Polka Your Eyes Out

From the organ to the accordion, I'm really mixing it up now. From Frankenmuth, Michigan, apparently home to polka lovers, this is Marv Herzog-Christmas Greetings From Frankenmuth Michigan-Weihnachts Grüsse Aus Frankenmuth Michigan (Herzog Records 3002, Stereo, 1981). One side features carols in English, then the other side features some of the same carols in German. Bronner's Christmas Decorations warrants a mention on the back of this one and they appear to still be in business. Stop by and tell them Ernie sent you.

1. Silver Bells
2. O Come All Ye Faithful
3. White Christmas
4. Joy To The World
5. Away In The Manger
6. Silent Night
7. Leise Rieselt Der Schnee (How Softly The Snow Is Falling)
8. Ihr Kinderlein Kommet (O Children, Come One And All)
9. Süsser Die Glocken Nie Klingen (Sweeter The Bells Never Sounded)
10. O Du Frölige (Blessed And Joyous Christmas Time)
11. Herbei O Ihr Gläubchen (O Come All Ye Faithful)
12. Stille Nacht (Silent Night)

MEGA

Polka Again With Frankie

Before I recorded that Frank Yankovic record I shared with you an hour or so ago, I recorded this single that was pulled from it. I don't think there's any difference between this one from the 45 and the album track from the album, but I recorded it, and I'm going to share it to get it out of the pile. This is Frank Yankovic-Old Fashioned Christmas Polka (Smash 7" 45 RPM 888 196-7 DJ (Same on both sides), Stereo, 1986). Not nearly so much Joey Miskulin content here.

MEGA

Wally World-Part 3.5

Not sure if the season needs any more, but here are a small handful of singles from Li'l Wally. Some of them are duplicates from the albums I've shared, but I had already recorded them when I found the albums, so I'm throwing them in here. At least one is from an album of his that I don't have, so if anybody wants to send that one my way, I'd appreciate it. This pretty much empties the Li'l Wally well for the year, so hope you've enjoyed this deep dive.

1. How Lovely Is Christmas
2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
3. Merry Christmas Mom And Dad
4. Oh Christmas Tree
5. White Christmas
6. Winter Wonderland

MEGA

New Christmas Songs!

I never know where to start with my Christmas shares every year, so I have to just break down and pick something.  This year I decided to lead off with a little bit of polka for two reasons.  First, this LP is packed with almost all songs you've never heard before.  I know how much we all like to hear new songs for the season since it's easy to become burned out on the same twenty or so songs you hear on the radio this time of year.  And other than a single medley of (obscure) oldies on here, everything is new and improved!  Secondly, this is the record jacket I had to spend the most time cleaning up.  Even before I was able to scan it, I had to carefully soak off some residue from another sleeve that was stuck across half of the front.  I think I did pretty well for something that most folks wouldn't have looked at twice, much less actually bought.  Oh, I don't think you can tell from the scans, but this is pressed on really, really dark red vinyl.  I had to hold it up to the light to confirm that, but I was able to see through it just a bit, or at least see some light passing through it.  Anyhow, enough blah-blah-blah, you just want something to listen to while you digest all that turkey you ate today.  This is Walt Groller And His Orchestra-New Christmas Songs (Stella S-LP 948, Stereo, 1965).  You get vocals from The Pany Sisters here, too, if you're interested in that sort of thing.  There's also a flyer scan thrown in that I found in the sleeve, in case you wanted to order some more music from these guys or their label mates.

1. Church Bells Ringing
2. Old Fashioned Sleigh Ride
3. Christmas Everywhere
4. The Nicest Little Toy
5. We Can't Wait For Christmas
6. Snow, Snow, Beautiful Snow
7. Children Go To Sleep
8. Little Boy Jesus
9. Dear Old Santa Claus
10. Carol Of The Angels
11. I'll Hang My Heart On The Christmas Tree
12. Medley Of Christmas Songs

MEGA

Silver Bells

Took forever, but here is today's new share for you.  I was flipping through the stacks of stuff that I had recorded and this happy Santa Claus caught my eye.  You guys needed another polka record, I figured, and an oberek never hurt anyone.  It wasn't until I pulled the LP from the sleeve that I realized the job in front of me.  Half a dozen pieces of paper came out of the sleeve with the record, and I had to scan them all in for you.  Now you have a fairly complete catalog of releases on the Stella label, as well as an order card, an envelope, a biography of Bernie and I think an order form for some sheet music and books.  Don't say I never did anything nice for you!  In addition to all that, you get some nice music.  And those abrupt edits near the end of most of the songs?  That's on the vinyl, folks.  I'm not sure what effect they are trying to achieve there, perhaps they wanted you to think these were live tracks?  I don't know, but it's disconcerting if you aren't expecting it.  Anyhow, this is Bernie Witkowski And His Silver Bell Orchestra-The Christmas Record (Stella S-LP 914, Mono).

