Chanukah In August-The Only Day

Chanukah music can be really hard to find some times, so I'm very excited to be able to share with you these seven (count 'em, seven!) songs from four different albums this year. I don't know if there's anything earth-shattering here, but quantity sometimes is it's own quality. Let's jump right in.

1. Tehiyah Day School-Candles From Far Israel (Tehiyah: Songs Of The Seasons)
2. Tehiyah Day School-Light The Candle (Tehiyah: Songs Of The Seasons)
3. Tehiyah Day School-Eight Candles Shine (Tehiyah: Songs Of The Seasons)
4. Tehiyah Day School-Light One Candle (Tehiyah: Songs Of The Seasons)

The first four tracks are from the same LP and feature a bunch of singing primary school children. That's not what I was expecting based on the cover, but that's what I got. I guess I should have known. I was still excited to find it.

5. Lynn Roberts, Carmen Baron & Juda Campbell-Hanukkah (Holiday Songs For All Occasions, 1978)

I think this is the only rerun track of the day, pulled from a kiddie LP with music for lots of different holidays.

6. The Children's Choir And Orchestra Tav La-Taf--Pa'Amonim, Conducted By Benny Nagari-Holiday Medley: Shana Tova (New Year); Sookati (My Sooka--For Succot); Ma'Oz Tsoor (Chanukah Song); Shoshanat Ya'akov (From The Book Of Esther--For Purim); Dayenoo (Enough For Us--From The Passover Hagada); Heveno Shalom (We Bring You Shalom & Friendship) (Sing Children Sing-Songs Of Israel, 1981)

Woo, that's a lot of medley. This one could have gone to Chanukah or New Year's I think, but it felt more Chanukah to me so here it is. This is the track from the above-the-fold album shown up top. It's a rare singing album from Caedmon, most of their stuff is spoken word. And UNICEF is tied up in here as well.

7. Unknown Artist-My Dreydl (Mockingbird Flight, 1975)

We finish up the day with a track from that five LP set of uncredited songs that's been popping up all season on here. This was the only Chanukah entry among the many songs on all those albums, but I'll take what I can get.

And that's it for today. As I keep hinting, I've got a surprise for you tomorrow, so don't think that the season is over just yet. It'll be worth your while to stick around one more day, trust me. 

MEGA

CiA 2025-Day 01

No, I'm not starting over. If you've been around for Christmas in July a while now, you'll likely recall that I try to share out a batch of Chanukah tracks for you on the first day of August each year, so the title above stands for Chanukah in August. And I was lucky enough to find three tracks for you this year. Not sure if there's a real highlight among the songs for today, I was just happy to have more than one song in the Chanukah bucket this year. Just take 'em for what they're worth and be glad I found something. Enjoy!

1. Mike Green, Catherine Slonecki, April Inyard, Scott Jasnow And Kelly Kaneblet-Dreydl Song-Israel (Holiday Songs Around The World, 1994)
2. Clear Springs Chorus, Directed By Miss Shari Steffen, Accompanist: Mrs. Patricia Paul-Shalom (Clear Springs Chorus Sings)
3. Cincinnati Children's Choir-O Chanukah (World Of Music-Sample Recording K-8, 1988)

MEGA (FLAC)

Chanukah In August '24-Day 1

As is tradition, I've got some Chanukah music for you after all of the Christmas music from July. Unfortunately, I've only got one track, and it's a new copy of something I've shared before, but at least it's something. For all of our Jewish friends, enjoy!

1. Unknown Artist-Eight Nights Of Hanukah (Now And Long Ago-Silver Burdett Songs From Music For Living-Album 09)

MEGA (MP3)

MEGA (FLAC)

Happy Chanukah

I believe it's the third night of Chanukah, so I've got a Chanukah record for you. I had hoped to have a whole eight nights worth this year, but that didn't work out. This may be the end unless I can scrounge up something else, but I'm going to have to dig deep for anything else. In the meantime, this is Cantor Joseph Boardman, Cantor David Unterman, Flora Avner, Carol Bergey, Rehla Suken-Songs For Hanukkah (The Jewish Education Committee Of N.Y., Holiday Series, LP-JEC 1003, Stereo). Very traditional stuff here, enjoy!

