13-Polka Christmas
Update-4 Jan 2023-Added tracklist to allow searching.
1. Frankie Yankovic And His Yanks-Vocal Chorus By Frankie Yankovic And Bud Griebel-Christmas Polka
2. Freddy Martin And His Orchestra-Vocal Refrain By Merv Griffin And The Martin Men-Merry Christmas Polka
3. Eddie Habat And His Polka Orchestra-Polka Vocal By Bob And Millie Holt-Santa Claus Polka
4. The Globe Trotters-Sleigh Ride Polka
5. The Modernaires Featuring Hal Dickinson-Orchestra Under The Direction Of Lou Bring-The Jingle Bell Polka
6. Dinah Shore With Jud Conlon's Rhythmaires-Orchestra Under The Direction Of Harry Zimmerman-The Merry Christmas Polka
7. Benny Strong And His Orchestra-The Merry Christmas Polka
8. Joe Biviano With RCA Victor Accordion Orchestra-Wooden Soldier Polka (Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers)
9. Jimmy Wakely With Cowboy Band-Christmas Polka
10. Margaret Whiting And The Mellomen With Frank DeVol And His Orchestra-Mistletoe Kiss Polka
11. Jerry Dostal And His Polka Band-Snow Man Polka
Nothing like polkas to brighten up anyone's day, especially when you include one from Cleveland!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I like it when old record labels restate the obvious in their credits, such as "Merry Christmas Polka (Polka)" in case we were concerned that the Merry Christmas Polka was actually a waltz.
Which one is Cleveland?
ReplyDeleteWell, there are about a million big band records where they note that the vocalist is the same person credited with the entire record... i.e. Fred and his orchestra, vocal chorus by Fred. :)
Thanks for the comment, Buster!
Frankie Yankovic!
ReplyDeleteOh, the maker of every other Polka record in the world. Well, back in the day. Later it was Jimmy Sturr. Not sure who holds the title these days. :)
ReplyDeletePolkas for this holiday season seem out of season. In most sparsely populated Covid-observant households like mine, I'd think the few people there would be inclined to waltzes, fox trots and tangoes. However, these would be perfect for one of Mike Pompeo's overcrowded White House parties. No gift keeps giving more than Coronavirus. Anyway, I'm glad you excavated these. You've kept me from a "treasure" hunt I have never ever wanted to undertake. Please keep up this Christmas shellacking. It's nice to find likable examples of genres I hate.
ReplyDeleteThese are good ones, because most (if not all) of them are vocal versions. I get tired of finding polkas with great titles, only to find out they're instrumental and have nothing to do with the title.
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty more of these out there, I'm sure. You'd be hard pressed to collect up all of the Christmas Polkas out there.
More Christmas dance steps to come later in the season. :)
I'm so tired from polka'in' around the tree today that I need to rest for a while for sure!, thanks for that workout....these are wonderful. I keep telling myself to stop collecting tracks but then you go and drop things like this in my lap - hoo boy....
ReplyDeleteBLESS YOU!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGesundheit!!
ReplyDeleteHmmm... Where else have I heard Merv's "Merry Christmas Polka" before this season? (-:
ReplyDeleteGreat selection. Cool to hear other "pop" version of this number. Frankie Y. apparently didn't record the number until 1951, though it seems to be associated with him.
And how come MEGA likes you and Buster but hassled me to the point of having to leave? I'm sure it was nothing personal, but...
ReplyDeleteI'm no big polka fan but I will check this out. Nothing says I have to KEEP it, right?
ReplyDeleteThis batch is especially fun. Thanks, Ernie!
ReplyDeleteA college friend of mine grew up with Freddy Martin's version of "Merry Christmas Polka" on a compilation and introduced me to it. We're both totally amused by the overly-boisterous laugh after the "happy and gay" line...which to us sounds a tad like Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West.
Thanks for the comments all!
ReplyDeleteLee, as usual, beat me to the punch. Here's a link to his post featuring Merv Griffin, which probably sounds better than my hack job. :) http://musicyouwont.blogspot.com/2020/12/more-christmas-78s-christmas-favorites.html
Pete-That's just not right...
Now that I belatedly look over the contents one more time, I note that Eddie Habat is on the list. That makes two bandleaders from Cleveland, the other being Frankie Yankovic.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't all polka music somehow trace itself back to Cleveland? Well, Chicago maybe. :)
ReplyDeleteThe Chicago school tends to be Polish (L'il Wally), and the Cleveland style is Solvenian-Bohemian.
ReplyDeleteI can't tell the difference between a hambone, a polka, or any of the other styles. They sound about the same to me. :(
ReplyDelete