1. Jingle Bells Polka
2. Christmas Tree Polka
3. On A Sleigh--Polka
4. White Christmas
5. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
6. Toy Shop Polka
7. Harmonica For Christmas--Polka
8. Little Christmas Tree--Polka
9. Ol' Man Santa--Oberek
10. Bells Are Ringing--Polka
11. Christmas Lullaby--Polka
12. My Boy Friend Santa--Polka

Zippyshare

Mummer, Not Murmer

I'm not sure if this goes with today's theme of polka music or not, but it popped into my head when I was looking for something new to share.  In my record hunts, I frequently see these string band records, often talking about mummers or mummer parades, and I'm really not sure what it's all about.  To my untrained eye, it looks a little like a parade I saw once in San Francisco, but the less said about that, the better.  No offense to these guys who dress up in feathers and march in parades, but, umm, well, whatever.  But this is the first of those records I've seen that featured holiday music, so I wanted to share it with you.  I think you'll enjoy Happy Holiday With The Best Of The Mummers (Sure SM-Vol. 13, Mono).

1. Quaker City String Band-Happy Holiday And White Christmas
2. Quaker City String Band-Jingle Bells
3. Greater Kensington String Band-Silver Bells
4. Greater Kensington String Band-Winter Wonderland
5. Polish-American String Band-Christmas Bells
6. Polish-American String Band-Mistletoe Polka
7. Greater Kensington String Band-I'll Be Home For Christmas
8. Greater Kensington String Band-Silent Night
9. Polish-American String Band-Christmas Time
10. Polish-American String Band-Jingle Bells Polka
11. Quaker City String Band-Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
12. Polish-American String Band-Happy New Year To You
13. Aqua String Band-Golden Slippers and Four Leaf Clover
14. Aqua String Band-Auld Lang Syne

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More?!?

You say you're on a roll and you need more Christmas polka?  Well, OK, here's a good one again from 2008.  This is Jimmy Sturr And His Orchestra With The Jimmy Sturr Singers & The Matusz Singers-Polka Christmas In My Hometown (Starr Records/Bruno-Dean Enterprises R-BS-116, Stereo, 1979).  If memory serves, this was a double album.  Not sure why I didn't note that in the technical stuff above...

1. Christmas In My Hometown
2. Churchbells Are Ringing
3. Jingle Bells Polka
4. The Christmas Song
5. Santa's Super Sonic Sleigh
6. On This Christmas Day
7. O! Holy Night
8. Twinkle Toes
9. Little Boy Jesus
10. Merry Christmas Polka
11. Wśród Nocnej Ciszy (In The Still Of The Night)
12. Dzisiaj W Betlejem (Today In Bethlehem)
13. Przylecieli Aniolkowie (The Angels Came)
14. W Zlobie Lezy (Away In A Manger)
15. My Tez Pastuszkowie (We Too Are Shepherds)
16. Pojdzmy Wszyscy Do Stajenki (To The Manger)
17. Sliczna Panienka (Beautiful Lady)
18. Medrcy Swiata (Kings Of The World)
19. Lulajze Jezuniu (Sleep Little Jesus)
20. Pasterze Mili (Shepherds Mild)
21. Tryumfy Krola Niebieskiego (Triumphant King Of Heaven)
22. Hej W Dzien Narodzenia (Hail! The Day Of His Birth)
23. Nowy Rok Biezy (New Year Begins)

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Dancin' Fool

Did I hear you say polka?  Pretty sure I did.  This was first shared back in 2008.  From the Polka King himself, this is Frankie Yankovic-Christmas Party (Columbia CS 9053, Stereo, 1964).

