I hate to say it, but I've got to wrap this season up. It's been a long, long trip, but a good one. I'm getting more and more tired of trying to keep up, and the coffers are just about empty anyway, so I'm going to end it with one more installment of one of my favorite series of the season, The Salvation Army 'Army of Stars'. Sometime before Christmas I entered a bid at an eBay auction for what I believe is the very last entry in the original series of LPs, and I won. The record was delivered to my mailbox while we were celebrating Christmas in Santa Fe, so I didn't get it until after our return. A few weeks later I was able to rip it, then a few weeks after that I cut it into tracks and put the artwork together. I've held onto it since then because I knew I wanted to end the season with it. The guest star on this edition is Vincent Price, someone who previously appeared on the 1963 edition of the record, albeit extremely briefly. (If you want to hear more Vincent Price, check out his
narration of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas on one of my Christmas in July best-of collections, it's awesome!) He's got a lot more bits on this record, I'm happy to say, but that's about all this edition has going for it. After a few listens and a bit of research, I discovered that much of the music here is recycled from an earlier Ralph Carmichael project, something we shared with you here back in
2023. If you don't believe me, download both records and compare. The Lennon Sisters rate a credit right there on the rear label, but you have to hunt bit before you'll find Doc Severinsen's name on the sleeve. Turns out he's mentioned in the thank you section down at the bottom in the fine print, but his name shows up in the credits on the label in reasonable sized letters. His trumpet in Sleigh Ride is unmistakable though, so I knew he was there from the get-go and that's what led me to that earlier appearance. Dunno what possessed Ralph Carmichael to forego the making of new music for this record, but I suspect there was a lot going on with The Salvation Army over the course of the last few records in the set. You could sort of sense that corners were being cut as often as possible (they skipped 1984 entirely) and I'm not surprised the series ended after this installment. (I've seen a few records and CDs after this one that mention Army Of Stars, but they seem to be callbacks to this series, not actual annual installments. If I'm wrong, then please show me the documentation, I'd love to try and find more records and extend the series, but I really think this is the end.) Anyhow, this is
The Family At Christmas (The Salvation Army Army Of Stars No Number, Stereo, 1986).
1. General Eva Burrows-Christmas Greetings
2. The Ralph Carmichael Chorus-We'll Dress This House
3. Vincent Price-Christmas
4. The Ralph Carmichael Orchestra-Inspirational World Of Music
5. Vincent Price-Army
6. Lennon Sisters With The Ralph Carmichael Orchestra-What Child Is This
7. Vincent Price And Sunshine And Snowflakes Childrens Choir-Children; Over In Bethlehem
8. Vincent Price And The Ralph Carmichael Orchestra-Angels; Angels We Have Heard On High
9. Vincent Price And Sunshine And Snowflakes Childrens Choir-Tinsel; Where's Christmas
10. The Ralph Carmichael Orchestra And Chorus-Wonderful World Of Christmas Medley
11. The Ralph Carmichael Orchestra And Chorus-Winter Medley: White Christmas; Winter Wonderland; Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas; Let It Snow, Let It Snow; The Christmas Song; Jingle Bells
12. Sunshine And Snowflakes Childrens Choir-Happy Birthday Baby Jesus
13. The Ralph Carmichael Orchestra And Chorus-Soloist: Doc Severinsen-Sleigh Ride
14. Vincent Price And The Ralph Carmichael Orchestra-Bethlehem; Away In A Manger
15. Vincent Price And The Ralph Carmichael Orchestra And Chorus-Youth; Some Children See Him
16. Vincent Price-Oddities
17. The Ralph Carmichael Orchestra And Chorus-Little Drummer Boy
18. General Eva Burrows With The Ralph Carmichael Orchestra-The Family At Christmas
I thought this record was edited pretty tightly, so I've prepared a version of the record with the two sides presented as single tracks. I know some people like to listen to the show as it might have been played on the air while others like to be able to listen to individual songs. You can download it either way from the following links.
MEGA (Cut)
MEGA (Uncut)
In case you missed it earlier in the season, I shared out all the other entries in the Army of Stars series that I had in my collection, the first that I know of to appear on a vinyl LP in 1963, up through the one that came out right before this current share in 1985. There were quite a few that came out as radio station transcription discs before this, and my friend Buster was nice enough to share one of those giant 16" diameter record sets over at his blog that coincided with my posting here. Here's the whole list of what we shared, along with links if you missed all these postings.
1949 (At Buster's place)
1963
1964
1965 (this is the only year I'm missing, anyone want to make a contribution?)
