2 CD set with other stuff by the same guy.  And it's cheap, too. For the search engines, this was The Moishe Oysher Chanukah Party (Rozanna J7OP-6641/6642, Mono).

Yawn!

I'm tired. So I'm taking the night off. That means no posts before tomorrow afternoon. See you all then. :)

Ding Dong

It's amazing some of the stuff that I will buy.  Put a nice cover an it, and I have to give it a try.  I mean, for $1, how can you go wrong?  This is one of the many LPs that drew me in with the cover.  The music is OK, but how many organ and chimes records does any one person really need?  Well, need is such a strong word.  If you want to see what you're missing, please download Richard Keys Biggs-Christmas Bells-Cathedral Organ and Chimes Featuring Richard Keys Biggs (Capitol T9013, Mono, 1954).  When did I first share this?  Oh, 2006.

1. Silent Night
2. Adeste Fideles (Oh Come All Ye Faithful)
3. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
4. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
5. Sleep Of The Child Jesus
6. Ring Out, Wild Bells
7. O, Little Town Of Bethlehem
8. Angels We Have Heard On High
9. Good King Wenceslas
10. I Saw Three Ships
11. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
12. Cantique De Noel (O, Holy Night)
13. The First Noel
14. O Tannenbaum
15. Away In A Manger
16. God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
17. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
18. Good Christian Men, Rejoice
19. Deck The Halls
20. Christ Was Born On Christmas Day
21. Joy To The World
22. Silent Night

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Christmas Carols 1

As I hinted in my last post, I finally stumbled across a copy of volume one from David Randolph and the singers.  Actually, I stumbled across two copies.  But when I went to record them, the first one turned out to have the wrong LP in the sleeve.  (It was still a Westminster record, though, which may explain why I didn't notice when I bought it.)  That sleeve did have the correct insert in it, a set of lyrics so the family could sing along.  The other copy had the right record but no insert.  Problem is, and it's not a huge problem, the label had a big sticker on it, as you can see below.  I'm just looking for stuff to complain about, I guess.  I was pretty happy to be able to find and share this record finally, I never like to have only part of a set in my collection.  If you liked part two, you certainly enjoy this first part.  Please download The Randolph Singers-David Randolph, Director-Christmas Carols Vol. 1 (Westminster WP 6022, 1951, Mono).

1. Silent Night
2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
4. What Child Is This? (Greensleeves)
5. The First Noel
6. Bring A Torch, Jeanette
7. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
8. Angels We Have Heard On High
9. Oh Come, All Ye Faithful
10. Let Carols Ring (Swedish)
11. Hush, Oh Heaven (Tyrolean)
12. Patapan (Burgundian)
13. Virgin's Cradle Hymn (English)
14. Carol Of The Bells (Ukranian)
15. Quid Petis, O Fili? (English)
16. Shepherds, Tell Me (French)
17. Quickly, My Friends (Provencal)
18. Lullay My Liking (English)
19. Saint Staffan (Swedish)

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Christmas Carols 2

One of the nicer vocal chorus Christmas albums I've shared with you in the past was this collection by The Randolph Singers.  I lamented at the time that it was volume 2 and I had never seen hide nor hair of volume 1.  Well, stick around.  If you missed it the first time around, go ahead and download The Randolph Singers, David Randolph, Director-Christmas Carols-Volume 2 (Westminster WL 5200, Mono, 1952).

1. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
2. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
3. Good King Wenceslas
4. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
5. Away In A Manger
6. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
7. The Coventry Carol
8. The Boar's Head Carol
9. Joy To The World
10. Cantique de Noel
11. Deck The Halls
12. Cradled In A Manger
13. Sing We Noel Once More
14. How Far Is It To Bethlehem
15. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
16. Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head
17. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
18. Fum! Fum! Fum!
19. I Wonder As I Wander
20. Wassail Song

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Not Remastered

One of the albums I most looked forward to remastering for you this year was this Ruth Welcome zither LP, it is, after all, the third most popular download in these parts.  But it turns out that the only vinyl copy I could dig out of the collection had a whole passle of skips on it, and I wasn't able to get a reasonable rip from it in time.  So this one will have to wait until next year.  I did scan the album, and I stuck the cover picture and label down at the bottom of this post.  You'll see that it doesn't look anything like the old scan above.  And big thanks to Fred Scheiterlein for putting his address label on his record in a spot where I couldn't PhotoShop it out. The new images aren't in the download, though, so if you want to save them, you'll have to do that the hard way.  Maybe next year...  Anyhow, another share from that golden first year, this is Ruth Welcome-Christmas In Zitherland (Capitol ST 1782, Stereo, 1962).

1. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear/Lo, How A Rose Is Blooming/Angels And Shepherds
2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem/What Child Is This?/O Come Little Children/Away In A Manger
3. O Holy Night/Coventry Carol/Angels From The Realms Of Glory/Silent Night
4. Jingle Bells/Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
5. I'll Be Home For Christmas
6. Silver Bells
7. The Christmas Song
8. Winter Wonderland
9. White Christmas

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The King's Choice

I was honored this morning when I checked in over at FaLaLaLaLa.com and saw that the King of Jingaling had chosen a track off one of my shares to open his annual ADVENTure In Carols collection.  He chose the version of  Deck The Halls that's on this album to be the lead-off song this year.  Well, he always chooses a version of Deck The Halls, since that's the namesake of his site, but he chose something that I shared with the world!  Trust me, it's a great honor.  I've been singing the praises of this LP since 2005, and I can't imagine that you haven't downloaded it yet.  But if not, go grab yourself a copy of  The World's Greatest Jazzband Of Yank Lawson & Bob Haggart-Hark The Herald Angels Swing (World Jazz WJLP 5-2, Stereo, 1972).

1. Hark The Herald Angels Swing
2. Little Drummer Boy
3. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
4. Silent Night
5. Joy To The World
6. Jingle Bells
7. White Christmas
8. I'll Be Home For Christmas
9. The Christmas Song
10. Winter Wonderland
11. Deck The Halls

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Snowy White Marshmallows

 Another old classic for you tonight from one of those small records with the big hole in the middle.  You know him from the big hit Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, but that wasn't Vaughn Monroe's only stab at a Christmas classic.  Both sides of this single are great, so grab it quick before it gets any older.  This is Vaughn Monroe And His Orchestra With The Moon Maids-A Marshmallow World b/w Snowy White Snow And Jingle Bells (RCA Victor 7" 45 RPM 47-3942, 1950, Mono).  Good stuff.

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The First Night Of Chanukah

If my calculations are correct, tonight is the beginning of Chanukah.  I don't have eight full nights of presents for you, but I've got more than I have had in the past, so you'll have to keep coming back if you want to see how many gifts I do have.  Trust me, you don't have to be Jewish to enjoy these Chanukah records.  Just like Christmas songs, they often have a sense of joy and fun that will come through even if you don't know Maccabee from McCartney.  For my first share, I've got my favorite Chanukah find of the year.  It's geared towards children, but I found the folky songs and playing to be a lot of fun and very enjoyable.  So for the first night of this year's Festival of Lights, please download Shimon & Ilana With Aviva And Shira, Featuring Sally Speer And Dave Tilman-Chanukah Songs For Children (Elite Records ELS-404, Stereo).

1. Y'Mey Ha-Cha-Nu-Kah
2. Neyr Li
3. Y'La-Dim Ba-Ney-Rot
4. Listen And Follow Me
5. Chanukah Begins Tonight
6. Ma-Oz Tzur--Rock Of Ages
7. Chanukah Blessings
8. The Dreidle Song
9. S'Vi-Von
10. Once There Was A Time
11. Peh-Leh P'La-Im
12. Ha-Yoh Ha-Yah Ish
13. Ha-Ney-Rot Ha-La-Lu
14. Shine, Little Candles
15. Chanukah, Chag Ya-Feh
16. Mi Y'Ma-Leyl (Who Can Retell?)

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The Inevitable

Let me go ahead and get this out of the way for the year so you'll quit wondering when it's coming.  This, ladies and gentlemen, is María Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Moquiere de les Esperades Santa Ana Romanguera y de la Najosa Rasten.  That's right, Charo-(Mamacita) ¿Donde Esta Santa Claus? (Salsoul SG 201, 1978, Stereo).  From way back in Christmas 2005.

1. (Mamacita) ¿Donde Esta Santa Claus?
2. (Mamacita) ¿Donde Esta Santa Claus?-Instrumental

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Mann With A Horn

Here's one that no one asked me to reshare, but I'm doing it anyway.  This is a personal favorite from back in 2006.  Both the covers you see here housed the same music, but I think they came out in different years.  Both were used as promotional items for an insurance company.  I used to be partial to the cover above, but I now prefer the one below since I got a note from one of the two little kids on there saying thanks for sharing the music from their father.  That's the sort of thing that makes this work worthwhile. Please download and give a listen to Gary Mann-Blues For Baby Jesus (The Educator & Executive Insurance Companies EE-101, Stereo, 1972).

