Danny

My blog buddy Buster wanted to hear something from Danny Thomas, and I just happened to have this single in the can and almost ready to go.  So I finished it up real quick and here it is for all to listen to.  Buster didn't have much good to say about Danny's singing prowess, and I'm afraid these two tracks for religious label Myrrh aren't going to change his mind.  This is Danny Thomas-Arranged And Conducted By Larry Muhoberac-Christmas Year b/w It's So Sad To Be Lonely At Christmas (Myrrh (Word) 7" 45 RPM MS-124, Stereo, 1973).  There's more Danny Thomas in the archives here and here.  One singing, one talking, your choice.

1. Christmas Year
2. It's So Sad To Be Lonely At Christmas

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More Contemporary Than Most

Be sure to head over to Buster's Big Ten Inch blog and grab an album of contemporary Christmas carols that I sent his way. Well, contemporary to 1952 that is.  It's the sort of thing that I was excited to find, but once I started messing with it, I realized that he'd be able to do a much better job of presenting it than I could.  And sure enough, he was able to track down biographical info on all the parties involved!  And it's got a great cover!  Tell him I sent you.

Not Christmas One

Sometimes I buy things that look like Christmas records on the surface, but turn out to be something else.  Unfortunately, that's the case with most Christmas Seal records you see around occasionally.  I still try to buy them and hope that there's something there, but there never has been so far.  I'm going to go ahead and throw this one up so you can listen and not make the same mistake I did.  This is For Christmas Seals 1961 featuring Benny Goodman and Guy Lombardo (National Tuberculosis Association M8MR-9856/9857 (Style D), Mono, 1961). Each artist does a 15 minute radio show on each side, with plenty of chit-chat between the songs.  If you like this, you can find another one here, and some Christmas seal messages that are sorta Christmas-related here, here and here. Look in the comments for newer links.

Side 1. The Benny Goodman Show
Side 2. The Guy Lombardo Show

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Kennedy Christmas

Odd, I think I just found another military band Christmas record that I never shared with you, again from 2010. That must have been a banner year for not sharing stuff.  The United States Air Force Band And The Singing Sergeants-Merry Christmas From George Kennedy (The United States Air Force Band, Washington, DC, Stereo, 1979).  I don't know how George Kennedy (look for the * below) got his name in the title, he only shows up as a narrator on two of the four tracks (don't worry, they're long tracks). I think maybe I would have added a line like 'Featuring George Kennedy' before I stuck his name in the title. Oh, wait, that's the way it's shown on the labels.  But it's still awkward the way it's displayed on the cover.

1. The Littlest Angel (*)
2. Do You Hear What I Hear
3. A Christmas Canticle (*)
4. A Yuletide Festival

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An American Christmas

How about a nice generic Christmas record for all of America?  I've been hopping all around the USA for the past few days (and the world before that), but I figure I can bring back this record that claims to be for Christmas in America.  I shared this in 2010, and it doesn't look like it was ever too popular.  Maybe this time out the gate it will find it's audience.  This is Chorus And Orchestra-Christmas In America Sing-Along (Richmond (London) S 30104, Stereo, 1961).

1. Joy To The World
2. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
3. O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)
4. The First Noel
5. Silent Night
6. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
7. The Little Drummer Boy
8. Jingle Bells
9. I'll Be Home For Christmas
10. Winter Wonderland
11. White Christmas
12. Silver Bells

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A Different Dino

I saw another record by this same guy in a record bin recently and that made me think of this Christmas record.  It's one of those things that was put out and then almost immediately forgotten about in the dustpile of history.  A budget division of Columbia put this out, but it's really pretty good in it's own way.  1959 was certainly a banner year for Christmas music, but I didn't get my hands on it until 2010. (And before that I shared out a mono version, but I like to upgrade when I can.) If you didn't get it back then, don't miss out on Dino Martinelli-Dino Martinelli Plays Music For Christmas (Harmony (Columbia) HS 11010, Stereo, 1959).

1. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
2. What Child Is This
3. The First Noel
4. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
5. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
6. The Coventry Carol
7. Silent Night, Holy Night
8. O Come, All Ye Faithful
9. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
10. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
11. Joy To The World
12. O Holy Night

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Christmas At The Holiday Inn

This is, without a doubt, the best cover of any of the Christmas albums I have shared with you this year.  I went a little loopy when I found this at a Goodwill in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, just last month.  I didn't care what was on the record, or even if it had a record.  That cover was worth the quarter I paid for it. It wasn't until I got it home and did a little research that I realized exactly what it was.  It turns out to be a high school chorus from Ed White High School in western Jacksonville, so it was pretty local to where I found it.  Well, one side of it was the chorus, the other side was, I believe, the director of that chorus and his lounge act.  You need to listen to this.  Unfortunately, it's not all Christmas, but it's all good.  I didn't recognize the name of the high school at first, but it turns out Ed White was one of the three astronauts killed in the then-recent Apollo 1 fire.  I was recently at Cape Kennedy and there are many memorials there to White and his fellow astronauts killed in that fire.  His namesake school was evidently a model of late-sixties educational theory, though many of the advances were rolled back once they realized they didn't actually work.  Anyhow, the music is great!  This is A Merry Christmas With The Ed White Singing Commanders And Gene White (Conductor Records SSN 2196 (Ed White High School, Jacksonville, Florida), Stereo, 1973). I love this cover, but don't you think they could have at least changed the marquee on that Holiday Inn sign to be something appropriate, like Merry Christmas, or Good Luck Commanders?

1. White Christmas
2. I Left My Heart In San Francisco
3. If I Had A Hammer
4. The Christmas Song
5. Gee Whiz, It's Christmas
6. Oh Happy Day
7. And The Glory Of The Lord
8. For Unto Us A Child Is Born
9. Hallelujah!

Tracks 1-4 by The Gene White Combo, tracks 5-9 by The Ed White Singing Commanders With Mrs. Rosalind McEnulty, Organ, And Angie Epting, Piano.

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Danny & The Navy

More music from the US Navy, this time with special guest Danny Thomas!  The deeper I dig, the more of these old shares I turn up.  This one was shared out in 2012 though it appears I had recorded it some time earlier.  It's amazing how many of these old records are out there, just waiting to be found.  I hope you're enjoying this series as much as I am!  Here is Christmas Greetings-A Special Holiday Greeting From Danny Thomas And Your Local Navy Recruiter (V #72357, Stereo, 1973). I'm afraid that Danny doesn't sing on here, he's only the narrator for songs by The Port Authority Of The US Navy Band, The Blue Jackets Choir, The US Naval Academy Glee Club and The Dixieland Group Of The US Navy Band.  Nice selection here.

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Houston!

Where am I visiting tonight?  How about Houston, Texas!  From the archives back in 2010, this collection features all sorts of local celebrities that you aren't going to hear anywhere else. This is Crash's Christmas Album To Benefit University Children's Hospital At Hermann (CCA Records 1-1986 (Houston, TX), Stereo, 1986). Hope you're enjoying out little trip around the US!

1. Crash-The Christmas Song
2. Dave Ward-I Saw Mommie Kissing Santa Claus
3. Sir Shaun Rabb-Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. The Concert Chorale Of Houston-Carol Of The Bells
5. Paul Christy-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
6. Jim Westmoreland-Frosty The Snowman
7. Milo Hamilton-A Visit From St. Nicholas
8. Dave Ward, Pat Hunt & Tommy Lee Bradley-O' Little Town Of Bethlehem
9. Matt Alan-Jingle Bell Rock
10. Kevin Bass-O' Come All Ye Faithful
11. Marvin Zindler And The Miracle Minstrels-Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
12. The Concert Chorale Of Houston-Coventry Carol
13. George Grenias-Silver Bells
14. The Concert Chorale Of Houston-Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
15. Crash-White Christmas