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976 and 1976 (there appears to be a radio version of this collection, but I don't have it)
1977 and 1977 (they released a home version and a radio version of the collection this year)
1978
1979
1980
1981 and 1981 (believe it or not, they released two different collections this year)
1982
1983
1984 (there doesn't seem to be a 1984 release, but I'd loved to be proven wrong if you can find one)
1985
1986 (whoops, got carried away there, 1986 is the post you're reading here)
There, now that that's out of the way, I'd like to say thank you to everyone who has supported me this long Christmas season. I had no intention of dragging it out this long, but it's been a lot of fun. I knew that if I left all these recent shares incomplete in the folder without sharing them, they might never see the light of day. I'm only leaving about a dozen or so records in the folders untouched, most of those are more recent things that have been reissued on CD or are available for download somewhere. I just recorded them because I wanted to listen to them. I may never finish chopping them up because I've already started recording albums for sharing at Christmas this coming season. We'll see what happens. Christmas in July is not all that far away now so I hope to see you guys again real soon. Thanks again for your support!
Thank you Ernie for all the time and effort you have spent sharing all of these albums.
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe you have stayed around so long this season, or that I have stayed around listening to many of them as long as I did. I usually get burned out much earlier, so this year was a strange one for me.
I am glad you were able to share this one. This series and all the Military (some belatedly), were my favorites.
Take care and again thank you.
Thanks for sticking with us to the end, it's been a unique season for sure. :)
DeleteWell Ernie, I just listened to the radio version of this very nice album.
DeleteIt matches pretty much to the album you shared, with the exception of the track placements. Maybe you can track down the radio version someday.
The differences are basically deleting all of Vincent's praise's. Also, they dropped the greeting from Eva Burrows called "Others".
It seems to be mostly lifted from the Oral Roberts LP of 1974. The Winter Medley was a dead giveaway with the voices of Richard and Patty.
I guess I will have to send them a "Love" gift after all. Oh, sorry, I no longer deal with checks.
You probably have no idea what I mean by a "Love" gift anyway.
Vincent Price was the big draw, how could they delete him!?!
DeleteI shared out a stack of records one year that I think were sent out in exchange for this 'love gift' you're talking about. :)
Thank you! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, thanks for hanging around this long. :)
DeleteTo everyone, you may want to check out the version on YouTube. It contains a different version. It appears that it is the complete radio version and some segments are in a different place?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there was a different version released to radio? Nothing is listed at Discogs and this one seems pretty tightly edited so it could be played on the radio. But who knows...
DeleteWhile I have not listened to the complete radio version yet, it runs almost 9 minutes longer. Of course, this would also include voice over/narrative.
DeleteLikely wouldn't have fit on the vinyl. There were long speeches from the Salvation Army general as it was, which is pretty rare for these releases.
DeleteThank you, thank you, thank you Ernie for the embarrassment of riches this year. I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to participate at the tail end - 2026 has been a rough year - but I’ve been checking in and can’t wait to listen. You are the best, Ernie! Now go take some much deserved time for yourself!
ReplyDeleteAlways a pleasure to have you stop by! And thanks for the contributions, both in comments and actual records!
DeleteThank you for your continued effort, until next (later this) year, stay safe
ReplyDeleteHope you found plenty to listen to! :)
DeleteWhat a run!
ReplyDeleteThank you sir! I wouldn't trade my 132 days of Christmas posting for your one day on the radio though. ;) That's too much work!
DeleteAnother great season! Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for humoring me this long! :)
DeleteThank you Ernie, as I am apt to do, I will continue to refresh your page each day just in case. Until next time! -Organ
ReplyDeleteIt never hurts to check, you never know what might pop up! Thanks for all the support!
DeleteIt makes great sense to finish with the Army of Stars, which you have done so much to perpetuate. I'm happy to have had a small part in its preparation!
ReplyDeleteSo congratulations - already looking forward to July!
I've been holding onto it for a while now, I figured this was something good to go out on. :) Thanks for all your help in the series, and your support on the blog in general!
DeleteI'm not going to say you can't top this season because you have a habit of doing it! Thanks for the work, and for sharing it all with us. See you in July,
ReplyDeleteIt was just long, that's the only great thing about this season. Hard to keep finding something new and cool to do. Glad you enjoyed it, even with all the school and church records. :) Thanks for your support!
DeleteOh, they did not delete Vincent, just all his praises for the Salvation Army. You know, how much good work they do. Too preachy and such for a regular album.
ReplyDeleteOh, there was extra Vincent in the radio version. I gotcha.
DeleteOkay, here is the story...
ReplyDeleteI was maybe 7 years old. My mother dragged me to go visit this woman she knew from church. One on those "holy rollers" I guess you call them. I wanted to stay home and play with my Lincoln Logs. The Soldiers had to defend the fort from the Indians.
