The Return Of Chanukah In August-Day 1

If you've hung out around here in the past, you might remember that Christmas In July is always followed up by Chanukah in August.  You might also remember that Chanukah songs are much fewer and farther between than Christmas songs, so we only get one day of Chanukah songs instead of 31.  And two of these are from the same album and artist, because pickin's are really slim here.

Track one is The Hanukkah Song by Tom Glazer With Jeffrey Alden-Orchestra Conducted By Tony Mottola from that same old album I Like Holidays! (RCA Camden CAL-1055, Mono, 1964).  How many different ways can you spell Chanukah in English?  I know it's quite a few, and the different spellings seem to go in and out of favor.

The other two tracks I have for you are Chanukah (The Feast Of Lights) & Chanukah (Is Here At Last), both of which are surprisingly good, and both are from the LP Happy Holidays-The Spirit Of The Jewish Holidays In Modern Song (Maris 93059 (Printed and Mfg. by Crown Album Corp., Phila, 47, Pa., USA), Mono).  The artist is Sue Brason And Chorus With Orchestra Under The Direction Of Len Lewy.  I was pretty impressed by both of these tracks, they don't sound like some of the Chanukah music I've found in the past, they really fit right in with all the other stuff I've shared in the past month.  I'm sure you'll enjoy them as much as I did.

That's it, just three tracks.  Here's the download.  Now I can go back into hibernation for a while.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 31

Here we are, the very last day of Christmas in July.  What a long, strange trip it's been.  Tonight is pretty much the same as last night, more songs for New Year's.  Here goes...

Auld Lang Syne starts us out in a version by Connie Francis And The Jordanaires-Conducted By Joe Mele from another LP that's a thrift store staple, Sing Along With Connie Francis (Mati-Mor Superecords 8002, Mono).  This is a promotional LP for Brylcreem that I see all the time, but never paid much attention to until recently.  And sure enough, there was a track I could use.  Version two of Auld Lang Syne is by Van Alexander And His Orchestra (who graced us earlier this month with Gordon MacRae, I think) from the album Let's Dance The Last Dance (Capitol T1457, Mono, 1959).  Version three is by Ann Moray from a half-song, half-spoken word LP, The Love Songs Of Robert Burns (Spoken Arts 754, Mono, 1959). And fourth is a parody version, or at least a new funny verse, by Tom Glazer With Jeffrey Alden-Orchestra Conducted By Tony Mottola from that same LP of theirs I've been doling out to you for much of the last week, I Like Holidays! (RCA Camden CAL-1055, Mono, 1964).  It's pretty funny, but short.

Next up is New Year's Day, a nice little track by 101 Strings from the radio promo LP American Holidays And Special Occasions (Special Radio Copy-No Number, Mono).  I think there was a standard release of this LP, but it omitted one of the short tracks, which was probably just an edit of the longer version.

Track six is the first of the reruns tonight, it's Happy New Year-Reprise, a short little part two to a track I shared yesterday, again by The McGuire Sisters-Directed By Dick Jacobs from the LP Children's Holiday (Coral CRL 57097, Mono, 1957).

And bringing up the rear is Nat King Cole-Arranged & Conducted By Gordon Jenkins from his posthumous LP The Unforgettable Nat Cole Sings The Great Songs! (Capitol ST 2558, Stereo, 1966).  Jenkins wrote this song and recorded it about three times, I've shared those with you here before, as well as this version with Nat.  They're all nice songs, something I think should be more popular than it is, but I could say that about a lot of the things I share here.

Anyhow, that's it for tonight and for the month.  Here's the download.  Hope you had a great time!  Leave me a comment and let me know what your favorite tracks were.  I've already started a best-of folder for a future collection from this month.  No promises about when that might be completed, but you never know.  Thanks for all your support his month, it's been good to be back.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 30

In previous years, I've saved all of my New Year's themed tracks for the last day of the month, but I had so many of them this year, I'm splitting them up over two days, today and tomorrow.  And I've got seven different tracks for each night, so that's a lot of tracks!

