Wednesday, December 10, 2025

10-5

What's next? How about some sedate organ music from Ethel Smith? There are some real gems in Ethel's catalog, but I'm afraid this record is not one of them. I think she was trying to be a bit somber and worshipful here, so it's almost all hymns with the addition of not-very-exciting versions of White Christmas and Jingle Bells. There are better organ records to be had when it comes to Christmas music, believe me. I shared out a 12" version of this record many years ago that added a few tracks, and I don't remember them being any better. If you want to hear what Ethel can do with an organ on a good day, search some of the old Christmas in July shares I have on here, she really lets loose on some tracks here and there. But unfortunately, not on this record. But I know the completist in me still wants you to download and give a quick listen to Ethel Smith-Christmas Music (Decca 10 Inch 33 RPM DLP 5034, Mono, 1949). I think I found two slightly different covers for this one, so that's why you'll see extra scans in the download folder.

1. Silent Night (Christmas Hymn)
2. Adeste Fideles (O, Come, All Ye Faithful)
3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
4. Oh, Little Town Of Bethlehem
5. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
6. O Holy Night (Cantique De Noël)
7. White Christmas
8. Jingle Bells

MEGA


9 comments:

  1. The covers with different Decca bugs is a nice touch for us record nerds.

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  2. The completist in me thanks you.

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    1. At least you don't have to store physical copies. :)

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    2. I’m very curious about how you manage that!

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    3. That's also my current strategy.

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  3. Ernie, I don't remember who got me hooked on Ethel Smith organ music or not, but it is great to have more Ethel Smith :)

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    1. She got much better as time went on, at least in the records I've heard. This one is downright morbid compared to what she did later. I guess Decca didn't want anything too out-there on a Christmas record at the time. Shame she didn't get to do more Christmas in the mid to late-fifties, that could have really been something to rival Lenny Dee!

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