This is one of the more fun local records I've found this year. In fact, it was pretty enjoyable and worth more than a single listen which is rare for these sorts of releases. The songs are good, the music is good, the singing ain't bad, and there's a narrator who's either poorly mixed or speaks so quietly you can barely hear him. It certainly adds a bit of humor to the proceedings that are already pretty fun. Give it a shot, I think you'll enjoy it. There were two copies of this in the dollar bin at the record store, and I bought them both, just in case. Both were mono copies, and Discogs says it also came out in Stereo, so I need to see if I can track one of those down. Got one? Send it my way, I'll really appreciate it. This is
Staff of Pittsburgh Hospital-
Christmas Is Fun And Love (Pittsburgh Hospital PH 6655, Mono, 1966). There also appears to be a rock band from the area,
The Del Monacos, involved in this somehow.
1. Greetings-Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
2. Carol Of The Bells-Silver Bells
3. Deck The Halls
4. Hurry Here, Hurry There...-I Wonder As I Wander
5. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
6. Oh Come Little Children-Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
7. Reprise-Carol Of The Bells-Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (Flapper Style)
8. Joy To The World-Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
9. Sweet Little Jesus Boy
10. Do You Hear What I Hear
11. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year-White Christmas-Frosty The Snow Man
12. Jingle Bells
13. Jesus, Thou Art Coming
14. Oh Come All Ye Faithful
15. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year Auld Lang Syne And A Christmas Wish From Us To You...
MEGA
you gotta love that cover… with the poiuyt stable and a reindeer from the planet krypton. the back cover too... just what is that around the photo of the hospital? i think it’s supposed to be a snowflake. but it looks more like one of those stylized shrapnel holes splattered in the credits of a 60s war movie, or maybe a batman speech bubble.
ReplyDeletei agree that this is a superior production. i’d bet that the del monicos were a local society band who waived their fee for the sisters of charity (and needed permission from the musicians union to do so). even the piano accompanist is much better than average. but the real delight is the student nurses glee club. those accents! they sound like the roches singing “winter wonderland” on their “we three kings” album. and someone went to a lot of trouble making original arrangements. good stuff.
I'm from the 'burgh so this piqued my interest - really nice, charmingly sincere!
ReplyDeleteI'm from PA and lived in Pittsburgh for a number of years. I especially love how you can hear the Pittsburghese accent, even through their singing! Thanks for this, Ernie!
ReplyDeleteThis is my new favorite Christmas album! Thanks, Ernie!!
ReplyDeleteIt's surprisingly good, isn't it! :)
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