Christmas Spirit

I didn't think I'd be able to get this one up this season, but here it is.  I recorded this last year and was quite surprised by it.  The cover looks like nothing special, bit of kiddie music, maybe religious, but it turns out to be really good, all original stuff!  I researched it a bit and found not a whole lot, but I did see where it was licensed at one point for a Christmas special, but that never appears to have been made.  I can certainly picture this playing over animated snowmen or reindeer.  I know it's a bit late for you to use this year, but if you're looking for original Christmas music that you haven't heard before, you could do a lot worse than this.  Please download and enjoy The Chuck Bird Orchestra And Singers-The Spirit Of Christmas (Santa Records SC3131, Stereo, 1976).  You really don't expect to get Christmas music like this out of Miami, but here it is.

1. A Holly Holly Holly Holly Day
2. Snow Flakes
3. Under The Mistletoe
4. A Christmas Lullaby
5. A Toy Train
6. How Much Longer
7. The North Pole Polka
8. A Perfect Christmas Tree
9. Merrily On His Way
10. The Echo Of Christmas
11. The Elf Parade
12. Merry Christmas

Zippyshare

Not The Chipmunks

I had hoped to be able to reshare a whole lot of Bob Kames with you this year, even remaster a few of my old shares.  I got some of the records recorded, but never had time to finish them up.  So before the night is over, I'll get at least this one non-album single up since it's one of his best.  A kiddie vocal on one side, and the flip is a Chipmunks ripoff that I'm sure you'll enjoy.  I shared this out back in 2012, but this Christmas Eve I'm bringing it back.  This is Bob Kames-Don't Wait 'Til The Night Before Christmas b/w Dance With Me The Christmas Tree 'Round (King 7" 45 RPM 45-5725 "Kiddie Christmas Vocal", Mono, 1963).

Zippyshare

Sunset

Since I hear Chanukah begins this evening at sunset, here's my one and only Chanukah share for the year, and I'm afraid it's not very good.  Staid solo piano backing and some very monotone singing from one Abraham Davis.  I pulled this from a rough-looking 78, it's 5 short tracks, all the big Chanukah hits.  It is on the somewhat famed Tikva label, but I think it's too early to have been a part of their weird and wacky years.  But maybe this will touch a special place in your hearts as you light the Menorah.  Please enjoy Abraham Davis-Chanukah-Feast Of Lights (Tikva 10" 78 RPM T-3001, Mono).  If you're looking for good Chanukah music, there's a great song on one of my Christmas In July collections!

1. The Chanukah Blessing
2. Rock Of Ages (Ma-Oz Tzur)
3. Oh Chanukah
4. Mi Yemallel
5. Spin Sevivon

Zippyshare

General Motors

One more reshare for the day, and a short one.  Two sides of a small flexi disc, probably released sometime in the 60's, featuring the sounds of another corporate chorus.  This time everybody singing worked for General Motors and it looked like it was given out to employees there.  This one dates to 2007 here at the blog, but I remember seeing it at other blogs before that, so it's not exactly unique.  But it sure does look neat.  Hope you're having a good Christmas Eve, this is Songs Of Christmas By The General Motors Chorus (Eva-Tone 7" 33 RPM Clear Flexi Disc).

1. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
2. O Christmas Tree
3. Away In A Manger
4. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
5. Deck The Hall
6. Angels We Have Heard On High
7. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
8. The First Noel
9. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Zippyshare

John Is Back

Here's another remaster for you, sneaking in just under the wire.  I first shared out a mono copy of this record in 2006, then found a stereo copy in 2007 with a different cover and different track sequence.  Tonight I'm bringing it back in it's original order with it's original cover and in glorious stereo!  I've always thought this was one of the great Christmas covers, so I'm always excited when I see it.  You may even think it looks familiar since I ripped it off for one of my Best-Of Christmas covers a few years ago.  This particular copy happens to be a Canadian pressing and it included multiple copies of the singalong insert with the lyrics to all the songs! (I scanned one of them, it's in the download.)  As near as I can tell, all issues of this record were for the RCA Record club, so that goes a ways towards explaining it's relative scarcity today.  If all this talk makes you want to listen, please download and enjoy The John McCarthy Chorale-Merry Christmas Sing Along (RCA Victor (Canada) LSP-2476, Stereo, 1961).  Arrangements are by Hill Bowen, if that tells you anything.  I wonder if this ever came out as a regular issue in England where the recording originated?

