Christmas In July 2020-37

Thursday night, and time for some more Christmas music. Can you handle it?  I hope so, there's plenty in the pile tonight.

1. Troika En Traineaux-November (From "The Months" Opus 37a) by The Imperial Concert Orchestra Directed By Irving Riskin from A Tschaikowsky Concert (Concertone 5x10" 78 RPM Album No. 15, Mono). This is the leftover track from the album I pulled the Nutcracker songs from that I shared yesterday. Seems to be some difficulty in tracking down the origin of the tracks on that set.  This one is by a different artist than the tracks from yesterday, so maybe someone will have better luck with this than those. It's mighty long for a track from a 10" 78 RPM record, but they got it on there somehow.

2. Disco Toyland by The Babes from The Babes In Toyland (Dream Music Company BIT 91550, Stereo, 1979). Yep, it's a disco version of the Victor Herbert classic Toyland that you didn't know you needed. Enjoy!

3. Santa's Coming by an unnamed artist from Sing A Song Of Holidays & Seasons (Bowmar Educational Records ?x10" 78 RPM B-1680, Mono, 1959). I love some of these kiddie songs, they're what Christmas is all about.

4. Good News, Great Joy by another unnamed artist, this time from demo LP Music For The Choral Ensemble Vol. XV-Young Choir Edition (Jenson Publications 2xLP JP-3500, Stereo, 1983). You'd think I'd be out of these demo tracks this late in the system, but you'd be wrong. Maybe I should go record a few more of them just to make sure they never, ever run out.

5. X Has No Word For These Bible Stories by Anita Bryant-Arranged And Conducted By Robert Mersey from The ABC Stories Of Jesus (Columbia CS 8675, Stereo, 1962). Finally, the last of these letter songs, and the most pointless of them all. I guess they had to use something for X.

6. The Story Of Christmas by Little Johnny Everything And His Sister Judy With The Norman Leyden Child's World Orchestra from Fun For Everyday With Little Johnny Everything & His Sister Judy (RCA Victor Children's Bluebird Records LBY-1005, Mono, 1958). If this song sounds familiar, it's because I shared a version of it as recorded by Jose Melis many years ago.  Took me a while to place it, too.

7. Ave Maria by Liberace from 20 Great Piano Performances (American Variety International Records AVI 1041, Stereo, 1975). Not sure if this is old recordings or stuff knocked out in a hurry for this slightly dodgy looking release. Anything is possible when you're talking about Liberace.

8. The Hallelujah Chorus by American Christian College Choir from An Evening With Billy James Hargis And His Kids (Christian Crusade Recordings LP30002, Stereo, 1971). We haven't heard much from The Messiah this year for whatever reason.  You never know is going to turn up when you go out hunting.

9. Snowbird by Bert Kaempfert And His Orchestra from Orange Colored Sky (Decca (MCA) DL75256, Stereo, 1970). Not the most Christmassy recording Bert ever released.

10. Finale: Merry Christmas From Our House To Your House; We Wish You A Merry Christmas by The Murk Family With Accompanist Betty Bowman from Holiday Musicale (Sacred Knof Recordings SKR-LP-1170, Mono). I think this is finally the end of the Murk Family's contribution to the season.

11. Christmastime In Florida by John McGee from Songs Of Florida (No Label 8011N8, Mono). I wish I knew more about this one. I think it's a local artist, and I believe this record was a compilation of two earlier releases. One side was mono, the other was stereo. I had to buy it because of the Christmas content, but I may have gotten it anyway for the Florida connection. If you want another great Florida Christmas song, go look in the comments here. Maybe now is a good time to remind some newer visitors that there was a small series of shares earlier this year during the early days of the COVID lockdown. The series didn't last long, but there were some interesting things in there, and most of the posts had a bonus share in the comments for those who were kind enough to leave a comment.  Check 'em out! (Huh, I just realized they're both the same Florida song! How weird! What's up with that?)

12. My Favorite Things by Kokee Band from Hawaii And Other Exotic Movie Themes (Solid State (United Artists) SS 18010 "Not For Sale" White Label, Stereo, 1967). A slightly Hawaiian version of this old Broadway chestnut? Yes, please! Is it just me or is there also a distinct James Bond thing going on here?  I'm moving this one into the best-of folder.

13. Sussex Mummers Christmas Carol (From "British Folk Music Settings"), No. 2 by Percy Grainger from Percy Grainger Plays Grainger (Everest 913, Stereo, 1966). Anyone familiar with the Sussex Mummers Christmas Carol? Not I...

14. Midnight Bells by Alfred Newman And His Hollywood Symphony Orchestra from Music For Your Listening Pleasure (Mercury MG 20038, Mono, 1955). A very early release on LP for Mercury. I think it was in one of those paper envelope sleeves.

15. Greensleeves by George Feyer At The Piano With Orchestra Conducted By Dick Jacobs from Golden Waltzes Everybody Knows (Decca DL74455, Stereo, 1964). I wish I could share Feyer's Christmas album with you, but I got a request from his family years ago to not share it, and I've done so. But maybe someday...

16. Oh, You Beautiful Doll, a not very Christmas track by Eddie Osborn At The Replica Wurlitzer from Fabulous Eddie, Vol. 2-Fabulous Eddie...Again! (Replica 33x515, Mono). A bonus 16th song again today.

And that's it for now.  More tomorrow, I promise.  Still stuff in the pile.

MEGA