Christmas In July 2026-Part 11

Happy Saturday! I feel like I get fewer visitors on the weekends. I don't have any numbers to prove that, but I think I get fewer comments and I'm interpreting that as fewer total visitors. Not sure why unless some of you read the blog at work. Is that true? Are you at work reading this right now? OK, maybe not. Anyhow, the most interesting thing I have for you today are two tracks from different records that used the same stock photo cover. I almost didn't notice until I was sitting there looking at it wondering why one of the stained glass windows was split into different sections that the others. Then I wondered the same thing on another record and realized it was the same picture. Weird how that works. They spent decades slowly making their way to me from who-knows-where and then somehow I'm able to put them together.

1. Moe Koffman-Lonely Shepherd (The Magic Flute Of Moe Koffman, 1984)

We start off the day with a shepherd song that is not the usual one associated with Moe Koffman. I knew the name seemed familiar when I spotted this LP but I had to do some digging before I realized he's the composer behind Swinging Shepherd Blues. That one will show up later, but for now you get this shepherd song written by James Last.

2. Rev. Arthur E. Thom-Sweet Little Jesus Boy (His Name Is Jesus, 1972)

This is the first of the two tracks from albums with shared stock cover images. It's from the one shown up at the top of the post. I can't tell you much about the Rev. Thom, but he released an album and I dug it up. Isn't that enough?

3. Red Garter-Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (Santa's Musical Grog)

One more cut from this album full of musical grog. Thankfully for us, it's half filled with Christmas grog.

4. Madison Junior And Senior Choir, David Alan Ayers-Director-Sleigh Ride (The Joy Of Christmas And Greats From America Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow)

Come on and take a sleigh ride with these school choirs. I didn't make a note in there about where this school was located. Anybody got a clue, maybe with the director's name?

5. Poldi Zeitlin, Pianist-The Sick Doll (Tchaikovsky 24 Pieces For The Piano-Masterwork Series For The Young Musician, 1952)

More piano music from Zeitlin and Tchaikovsky.

6. Sharalee Lucas-Come On, Ring Those Bells (The Ultimate Accompaniment Library, Medium-High Voice, Volumes 9, 10, 1979)

This one is a cover of a song made popular by Evie, from her LP that I shared out here a while back. I was sort of surprised to see it turn up on this sampler of karaoke tracks, but there it was.

7. Hope Publishing Company, Somerset Press, Agape-Noel! The Savior Is Born (The Very Best Sacred Choral Music, 1979)

Sheet music advertising, buy, buy, buy!

8. Six Fat Dutchmen-Jolly Sleigh Polka (Merry Polkas, 1957)

I'm sure I've shared this track out with you any number of times, but I always have to turn their records over and look when I see them, it's just such a fun band name.

9. St. Cecilia's Men's Choir, Conducted By C. Irving Guyer-Holy Night (Glory To God In The Highest, 1965)

And this is the other track from an LP with the shared cover image of the day. It's right below this text and seems to be from about seven years earlier than the one above. I guess they keep these images in circulation for a good long while to get the most value out of them.

10. Bowmar Orchestral Library-Dance Of The Toy Flutes (Stories In Ballet And Opera)

And one last library track for today bring us to the end. Hope there's something good in there for you. Try to stay cool out there! 

MEGA