Hi Ho Ho Ho Ho

Time for the final installment of our trilogy of recordings from child prodigy Heintje. This one seems to have been released in the same year as the last one, which doesn't seem right. Who would release two Christmas albums in the same season? There must be something I'm missing here. Maybe it's just that the fine folks over at Discogs don't know what they're talking about, wouldn't be the first time. Anyhow, here he is again, this is Heintje-When The Christmas-Bells Are Ringing (Polydor (Canada) 2310 148, Stereo, 1971). Wait a sec, is this an English-language release of that last record? My German isn't good enough to figure this stuff out. I don't think so, but there is a bit of duplication here. The truth will out.

1. When The Christmas-Bells Are Ringing
2. Silent Night
3. Winter Wonderland
4. O Christmas Tree
5. Jingle Bells
6. Little Toy-Tin Soldier
7. White Christmas
8. Little Drummerboy
9. O Thou Joyful Day
10. Wintertide
11. Cowboy Carol
12. From Heaven High The Angels Come

MEGA

Hi Ho Ho Ho

Time for another record from our Dutch crooner of the day, Heintje! He's a little bit older now, a little bit wiser and possibly more palatable. Give it a listen. This is Heintje-Fröhliche Weihnacht Überall (Polydor (Canada) 2310 133, Stereo, 1971). This time the record was pressed in Canada, I guess he had a bit of a fanbase on this side of the Atlantic.

1. Weisse Weihnacht (White Christmas)
2. Von Himmel Hoch, Oh Englein Kommt
3. Es Ist Für Uns Eine Zeit Angekommen
4. Lasst Uns Froh Und Munter Sein
5. Es Wird Schon Gleich Dunkel
6. Jingle Bells (Klingt's Durch Eis Und Schnee)
7. Still, Still, Still Weil's Kindlein Schlafen Will
8. Weisser Winterwald
9. Schneeflöckchen, Weissröckchen
10. Der Kleine Trommler (Little Drummerboy)
11. Der Christbaum Ist Der Schönste Baum
12. Oh Wunder Über Wunder

MEGA

Hi Ho Ho

After that last German crooner, I promise you that this Dutch crooner is a little bit better. I think I actually recorded this one because I confused Heintje with Heino, but they are certainly not the same. Heintje was a young'un when he started singing, and his voice is much more palatable to my tastes. I've even found myself singing along to some of his songs now and again, provided it's something I know the English lyrics for. Give it a try, you might like it. This is Heintje-Weihnachten Mit Heintje (Ariola (Germany) 78 199 IU, Stereo, 1968). More to come!

1. Stille Nacht
2. Süßer Die Glocken Nie Klingen
3. Es Ist Ein Ros' Entsprungen
4. Leise Rieselt Der Schnee
5. Morgen Kommt Der Weihnachtsmann
6. Kommet, Ihr Hirten
7. O Tannenbaum
8. O Du Fröhliche
9. Am Weihnachtsbaum Die Lichter Brennen
10. Kling, Glöckchen, Kling
11. Alle Jahre Wieder
12. Morgen, Kinder Wird's Was Geben
13. Ihr Kinderlein Kommet
14. Vom Himmel Hoch

MEGA

Hi Ho

This far after Christmas, the Saturdays aren't quite as super as they were back in the middle of the season, but I've still got a few things up my sleeve. I'll start with the great German crooner that seems to be a bit too out-there for the American market (though this does appear to be a US pressing). I don't want to prejudice you any, but if you're not familiar with him, please be my guest and download Heino-Deutsche Weihnacht Und Festliche Lieder (A Festive German Christmas) (Peters International PLD 7084, Stereo, 1969). Enjoy!

1. Es Ist Für Uns Eine Zeit Angekommen; Kling Glöckchen, Klingeling; Leise Rieselt Der Schnee
2. Laßt Uns Froh Und Munter Sein; Morgen Kommt Der Weihnachtsmann; Alle Jahre Wieder
3. Vom Himmel Hoch, Ihr Engel Kommt; Süßer Die Glocken Nie Klingen; Der Christbaum Ist Der Schönste Baum
4. O Tannenbaum; Morgen Kinder Wird's Was Geben; Ihr Kinderlein Kommet
5. Kommet Ihr Hirten; Am Weihnachtsbaum Die Lichter Brennen; Fröhliche Weihnacht Überall
6. Vom Himmel Hoch, Da Komm Ich Her; Es Ist Ein Ros' Entsprungen; O, Du Fröhliche; Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht
7. Die Himmel Rühmen (The Heavens Are Telling)
8. So Nimm Denn Meine Hände (Take My Hands)
9. Lobe Den Herren (Praise The Lord) (Choral)
10. Menschen, Die Ihr Wart Verloren (You Men Who Were Lost)
11. Still Wie Die Nacht (Still As The Night)
12. Ich Bete An Die Macht Der Liebe (I Pray To The Power Of Love)
13. Ave Verum Corpus
14. Ave Maria

