Christmas In July 2020-23

What day is this? No, really, I've forgotten.  Oh, it's Thursday. Good, tomorrow is Friday.  I may make it to the weekend. I made you an extra large helping of tracks tonight, just to whittle down the pile a little bit faster. I'm still too tired to do the math and see how many songs to share each day, but it'll sort itself out, it always does. Here we go.

1. Echo Carol by an unknown group from Superior New Works For Concert Band-Advanced Edition-Volume 23 (Jenson Publications 2xLP CB23A88AD, Stereo, 1988).  Oh, forgot to mention, the track pile I want to whittle down is the one that has all these demo recordings in it.  So expect a few more here as we go along.

2. This Day Our Lord Is Born by Junior Choir-Judith Jarve, Director-Mildred Karpinen, Organ from Grace (No Label NR8513 (Calumet, Michigan), Stereo, 1977). Lots of kids singing.

3. The Marvelous Toy by Boardman And Andress from Excerpts From The Music Book (Holt, Rinehart And Winston P16966 Demonstration Record-Not For Sale, Stereo, 1983).  Sort of a demo record, but with narration.

4. Les Patineurs (The Skaters' Waltz) by Douglas Gamley-National Philharmonic Orchestra from The Skaters Waltz, Espana & Other Waldteufel Favorites (London Treasury (Decca) STS 15572, Stereo, 1982). Obligatory ice skating song.  I guess it's not specifically ice skating, but I don't think they had roller skating when it was written.

5. Snow Frolic by Frances Lai from Love Story (Paramount PAS 6002, Stereo, 1970).  Yep, another Christmas tune from the sappy movie.

6. Navided Nuestra-Los Pastores (Chaya Riojana) by Los Fronterizos-Cantoria De La Basilica Del Socorro-Directed By Father R.P. Segade-Conducted By Ariel Ramirez from Misa Criolla-From The Argentine-A Folkloristic Expression Of Religious Emotions (Philips (Netherlands) 6527 136, originally released 1964, Stereo, 1980). More Argentine Christmas music via The Netherlands.

7. Adoramus Te Christe by The Choir Of Mary Baldwin College-Gordon Page, Director from The Choir Of Mary Baldwin College, 1958-1959 (Herman Schultz Recordings K8OP-4687/88, Mono, 1959). Not strictly Christmas, but you know...

8. (Now I'm) Out In The Cold Again by The Five Man Electrical Band from Sweet Paradise (Lion (MGM) LN 1009, Stereo, 1972). Yep, a song from the hippies that brought you Signs.

9. The Sound Of Music-Excerpt (My Favorite Things) by William Steinberg And The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra from Symphonic Pictures Of Lerner & Loewe's My Fair Lady And Rodgers & Hammerstein's The Sound Of Music (Command Classics/ABC CC 11041SD, Stereo, 1968). Pretty sure this record was just two side-long medleys of music from the plays. I edited the bit out that I wanted and left the rest buried in the vinyl.

10. Jingle Bells by the unknown artists at Silver Burdett Records, taken from Making Music Your Own-Kindergarten Record IV (Silver Burdett Records 75 180 4, Mono, 1966). I love these records that have a lot of music on them that I can share, but they get boring after a while. Sorry about that.

11. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring by The Glasgow Orpheus Choir, Conducted By Sir Hugh Robertson from Favourite Songs (Starline (UK) SRS 5124, Electronic Stereo, 1972). Written by our old friend Johann Sebastian.

12. Ave Maria by The Senior Chorus-John N. Kehayas, Conducting, from The Pittsburgh Public Schools Spring Music Festival-Senior High Schools Concert (MobilTone Studios MTS-05089-2-B, Mono, 1969).  Looks like we're back over in Pennsylvania now.

13. Let There Be Peace On Earth by The Women's Ensemble Of Bethany Lutheran Church, Melodie Bollman-Director, Eleanor Peura-Accompanist, Soloist-Ruth Tormala from The Ensemble Sings (Century Advent Recording LRS-RT-6062 (Astabula, Ohio), Stereo).  Back in Ohio.

14. White Christmas (From "Holiday Inn") by Nelson Eddy from There's No Business Like Show Business-The Magical Songs Of Irving Berlin (Book-Of-The-Month Records 4xLP 60-5256, originally recorded 7/16/51, Mono, 1978).  When you see a collection devoted to Irving Berlin and his music, you gotta check for White Christmas and I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm.

15. Away In The Manger by an unknown artist from Warner Bros. Finest For Concert Band (Jenson Publications JP-3900, Stereo, 1983). I told you there were more demo tracks coming.

16. Do You Hear What I Hear, another unknown artist, this time from Superior New Works For Concert Band Vol. XV-Advanced Edition (Jenson Publications JP-5100, Stereo, 1984). And more.

17. A Seasonal Suite, again with the unknown artist, now from New Vistas For Concert Band Vol. VII (Jenson Publications 2xLP JP-1100, Stereo, 1980). And another.

18. November-"Troika" (Sleigh Ride) by Yevgeny Svetlanov Conducting The U.S.S.R. Symphony Orchestra from Tchaikovsky-The Seasons (Columbia Masterworks/Melodiya 2xLP MG 35184, Stereo, 1978).  More Russian music performed by Russians.

19. Carol Medley: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; Silent Night by The Murk Family With Accompanist Betty Bowman from Holiday Musicale (Sacred Knof Recordings SKR-LP-1170, Mono).  More good stuff from the Murk family.

20. A Babe Is Born by who-knows-who from Jenson Publications' Choral Celebration Vol. 5 (Jenson Publications JP-4000 w/ Book, Stereo, 1983).  Sorry had to slip one more demo track in here for you.

And that's it for tonight.  A lot of songs, but hopefully some things that are worth your time.  Give it a download and a listen, then come back and let me know what you think.

MEGA