2022 At 78 RPM-Frank Luther Special

One of the most prolific artists of the 78 era had to be Frank Luther. Year in and year out, for more than 20 years, he appears to have released multiple records, aimed first towards a country audience but eventually moving over into the field of intelligent kiddie entertainment. It was a crowded space, but he released so many records that to my eyes, he seems to have been one of the most important artists out there who was trying to both entertain and educate your children at the same time from the thirties to the fifties. Yet today, he's a footnote. Most of his stuff was only ever released on shellac records, only a few things were ever transferred to vinyl, and there were precious few new releases in the vinyl era. I've featured his recordings a couple of times around here, especially back in 2020 when I first started restoring shellac records from the Internet Archive, whether in a dedicated post, or scattered throughout various artist posts. I kinda figured I'd pulled out all the holiday tracks he had to offer, but I was wrong. Over the past year, I've come up with the ten more I'm sharing with you now, and it's a great sampling of the sort of high-quality kiddie-oriented music that he made his reputation with. Have a listen, and see if you don't enjoy it.

1. (A Visit From St. Nicholas) 'Twas The Night Before Christmas-Part 1
2. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
3. (A Visit From St. Nicholas) 'Twas The Night Before Christmas-Part 2
4. Ting-A-Ling-A-Jingle
5. Jingle Bells
6. Wake Happy Children; So Now Is Come Our Feast; Under The Holly Bough
7. Hark! The Herald Angel Choir; On Christmas Morning; Sweet Village Bells
8. Thanksgiving Day
9. New Year's
10. Christmas Is A-Comin'

MEGA