MEGA

Conservationists

Here's an interesting remaster that you might not recognize if you aren't really looking at the details. Took me a while to realize what was going on here, but I think I have it figured out. This was one of those records that you could order with your own special cover on it, then sell or give it away as your own, maybe as a fundraiser or a gift. This one was produced for your Mobil oil dealer, so it's kinda similar to some other records produced for Mobil in the same time period featuring Robert Way and The King Family (though this one doesn't feature a volume number). Took me a bit to realize that I had previously shared a version featuring the same artist and music but with a different cover. That one seems to have been produced for a local newspaper publisher. All of these records were made by Fleetwood Recording Studio, an outfit that made bespoke records with a sideline in recording marching bands. I hope that's not too confusing. None of it's important, all you need to do is download and enjoy The Conservatory Caroleers Of New England-The Sound Of Christmas (Fleetwood Recording Studio For Mobil FCLP3017, Stereo, 1966).

1. Deck The Halls
2. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
3. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
4. Christmas Is Coming
5. The First Noel
6. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
7. Joy To The World
8. Silent Night
9. Jingle Bells
10. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
11. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
12. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
13. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
14. O Come All Ye Faithful

MEGA

Roland Rings

I'm writing this as my wife is looking over my shoulder at what I'm typing. I'm not entirely sure she can read what I'm writing, but you never can tell so I have to be careful. This is a record played on the carillon, you know how I love those. I almost missed it because the cover doesn't have anything to do with what's on the vinyl, but I guess most records are like that. This is Roland Pomerat-Roland Rings The Christmas Bells (Maas-Rowe Carillons MR 3928, Stereo). She's still watching...

1. Silent Night
2. Angels We Have Heard On High
3. Joy To The World
4. Adeste Fideles
5. Away In A Manger
6. Bring A Torch, Janette, Isabell!
7. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
8. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
9. White Christmas
10. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
11. Awake My Soul
12. Angels From The Realms Of Glory
13. O Holy Night
14. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
15. Toy Land
16. Deck The Halls
17. Jingle Bells

MEGA

Chester Cheetah

Here's another record you can thank that big used book store up in Largo for. I spent 3-4 hours digging up there in the offseason and still came away with a large handful of good Christmas records. I feel like this is the last one though. There were a lot of similar records, probably part of a series, but this was the only one that was all Christmas. These demo records were used to sell sheet music but I think they often have interesting songs on them that you aren't liable to hear elsewhere. This one also has full versions of the songs, so you don't just get a thirty or sixty second sample of the song, you get the whole thing (though some of them are just short songs period). If any of that sounds interesting, and if there's anyone still reading this so far after Christmas, please be my guest and download West Chester State College Sinfonietta, Constantine John-Conductor-Christmas Orchestra Folio (Crest Records BEL112169, Stereo).

1. Children's Christmas March (O Come, Little Children, Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, Jingle Bells)
2. Christmas Processional (Adeste Fideles, O Sanctissima)
3. Christopher, The Christmas Tree
4. Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy--From The Nutcracker Suite
5. March Of The Toys--From Babes In Toyland
6. Toyland Waltz--From Babes In Toyland
7. Sleigh Ride
8. O Holy Night--Cantique De Noel
9. Angels We Have Heard On High
10. Away In A Manger
11. Bring A Torch, Jeannette, Isabella
12. Away In A Manger
13. Deck The Hall
14. The First Noel
15. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
16. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
17. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
18. Here We Come A-Caroling
19. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
20. Joy To The World
21. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
22. Silent Night
23. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
24. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
25. What Child Is This?
26. Winds Through The Olive Trees

MEGA

Down The River

Here's another Christmas record that involves a river somehow. Not much a theme I know, but it's long past Christmas and nothing much matters anymore. At one point I was trying to collect up a Christmas record from every state in the union and this was my entry for Iowa. Someday I hope to finish up that collection, but I'd like to find a record that actually has Iowa in the title. This is Fort Madison High School Choirs-Christmas On The Bend Of The River II (No Label FMHS 1984, Stereo, 1984). I notice this is part two, so now I'm obligated to track down volume one. Heaven knows how I ended up with volume two, so this might be a hard one to complete the set.