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Marilyn & Skitch

This is one of my favorite finds of the year, and I didn't even have to find it!  My buddy Buster sent it to me after he learned I was looking for it.  I've never seen one of these in the wild, and it finishes up my collection of this particular Air Force show style.  Side one is the same style of show we've been looking at where a guest star performs a few tracks with various parts of the USAF Band, in this case the guest is Marilyn Maye, a singer who only released a Christmas track here and there otherwise. Side two is a sort of best-of from the whole series, narrated by Skitch Henderson and features turns by guests from earlier years.  These are all taken from records I've already shared with you, so the only new stuff you're getting here is the spoken bits from Skitch, but it's still nice to hear.  Tracks are included from The Doodletown Pipers, Jack Jones, Sandler & Young, The Free Design and Nancy Wilson.  Quite the lineup!  This is The United States Air Force Presents Christmas Programs-Christmas 1969 (USAF Advertising Division GXSV-222010/222011, Stereo, 1969).  Thanks again, Buster!!

Side 1-Christmas Is...
Side 2-A Gift Of The Season

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Chirp Chirp

For whatever reason, this LP is sitting at the top of a stack of Christmas records right at the top of my stairs so I see it pretty much every day and think that I need to share it out again.  So today I finally got my act together and here it is in a brand new re-encode. It's not all Christmas, but there are some good Christmas songs on here that I don't think you're going to find anywhere else.  This was something that I was excited to find and share with you back in 2012 and I'm bringing it back six years later.  This is Cricket On The Hearth (RCA Victor LSO-1140, Stereo, 1967). Anybody seen the special? Not one of the more familiar Rankin-Bass holiday specials, but they can't all be winners.

1. Danny Thomas-The First Christmas
2. Ed Ames-Don't Give Your Love Away
3. Abbe Lane-Fish 'N' Chips
4. Maury Laws Orchestra-A Waltz For Christmas
5. Danny Thomas-Through My Eyes
6. Marlo Thomas-That Was Yesterday
7. Danny Thomas & The Norman Luboff Choir-Cricket On The Hearth
8. Marlo Thomas-Smiles Go With Tears
9. Maury Laws Orchestra-Parade Of The Toys
10. Ed Ames-Through My Eyes
11. The Norman Luboff Choir-The First Christmas

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Grant-ed

I can't remember the last organ record I shared with you, so maybe it's time for another.  But this is probably one of the best, and there's nary a chime to be heard. I can't believe that this isn't on CD anywhere or available to stream.  I went hunting and couldn't find any sign of it, but I could be wrong.  If something is out there, please let me know, I don't want to cross the powers that be. Anyhow, I shared this with you after Christmas in 2012, and only via Torrent, so I'm sure a lot of people didn't get the chance to download it from me.  It's been shared many places over the years, and I'm always thinking it's out of digital somewhere so I've kind of shied away from it.  But a request reminded me of it today, so I re-encoded it to 320, and I'm putting it back up here tonight. This is Earl Grant-Winter Wonderland (Decca DL 74677, Stereo, 1965). If you like this, I've also got an old share with an active link in the comments of a Christmas single from Grant that's probably better than anything on the album, and it's a great album.  Don't miss out!

1. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
2. Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep
3. Silver Bells
4. Carol Of The Drum
5. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)
6. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
7. Winter Wonderland
8. Silent Night
9. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
10. White Christmas
11. Jingle Bells
12. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear

I'm taking this one down for now.  I've heard from a couple of people that the speed is off, so I need to find my album and rip it again at the correct speed.  This was an older rip I had in my archives, not sure what may have happened, or if it affected other things I ripped at the same time.  Gonna do some digging.  Be sure you grab that single I mention above though, it's great!

OK, my pal The King Of Jingaling was kind enough to take my files and correct the pitch to where it needs to be.  If you downloaded this share before 12/22, you really need to grab these new files.  Thanks, King! Give 'em a listen and let me know if it sounds better to you.