1. Joy To The World
2. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
3. Silent Night
4. Good King Wenceslas
5. Oh Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)
6. I Saw Three Ships
7. Pat-A-Pan
8. Ding Dong (Merrily On High)
9. Hark! The Herald Angels
10. The First Noel
11. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
12. Twelve Days Of Christmas
13. Angels From The Realms
14. Wassail Song
15. Jingle Bells

 Zippyshare

Snap Is Back

Couldn't forget about this one!  Gotta love when big companies have choral groups and they make a record.  This is probably the best example of that practice I've ever found, but my buddy Lee over at Music You Won't found one from Macy's this year and it's a great one, check it out.  In the meantime, this is a remaster from 2012 of a record I first shared in my inaugural year of 2005.  Get it now before it's gone again.  This is The Snap-On Male Chorus with Carols Of Christmas (RCA Custom Record Dept. SOLP 6363, Mono).

1. Awake, Awake
2. Away In A Manger
3. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
4. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
5. Spirit Of Christmas (A Medley)
6. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
7. Cantique De Noel
8. God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
9. Deck The Halls
10. Carol Of The Drum
11. Silent Night
12. Jingle Bells

Zippyshare

So Tell Me...

We're getting close to the end of the season, so I wanted to find out a little about my audience.  If all six of you who've visited this year would leave me a comment here, I'd be grateful.  Please let me know if you have a favorite from the stuff you've downloaded this year, and maybe whereabouts you are located.  Just curious.  And I'm not done yet, there's a little more to come, but I still need to squeeze in some Christmas shopping before the big day...

Stone Cold Christmas

Here's a new one for you, in a completely new genre for the mix, too.  I don't recall ever having shared out any bluegrass, but that's changing here and now.  I had hoped to share out some country records with you this year, but I seem to be getting close to the end and that hasn't happened.  So this one is going to be about as close as we get.  Don't let the bluegrass tag scare you off, this is good stuff.  Some good classic tracks, some exclusive stuff, all of it worth hearing.  I first heard about this record years ago when my compatriot The Captain shared it out at his long-lamented blog.  So I'm excited to have my own copy and to be able to bring it back for you.  This is The Stonemans-A Stoneman Christmas (MGM SE-4613, Stereo, 1968).

1. A Stoneman Christmas
2. Little Jesus Loves Me
3. Christmas Time's A-Comin'
4. (I Won't Be) Present This Year
5. Blue Christmas
6. Let's Put Christmas Back Into Christmas
7. A Welcome Stranger
8. Santa Played The Autoharp
9. Jingle Bells
10. Tell It Again
11. Christmas Without Dad

Zippyshare

Santa Returns To Mars

Time for another remaster, and it's another doozy!  One of the most popular shares ever, something I've been sharing with you since way back in the beginning in 2005, something I've never seen a second copy of, this is the story of Santa Claus Conquers The Martians!  Surely you've seen the movie and heard the song, now you can relive it all through this narrated comic book version, although unfortunately I don't have the comic book to share with you.  Maybe someday.  Here is Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (Golden Records SLP 170, Mono, 1966).

1. Hooray For Santa Claus-Milton Delugg
2. Santa Claus Conquers The Martians-Part 1-Dan Ocko, Narrator, With The Voices Of Ralph Bell, Ann Delugg And Betty And Billy
3. Hooray For Santa Claus-Music Box Version-Milton Delugg
4. Hooray For Santa Claus-Music Box Version (Reprise)-Milton Delugg
5. Santa Claus Conquers The Martians-Part2-Dan Ocko, Narrator, With The Voices Of Ralph Bell, Ann Delugg And Betty And Billy
6. Hooray For Santa Claus-Reprise-Milton Delugg

Zippyshare

Happy Christmas

You want happy Christmas music?  This is about as happy as it gets!  I first shared out a mono copy in 2010, then rolled out a stereo version in 2011.  If you haven't heard it before, you're gonna love it.  This will get your toes a tapping and fingers a snapping. Please enjoy Happy Holiday With The "Best Of The Mummers" (Sure SS-Vol. 13, Stereo, 1963).

