Ernie (Not Bert)

Saturday, December 06, 2008

The Return Of The King

A very popular share last year was a mono copy of the record you see above. As quite often happens, I stumbled across a stereo copy not long after I shared the mono version, but it was too late to get it out during the last Christmas season. But here it is this year in two channel form. I think it does sound better, but maybe that's because both ears are able to enjoy themselves, instead of just the one. OK, so I'm not a professional comedian, or even much of an amateur. But I do like to share Christmas music. Please download The Pete King Chorale And Orchestra-Christmas Time (Kapp KS-3214, Stereo, 1960).

1. My Favorite Things
2. Silver Bells
3. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen-It Came Upon The Midnight Clear-Joy To The World
4. The Christmas Song (Featuring Beth Adlam)
5. Sleigh Ride
6. Adeste Fideles-Silent Night
7. The Night Before Christmas
8. The Little Drummer Boy
9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Featuring Beth Adlam)
10. Mary's Little Boy Child
11. The First Noel-Away In A Manger-Oh, Holy Night
12. White Christmas

A Christmas Rant, Please Ignore

Someone sent me a note about this album last night, and that made me think of it, and thus I'm going to reshare it with you today. The note said they wanted me to rip it in at a higher bitrate because they've grown to love it over the years and if it sounded better they could enjoy it more. Well, sorry, this is what you get. If you want to watch eBay for a while, I'm sure you could find a copy, then buy a small turntable and amplifier, and a computer, download some free software and rip a copy of it, then transfer it to MP3 at 320 kbps. But then you'll find that there's a little noise you don't like, so you'll have to go back and buy another copy of the record, perhaps a sealed one. But by then you'll have found that MP3 is a lossy format, and you'll have to convert it to Ogg Vorbis or somesuch. It's just a never ending cycle. I'm just happy to have shared it and made it available to a few people. I'm sorry if I come off as offended, but I just didn't appreciate the tone of the letter, even though he was trying to be nice about it. I suppose if you don't like what you download for free, upload it back and I'll return your money. Oh, wait, I'm the one paying to let you download it... OK, I've gone off the rails here. That's not what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown. If you'd like to hear some great jazzed-up versions of Christmas songs, some of which feature a vocalist doing his best Louis Armstrong, please download The World's Greatest Jazzband Of Yank Lawson & Bob Haggart-Hark The Herald Angels Swing (World Jazz WJLP 5-2, Stereo, 1972). I first shared this back in 2005 when I was ripping at 128, so if you don't like your scratchy vinyl turned into artifacty MP3s, you might want to skip this one. Current records are ripped at 192 VBR, which lets you hear all the artifacts from the noise reduction process quite clearly.

1. Hark The Herald Angels Swing
2. Little Drummer Boy
3. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
4. Silent Night
5. Joy To The World
6. Jingle Bells
7. White Christmas
8. I'll Be Home For Christmas
9. The Christmas Song
10. Winter Wonderland
11. Deck The Halls

Friday, December 05, 2008

A New Way

Several years ago, I brought you the great LP you see above. Nobody had really heard of it, but it was a really great album of Christmas music and everybody who listened to it agreed. (Well, at least everybody who left comments.) Couple years later, I heard from Robert Way himself, and he thanked me for sharing his music with the world, and wanted to let me know that after a long career outside the music world, he had returned to making music. You can check out his new music here. Earlier this year, the boys over at WFMU's Beware of the Blog shared out another LP of Robert Way's work while he was with WEZE in Boston. That post reminded me that I needed to share this great LP with you again. I re-ripped it last year to get better sound, having found a cleaner copy of the LP in the meantime, and I re-scanned the cover to get a more faithful representation of what it looks like. Then in all the hubbub of the 2007 sharing season, I forgot to share it. So I am proud to present this updated version of Robert Way Orchestra And Chorus-New England Sleigh Ride-Music For The Christmas Season (Fleetwood FCLP3023 for Mobile Oil, Stereo).