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RIP Nancy Wilson

Just saw on the news where Nancy Wilson passed away yesterday at the age of 81. We had just shared some of her music on an Air Force album not two days ago. Back in her 60's heyday, she released exactly one Christmas single, and it was great.  I've never gotten very into the rest of her catalog, and she did release a Christmas LP much later in her career, but I'll always remember her for that one great single. I'd share it with you but it's a pretty common thing on CDs and streaming.

Buffalo!

Where was I yesterday?  Oh, yeah, Pittsburgh.  So we're not traveling too, too far today to Buffalo, New York, deep in the snow belt. Another record that came my way in the past year, I knew it looked familiar but I had a hard time placing it.  Then I realized it had been shared on the blogs over at FaLaLaLaLa.com many years ago by our good friend Stubby.  So for the second time this season, I'm stepping on his toes and sharing something that he first gave us.  I'll try not to make a habit of that, I promise.  This is the Buffalo Christmas Ensemble-Ho Ho Ho (No Label DJ-1285, Stereo, 1985). This is local Christmas at it's best, so don't miss out!

1. Saint Nicholas Introduction
2. The Night Before Christmas
3. Silent Night
4. Sleigh Ride Medley: Sleigh Ride; Santa Claus Is Coming To Town; Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer; The Christmas Song
5. Jingle Bells-Santa Speaks
6. Christmas Morning
7. Christmas Afternoon
9. Christmas Eternal; Christmas Time To Turn Within
10. Ave Maria
11. Birthday Medley (Adeste): O Come All Ye Faithful; What Child Is This?; Joy To The World; Angels We Have Heard On High

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200 Years, 43 Years Ago

Another lost post from 2011 that features music from the US armed forces, in this case the Navy, and they're joined by The Lettermen.  Not sure where this one has been for so long, but I'm bringing it back tonight.  This is The US Navy Band & The Lettermen-A Bicentennial Christmas (The Recruiting Advertising Department Of The Navy Recruiting Command, Stereo, 1975). How many military records does this make now?  10? 15?  Maybe I should have been counting them  Still got a few to go, stay tuned!  I wonder why I don't have any music from the Marines?  I guess they're too busy to release Christmas music.

1. Intro (Sleigh Ride)
2. Rudolph The Rednosed Reindeer
3. Carol Of The Bells
4. Christmas All Alone
5. I'll Be Home For Christmas
6. White Christmas
7. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers/We Wish You A Merry Christmas
8. Intro (Sleigh Ride)
9. The Christmas Song
10. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
11. White Christmas
12. I Sing Noel
13. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers/We Wish You A Merry Christmas

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Detroit!

Another city from the archives, this time it's music from the Motor City, Detroit! I shared this with you back in 2010, and I figure it's a good one to bring back for our tour across the world, though lately I've been stuck here in the US.  Still a lot of good music though.  This is Christmas In Detroit-A Collection Of Seasonal Music By Outstanding Detroit Choral Groups (Dedicated To The Tuberculosis And Health Society, Produced By Special Recordings, Inc., Pressed By Columbia Records, Mono, 1962).

1. Varsity Glee Club-Wayne State University-Deck The Halls
2. Varsity Glee Club-Wayne State University-Good King Wenceslas
3. Duns Scotus College Choir-Jesu Redemptor
4. Duns Scotus College Choir-Viva Viva
5. Duns Scotus College Choir-Sleep Well
6. University Of Detroit Chorus-Gloria Patri
7. The Ford Chorus-Ford Motor Company-Silver Bells
8. The Ford Chorus-Ford Motor Company-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
9. Civic Center Chorus-The Star Carol
10. Civic Center Chorus-Ave Maria
11. St. Paul's Cathedral's Choir-Silent Night
12. Anonymous Announcer-Thank You
13. Lutheran Choralaires-Oh, Come All Ye Faithful
14. Lutheran Choralaires-Oh Emanuel
15. The ACappels-We Three Kings
16. Edison Glee Club-The Detroit Edison Company-I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas
17. Edison Glee Club-The Detroit Edison Company-Carol Of The Bells
18. Orpheus Club Of Detroit-Go Tell It On The Mountain
19. General Motors Chorus-General Motors Corporation-Jingle Bells
20. General Motors Chorus-General Motors Corporation-Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
21. Shamrock Chorus-Catholic Central High School-Mary Had A Baby
22. Shamrock Chorus-Catholic Central High School-Silent Night

