The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 29

Really, really getting down to the nitty gritty tonight.  But I think you'll enjoy it anyway.  Here goes...

Track the first is Lilacs In Winter, a country weeper from The Wilburn Brothers.  I ripped this from their LP Little Johnny Down From Down The Street (Decca DL 75173, Stereo, 1969).  I don't think you can ever have too many country weepers in your Christmas collection.

Track the second is Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming by The St. Louis A Cappella Choir-Director Dr. William B. Heyne from the various artists LP The Lutheran Hour (RCA Victor LSP-1863, Stereo, 1958).  I believe this is a collection of songs from a popular radio show of the time.

Track the third is the final song from that great album by Red Carter, Santa's Musical Grog (Frog Recording, Ltd. RG 001, Stereo).  I kept hoping someone would chime in with some more info on this album, but I still don't know anything more about than I did that day I bought it at the Habitat ReStore in Port Charlotte a couple months ago.  Oh, this evenings selection from the album is Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.

Track the fourth is a rerun of the ever popular Sleigh Ride, this time by Werner Müller And His Orchestra from the LP Werner Müller Plays Leroy Anderson (London Phase 4 SP 44057, Stereo, 1965).  I had thought about doing one night of nothing but tracks from Phase 4 albums, but I forgot and shared some of them too soon.  Maybe next year.

And track the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth is Snowfall by Claude Thornhill And His Orchestra.  Version number one is from the LP Dancing After Midnight (Columbia CL 709, Mono, 1955).  The other four versions are all from the LP Snowfall-A Memory Of Claude (Monmouth-Evergreen MR 6606, Electronic Stereo, 1967).  This LP, released not long after Claude's passing contained extracts from two tapes provided by his widow to a former member of his band.  The tracks from side one date to the 1940's, while the two versions from side two are from a demo tape he made in the 60's.  Those two versions also feature narration over the song that I find pretty cool.  These would work well on a mixtape somewhere.

Anyhow, that's it for tonight, hope there's something in there you like.  Here's the download link, catch you on the flip side.