Christmas In July 2011-Day 26

Day 26, not far now.  If my count is right, today is the day I pass 300 songs, so it's probably the most voluminous Christmas in July ever.  And with just under a week to go, who knows where we'll top out at.  Keep those cards and letters coming, they're great encouragement.

1.  Ave Maria! O Maiden, O Mother-Slovak Hymn by The St. Elizabeth Choir-L.P. Valentino, Choir Director from The St. Elizabeth Choir Sings At The Vatican Pavilion (St. Elizabeth, South Huntington, NY, No Label 111765, Mono, 1965).  Still another variation on Ave Maria.

2. O Tannenbaum, great version from The Roger Wagner Chorale from Folk Songs Of The Old World (Capitol 2xLP PBR-8345, Mono, 1956).  This is from the double LP set in a box with a book, but I've also seen the records packaged singly in normal jackets.  But I went all out for you and got the fancy box.  Actually, it looks like I shared this from one of those single LP versions, back in 2008.

3. Summer Frost, sort of appropriate, I think, from Count Basie And His Orchestra from Back With Basie-More Hit Performances Of The '60's (Roulette R 52113, Mono, 1964).  This is by the same guy, Frank Wess, who wrote the other song I shared with you from this LP earlier.

4. Winter Nocturne by Charles Dorian And His Orchestra, another great track from the LP Calendar Sketches (Dot DLP-3046, Mono, 1957).  I think this is the last of the tracks I have to share with you from this record.

5. Greensleeves, featuring extended drum solo, by Buddy Rich Big Band-Rick Stepton, Trombone Solo from Buddy & Soul-Recorded Live In Hollywood At The Whiskey A Go-Go (World Pacific Jazz ST-20158, Stereo, 1969).  If you like drum solos with your Christmas music, this is it!

6. I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony), the hit version, by The Hillside Singers (including Mary Mayo) from I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (Metromedia KMD 1051, Stereo, 1971).  You don't hear this song enough.

7. It's A Holiday by Kay Lande, Alan Cole, Hunter Payne And The Carillon Singers from the very descriptively titled Songs About: The Weather, The Four Seasons, What Time Is It?, The Days Of The Week, Holidays (Children's Records Of America CRA 20433, Stereo, 1974).

8. My Favorite Things by The Hi-Lo's, Orchestra Conducted By Warren Barker from Broadway Playbill (Columbia CS 8213, Stereo, 1960).  Sure enough, another rerun.  I knew this one couldn't have escaped my notice until this year.  I've shared out so much over the years that I've forgotten a lot of it.

9. Parade Of The Milk Bottle Caps, not at all a Christmas song but a nice title, by RCA-assembled studio supergroup The Big 18 and their second album More Live Echoes Of The Swinging Bands (RCA Victor LSP-1983, Stereo, 1959).

10. Snowbird By Burl Ives from an odd LP on Bell, Time (Bell 6055, Stereo, 1971).  I say odd because of the musical backing, very un-Burl-like.  Is this a Christmas song?  No, not at all, but it's a bit seasonal, and it has snow in the title.  I've posted worse, like, oh say, Parade Of The Milk Bottle Caps.

11. That Man Over There by Paul Reed and Chorus from the original Broadway soundtrack of Here's Love (Columbia Masterworks KOS 2400, Stereo, 1963).  This LP comes with a gatefold sleeve and few pages of pictures from the production.  Nice to look and listen.

12. Torches performed by The Choir Of Saint Luke's Church-Richard Webster, Organist & Director With The Pritzen Brass Ensemble-Mitchell Arnold, Music Director from the imaginatively titled Music From Saint Luke's (St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Evanston, IL 62281, Stereo, 1981).

13. Toyland by Bill Thompson At The Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ from The Music Of Victor Herbert (Sutton SSU 225, Stereo), a popular album title among budget labels.

14. Verbum Caro (The Word Was Made Flesh) by St. George's Choir Of Men And Boys, Frederick Monks-Master Of The Choristers from The Music Of Christmas, Lent And Easter (St. George's Church, Schenectady, NY SG102666, Stereo).  Good thing they told me on the back of the sleeve that this was a Christmas song.

15. The Wooden Soldier And The Chine Doll-Rio Rita-I Miss My Swiss, another medley from Lawrence Welk and His Orchestra from that LP The Champagne Music Of Lawrence Welk (Dot DLP 25342, Stereo, 1961).  I first shared a track from this one with you the other day.  I remember that I found this sleeve with the wrong Welk record inside, but I knew I'd seen the sleeve for the record I did find.  So I had to find it again, and sure enough, it had the record in it that I wanted.  I just had to pull the old switcheroo and I was good to go.

That's that, fifteen more great tracks.  Here's the download link, now I have to go back and work on that skimpy post from yesterday.