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Sandler, Free & Young

This is probably the most sought-after of the Air Force Christmas radio shows, mostly because side two features The Free Design, a criminally under-known 60's band that is probably better known today than back then. Their sunshine pop sound just screams late 60's, sort of a mix between The Beach Boys and Anita Kerr, but I'm not sure that even comes close to describing their sound.  You'll just have to download this and give it a listen.  There are plenty of places on the web that will be happy to tell you all about them.  The A side of the record is a good set by Sandler & Young, a duo who released two Christmas records while representing a totally different side of the sixties. I shared this out with you the first time back in 2012, but tonight I'm bringing it back in a brand new encoding at a full 320 bitrate.  That's about as good as I can make it sound, and I doubt this one will ever come out on CD, but I would love to be proven wrong.  Now if I can just find the 7" single that was released as a promo for this LP that was itself for promotional use only.  A boy can dream, right?  This is The United States Air Force Presents The Now Sound Of Christmas And A Christmas Party 1968 Featuring Sandler & Young And The Free Design With The United States Air Force Band (Advertising Division, Hq. U.S. Air Force, Stereo, 1968).

Side 1-A Christmas Party With Sandler & Young
Side 2-The Now Sound Of Christmas

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Recracked

A spoken word piece from 2010 that I don't think has been back since, this is a narrated version of The Nutcracker from the well-known Caedmon label.  At least it's well known to me, you may not have ever heard of it.  But they featured quite a bit of spoken word stuff back in the day.  This may or may not be your cup of tea, I have almost given up on predicting such things.  Either way, you should download and listen to Claire Bloom With Orchestra Conducted By Jonel Perlea-Story Of The Nutcracker (Caedmon TC 1524, Stereo, 1977).

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Cleveland!

Dipping back in the archives for another American city to visit, here's an old share from 2006 that features Cleveland, Ohio. Been sharing this one out for a long time now, but it's still got some life left in it.  Give a listen to Christmas In Cleveland (Delta Records Of Ohio, Processed and Pressed by Columbia, XCTV-84680/1, Mono).

1. Bay High School Choir-Joyous Christmas Song
2. Bedford High School A Cappella Choir-Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
3. Berea High School Choir-Hallelujah (The Mount Of Olives)
4. Cathedral Latin High School Glee Club-Carol Of The Drum
5. Cleveland Heights High School Choir-O Holy Night
6. East High School Choral Club-Traditional Medley-The First Noel-Silent Night
7. Glenville High School Choral Club-16th Century Church Music-Gloria Parti-Palestrina
8. Holy Name High School Choir-Ring Christmas Bells
9. John Marshall High School Choir-Christmas Was Meant For Children
10. Lakewood High School Choir-Now Is The Carolling Season
11. Lutheran High School West Choir-Jesous Ahatonhia
12. Magnificat High School Senior Choir-Adeste Fidelis
13. Notre Dame Academy Choral Club-To The Manger
14. Our Lady Of Lourdes High School A Cappella Choir-The Sleigh (a la Russe)
15. Parma Senior High School Concert Choir-Away In A Manger
16. West High School Choral Club-Heavenly Light

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Pittsburgh!

What city are we headed to next?  How about Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?  Not a bad place, and a great little local Christmas album.  As I was recording this, I was rather amazed at the recording, it sounds great!  Many of these locally made albums leave a little something to be desired, but not this one.  I found this in a thrift store in St. Pete a couple months ago.  They had two copies and I bought the best one.  After I recorded it and liked it so much, I bought the other one the next time I was in that store.  Not sure I needed two, but you just never know.  I'm sure this group has a history, but I'm not aware of it, and am too lazy to look it up right at the moment.  Just read the back of the LP after you've downloaded it, then you'll know everything you need to.  This is The Mendelssohn Choir Of Pittsburgh-Russell G. Wichmann, Director-Love Came Down At Christmas (A Mendelssound Production MHF 900, Mono, 1965).