1. Jing-A-Ling (Christmas Time Is Here Again
2. The Merry Christmas Polka
3. Blue Christmas
4. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
5. Jingle Bells Polka
6. Christmas Polka
7. There'll Always Be A Christmas
8. Christmas Chopsticks
9. Christmas Lullaby
10. Medley: The First Noel; It Came Upon The Midnight Clear; Away In A Manger; We Three Kings Of Orient Are
11. Medley: O Come, All Ye Faithful; Good King Wenceslas; Ihr Kinderlein Kommet
12. Medley: Joy To The World; Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly; God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

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Polka Time

Yes, it's polka time! No fancy commentary here, I'll assume you all know The Polka King when you see him. If you don't already have some Christmas polka on your iPod, download Frankie Yankovic-Christmas Party (Columbia CS 9053, Stereo, 1964). This was first shared in 2006.

1. Jing-A-Ling (Christmas Time Is Here Again
2. The Merry Christmas Polka
3. Blue Christmas
4. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
5. Jingle Bells Polka
6. Christmas Polka
7. There'll Always Be A Christmas
8. Christmas Chopsticks
9. Christmas Lullaby
10. Medley: The First Noel; It Came Upon The Midnight Clear; Away In A Manger; We Three Kings Of Orient Are
11. Medley: O Come, All Ye Faithful; Good King Wenceslas; Ihr Kinderlein Kommet
12. Medley: Joy To The World; Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly; God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

If this isn't enough polka to get your kielbasa cookin', then go here.

More Polka

If there's one thing you can't have too much of at Christmas time, it's polka music! And here's a good one, the first time I've shared out a double record here at the blog. Record one is fun polkas, and record two is more traditional Polish Christmas music, but you'll enjoy it all. I didn't think I was going to be able to bring you this one this year. I pulled out a copy and started to record it, but I only had one of the two records. Several months later I discovered another copy in the archives, and it had both records in it. So that allowed me to finish up the recording and share it. Please download and enjoy Jimmy Sturr And His Orchestra With The Jimmy Sturr Singers & The Matusz Singers-Polka Christmas In My Hometown (Starr Records/Bruno-Dean Enterprises R-BS-116, Stereo, 1979).

1. Christmas In My Hometown
2. Churchbells Are Ringing
3. Jingle Bells Polka
4. The Christmas Song
5. Santa's Super Sonic Sleigh
6. On This Christmas Day
7. O! Holy Night
8. Twinkle Toes
9. Little Boy Jesus
10. Merry Christmas Polka
11. Wśród Nocnej Ciszy (In The Still Of The Night)
12. Dzisiaj W Betlejem (Today In Bethlehem)
13. Przylecieli Aniolkowie (The Angels Came)
14. W Zlobie Lezy (Away In A Manger)
15. My Tez Pastuszkowie (We Too Are Shepherds)
16. Pojdzmy Wszyscy Do Stajenki (To The Manger)
17. Sliczna Panienka (Beautiful Lady)
18. Medrcy Swiata (Kings Of The World)
19. Lulajze Jezuniu (Sleep Little Jesus)
20. Pasterze Mili (Shepherds Mild)
21. Tryumfy Krola Niebieskiego (Triumphant King Of Heaven)
22. Hej W Dzien Narodzenia (Hail! The Day Of His Birth)
23. Nowy Rok Biezy (New Year Begins)

Frankie, My Dear

A track from this LP started playing on my iTunes this morning, and I found myself tapping along to it, so I'm taking that as a sign I should reshare it. Everybody loves a good polka, so why should Christmas be any different? Please help yourself a heaping helping of Frankie Yankovic-Christmas Party (Columbia CS 9053, Stereo).

1. Jing-A-Ling (Christmas Time Is Here Again
2. The Merry Christmas Polka
3. Blue Christmas
4. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
5. Jingle Bells Polka
6. Christmas Polka
7. There'll Always Be A Christmas
8. Christmas Chopsticks
9. Christmas Lullaby
10. Medley: The First Noel; It Came Upon The Midnight Clear; Away In A Manger; We Three Kings Of Orient Are
11. Medley: O Come, All Ye Faithful; Good King Wenceslas; Ihr Kinderlein Kommet
12. Medley: Joy To The World; Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly; God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

Frankie (Not Weird Al)

Are you in the mood for a little polka in your Christmas tonight? I hope so, because that's what you're getting. The once and future king of all polka music, Frankie Yankovic, will be happy to play his special blend of accordions, tubas, and whatever else they use to make this quite distinctive music. I can't even describe it.. And yes, The Merry Christmas Polka is in here. Go get Frankie Yankovic-Christmas Party (Columbia CS 9053). This is the second LP I've shared out this year called Christmas Party. Odd...