1. New England Sleigh Ride
2. Christmas With You
3. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
4. Everything Says Christmas Is Here
5. Away In A Manger
6. Up On The Housetop
7. Jingle Bells
8. Silent Night
9. Christmas Is Glowing
10. Snowflakes On The Windowpanes
11. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
12. God Touched The Earth

Update Oct 2009: Looks like Robert Way is in the process of remastering and re-releasing this on CD, so head on over there and get a copy of this great music from the man who created it!

Modern Stone-Age Melodies

I have a question for you. How did people celebrate Christmas before the birth of Christ? I know, I know, some of you will point to the pagan Yule celebrations and to the winter solstice, etc, etc, etc. But there are songs on this record from the stone age about Jesus, and it was clearly recorded before the year zero. This was an exciting find for me, as I'd never seen it in person before, but I had seen it on the internet. It was in pretty rough shape, but it played through without skipping and I was able to clean it up quite a bit so it's worth listening to. The cover was another story. I could have spent another hour on it, and it still would have looked pretty beat up. But you can at least see it now. Anyhow, if you want to get a quick Flintstone fix, why not download Hanna-Barbera Present Pebbles & Bamm-Bamm Singing Songs Of Christmas (Hanna Barbera Records HLP 2033, Mono, 1965)? You'll have a gay old time! (Note that the LP is called We Wish You A Merry Christmas on the record label shown below. Quality control and continuity were never strong points in the Hanna Barbera universe.)

1. Little Drummer Boy
2. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
3. 12 Days Of Christmas
4. We Three Kings
5. Deck The Halls
6. Silent Night
7. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
8. Frosty The Snow Man
9. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
10. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
11. Jingle Bells
12. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
13. Snow Flake

Note: The only original song on this LP is Snow Flake, and the only cover I've seen of it is on the new CD from The Barbary Coasters, Hark! I've heard it, it's great, go buy it.

Update: I think this record is coming out this year on CD or as a digital download, so I'm taking down the share. I don't know anything definitive yet, but I don't want to stand between the copyright owners and a few sales. When I find out anything more, I'll post the info and hopefully a link.

Update Again: The CD is out, or at least it's out on November 3rd! Here's the link to Amazon, but I think you can get this pretty much anywhere that CDs are still sold.

More Mann

I was reminded of this old share for two reasons. First, the name Mann is also on a share from the other day, and second, the artist on this one, Sy Mann, also recorded a Moog Christmas LP similar to the last LP I reshared with you. So there is some minor logic to what I share out with you, but not much. Anyhow, I shared a mono version of this with you in 2005, and I first shared the stereo version with you in 2006. There's an extra track on the mono version, so you might want to click on over to that one if you like what you hear on the stereo one, which is what I'm resharing here. Please help yourself to Sy Mann At The Wurlitzer-Everybody's Christmas Favorites-Organ & Chimes (Palace STXM-901, Stereo).

1. White Christmas
2. Adeste Fideles
3. Silent Night
4. Joy To The World
5. Away In A Manger
6. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
7. Jingle Bells
8. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
9. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
10. Noel
11. Deck The Hall
12. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
13. Good King Wenceslas

B-I-N-G-O

I shared this with you last year, and my buddy just asked me to do it again. He came up with this little game called Holiday Hack Newsroom Bingo. It's a fun little thing, although I'm not entirely sure where you might play it. By yourself in the morning's while watching the news? Would you turn on the news at a party? I don't know. He promised me that if I posted it, he'd take me to see The Bumbot when I'm in Atlanta for his wedding next year. Well, I doubt if he'll be able to take me there himself, since he is gonna be busy getting married, but he can at least point me in the right direction. Merry Christmas, Ben.

The Christmas Cow Says Moog!

This is a favorite share from way back. One of three Christmas records I know of that feature the Moog synthesizer all the way through. The other two are here and here, if you're curious. I could tell you all about it, or you could just read my old posts here, here and here. Then you could get on with the downloading of The Moog Machine-Christmas Becomes Electric (Columbia CS 9959, Stereo, 1969).