1. Quaker City String Band-Happy Holiday And White Christmas
2. Quaker City String Band-Jingle Bells
3. Greater Kensington String Band-Silver Bells
4. Greater Kensington String Band-Winter Wonderland
5. Polish-American String Band-Christmas Bells
6. Polish-American String Band-Mistletoe Polka
7. Greater Kensington String Band-I'll Be Home For Christmas
8. Greater Kensington String Band-Silent Night
9. Polish-American String Band-Christmas Time
10. Polish-American String Band-Jingle Bells Polka
11. Quaker City String Band-Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
12. Polish-American String Band-Happy New Year To You
13. Aqua String Band-Golden Slippers and Four Leaf Clover
14. Aqua String Band-Auld Lang Syne

Zippyshare

Baa Baa Shop

I've reshared everything under the sun this year, but as far as I can remember, this is the first barbershop album.  There are a few barbershop tracks hidden among the other tracks on my Christmas In July Best-of collections, so you might want to dig those out.  But if you're looking for full-on full length barbershop harmonies, here it is.  First shared out in 2010, this is Yuletide Favorites-Barbershop Style (Official SPEBSQSA Recording, Stereo).

1. Southern Gateway Chorus-While By My Sheep
2. Southern Gateway Chorus-Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
3. Roaring 20's-Angels, From The Realms Of Glory
4. Southern Gateway Chorus-O Come, All Ye Faithful
5. Southern Gateway Chorus-O Holy Night
6. Roaring 20's-It's Beginning To Look Like Christmas
7. Roaring 20's-Let's Have An Old Fashioned Christmas
8. Southern Gateway Chorus-O Christmas Tree
9. Roaring 20's-Children's Medley
10. Southern Gateway Chorus-We Wish You A Merry Christmas
11. Roaring 20's-Silver Bells
12. Southern Gateway Chorus-Jingle Bells
13. Arlingtones-I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
14. Arlingtones-Away In A Manger
15. Soundtracks-God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
16. Arlingtones-Coventry Carol
17. Soundtracks-Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
18. Arlingtones-As With Gladness Men Of Old
19. Arlingtones-O Little Town Of Bethlehem
20. Soundtracks-It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
21. Arlingtones-Angels We Have Heard On High
22. Arlingtones-Silent Night
23. Soundtracks-Winter Wonderland
24. Soundtracks-I'll Be Home For Christmas

Zippyshare

A Luboff Reborn

A very special treat for you tonight, it's the return of  great share, with a couple of added bits!  Way back in 2007, I first shared this soundtrack by Norman Luboff with you, and it's been a frequent reshare of mine all the years since.  Earlier this year, I found an odd large envelope wrapped around this same record!  Inside the envelope was a copy of the record as well as a 7" flexidisc in a sleeve that featured the main theme from the soundtrack, something I'd never seen before!  So tonight I'm sharing out not only a remastered copy of the record, now cut into actual tracks, but the record uncut as it is on the vinyl, and a copy of the flexidisc as well (though I warn you, there's a horrible edit near the beginning.  Horrible, trust me!).  So pick your poison and have a go at The Night Before Christmas With The Norman Luboff Choir (Elba Productions No Number, Stereo, 1968).  I'll also note that the orchestration is by Wally Stott according to a note on the LP.

1. Overture
2. Intro To Savory Serenade
3. Savory Serenade
4. Intro To Wintertime
5. Wintertime
6. Intro To Lullaby Time
7. Lullaby Time
8. The Sleigh Simply Flew Home
9. Intro To The Night Before Christmas
10. The Night Before Christmas
11. Intro To The Morning Of Christmas
12. The Morning Of Christmas
13. Closing

Tracks-Zippyshare
Uncut-Zippyshare

And here's the flexidisc-Zippyshare

More Music In Boxes

May as well throw this one up while I'm at it.  More music boxes for Christmas, this time from me trying to get all the Christmas albums from the early years of Warner Bros.  Still trying to complete that collection. Also first posted in 2008, this is The Sounds Of Christmas-The Wonderful World Of The Music Box, Bells And Chimes (Warner Bros. WS 1238, Stereo, 1958).  Great cover though, don'tcha think?

1. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
2. The First Noel
3. Jolly Old St. Nicolas
4. Away In A Manger
5. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
6. O Christmas Tree
7. O Come All Ye Faithful
8. Silent Night
9. Joy To The World
10. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
11. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
12. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
13. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly
14. Jingle Bells
15. Winter Wonderland
16. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
17. White Christmas

Zippyshare

Boxes Of Music

I don't think I've shared out any Christmas music boxes with you this year, so here it is!  From 2008, this was part of my attempt to get all the music from the Westminster label that said Christmas in it.  I failed miserably, but I keep hoping.  In the meantime, this is Music Boxes For Christmas (Westminster WST 15016, Music Boxes From The Bornand Collection, Pelham, New York, Stereo).

1. Regina (American) With Zither Attachment, 15-1/2" Disc Music Box-Adeste Fideles; Silent Night; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
2. Symphonion (German, 1882) With Bells, 14" Disc Music Box-O Sanctissima; Ihr Kinderlein Kommet (O Dear Little Children)
3. Swiss Cylinder Box, Mandolin Expressive Type, 1870-Hallelujah Chorus; He Shall Feed His Flock (From Handel's "Messiah")
4. Stella (Swiss, 1890) 25" Disc Music Box-Silent Night
5. Thorens (Modern Swiss) 4" Disc Music Boxes-O Tannenbaum; Jingle Bells; O Little Town of Bethlehem; O Sanctissima
6. Regina (Swiss) With Zither Attachment, 15-1/2" Disc Music Box-The First Noel; O Sanctissima; Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town; Jingle Bells; O Tannenbaum
7. Regina (American) 30-3/4" Disc Music Box-Silent Night; The Rosary; Monastery Bells
8. Kalliope (German, 1880) 13" Disc Music Box-Leise; Leise (From Weber's "Der Freischutz")
9. Mire (Swiss), 1886) 18-1/2" Disc Music Box-Ave Maria (Gounod); O Tannenbaum; Auld Lang Syne (Skips, Sorry)
10. Upright Regina (American) 15-1/2" Disc Music Box-Holy City; Cloister Bells Reverie; Monastery Bells
11. Interchangable Cylinder Orchestral Swiss Music Box, 17" Music Roll, Set Of Bells, Drum, Castanet And A 24-Note Organ Attachment-Stabat Mater (Rossini); See The Conquering Hero Come; Christmas Song; Ave Maria (Schubert) Luther Hymn; Hallelujah Chorus (Handel)

Zippyshare

A Man Named Veo

I was reminded of this oldie by some discussion over at The 'Fa, and figured I'd throw it up here again.  I shared this out in 2008, but ripped it in 2007, so don't expect much.  But there's some interesting stuff on here.  Give a listen to Veo Gray And The Jodie Lyons Singers-A Christmas Happening (Agaco Records SLP-2156, Stereo).

1. Christmas Medley-O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Angels We Have Heard On High
2. Deck The Hall
3. Jingle Bells
4. O Come, All Ye Faithful
5. O Come, O Come Immanuel
6. Rest Your Head
7. Silent Night
8. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
9. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

Zippyshare

Down To The Pub For Christmas

Most of you will be spending Christmas with family, but not everyone has that luxury or desire.  Some people will be spending it alone, and some in the company of strangers.  And some people will seek out the company of others at the local watering hole, if it happens to be open.  Hopefully, they'll have as raucous a time as these folks at the Red Lion.  I first shared this odd record in 2010, and it's coming back today!  This is Ken Stanley And The Pubsters-Christmas At The Red Lion And A Happy New Year Too... (Arc AC-15, Stereo).