1. Hanukkah
2. Dreydle
3. S'vivon
4. On Hanukkah
5. O, Once There Was
6. Aley Neyri
7. Once An Evil King
8. Mi Ze Hidlik
9. Who Can Retell
10. O Hanukkah
11. Mooz Tsur
12. Al Hanisim
13. Mattathias
14. Brohos
15. Rock Of Ages #2
16. Haneyros Halolu
17. Haleluyah
18. Rock Of Ages

MEGA

Steel For Christmas

This is a record I have hunted for a long time and finally found an affordable copy on Discogs earlier this year. I've wanted one ever since I heard a copy I got from the long-defunct blog of my buddy Inkydog. Looking at that paint-by-numbers cover with a weird looking car and some sort of psychedelic turnip on it, you wouldn't even suspect this is a Christmas album, but believe me, it is. This LP was a promo for United States Steel to advertise some new ideas they had for using steel in automotive production that they had incorporated into that car, called the Innovari II. Believe it or not, that's the front of the car you're seeing on the cover. There's lots more info about the car inside the gatefold, it's all there in the download for you to read. (And if you're really interested, they released another non-Christmas LP by these same two artists.) The two artists featured here, one per side, are otherwise unknown to me, though I see where they released other stuff, mostly in and around the Detroit area. (I should have posted this on Detroit day! Opportunity missed!) Some of this is hardcore Christmas lounge, some of it is pure exotica. Check out the version of Little Drummer Boy that leads off side one. If the vibes don't scream exotic to you, the bongos will make it obvious. If you were to dub some bird calls and croaking frogs over top of this, you'd swear it was Martin Denny live from the Aluminum Dome. It's not the cleanest copy in the world, but you will still enjoy this one. And there's a Chanukah track on here as well, so enjoy that here on the second night. (See, something for everyone on this record!) This is Holiday Innovations (Columbia Special Products CSS 836 For United States Steel, Stereo, 1968).

1. The Jack Brokensha Quartet-Little Drummer Boy
2. The Jack Brokensha Quartet-We Three Kings
3. The Jack Brokensha Quartet-Do You Hear What I Hear?
4. The Jack Brokensha Quartet-O'Hannukah
5. The Jack Brokensha Quartet-Engulfed Cathedral
6. The Lenore Paxton Trio-Joy To The World; Little Drummer Boy
7. The Lenore Paxton Trio-Frosty The Snowman; What Child Is This?
8. The Lenore Paxton Trio, Robert Chambers-Vocal-I Saw Three Ships; Christmas Waltz; Sleigh Ride
9. The Lenore Paxton Trio, Robert Chambers-Vocal-The Twelve Days Of Christmas; The Christmas Song
10. The Lenore Paxton Trio, Robert Chambers-Vocal-Santa Claus Is Coming To Town; Deck The Halls; Trimming The Tree At Christmas
11. The Lenore Paxton Trio-Angels We Have Heard On High-Hark The Herald Angels Sing
12. The Lenore Paxton Trio, Robert Chambers-Vocal-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

MEGA

Repertory 4

As the sun sets on this, the first night of Chanukah, I've got an appropriate record to share. And as luck would have it, it's part of the series from the Kid Stuff label that I've been sharing out all day. Coincidence, or planning? You'll have to decide that one for yourself. As you light the first candle, this is The Kid Stuff Repertory Company-The Story Of Channukah (Kid Stuff KS173, Stereo). Not sure what year this one came out, and I can't quite figure it out since their catalog numbers don't stick to any pattern for too long, near as I can tell. But like all their stuff, it's most likely between 1976 and 1979. Enjoy!

MEGA

Chanukah In August 2023-Part 3

As The Doors once said, this is the end. I've got nothing left in the pile for you after this. There wasn't a huge deluge of stuff this year, but I think it was some good stuff. I've got a lot of it set aside in a special folder for an eventual best-of, but that's going to have to come at some time in the future. For today, you get seven more tracks for the eight days of Chanukah. Wish I could have made that work out with eight tracks, but it just wasn't in the cards.