I'm starting off with a plethora of Auld Lang Syne, the most popular of New Year's songs.  This first version is by Ivor Raymonde from his LP Scottish Sing-Along (London International Series SW 99027, Stereo, 1962).  The second version is Tom Glazer With Jeffrey Alden-Orchestra Conducted By Tony Mottola from the kiddie LP I Like Holidays! (RCA Camden CAL-1055, Mono, 1964). The third version is from that thrift store staple The First Family (London Records (UK) HA-A 8048, Mono, 1962).  Somehow, I found a UK copy, I can't explain it.  Anyhow, this one is performed by Vaughn Meader, Naomi Brossart, Norma MacMillan & Earle Doud.  I can't tell you how many times I've looked at this LP without really picking it up and checking for Christmas music.  One day I did, and there it was. The last version for tonight is actually a medley of Auld Lang Syne and Happy Birthday performed by the greatest crooner of them all Bing Crosby, ably assisted by the Ken Darby Singers And Victor Young And His Orchestra from the small LP entitled Auld Lang Syne (Decca 10" 33 RPM DLP 5028, Mono, 1949).  This version was easy to spot since it involved the title of the album.  I love the easy ones!

Starting into the other tracks, we've got another tall tale from Johnny Bond, this one entitled New Year's Day, again from the LP 10 Little Bottles And Other Tall Tales And Songs For Boozers! (Starday SLP 333, Mono, 1965).  I'm afraid this one isn't much better than the one I shared earlier this month.

Up next is The McGuire Sisters take on Happy New Year, a rerun around these parts but worth revisiting.  The LP is Children's Holiday (Coral CRL 57097, Mono, 1957).

And last up is Fred Waring And The Pennsylvanians doing Let Us All Sing Auld Lang Syne, which I probably should have listed above, but it's sorta kinda not the same song.  This is a rerun, and it's from the album Alma Mater Memories (Capitol ST1949, Stereo, 1963).

And I think that's it for tonight.  Be sure to come back tomorrow for part two of the New Year's songs.  Oh, almost forgot, here's the download link for tonight.

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.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 28

Not far to go now...  Hope I have enough stuff left to make it through.

Track one, and easily the best one tonight, is Christmas Time In Nassau by Johnathan (Johnny) Kemp With John Chapman's Confidential Club Orchestra from the LP Confidential Carnival-Authentic Bahamian Calypsos (Goombay) (Island Artists LP 1002, Mono).  This is something I recorded last year, but never shared.  It's probably the best Christmas track I've ever found on a Caribbean tourist record.  I pick up a lot of them and look for Christmas music, but they're few and far between.

Track two is Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Choir-Kay Morris, Organist And Director Of Music performing He Is Born from With A Voice Of Singing (Mark Custom Records MC-8922 (Falls Church, VA), Stereo, 1971).  This is the last track I've got from this LP.  I think it was a pretty good addition to the collection.

Track three is Cradle Song by Ethel Smith from her LP Seated On Day At The Organ (Decca DL 78902, Stereo, 1959).  I don't think this is really a Christmas song, I was probably confusing it with Luther's Cradle Song, but close enough.

Track four is Ave Maria by The De Paur Chorus-Leonard De Paur, Conductor-Soloist: Luther Saxon from the LP The Spirit Of Christmas/God Is With Us (Columbia CL 725, Mono, 1955).  The A side of this record is all Christmas, but the B side only features this one sorta-Christmas track.  I think it was originally released as a pair of 10" LPs, but I've never seen either one.  I hunted for this record for a long time to complete my pair of Leonard De Paur Christmas albums.

Track five is Hallelujah by The Eric Rogers Chorale And Orchestra from Glory, Glory, Hallelujah (London Phase 4 SP 44028, Stereo, 1963), and I think it's the only rerun of the night.  Seems like a very religious collection of tunes tonight, except for that first one.  Not too bad for this late in the month.

And that's it, five and out.  Here's the download, see you tomorrow.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 27

Wow, has it really been 27 days already?  Time flies when you're busy trying to rip a hundred or so albums.  Here's tonight's shares.

An odd little folkish song starts things out tonight, Taurian Canticle (Winter Ocean) For People And Dulcimer from Jaime Brockett 2 (Capitol/Oracle SKAO-601, Stereo, 1970) by Jaime Brockett.  No idea what this is all about, the liner notes are pretty cryptic.

Track two is Silent Night, Holy Night (Stille Nacht) by the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Choir from their LP With A Voice Of Singing (Mark Custom Records MC-8922 (Falls Church, VA), Stereo, 1971).  Nice, like it should be.