1. Joy To The World
2. Love Came Down At Christmas
3. A Sequence Of Carols: Coventry Carol; I Saw Three Ships; The Twelve Apostles; The Holly And The Ivy
4. Kolyada (Spirit Of Christmas)
5. Glory To God
6. Silent Night
7. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
8. Adeste Fideles
9. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
10. For Unto Us A Child Is Born
11. Christmas, The Year One, A.D.
12. The Shepherd's Star
13. Slumber Now Beloved Child
14. Glory To God

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Snowing And Swinging

You want to hear something that swings?  Well, here's a fine collection of snowmen that claim to have what it takes.  At least they have a nice collection of expressions on their little coal faces.  I don't remember this swinging in any usual sense of the word, but maybe.  I recorded this in 2007 and I'm afraid I don't have too many memories of it.  Give it a listen and let me know what you think.  This is Swing Along With Santa's Snowmen (Craftsmen C 8040, Mono).

1. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
2. Sleigh Ride
3. O Come All Ye Faithful-Silent Night
4. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
5. Frosty The Snow Man
6. Joy To The World
7. Jingle Bells
8. Deck The Halls

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Shepherds And Children

A record that has generated many comments over the years, though I don't remember being overly impressed with it.  Maybe those comments were just from a few particularly vocal folks who had something to say, I don't know.  But I'm bringing it back for you tonight before it lapses into obscurity once again.  I first shared this in 2007, and it's coming back tonight.  Here is The Shepherd's Children's Chorus-I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (RCA Camden CAS-1126, 1971).

1. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
2. Baby Brother (Santa Claus, Dear Santa Claus)
3. I'll Borrow A Stocking From Mrs. Elephant (And Have A Big Christmas This Year)
4. Snow Bells
5. The Christmas Tree
6. Do You Hear What I Hear
7. Shake Me I Rattle (Squeeze Me I Cry)
8. I Wish I Had A Beard Like Santa Claus
9. On The Santa Claus Express
10. Elfie The Elf (With The Wiggly Waggly Ears)
11. Ten Little Choir Boys

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Nancy & Boris

It must not take much to get me excited.  I feel like time and again this season, I've introduced a record by saying how excited I was when I found it.  And, as you might guess, here's another one!  I first found a mono copy of this record and shared with all of you back in 2016, but it was only this year that I managed to track down a stereo copy.  And then I found another one, so I have a pair!  Funny how these things work, you go years and years without seeing a record, then you find two.  That actually happens more than you might think.  I suspect that maybe it's a psychological thing, before you find the first one, you don't notice it as you're quickly flipping through a stack.  But once your brain has imprinted on it, it jumps out at you the next time you see it.  Maybe, maybe not.  Anyhow, this is another of the Air Force radio shows that I've been sharing with you this season.  This time the headlining guest stars are Nancy Wilson and Boris Karloff with The Doodletown Pipers and The Airmen Of Note along for the ride as well. It's good stuff, I tell you, I only wish there was more of it.  This is From The Nation's Capitol The United States Air Force Presents Christmas (United States Air Force No Number "A Public Service Program", Stereo, 1967).

Side 1-It's Christmas Time With Nancy Wilson & The Doodletown Pipers
Side 2-Timmy Discovers Christmas With Boris Karloff


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1. Intro
2. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (Nancy Wilson)
3. Magic Little Music Box (Nancy Wilson)
4. We Need A Little Christmas (The Doodletown Pipers)
5. What Child Is This (Nancy Wilson)
6. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (The Airmen Of Note)
7. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve (Nancy Wilson)
8. Go Tell It On The Mountain (The Doodletown Pipers)
9. O Holy Night (Nancy Wilson)
10. Christmas At Our Place (The Doodletown Pipers)
11. Finale
12.  Promo
13. Intro
14. Overture
15. Timmy Discovers Christmas (Boris Karloff)
16. Outro; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
17. Promo