1. The Shining Lights-Happy Hannukah
2. Soloists, Choir And Orchestra Of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute Of Religion-Father Made Me A Sevivon
3. Hap Palmer-Hanukkah-Vocal
4. Morleen Getz-Rouse, Narrator-Intro To Hanukah Lichtelech
5. Soloists, Choir And Orchestra Of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute Of Religion-Karen Gural, Soprano-Hanukah Lichtelech
6. Morleen Getz-Rouse, Narrator-Intro To Ken, Ken Yehi Ratzon
7. Soloists, Choir And Orchestra Of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute Of Religion-Karen Gural-Ken, Ken Yehi Ratzon

Looks like most of today's tracks came from the same record. I try not to do that, but there were just too many cuts from that one to spread them out. Put all of those tracks together that I've shared with you over these three days and you'll have the whole side of the record. Thanks for joining me on this voyage through June, July & August. It's been a blast. Hope to see you in November if I can get my act together. I'm off to Europe in a few weeks now for some much needed R&R. I'll be looking for you out on Lake Como, and maybe outside Battersea Power Station. I'll be the one in the Santa Claus hat.

MEGA

Chanukah In August 2023-Part 2

Time for the second part of our August Chanukah spectacular. If you enjoyed the stuff from yesterday, then it's pretty much more of the same thing today. I can't think of a lot of interesting things to say at the moment since I'm hungry, so I'll just give you the tracklisting and a link and call it good.

1. Morleen Getz-Rouse, Narrator-Intro To Yemei Ha-Chanukah
2. Soloists, Choir And Orchestra Of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute Of Religion-Yemei Ha-Chanukah
3. Morleen Getz-Rouse, Narrator-Intro To Father Made Me A Sevivon
4. The Shining Lights-The First Candle We Light On Hannukah
5. Morleen Getz-Rouse, Narrator-Intro To Sevivon, Sov, Sov, Sov
6. Soloists, Choir And Orchestra Of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute Of Religion-Sevivon, Sov, Sov, Sov
7. Kathy Lecinski-Chanukah, Oh Chanukah

See you tomorrow!

MEGA

Chanukah In August 2023-Part 1

Even though Chanukah rarely (ever?) comes after Christmas, I like to share out a handful of Chanukah tunes with you right after I finish my Christmas in July shares. It's a lot rarer to come by Chanukah tunes on the old records I dig up, but they do turn up here and there. And this year features a bumper crop, mostly thanks to one full side of tunes from a record I found. So I've got more than a single day for you. For those of you who're still around here at the beginning of the month, here are a handful of Chanukah tunes for your listening pleasure.

1. The Shawnee Choir-Earl Willhoite, Director-Richard Lindroth, Accompanist-Hanukkah Holiday
2. Soloists, Choir And Orchestra Of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute Of Religion-Prelude
3. All-City Choir-Susan Van Dyck, Chairman-Nancy Ferguson, Coordinator-Hanukkah
4. Morleen Getz-Rouse, Narrator-Intro To Ma-I Hanukah
5. Soloists, Choir And Orchestra Of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute Of Religion-Michael Horton, Tenor-David Goodman, Baritone-Ma-I Hanukah
6. Soloists, Choir And Orchestra Of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute Of Religion-Mah Oz Tzur
7. Hap Palmer-Hanukkah-Instrumental

Come back for more tomorrow!

MEGA

2022 At 78 RPM-Chanukah, Part 2

Funny how these things work. I just shared a few Chanukah songs with you on Tuesday, which I had kept in waiting most of the year, and then I find two more good ones yesterday and today. So here's a second, smaller Chanukah share for you to enjoy. Shalom!

MEGA

2022 At 78 RPM-Chanukah

I know I'm a day late, and it's a really small share, but I do have a couple of Chanukah songs for you from the collection of shellac over at The Internet Archive. It might be easier to find this stuff if there was a standardized spelling of Chanukah, but there seem to be quite a few ways that are accepted, and there are even more ways that were in use when these records came out. So I didn't spend as much time as I needed to find some shares, yet somehow still wound up with duplicates in my folder. Once I weeded those out of the pile, I was left with nine sides, most of which have more than one song on them, but I didn't cut them into pieces because they all flow together. So here on the second night of Chanukah, enjoy some tunes from crusty old 78s!

