Christmas In July 2011-Day 15

And.....that is the halfway point for the month.  I know that technically there are 31 days, so there is no even halfway point, and I always run over anyway, so there usually wind up being 32 or 33 days of shares, so technically I'm not there yet, but the way these things work out, the last few days sort write themselves.  So I'm calling today the halfway point.  And in honor of that, I'm sharing out thirteen tracks with you.  It's a lot of songs, but you deserve it.  I don't even think there are any reruns in here tonight, it's all new stuff, if not the absolute best tracks I've shared with you all month.  31 days is a long time to keep the quality level up.  At least you get some quantity, right?  Here we go...

1. Hallelujah Chorus, another well-recorded version, this time by the Massed Choir From The Churches Of San Antonio (TX), from the LP Summer Sunday Nights At Travis Park Methodist Church (Austin Custom Records LCS-33-6237, Mono).  I like the versions that sound this good.  The rest sort of grate on my ears.

2. Hark The Herald Angels Sing by Ardie And Eight Year Old Steve from an album I first shared a track from yesterday, His Story In Song (Singcord ZLP 961S, Mono).  I'm not sure which one is which or who does what on this track.  The record sleeve and label were no help at all.

3. Valse De Fleurs, also known as Waltz Of The Flowers, a chestnut by Tchaikovsky performed here by the First Piano Quartet from their LP Waltzes From The Classics, Dances Not For Dancing (RCA Victor Red Seal LM 1165, Mono).  You first heard a track from them last night, and this is the last one I've got for you.

4.  White Christmas-Another one of those tracks I should not share out.  So no comment.

5. Wonder, Wonder (Polish Carol) by Drexel Hill Junior High School Chorus.  Am I getting near the end of the tracks by this junior high chorus?  Yes and no...

6. Hazy Shade Of Winter by Living Brass, Arranged And Conducted By Ray Martin from Music From "The Graduate" And Other Simon And Garfunkel Hits (RCA Camden CAS-2323, Stereo, 1969).  I never really thought of this as a Christmas track, but by my own rules, it does have Winter in the title, so it must be.

7. I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing by The Korean Children's Choir and the album To The World With Love (Word WST-8523-LP, Stereo, 1972).  Nice version.  I should have ripped their version of Amazing Grace in Korean for you, but I didn't.  I'm a slacker in many respects...

8. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring by The Coral Ridge Chancel Choir, Directed By Roger C. McMurrin, Harpsichord-Diane Bish, Organ-John McCarthy from The Coral Ridge Chancel Choir And 117 Rank Ruffatti Pipe Organ (Coral Ridge Productions CRP-1001-LP, Stereo).  Not the first track from this record I've shared.

9. Pine Cones And Holly Berries (With "It's beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas") by The Merrill Staton Voices from the album Meredith Willson's Here's Love (Columbia Special Archives Series CSRP 8899, Stereo, 1963).  I was wrong, there is a rerun in the group, but what a great song.

10. Reverberations as performed on the handbells by The Wesleyan Ringers, Lloyd R. Pilkington-Director, from the vinyl The Glory Of Bells (Silver Crest Custom STJ-111882, St. John's United Methodist Church, Hazlet, NJ, Stereo).  Not sure if this is Christmas related, but they said it was.  There's so much Christmas music that I'm unfamiliar with, even after all these years.

11. Silent Night, Holy Night, the first track I'm sharing from the album The Music Of Christmas, Lent And Easter (St. George's Church, Schenectady, NY SG102666, Stereo), but not the last.  I think the artist is St. George's Choir Of Men And Boys, Frederick Monks-Master Of The Choristers, James Pittenger-Flute, but the label and sleeve didn't match exactly, and both were somewhat vague.

12. Snowfall by The Sound Of Brass Voices, from the album Big Band Themes (The Longines Symphonette Society SYS 5881, Stereo, 1974).  I didn't think I would, but I really liked this one.  The wordless vocals added a lot to it.

13.  Toyland by The Peter Pan Players & Orchestra from The Best Of Walt Disney (Peter Pan 8100, Stereo).  Another one I didn't think I'd like, but it's different from the other cheap versions I've heard.

And that's it.  I'm pretty late tonight, but at least I don't have to get up and go to work in the morning.  Here's the download link, see you all tomorrow when I begin the second half of the Christmas In July fun.