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St. Patty Times 2

While I'm doing two-fer's, here's another one from way, way back in 2006.  This was a fairly popular share back in the day, I remember that, though I was never sure why.  It's probably lacking in fidelity and bitrate at this late date, and I'm sure I didn't scan the labels on the records for you, but it might be worth a listen or two.  You can read up on them back at the original posts (here and here), or you can just download and listen to Saint Patrick's Cathedral Choir Sings Christmas Carols (Roulette SR 25097, Stereo, 1959) and Saint Patrick's Cathedral Choir Sings Christmas Songs-Volume 2 (Roulette SR 25142, Stereo, 1961).

Volume 1:
1. The First Noel
2. Come To The Manger
3. Carol Of The Russian Children
4. Gesu Bambino
5. Jesu, Thou Dear Babe Divine
6. The March of The Kings
7. Silent Night
8. Joy To The World
9. Carol Of The Bells
10. The Sleep Of The Child, Jesus
11. That Christmas Long Ago
12. Carol Of The Drum

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Volume 2:
1. Oh Come All Ye Faithful
2. The Christmas Hymn
3. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
4. The Christmas Carol Of The Indian
5. The Innkeeper's Carol
6. Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
7. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
8. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
9. Angels We Have Heard On High
10. Carol Of The Birds
11. Lo, How A Rose
12. Oh Holy Night

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Eddie Times 2

Had about a million requests to repost this one, so here you go. And in re-encoded sound no less from the 2011 remaster!  Same old scans from 2005 though, so I guess I need to get in there and update those someday.  That also means there are no label scans in the download, sorry. This is Eddie Dunstedter-The Bells Of Christmas (Capitol ST 1264, Stereo, 1959).

1. The First Noel
2. March Of The Three Kings
3. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
4. Greensleeves
5. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear-O Little Town Of Bethlehem-Away In A Manger
6. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
7. Cantique De Noel (O Holy Night)
8. We Three Kings Of Orient Are-Bring Your Torches
9. Deck The Halls-Joy To The World
10. Adeste Fideles
11. O Tannenbaum
12. The Coventry Carol-Von Himmel Hoch
13. Silent Night

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Also from 2005 via 2011 and re-encoded for 2018, this is the followup LP, Eddie Dunstedter-The Bells Of Christmas Chime Again (Capitol ST 1968, Stereo, 1963).

1. White Christmas
2. Silver Bells
3. Angels We Have Heard On High
4. Sweet Little Jesus Boy
5. Winter Wonderland
6. In The Clock Store
7. Ring, Christmas Bells
8. The Christmas Song
9. Beautiful Savior
10. I'll Be Home For Christmas
11. Happy Holiday

MEGA

Cincinnati!

From San Francisco, we head over some flyover states to Ohio and beautiful downtown Cincinnati. From radio station WVXU, this is a nice collection of local talent, and at least one artist that Christmas aficionados will recognize. Ruby Wright was a regular on the Ruth Lyons show, featuring on her two Christmas albums, as well as releasing a single under her own name back in the day.  She reprises one of the songs from those Ruth Lyons Christmas albums here, alongside original bandleader Cliff Lash.  I hadn't heard of any of the other artists on here, though they all do a stellar job at putting together a great package.  Wait, wasn't Marian Spelman also on the Ruth Lyons LP?  I need to research these things a little better.  This is A WVXU Cincinnati Christmas Volume 1 (WVXU 91.7 FM Xavier University 510069X, Stereo, 1985).  And yes, there is a volume 2, but I don't have it.  This one was a surprise gift in a package of records I was sent last month.