1. Vocal: Shirley Cohen, Narrator: Eli Gamliel, Accompaniment: Helen Schraefer-Chanukah Music Box: Brochot; Maoz Tzur; Little Candle Fires; Sov, Sov, Sov
2. Narration-Fred Vogel, Songs-Jesse Silverstein, Music-Herbert Rothgarber-The Chanukah Party: Happy Chanukah; Song Of The Latkes; Presents; Maccabee March
3. Sung By Emanuel Rosenberg-Judith K. Eisenstein, Piano-The Hanukkah Blessings; Rock Of Ages
4. Vocal: Shirley Cohen, Narrator: Eli Gamliel, Accompaniment: Helen Schraefer-Chanukah Music Box: Maccabee March; Yimai Ha-Chanukah; Spin Little Dreidle; Chazak V'ematz
5. Sung By Emanuel Rosenberg-Judith K. Eisenstein, Piano-O Hanukkah; Mi Yemalel; Spin Sevinon
6. Narration-Fred Vogel, Songs-Jesse Silverstein, Music-Herbert Rothgarber-The Chanukah Party: Count The Candles; Spin, Dreydel, Spin; Happy Chanukah
7. Mickey Katz And His Kosher-Jammers-The Draidel Song
8. Emile Renan, Baritone-Rosalind Nadell, Contralto-Free Synagogue Choir-Alexander Richardson, Organist-A.W. Binder, Conductor-Brochos Shel Hanukkah (Blessings Over Lights)
9. Emile Renan, Baritone-Rosalind Nadell, Contralto-Free Synagogue Choir-Alexander Richardson, Organist-A.W. Binder, Conductor-Rock Of Ages (Hanukkah Hymn)

MEGA

Chanukah In August 2022

Real quick, here are a couple of Chanukah songs I found in the midst of my Christmas search this year. One is a rerun, but one is new.

1. Mi Y'Amalel by The Weavers from The Weavers On Tour (Vanguard VSD-6537, Electronically Re-Recorded To Simulate Stereo, 1969). That's the rerun, but I couldn't pass it up.

2. Grandma's Draidel by Mickey Katz from Mickey Katz Plays Music For Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs And Brisses (Capitol T1021, Mono, 1958). And this is the new one. I know dreidel isn't spelled the same, but I'm hoping this is close enough for our purposes. According to the liner notes, draidel is a type of dance, so we'll pretend this is a Chanukah dance.

Not the best year for Chanukah songs, but there have been years when I have nothing, so I gotta take what I can get. Enjoy!

MEGA

Chanukah In August 2021-Part 1

 OK, I've only got one track for Chanukah this year, but it's a pretty good one, very traditional.

1. Chanuke, O Chanuke! by Martha Schlamme With Orchestra Conducted By Robert DeCormier from Martha Schlamme Sings Jewish Folk Songs (Vanguard VRS-9011, Mono, 1957).

Don't know much about Martha, but Robert DeCormier worked with Harry Belafonte for a few years, including his Christmas LP the year after this one. I think he was originally credited as Bob Corman, but that was fixed once people realized his name wasn't offensive to anyone.

MEGA

60-Chanukah At Last

I posted back during Chanukah that I hadn't been able to find any music for the season this year, but then this turned up.  It's not really a song, but a long version of the story of Chanukah. I suspect I couldn't find it because it's called Chanuko here, not one of the more common spellings I was hunting for. And unlike almost all the other shares this season, this one is by a single artist from a single album. This is John Conte-The Chanuko Story (Union Of American Hebrew Congregations, 2x10" 78 RPM RPM EBC 53). As usual, I dug this up from the deep depths of The Internet Archive. They've got a great collection over there, check it out!

MEGA

Update-5 Jan 2023-Added a tracklist for searchability.