1. Fort Madison High School Chamber Singers-Allen D. Chapman, Director-I Believe This Is Jesus
2. Fort Madison High School Bloodhound Singers-Allen D. Chapman, Director-People Look East
3. Fort Madison High School Concert Choir-Allen D. Chapman, Director-Sebastopol Carol
4. Fort Madison High School Eighth Grade Chorus-Allen D. Chapman, Director-Sanctus
5. Fort Madison High School Women's Chorus-Allen D. Chapman, Director-All Things Bright And Beautiful
6. Fort Madison High School Chamber Singers-Allen D. Chapman, Director-Some Children See Him
7. Fort Madison High School Concert Choir & Chamber Singers-Allen D. Chapman, Director-Joy To The World
8. Fort Madison High School Combined Choirs-Allen D. Chapman, Director-O Come All Ye Faithful
9. Fort Madison High School Bloodhound Singers-Allen D. Chapman, Director-Echo Anthem
10. Fort Madison High School Concert Choir-Allen D. Chapman, Director-Christmas Is The Warmest Time Of The Year
11. Fort Madison High School Chamber Singers-Allen D. Chapman, Director-My Heart Is A Manger
12. Fort Madison High School Women's Chorus-Allen D. Chapman, Director-Christmas Is
13. Fort Madison High School Chamber Singers-Allen D. Chapman, Director-How Lovely Are The Messengers
14. Fort Madison High School Concert Choir & Chamber Singers-Allen D. Chapman, Director-Hallelujah Chorus
15. Fort Madison High School Choirs-Allen D. Chapman, Director-School Song (Unlisted)

MEGA

Up The River

Here's another of the myriad of home-produced records I've been sharing with you all season long. Pretty sure we've seen this cover on any number of other records, too, maybe not this season but in the past. Not sure how to search for an image on the blog, but maybe I'll remember the name on one of those other records before this goes live and add it. Or maybe you'll know and you can tell me. In the meantime, here's another collection of Christmas tunes on the solo piano. This is Andrew Clarke-Christmas Improvisations (DIMA Records NR15106, Stereo). I think this is a Florida record, the recording studio is in Jacksonville. That's nowhere near me, but at least it's in the same state. Here's a link to another Jacksonville record I remember being very excited about when I found it some years ago.

1. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
2. O Come All Ye Faithful
3. What Child Is This?
4. Coventry Carol
5. Joy To The World
6. Christmas Medley
7. Good Christian Men Rejoice
8. We Three Kings
9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
10. Joy To The World
11. The First Noel

MEGA

Nat Geo

When I was a kid, National Geographic was my favorite magazine. I think it was the only magazine my parents had a subscription to when I was little. (No, wait, I'm wrong. We got Reader's Digest, too.) Not sure if that was for me or if maybe they enjoyed it as well. But I can remember getting really excited when it showed up, and really unhappy in the occasional months when an issue got lost in the mail. I can remember writing to them to let them know that we hadn't got last month's magazine and got excited when I got a letter saying they were sending out a new copy ASAP. We also had a huge stack of back issues in a cabinet beside my mom & dad's bed. I'd lay on the bed and try to find an interesting date to read for hours on end. When I got older and had a little disposable income, I'd buy older issues at the thrift stores, trying to find the oldest dates I could because I thought those would be the most interesting. Even after I made it to college, I can remember going to one of the huge libraries at UF and finding their archive of National Geographics and flipping through copies that came out way at the very beginning of the magazine from before they included color photographs. Long story, but I figured it is a proper introduction to this record that was put out by the National Geographic Society as part of a series of records in the late 70's. This would have been my peak time for reading and enjoying the magazine, but I don't recall knowing anything about these records at the time. Not sure who the band is here, but I seem to recall seeing a famous name in the credits. Lemme go take a look. Oh, yeah, arranged and conducted by William Pursell. He had a pop hit with Our Winter Love in 1963 before heading off in other music directions like this one. I think you'll enjoy this one, I certainly did. Huge triple gatefold package here (with custom printed inner sleeves as well), you'll see it in the package, it's massive! This is The Christmas Festival Chorale And Orchestra-An American Christmas (National Geographic Society 07799, Stereo, 1977). Oh, I forgot about the first time I ever went to DC. I trekked all the way into town to visit National Geographic's headquarters there. Not much to see and I think I was the only person there, but I was glad I made the trip.

1. We Wish You A Merry Christmas; O Come, All Ye Faithful
2. What Child Is This
3. Deck The Halls
4. Away In A Manger
5. Silent Night
6. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
7. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
8. We Three Kings
9. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
10. O Holy Night
11. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
12. Joy To The World

MEGA

At The Crossroads

Here's a record for you that I thought was going to be another run-of-the-mill religious record but turned out to be better than I expected. I think these folks may be from Florida but I couldn't find out too much about them from a cursory search. I'm sure someone will fill me in with the details, assuming there's anyone out there still paying attention. Christmas was a long time ago, and even the twelve days of Christmas have ended. Not sure how long I'm going to keep going, but I've got a little more in the pile still. This is The Crossroads Singers-Holiday Souvenirs (The Crossroads Singers CRS 1011, Stereo, 1980). Nice package here with a custom inner sleeve. It's all there in the download for you.

1. We Need A Little Christmas
2. Silver Bells
3. Winter Wonderland
4. Home For The Holidays
5. Feliz Navidad
6. White Christmas
7. The Christmas Song
8. Holiday Souvenirs
9. Silent Night
10. Little Drummer Boy
11. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
12. Angels We Have Heard On High
13. O Holy Night
14. O Come, O Come, Immanuel
15. Song Of The Redeemer: I. The Ancient Song; II. The Brightest Star

MEGA