1. Beer, Beer, Glorious Beer
2. Here's To Good Old Whisky
3. All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)
4. Musical Limericks
5. The Night Before Christmas
6. Good Night Ladies
7. Wee Deoch And Doris
8. Auld Sandy's Wee Special
9. The Northern Lights Of Aberdeen
10. The Miner's Dream Of Home
11. Auld Lang Syne

Zippyshare

On Island Time

Cold enough for you?  Not here.  And probably not in Hawaii, either, though I heard they had snow recently at the top of the mountains.  I can't even imagine snow in a tropical paradise.  But you probably are giving a lot of thought to the tropical paradise part right now.  How about this Hawaiian share from 2012 to warm you up a little?  Not a bad way to celebrate Thursday before Christmas.  This is The Kamehameha Schools With The Hawaii Youth Symphony Orchestra-Kamehameha Sings At Christmas (IMUA Records SYB-2256, -2257, Stereo, 1968)

1. Choral Fanfare For Christmas
2. Christmas Festival
3. Angelus Ad Pastores Ait
4. Here We Come A-Wassailing
5. Do You Hear What I Hear
6. Sleigh Ride
7. Carols In Hawaiian: Pomaika'i Wale Ko Ke Ao (Joy To The World); Ho'onani Kakou Iaia (O, Come All ye Faithful); Po La'l E (Silent Night)
8. Mele Kalikimaka
9. Glory To God (The Christmas Story)
10. Snow, Snow, Beautiful Snow
11. Winter Wonderland
12. We Need A Little Christmas (Mame)
13. White Christmas
14. Selections From The Messiah: And The Glory Of The Lord; Hallelujah!

Zippyshare

A Present To Me For You

You might recall a post I put up a few weeks ago mentioning that a record I wanted was for sale on eBay.  Well, turns out that one of my fans bought it and had it shipped to me!  I've been trying to get it ripped for a week now, and I'm not sure I'll have time to finish it, so I'm going to post it up here in a single version, with uncut tracks, so you'll have to play it as if it were the original radio show.  You might be familiar with the other two shows I posted earlier in the season, I believe that this one came out before those two, but I'm not 100% sure on the date.  Thank you so much to my benefactor, and please be sure to leave them a thank you as well.  This is The United States Air Force Presents Christmas Programs Featuring The Air Force Band With Jack Jones And Edward G. Robinson (The United States Air Force Public Service Program GXTV 220278/220279, Mono, 1965).  I'll try to get this cut into tracks for next season, promise! (Next one in the series I need features Marilyn Maye and Skitch Henderson.  Keep your eyes peeled for a copy, please!)

1. Promotional Spot
2. Sing A Song For Christmas Featuring Airman Jack Jones
3. Promotional Spot
4. Christmas In Washington Hosted By Edward G. Robinson

Zippyshare

Granny Music

One of my major achievements in the 2010 sharity season was putting a copy of this record out there for all to hear.  Took me forever to find a copy, and when I did, it took a lot of work to cut it into chunks and prepare it for you folks.  That was some years ago and I should probably revisit it someday, but not this year.  I'm still looking for a stereo copy, but I'm thinking those may be hard to find since I've seen it described as the rarest stereo pressing in RCA history!  For more info, please click back to my original post, but the long and the short of it is that Grandma Moses doesn't sing, she tells stories about Christmas and her early years.  The music is provided by Ralph Hunter, Skitch Henderson and some music boxes.  It's a nice listen, but not the sort of thing that gets played on the radio.  So if you're interested, please give a listen to Christmas With Grandma Moses (RCA Victor LOP-1009, Mono, 1958).  Enjoy!