Anyway, so I get there, at this womans house, and she had stacks of records. Remember, my parents had maybe 8 records at this time and I had 3 of my own if I remember. So, I am looking at these records and some were from Oral Roberts. The mailman came. She goes to get the mail and comes back with a box. She opens it, and it was another album from Oral Roberts. Then she says, oh, i have to send him a "Love" gift. He is going up into the Tower to pray for us.
Exactly. I've got a big stack of those Christmas records. Every big preacher seemed to have a few. Surprised they got delivered in one piece, the envelopes they were mailed in were nothing substantial.
DeleteMailing envelopes ...they have to save money some how.
ReplyDeleteMailing records...I think that lady said they were from their TV specials.
I suspect they were hawked on a TV or radio show.
DeleteOral love gifts? Jiminy! -Organ
ReplyDeleteWatch it...
DeleteErnie, What can I say? Except a very, VERY sincere, THANK YOU. Your posts are ALWAYS enjoyed and appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the support! :)
DeleteErnie, this was such a treat. Thank you so much for your generous gifts of obtaining, recording, and sharing these records. Well done!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! And thanks for continuing to stop by in April!
Deletethanks for goin'. and goin'. and goinnnnnn
ReplyDeleteOne of these days I'll try to make it through the entire year, but it'll probably have to be after I retire, so no time soon. :) Thanks for leaving me a comment!
DeleteI have a Salvation Army record from 1984 I could swear I got it from you - Christmas Greetings From The Territorial Center - it has the cover and 4 other pics the same way you do all your posts. It was recorded July 31, 1984.
DeleteYes, I shared that out, but it wasn't part of the Army of Stars series. I believe it was from the east coast, not the west coast. These SA people are very territorial. :)
DeleteLong season???? ....... goodness no. It has been such a special treat to follow from November to now. Time just flew by. Every day would check to see what new treat you would post. I sure hope you got as much fun as we who follow. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteFelt pretty long to me. I'm fairly exhausted. Thanks for hanging in there all this time!
DeleteThank you Ernie, from the bottom of my Christmas loving heart! I am a quiet follower of yours since Christmas 2024, have never commented, but have reaped joyous benefits from your wonderful posts. Like some others, I want to keep Christmas alive all year, and you help me do that. Your research and notes about recordings and performers entertain us too. Your sense of humor and treasure hunting (music) adventurous spirit keep us smiling. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to comment! That's the feedback I need to keep going. It's a labor of love. :)
DeleteThank you, Ernie. Talking about albums in the mail... My parents had one from Rex Humbard, that the album cover was a thick cardboard, with a section that would be ripped off, so you could slide the the LP out of it.
ReplyDeleteThis was a delightful season. You helped me get thru the intense amount of snow (checking to see what treat you shared, for me a good download)... which we still have about 2 feet of snow (in our front yard)... At least, snow melted the most (it has all season) today with a high of 8 Celsius or 46.4 Fahrenheit.
I can't wait for Christmas in July already :)
DeleteI just checked my list of Army of Stars Albums, somehow I must have missed downloading 1970. Thanks for sharing all of these albums. You are the best, Ernie! :)
DeleteI didn't outlast the snow? :( I tried...
DeleteAnd you can't skip 1970, that was the year I came into existence!
Oh, I'm a little bit older than you :) 1969 for me :)
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ReplyDeleteHi Ernie, while I do check in during the Christmas In July, now and then, I have never captured any shares. The exceptions are the Best of Collections.
DeleteMy question is, I am guessing your birthday may fall in July, maybe not. If it does, does the day your birthday falls on, is that Christmas In July a special share to wish yourself a special day? Or if it falls towards the end of June, do you share a special belated share for yourself?
My birthday falls on Christmas-And-A-Half. Sometimes I share something special, sometimes I don't. Depends on how I'm feeling at the time. :)
DeleteHello, I thank you for all of these great Christmas Albums last year & this year. Its been Grand to hear them again. I hope that you can please reup this old Album...https://ernienotbert.blogspot.com/2006/12/way-out.html .... Thanks Again, Stan
DeleteThanks for the note. Mr. Way was selling copies of his LP digitally for a while with a couple of extra bonus tracks. I'm not going to do anything that might step on his toes and his rights to his own music.
Deletehello, yes, i don't want you to do that if this is still up on his place. . thank you for all of these other Great Holiday Albums for this year's season. looking forwarded to July and the up coming Holiday Season.. Have a Great Summer, Stan
DeleteFor what it is worth, at least YouTube NL, has it for you to listen to.
ReplyDeleteThank you for everything Ernie! You're seriously amazing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the note! Hope you found something to listen to. :)
Delete