1. Jingle Bells
2. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
3. Alone At Christmas Time
4. Sleigh Bells
5. Blues For Baby Jesus
6. O Holy Night
7. Adeste Fidelis
8. The First Noel
9. Silent Night
10. Christmas Song

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Christmas With Mozelle

 Are you tired of Bob Kames?  Good, so am I.  Unfortunately, this share also featured an organ, but it's a much more stately affair, accompanying some singers in an English country church.  In fact, there is no artist credited, just church choir and organ.  But that's not why I'm sharing this early RCA LP.  I'm sharing it for the great Mozelle Thompson cover.  I don't know much about this Thompson person (the internet seems to be limited to Thompson, Mozelle (1927-1970), African American artist from Pittsburgh), but I've been finding his covers here and there and really enjoying the style.  You can find a few examples on the blog here, here and here, and I've got more I hope to scan and post after the holidays are over.  (I thought I'd shared more of the album covers, and not just the doodles, but I can't find them if I did.  I'm such a slacker...)  If you know more about this fellow, I'd really appreciate any info you can send my way.  I remember how excited I was when I found this LP, even though the front and back covers had come apart, and I think the record was in a different stack.  But I put it all together and got a decent rip from it.  Later on I found a UK issue of the same music, dated a year later, so I suppose it came out in the US first, oddly enough.  That cover is down at the bottom of the page, it's not nearly as good as the one above.  Anyhow, here's a brand new share for you, An English Country Church Choir With Organ-Christmas In England-Carol Service In A Country Church (RCA Victor LPM-1568, 1957, Mono).

1. Bells: Organ
2. O Come, All Ye Faithful
3. As With Gladness Men Of Old
4. Once In Royal David's City
5. The Holly And The Ivy
6. Joy To The World
7. The First Noel
8. Good King Wenceslas
9. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
10. Angels From The Realms Of Glory
11. Away In A Manger
12. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night
13. Coventry Carol
14. I Saw Three Ships
15. Silent Night (Stille Nacht)
16. Organ

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Kames On King 5

So what is left of Bob Kames that I can possibly still have to share.  Not much it turns out.  But this one LP, first shared in 2009 is half Bob Kames, half King Karoleers.  I think the Bob Kames stuff is pulled from the LPs I've already shared with you, but the King Karoleers material is from a much older 10" LP that I've never seen before.  So I figure it's worth having.  It's also worth noting that I was able to run these tracks through ClickRepair recently, so they should sound better than ever.  That's good enough reason for you to download The King Karoleers And Bob Kames-16 Traditional Christmas Carols (Gusto/Starday SD-3025, Mono, 1978).

1. Silent Night-King Karoleers
2. Hark The Herald Angels Sing-King Karoleers
3. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear-King Karoleers
4. We Three Kings-Bob Kames
5. Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem-King Karoleers
6. Cantique De Noel-Bob Kames
7. Adeste Fidelis-King Karoleers
8. Noel-King Karoleers
9. Oh Tannenbaum-Bob Kames
10. Rejoice-King Karoleers
11. Joy To The World-King Karoleers
12. Deck The Halls-Bob Kames
13. Away In A Manger-King Karoleers
14. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen-King Karoleers
15. I Saw Three Ships-Bob Kames
16. Good King Wenceslas-King Karoleers

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This concludes our Bob Kames Festival. Normal programming will resume shortly.

Kames On King 4

Well, at least his one has a cover that's a bit different from the others.  Not that the music has changed.  There's still good stuff and bad stuff on here, the fourth entry in today's Bob Kames marathon.  Is it the end?  What do you think?  Nothing is worth doing if it's not worth overdoing!  Wending it's way back into your auditory canal after finding it's way here in '08, this is Bob Kames-Merry Christmas From Bob Kames And The New Hammond Organ X-66 (King 1039, Stereo, 1968).

1.Silent Night
2. Oh Come All Ye Faithful
3. The First Noel
4. Joy To The World
5. Oh! Holy Night
6. Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
7. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
8. O Sanctissima
9. White Christmas
10. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
11. Please Come Home For Christmas
12. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
13. Silver Bells
14. Let's Light The Christmas Tree
15. Jingle Bells
16. Christmas Island

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Notice that they spelled his name wrong in the title on the label. Nice touch.

Kames On King 3

And this makes number three in today's Kames-A-Thon.  You never knew anyone could be so prolific, did you?  And these weren't the only records he was releasing during this time period.  He was putting out whole albums of standards and showtunes and all manner of stuff.  I guess King needed to fatten their catalog up and Bob was their go-to man.  From Ernie (Not Bert) circa 2008, this is Bob Kames-Organ And Chimes #3-Happy Holidays (King 768 (reissued By Gusto Records, 1976), Stereo, 1961).

1. Cantique De Noel
2. Away In A Manger
3. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
4. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
5. The Story Of Christmas
6. I Saw Three Ships
7. O Sanctissima
8. O Come Little Children
9. All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
10. Toyland
11. Happy Holiday
12. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
13. Christmas Waltz
14. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
15. The Holiday Polka
16. Auld Lang Syne

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