1. Alec Templeton's Music Boxes-One-Horse Open Sleigh
2. Grandma Moses-One-Horse Open Sleigh
3. The Ralph Hunter Choir-Jingle Bells
4. Grandma Moses-Carolers
5. The Ralph Hunter Choir-Angels We Have Heard On High
6. The Ralph Hunter Choir-I Saw Three Ships
7. The Ralph Hunter Choir-We Wish You A Merry Christmas
8. Alec Templeton's Music Boxes-Sweetest Story Ever Told
9. Grandma Moses-Father's Violin
10. Skitch Henderson, Hausmusik-Blue Tail Fly; Pop Goes The Weasel; Stephen Foster Melody
11. Grandma Moses-Early Songs
12. Skitch Henderson-John Brown's Body; Darling Nellie Gray
13. The Ralph Hunter Choir-Good Christian Men Rejoice
14. The Ralph Hunter Choir-The First Noel
15. The Ralph Hunter Choir-The Twelve Days Of Christmas
16. The Ralph Hunter Choir-Oh! Little Town Of Bethlehem
17. Alec Templeton's Music Boxes-White Wings
18. Grandma Moses-On Painting Snow Scenes
19. Skitch Henderson, Hausmusik-Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen; Lovely Evening; Over The Hills To Grandmother's House
20. The Ralph Hunter Choir-Over The Hills To Grandmother's House
21. Grandma Moses & Alec Templeton's Music Boxes-Silent Night
22. The Ralph Hunter Choir-Silent Night
23. Grandma Moses & Alec Templeton's Music Boxes-Silent Night (Reprise)

Zippyshare

All The Skitch

Another one that I wanted to squeeze in here before the big day is this half-holiday LP from former Tonight Show bandleader Skitch Henderson.  I originally shared the Snow Holiday half of this LP back in 2006, but it wasn't until 2012 and a remaster that I shared out the whole thing, including the Sun Holiday side.  But that still leaves you with only half a Christmas LP...  So I decided to search for all the holiday bonus tracks I could find that I had collected over the years and throw them into the pot as well!  So you get seven bonus tracks, one of which is a spoken-word track from an Army Reserve LP I shared out earlier this season.  So if you put all the Winter tracks together, you get a pretty decent seasonal LP.  So please start with Skitch Henderson At The Piano Conducting the New York Philharmonic-Winter Holiday (Columbia MS 6381, Stereo, 1962).

1. Winter Wonderland
2. Moonlight In Vermont
3. Sleigh Ride
4. Winter Holiday-Winter Holiday
5. Winter Holiday-Around The Bonfire
6. Winter Holiday-Home Again
7. Troika
8. Caribbean Polka
9. Three Coins In The Fountain
10. Macarenas (La Virgen De La Macarena)
11. La Mer
12. Paris Match
13. Never On Sunday
14. Einsamkeit

And then add in:

1. The Merry Bells
2. Snowfall
3. We Need A Little Christmas
4. Greensleeves
5. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
6. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Lovely Evening; Over The Hills To Grandmothers House
7. For The US Army Reserve

Zippyshare

60, Count 'em, 60!

Couldn't let Christmas arrive without sharing out eight Christmas songs from my favorite sixty French girls.  This perpetual Christmas favorite dates back to 2005, the first year of Ernie (Not Bert).  I remastered it in 2011 for better sound, and I'm bringing it back again today. Click on one of those links if you want to know more, and be sure to read the comments to find out what people other than I have to say about this.  It's a classic!  Please enjoy 60 French Girls-Joyeaux Noël by Les Djinns Singers and The Christmas Bell Ringers (ABC-Paramount ABCS-397, Stereo, 1961).

01. Les Djinns Singers-Minuit, Chretriens (O, Holy Night)
02. Les Djinns Singers-Nuit Des Nuit (Silent Night)
03. Christmas Bell Ringers-Good King Wenceslas
04. Les Djinns Singers-Il Est Ne Divin Enfant (He Is Born A Divine Child)
05. Les Djinns Singers-Noël 'Trois Anges Sont Venus Ce Soir' (Christmas 'Three Angels We've Seen This Night')
06. Christmas Bell Ringers-Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
07. Les Djinns Singers-Non Beau Sapin (O Tannenbaum)
08. Les Djinns Singers-Pour Noël (For Christmas)
09. Christmas Bell Ringers-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
10. Les Djinns Singers-Noël, C'est L'Amour (Christmas, This Is Love)
11. Les Djinns Singers-Noël Blanc (White Christmas)
12. Christmas Bell Ringers-O, Come All Ye Faithful

Zippyshare

More Batman

Since my last share was the guy who played The Penguin on the old Batman TV series, this next one should be the guy who occasionally played The Mad Hatter.  Certainly not the most popular villain on the show, but I don't have any Cesar Romero Christmas music, and Eartha Kitt's stuff is all available elsewhere.  So you're going to have to make do with David Wayne (not Bruce!) narrating some Christmas story for you.  Enjoy!  This is the 2012 remaster of a share I first brought you in 2006, before I knew who this guy was, I just liked the cover. Here's David Wayne Narrating The Little Star Of Bethlehem And The Toy Box With John L. Eastman Conducting The Cricket Symphony (Cricket CR-X1, Mono, 1959).

