Christmas In July 2026-Part 16
1. Archie Fisher & Garnet Rogers-The Long And Lonely Winter (Off The Map, 1986)
Can't tell you much about this one. Just one of those random LPs I picked up for no reason and found a winter-themed song on there. This may turn out to be a track from someone's favorite album, or it may be something that no one has ever heard of before. We'll see.
2. Stanley Black Conducting The London Festival Orchestra AKA The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra-Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy (Tchaikovsky-Nutcracker Suite/Serenade For Strings, 1967)
A nutcracker a day keeps the doctor away!
3. Kermit Leslie And His Orchestra-The Little Toy Shop (A Holiday In Hi-Fi, 1958)
This one is a little interesting. I shared this music with you before, but it was from a 10" record. This time it's from a 12" re-release from a few years later with some extra tracks. It didn't go anywhere the second time around since it was mono in a world that was about to go crazy with stereo. But it's still good music.
4. The Bob Brookmeyer Small Band-Moonlight In Vermont (The Bob Brookmeyer Small Band, 1978)
Nice version from this double album. Once again, no idea who Bob Brookmeyer is or what's up with his small band.
5. The Yoder Families-The Bells (Come Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs)
This is a track from the LP proudly displayed up top. I think the song is a version of a track popularized by The King Family and rarely performed elsewhere that I know of. The lyrics are based on an Edgar Allen Poe poem!
6. Don Costa-A Hazy Shade Of Winter (Don Costa's Instrumental Versions Of Simon & Garfunkel, 1968)
Is this the closest Don Costa ever came to recording a Christmas song? That can't be. I think he did some work for Don Ho on his Christmas stuff, but I can't think of anything else. Sinatra maybe. Anyhow, enjoy this Christmas-adjacent song from him.
7. Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation-Mary's Little Boy Child (Savor The Flavors For Chorale Ensemble 1977-1978, 1977)
We sent you a free record! Buy our arrangements, please!
8. The Choir Of Leeds Parish Church-Directed By Simon Lindley-Michael Harris, Organ-Silent Night (Favourite Hymns And Christmas Carols, 1984)
Another track from this record raising some much needed funds for this English church.
9. Madison Junior And Senior Choir, David Alan Ayers-Director-Let There Be Peace On Earth (The Joy Of Christmas And Greats From America Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow)
Not strictly a Christmas song, but pretty tied to the spirit of the season.
10. The Crane Wind Ensemble, State University Of New York At Potsdam-Anthony J. Maiello, Director-Winterset (Music For Concert Band, 1985)
Yes, it's just a sheet music demo, but I always like it when they announce the song first. Hope there's something worth having in the pile today. Enjoy!
Don Costa did arrange Sinatra's excellent "Whatever Happened to Christmas?" Bob Brookmeyer was a very fine jazz trombonist.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know there was a 12-inch version of that Kermit Leslie record. Didn't you send me the 10-incher years ago?
I should have held back the Brookmeyer to share out with an Urbie Green track I have and something from that Music Minus One Trombone album. :)
DeleteYes, I sent you the 10" way back when, and I'm gonna send you the 12" version as well. Thought you might want to share it out as an update to that old post. I'm almost done prepping it, just need to finish it up. :)
What a guy you are!
DeleteI know I scanned it, but I don't know where I put the scans... :(
DeleteI am not sure if Don Costa did any solo Christmas stuff. I do know that I did have that Simon and Garfunkel album once upon a time. I kept Don Costa Concept but purged that one, The Golden Touch, and The Unforgiven.
ReplyDeleteThis sort of tribute album seems to me a little beneath him, but sometimes you've got to do what the record company wants. :(
DeleteI hear yah, Ernie. It is a "HOT" week, this week... in Grande Prairie, Northwest Alberta. Yesterday, we got 31 Celsius or 87.8 Fahrenheit. Today, we got to 34 Celsius or 93.2 Fahrenheit. That is about as hot as we usually get, which is hot enough for me. These are not the actual temps, but what it is with humidex.
ReplyDeleteThose are the actual temps here in FL. The 'feels-like' temps are triple digits. :(
DeleteAround here we get the heat and the smoke from wildfires in Ontario. An unbeatable combination.
DeleteHi Buster,
DeleteI'm sorry about the smoke, and the wildfires... I'm prayng for those affected, but I'm so thankful that our Province of Alberta doesn't have much wildfire's this summer (so far), but we have been getting a high amount of rain. I'm not going to lie to you, but I'm thankful we aren't getting smoke from Ontario. I have really have a hard time existing with smoke.
Jonathan - I have the same problem. I can’t go outside when it is like this. Thankfully today was better.
DeleteWe got a little reprieve from the scorching temps in FL this weekend due to a tropical disturbance in the Gulf throwing constant rain showers at us. Cooler, but very wet.
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