Christmas In July 2020-04

It's probably not a good sign that I'm already tired of the posting grind.  It's still awfully early in the month, and I'm struggling to find the energy to get these up for you.  Well, hopefully I'll fall into the groove soon, and the Christmas will start flying like reindeer through the sky.  Let's see what's in the pile for tonight!

1. George Feyer At The Piano With Orchestra Conducted By Dick Jacobs-Skater's Waltz from Golden Waltzes Everybody Knows (Decca DL74455, Stereo, 1964).  If you like that tinkly cocktail piano, then this is for you.

2. The Norman Paris Quartet-My Favorite Things from Music From Rodgers And Hammerstein's The Sound Of Music (Harmony (Columbia) HL 7235, Mono, 1960).  This sure was a popular musical.  There are easily hundreds of albums dedicated to putting some slight twist to it's songs.

3. Sing Gloria In Excelsis Deo by an unknown artist from Jenson Publications' Choral Celebration Vol. 5 (Jenson Publications JP-4000 w/ Book, Stereo, 1983).  What do you think, should I keep spreading these out like this or should I do a couple of monster posts and get rid of a lot of these short demo recordings all at once? I'm not sure.

4. The Frankford High School A Cappella Choir-Robert G. Hamilton, Director-Carol Of The Bells (Ukranian Carol) from The Frankford High School A Cappella Choir Sings '61-'62 (Acoustic Arts Recording Studios LP 126 (Philadelphia, PA), Mono, 1962).  I think I've already shared something from this album.  I need to shake up my selection finger a little more, I've got plenty of random things to choose from, no reason to be grabbing things from the same album so early in the season.

5. The Norman Luboff Choir-Let There Be Peace On Earth (Let It Begin With Me) from This Is Norman Luboff! (RCA Victor LSP-2342, Stereo, 1961).  Took me a while to find a stereo copy of this one, but here it is.

6. The Kingston Trio-Go Where I Send Thee from The Patriot Game (Pickwick SPC-3297, Stereo, 1972). A budget label compilation from the popular folkie trio, that for some reason includes a Christmas track.

7. The Handbell Choir Of St. James Methodist Church, Olney, Philadelphia-Eleanor C. Thompson, Director-Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers from Sacred And Secular Music (Magnetic Recorder And Reproducer Corp. MRR-397, Mono, 1963).  Yes! The first handbell song of the year!

8. Fred Waring And The Pennsylvanians-Stuart Churchill And Glee Club-Ave Maria from The Best Of Fred Waring And The Pennsylvanians (MCA 2xLP MCA2-4008, Mono).  Wouldn't be Christmas without a healthy helping of Fred Waring.  More to come from this one.

9. John Klein At The Schulmerich "Carillon Americana" Bells-Oboe Soloist: Norman Leyden-Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring from The Call Of The Carillon (RCA Victor LSP-2255, Stereo, 1961).  Possibly the most popular carillon artist in the world at the time.

10. Biddu Orchestra-Hot Ice from Biddu Orchestra (Epic/CBS PE 33903, Stereo, 1976).  Something a little out of the ordinary for you here. Is this disco?  Pretty close.

11. Kenneth Wilson, Organist-Medley Of Carols: Angels We Have Heard On High; O Little Town Of Bethlehem; It Came Upon The Midnight Clear; O Come All Ye Faithful from Christmas At The Castle/Kenneth Wilson Celebrates (AFKA HCM101/S-4665, Stereo, 1981).  I had this in the Christmas record pile until I noticed it was only Christmas on one side.  But that's a good thing, it means I can share that half with you here during July.

12. The Invitations With Billy May And His Orchestra-Out In The Cold Again from The Invitations With Billy May And His Orchestra (Liberty LST 7145, Stereo, 1960). I've enjoyed this song from other artists, so I was exited to see it here on a record I hadn't seen before, and Billy May is just the best!

13. The Broadman Chorale-William J. Reynolds, Conductor-I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day from Hymns Of Love And Praise (Broadman BSLP-0691, Mono, 1959). I'm afraid I don't remember anything at all about this record.  Must not have been very memorable.

14. John Gray-Moonlight In Vermont from The New Wave-The Guitar Of John Gray (Capitol ST 1852, Stereo, 1962). An album from someone who was going to be the next big thing, but it never seems to have taken off.  I guess you just never can tell what's going to catch the public's imagination.

15. The Flintstones With The Peter Pan Players And Orchestra-Ski-Doo from The Flintstones (Peter Pan 8105, Stereo, 1972).  A little story starring everyone's favorite prehistoric family.  Not much on Christmas, but at least it takes place in the winter, and there's some snow involved.

And that's it, fifteen more tracks from me to you.  Thanks for all the comments so far, I'm hoping that once the holiday gets here, more folks will remember our annual celebration and stop by. But I'm glad to have everyone that's here, whether it's two or even three of you! :)  Here's the link, see you tomorrow.

MEGA