1. The Little Star Of Bethlehem
2. The Toy Box

Zippyshare

Late December Back In '63

I've been trying to get more remasters up here but failing miserably.  Here's a quick one using the old artwork from my original share back in 2006, but it's a new rip from last year.  I think the sound is light years ahead of that old one, so turn it up loud and enjoy The E.F. MacDonald Company Presents Christmas Classics 1963 (E.F. MacDonald EFMX-63, Stereo, 1963).  The first side is Christmas stories narrated by the original Penguin himself, Burgess Meredith, while the second side is a set of international carols conducted by Joe Reisman.  Good stuff.  I'm still missing a couple of these promos from E.F. MacDonald, gotta dig those up sometime.

1. A Visit From St. Nicholas-Burgess Meredith With Joe Reisman's Orchestra & Chorus
2. Is There A Santa Claus?-Burgess Meredith With Joe Reisman's Orchestra & Chorus
3. The Little Match Girl-Burgess Meredith With Joe Reisman's Orchestra & Chorus
4. O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree)-Joe Reisman's Orchestra & Chorus
5. Les Agnes Dans Nos Campagnes (Angels We Have Heard On High)-Joe Reisman's Orchestra & Chorus
6. Dormi, Dormi, O Bel Bambin (Sleep, Sleep, Sweet Babe Of Mine)-Joe Reisman's Orchestra & Chorus
7. Fum, Fum, Fum (Foom, Foom, Foom)-Joe Reisman's Orchestra & Chorus
8. Twelve Days Of Christmas-Joe Reisman's Orchestra & Chorus

Zippyshare

Cameo (Not Camo)

Nice little LP here featuring samples played by the arranger from the books they wanted you to buy.  I forget exactly where I found this, but the record sleeve was stuffed with not only the record but also two music books that went along with the two sides of the record.  It was quite the fat package.  I scanned the front of the two books for you as well, but no the back or the sleeve because it's blank.  This is simple solo piano medleys, not sure if it's any good.  I'm sure some of you might like it.  Please download and give a listen to John W. Schaum-Christmas Cameos/More Christmas Cameos (Spin 7245, Mono).  There's 10 medleys on here with 3-4 songs each, I'm too lazy to type them all in.  :(

Zippyshare

Stereo Randolph!

Here's a record I was very excited to find sometime in the past couple of years!  Long time visitors to the blog might remember my shares of the two Christmas albums from The Randolph Singers, and I think one single, but they were all in mono.  The catalog is a little unclear, so I don't have dates on everything, but apparently, at one time or another, they remade their first LP in Stereo! I didn't do an A/B test, but the times on the different tracks lead me to believe it is different, and was re-recorded sometime later.  (The track sequence has changed as well.)  Earliest mention of a stereo version I can find is in a 1959 Hi-Fi/Stereo Review from December of that year.  So maybe that's the date.  But trust me, if you liked the mono, you're going to love the stereo!  This is The Randolph Singers-Christmas Carols (Westminster WST 15052, Stereo, 1959?).

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

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The old (mono) cover is shown below, and I'm pretty sure I have a third one somewhere, but it's eluding me at the moment.

 

Christmas In The CLE

Since I just revisited Christmas in Detroit, I figure it's time to revisit Christmas in Cleveland.  So here's a great little album put together from various Cleveland-area high school choral groups.  Not sure of a date on the vinyl, but I first shared it back in 2006 and heard from a couple of people that attended the high schools in question, though never from anybody who might actually be on the record.  Maybe this time the record will find it's way to the right person who can tell us all about this recording.  Without further ado, here is Christmas In Cleveland (Delta Records Of Ohio, Processed and Pressed by Columbia XCTV-84680/1). I never typed in all the relevant details about tracks and artists, so have a look-see at the back cover below if you're curious.

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