1. John Conte, Narrator, With Cast-The Chanuko Story-Side 1
2. John Conte, Narrator, With Cast-The Chanuko Story-Side 2
3. John Conte, Narrator, With Cast-The Chanuko Story-Side 3
4. John Conte, Narrator, With Cast-The Chanuko Story-Side 4

53-Little Bits More

Since my previous post of a large quantity of very short Christmas songs was sort of a hit, here's another batch of little tiny songs to use here and there to spice up your mix. We start out with yet more from the great Frank Luther, then a few tracks from a gas company Christmas record (You know how I love those!), then a whole bunch of things from educational records of the fifties. Those can be pretty good, too, you just never know what you'll find. I'm also including some Thanksgiving, New Year's and even Chanukah music that I found, so I've got all the holiday bases covered here. As usual, all the songs here are from the great collection at The Internet Archive. Head over there and take a look around, you won't be disappointed.  Hope you're enjoying these.

MEGA

Update-5 Jan 2023-Added a tracklist for searchability.

1. Milwaukee Gas Light Company Quartet-Traditional Christmas Carols-Part 1 (Oh Come All Ye Faithful)
2. Tenor And Orchestra-Over The River And Through The Wood
3. Milwaukee Gas Light Company Quartet-Traditional Christmas Carols-Part 2 (O Little Town Of Bethlehem)
4. Tenor And Orchestra-Santa Claus
5. Soprano And Orchestra-Thanksgiving Song
6. Milwaukee Gas Light Company Quartet-Traditional Christmas Carols-Part 3 (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)
7. Tenor And Orchestra-Happy New Year
8. Soprano And Orchestra-Round The Christmas Tree
9. Milwaukee Gas Light Company Quartet-Traditional Christmas Carols-Part 4 (Silent Night)
10. Tenor With Instrumental Accompaniment-We Three Kings Of Orient Are
11. Soprano With Instrumental Accompaniment-The Squirrels' Thanksgiving
12. Soprano With Instrumental Accompaniment-Welcome To The New Year
13. Unknown Artist-Jack Frost
14. Unknown Artist-Snowflakes
15. Unknown Artist-My Dreydl
16. Unknown Artist-Hannukah
17. Unknown Artist-Santa Claus Will Soon Be Here
18. Unknown Artist-Away In A Manger
19. Unknown Artist-We Wish You A Merry Christmas
20. Frank Luther With Piano, Violin And Clarinet Accompaniment-The North Wind Doth Blow
21. Frank Luther With Piano, Violin And Clarinet Accompaniment-Silently Falling Snow
22. Donald Gramm, Baritone, With Sptring Quartet-The Holly And The Ivy
23. Frank Luther With Piano, Violin And Clarinet Accompaniment-Winter, Goodbye!

Nothing for Chanukah

My apologies to those of you who are chosen, but I'm afraid I have nothing to share for Chanukah this year. Even though it's usually not a very popular share, I always like to share out a little something for those who celebrate a different holiday this time of year. (Yes, I know there are yet more holidays this time of year, but if you think Chanukah music is hard to find, try to find a Merry Tet song, and Kwanza didn't come along until after the records I like to share here, and Festivus is even newer...) Anyhow, I wasn't able to find anything in The Internet Archive that I thought was related to the Eight Crazy Nights, though your mileage may vary. (And yes, I spelled it every way I could find, and only got a hit for something that I think I've already shared around these parts.) As a bit of consolation, here's a link to the Chanukah In August from earlier this year, and a post from last year that's similar to this one, it has links to a lot of older Chanukah shares. Maybe next year will be better.

PS-If you find something in the Archive, lemme know!

Chanukkah In August

 And here's the inevitable Chanukkah post for the season.  Not too many songs this year, I'm afraid, only nine, and many of those are repeats from previous years. But it's still a better selection than you'll find elsewhere, since you're unlikely to find a selection anywhere else.  That's one of the reasons I started to do this sort of Christmas in July celebration. No one else was doing it, and I thought it was a worthwhile contribution. I hope you agree. Anyhow, here's a link to the Chanukkah portion of the season.  Enjoy!

MEGA

Happy Chanukah!

I wanted to say Happy Chanukah to all our Jewish visitors out there, and apologize for no new Chanukah content. I didn't turn up a singe new piece of content for the festival of lights this year, so I have nothing to share with you. But maybe you missed all the content from last year. If so, start here and work your way back through the posts.  You should find nine great posts that cover all eight nights. Oh, and here's a link to the Chanukah in August from earlier this year, just as a little icing on the latke.  Enjoy!