1. Ira Joe Fisher-Introduction
2. Ira Joe Fisher-The Night Before Christmas, Cincinnati Style
3. Ira Joe Fisher-Segue
4. Ira Joe Fisher-Intro To God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/Greensleeves (Over The First Noel)
5. Rick Bankemper, Piano, & Junior Bennett, Violin-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/Greensleeves
6. Ira Joe Fisher-Intro To Let's Light The Christmas Tree
7. Ruby Wright With Cliff Lash, Piano, Gene Wilson, Bass, & Rick Bankemper, Percussion-Let's Light The Christmas Tree
8. Ira Joe Fisher-Intro To Joy To The World/Hark The Herald Angels Sing
9. Rick Bankemper, Piano, Rusty York, Banjo, & Junior Bennett, Violin-Joy To The World/Hark The Herald Angels Sing
10. Ira Joe Fisher-Intro To Away In A Manger
11. Rob Reider, Vocalist & Guitar-Away In A Manger
12. Ira Joe Fisher-Intro To Oh Holy Night
13. Marian Spelman With Cliff Lash, Piano, Gene Wilson, Bass, Rick Bankemper, Percussion, & Charles Brown Music, Effects-Oh Holy Night
14. Ira Joe Fisher & The Up-Town Yuletide Carol And Swing Band-Intro/White Christmas
15. Mary Ellen Tanner, Vocalist, & The Up-Town Yuletide Carol And Swing Band-The Christmas Song
16. The Up-Town Yuletide Carol And Swing Band-Jingle Bells
17. The Up-Town Yuletide Carol And Swing Band-It's Christmas Time Again
18. Larry Kinley, Vocalist, & The Up-Town Yuletide Carol And Swing Band-I'll Be Home For Christmas
19. The Up-Town Yuletide Carol And Swing Band-The Sound Of Christmas

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One Of The Best

Here's my new 2018 remaster of the great Christmas album from Vincent Lopez.  If you've never heard this, you are in for a treat!  There are a handful of great '50s Christmas albums that have yet to be properly reissued, and this is one of them.  Real Gone, are you listening? I first shared this with you in 2012, and today I'm bringing it back. I found this new copy last month in a thrift store in St. Pete along with a small handful of great Christmas records of a similar vintage.  I was so excited I recorded it that same night!  This is Vincent Lopez And His Orchestra-Christmas Music (Coral CRL 57189, Mono, 1957).  That's Vincent on the old Motorola TV set there.  No idea who's in the Santa suit. (If you like the vintage chair Santa's relaxing in, here are hundreds of other records also featuring vintage chairs!)

1. Sleigh Ride
2. White Christmas
3. Whistlin' Otto (The Baby Reindeer)
4. Dance Of The Reindeers
5. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
6. O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum
7. Here Comes The Fattest Man In Town
8. Toyland
9. Frosty The Snowman; All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth; Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
10. Jingle Bells
11. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)
12. Christmas Rush
13. Silver Bells
14. Merry Christmas Polka
15. Cantique De Noel (O Holy Night)
16. I'd Like To Find You In My Stocking
17. Joy To The World
18. Oh, Little Town Of Bethlehem
19. Adeste Fideles
20. Silent Night
21. Merry Christmas To You

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FYI, this same music was reissued at one time back in the LP days, but it was greatly abbreviated and hidden inside this ugly cover, of which I found an ugly copy. I stuck this scan in the download for you, but it's just for the sake of completeness.

Joy!

I don't share much gospel Christmas music, but that's mostly because it's tough to find.  Here's one I did come across and shared with you back in  2010.  I think it's pretty good stuff, give it a try, you might like it.  Not sure if I was ever able to put a date on this one...  Seems like that wouldn't be too hard, but then some things just don't have any documentation.  In the meantime, this is When Singers Meet, Inc. Mass Choir-Joy To The World (Jubilee Gospel 6000, Stereo, 1969). (Update-Someone found a date for this one in the comments.  Thanks!)

1. In The City Of David
2. We Three Kings
3. Silent Night
4. Away In A Manger
5. Joy To The World
6. He's A Wonder
7. Jesus A Wonderful Child
8. Hark The Herald Angels
9. If He Gives Me Strength

MEGA