Track three is the first rerun of the night, but it's the great Ruby Murray with Norrie Paramor's Music singing Miss O'Leary's Irish Fruit Cake, which may or may not be a Christmas song, but we'll pretend for the sake of having something to share.  The album is called Irish (And Proud Of It) (Capitol ST10327, Stereo, 1963).

Track four is The Bells of St. Mary's by Gordon MacRae With Van Alexander, from the LP Songs For An Evening At Home (Capitol ST1251, Stereo, 1959).  Are you tired of this song yet?  I feel like it's been shared more than it's fair share this month.

Lastly, it's Henry Mancini, His Orchestra And Chorus, performing White Christmas from the double LP The Academy Award Songs-31 "Oscar" Winners (RCA Victor LSP-6013, Stereo, 1966).  Nice high spot to end with.

There's the tracklist for tonight, here's the download link.  Not far to go now, pickings are getting a bit slim I'm afraid.  Leave me a comment and tell me what your favorite tracks have been so far.  I need to get started picking out a few songs for an eventual best-of.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 26

And with this post, I should be back to current.  Hooray!

Track one is Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring by Igor Gorin With Carmen Dragon Conducting The Symphony from Your Requests (Allied Record Sales 10" 33 RPM Red Vinyl ARS Album LP 2000, Mono, 1954).  No idea who this guy is, but I knew the conductor, Carmen Dragon, from his work on the Capitol label and his son, The Captain.

Track two is Silent Night by James A. Miller & Friends, yet another track from the album Happy Time Nursery Songs (Herald Press 10" 33 RPM HP 1001-33 1/3, Mono).  Is this the last track I have form this record?  I think so.

Track three is Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year, presented by Percy Faith And His Orchestra from their LP Percy Faith Program (Decca 10" 33 RPM DL 5349, Mono, 1951).  This is awful early Percy, before he went to Columbia.  And this is the last track I'm sharing tonight from a 10" record.  I tried to find five tracks all from the smaller LPs, but I just couldn't.

Track four is another great rerun from Ruby Murray With Norrie Paramor's Music, this time it's Christmastime In Ireland, from that classic LP Irish (And Proud Of It) (Capitol ST10327, Stereo, 1963).  Really good stuff here.

Lastly, we've got Sleigh Ride by 101 Strings from their tribute album Victor Young & Leroy Anderson (Alshire S-5012, Stereo, 1964).  Can't have too many versions of Sleigh Ride.

And that's it for today.  Go get your download, I'm off to bed.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 25

Here's the first post of the day.  It's still early so I hope to be able to get a second post in today to be all caught up with the calendar.  Wish me luck.  Now, here's the music.

We start with one of the original Sesame Street performers, Bob McGrath, joined by The Jimmy Joyce Singers, singing I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony), a sorta-Christmas song from his LP Bob McGrath Sing For All The Boys And Girls (Disneyland 1357, Stereo, 1974).  Bob had been a member of Mitch Miller's singalong crowd, and even released a solo LP through Columbia.  I believe he was very popular in Japan, certainly more so than here in the states.  He also released a Christmas EP in Japan that I've never seen or heard.  So if anyone wants to shoot that my way, I'd love to hear it.

Track two is something a little special, it's Doris Day singing Christmas Story from the soundtrack to On Moonlight Bay (Columbia 4x10" 78 RPM C-267, Mono, 1951).  That's right, it's the only track so far this month taken from shellac!  I may have another, but so far it's resisted my attempts to get a skip free recording, but we'll have to give it another try.

Track three, which I think is a rerun, is Ave Maria by The Eric Rogers Chorale And Orchestra, from the LP Glory, Glory, Hallelujah (London Phase 4 SP 44028, Stereo, 1963).  Love those fancy gatefold covers!

Track four continues the rerun goodness with I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (From "On The Avenue") by Skitch Henderson, His Piano And Orchestra, from A Tribute To Irving Berlin (Columbia CS 9683, Stereo, 1968).

Fifth and finally we have another electronic version of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, this time entitled The New Hallelujah.  This one is something I shared before, but it's too good not to bring back.  Performers on this one are Ralph Carmichael (Conductor), Clark Gassman (Player) & Fred Werner (Programmer), the album is The Electric Symphony (The MOOG Synthesizer) (Light LS-5541-LP, Stereo, 1970).  This will get you up and dancing, I'm sure.

And there you have it.  Go download and enjoy!