Chanukah In August 2019-Part 1

Good morning!  After a great Thanksgiving in June and an even greater Christmas in July, it's my pleasure to present you with this less than stellar Chanukah in August.  It's a full ten tracks, but there are two albums represented twice, so it breaks a few of the rules I tried to follow the rest of the year.  I suppose I could have broken it up into two days, but I'm lazy and running out of time, so it's all here at once.  Still an interesting collection, let's see what you get.

1. Ray Middleton-Choir & Music Under Direction Of Howard Barlow-Chanukah from Ten Jewish Holy Days (Candle Records CAN-112, Mono, 1957). Another interesting contribution from Mr. Middleton.  Same, err, interesting style as his other contributions this season.

2. Pete Seeger And Banjo-Chanukah, Oh, Chanukah from With Voices Together We Sing (Folkways FA2452, Mono, 1956).  I can almost always count of finding some Chanukah track from Pete Seeger each and every year.

3. Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, Narration-Rabbi Nelson Glueck, Prayer, Soloists & Chorus Of The Hebrew Union School Of Sacred Music, Conducted By Isadore Freed And David Conviser, Eve Queler At The Organ-Hannukah-Feast Of Lights (Psalm 20; Hanukkah Blessing; Maoz Tzur; Hanukkah O Hanakkah (SIC); Mi Yamalel) from Great Days We Honor-Yom Kippur & Hannukah-In Song And Prayer (The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute Of Religion 10" 33 RPM FO-7L-0318/0319 (Programs are part of the RCA Thesaurus.), Mono, 1955).  The big track of the day.  It seems to be something that was produced as a radio show. Good stuff.

4. Redlands High School Concert Choir-Director, Wilbur H. Schowalter-Hanukah Song (Jewish Folk Song) from Redlands High School Concert Choir 1964-65 (Handel Record Mfg. H-2008 (on Sleeve) H-2009 (on Label) Blue Vinyl, Mono, 1965). Nice of one of our regulars this season to provide us with some Chanukah content.

5. & 6. John Klein At The Console Of The "Carillon Americana" The World's Greatest Carillon-Hanukkah Song & Who Can Retell? from Around The World On A Carillon (Columbia Adventures In Sound WL 135, Mono, 1959).  I think I've shared one of these tracks before, but I must have missed the other one somehow.

7. Lynn Roberts, Carmen Baron & Juda Campbell-Hanukkah-Festival Of Lights from Holiday Songs For All Occasions (Kimbo Educational KIM 0805, Stereo, 1978).  Something for the kiddies at Chanukah.  Shouldn't there be eight songs?

8. & 9. Hap Palmer-Hanukkah-Vocal & Instrumental from Holiday Songs And Rhythms (Activity Records AR-538, Stereo, 1980).  OK, that's two more songs for the kiddies, still need five so that we've got all the nights covered.

10. Sing & Learn-Spin Dreidel Spin from Holiday Songs (Macmillan Educational Company MBCI-09003, Stereo, 1987).  That's four, but now I'm out of Chanukah Songs.

And since I'm out of songs, I'll give you the download link.  Thanks for stopping by.  If this isn't enough Chanukah music for you, I think you can still visit one of my Christmastime posts covering the eight days of Chanukah last year and find a single download with all my old Chanukah In August shares.  It's pretty epic, as they say. And all the other Chanukah time shares from last year are still good as well. Enjoy!

Mas Eighth

OK, I feel a little bad that the last two night of Chanukah were just a track or two each.  I feel sorry for the little kiddies who get good gifts on the first six nights of Chanukah, then they get a stick of gum or a pencil on the last two nights.  So to make up for it just a little, here's something special for you that I rarely do.  I collected up all of the Chanukah stuff from my Christmas In July shares between 2006 and 2017, put them into a single ZIP file, and I'm sharing them with you tonight!  There weren't Chanukah tracks every year, and there were plenty of years I didn't even do a Christmas in July, but I think there are still 50 tracks in there!  Some repeats, though, so don't get too excited.  And don't forget there are still two Chanukah days from Christmas In July 2018 that are available (here and here).

MEGA

Who's Melech Ha'Chanukah now??!!