1. Jingle Bells
2. Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. We Three Kings
4. Deck The Halls
5. Silent Night
6. Joy To The World
7. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
8. O Come, All Ye Faithful
9. Carol Of The Bells
10. The Little Drummer Boy
11. O Holy Night
12. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
13. Patapan
14. The First Noel
15. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
16. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
17. Twelve Days Of Christmas

Oh, I just remembered. I shared out a single Moog-tastic track a year or so ago that you need to hear if you enjoy such things. Click here.

J Is For Jamie

If you don't go to one single other blog this season for downloads, be sure you go to WFMU's Beware Of The Blog, and download the promo-only J's With Jamie Christmas tracks. These great tracks from the 60's were recorded for friends and family only, but those records have slipped into the secondary market over the years, and now both records have been collected and shared. There are some great songs on there, and I would rate them as the best Christmas songs you will download for free on the internet this year. Well, perhaps the best this year, and the past two. How's that for a ringing endorsement? Trust me, they are that good. Go get 'em and you'll understand my boundless enthusiasm for this music. I only wish that I had found them and shared them out. I'm going to keep looking for hard copies, but I have a feeling these records may elude me forever.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

The List

I keep forgetting to compile and post this, but I'm on it now. This is a list of all the shares from last year. Some of this is being reshared this year, some of it isn't. And it's not like it was all new last year anyway. But if you're looking for a lot of stuff to download with that new one month RapidShare membership, this is a good place to start.

'Twas The Night Before Christmas (rerun)
Roger Williams-Christmas Time
Dennis Day Sings Christmas Is For The Family (rerun)

Christmas Far Away

I'm sure you folks thought I was giving up on the old blog here, after going more than 24 hours without any new posts, right here at the busiest time of the year. But sometimes real life has to take precedence over blog life, no matter how much I may enjoy sharing out all this great Christmas music. But here I am with at least one new share for the evening. Tomorrow may be a little slow, also, but I promise to make up for some of my deficit on the weekend. What a share I'm giving you now, though! This was one of my most exciting finds of the year. Normally these Christmas records from other countries don't do much for me. I don't know the music, can't sing along, and I just can't get into them. But this one really grabbed me and pulled me in. I don't know any of the songs, and don't know that I will ever be able to sing along with them, but I still really like it. When ever one comes up at random in iTunes, I have to stop and look to see what it is. As I was recording it, I kept thinking back to Esquivel, lots of wordless vocals and pop flourishes that are unexpected. It's really not anything like what you might be thinking after I throw that name out there, but it is really, really good. So go download The Madrid Concert Orchestra And Chorus-Victorino Echevarria, Arranger-Conductor-Christmas In Spain (United Artists UAS 6059, Stereo, 1959). Man, is this good.

1. Zumba Zum
2. Long Live St Joseph And The Child (Viva San Jose Y El Nino)
3. Sleep Little Jesus (Dorm Jesuset)
4. Where Are You Going Little Shepherd? (Adonde Vas, Pastorcito?)
5. Tan-Tan
6. Sing Little Ones (Chicetes, Cantem)
7. And There Is A Star (Y Es Una Estrella)
8. To Bethlehem (A Betlem, Si Us Plau)
9. Between The Straw And The Ice (Entre La Paja Y El Hielo)
10. From Egypt To Bethlehem (De Egipto Para Belene)
11. The Child Came Down From Heaven (El Nino Bajo Del Cielo)
12. Lotan-Dago
13. The Tambourines Are Playing (Suenen Las Panderetas)
14. Bolo, Bolo, Bolo

More Piano (No Forte)

Continuing on with the piano sharity tonight, here's a record I shared with you back in 2005 as my very first Christmas record share here at Ernie (Not Bert). Couple of years later I revisited this one, actually cutting it into tracks for the first time. Once you give it a listen, you'll find that's it's really side-long medleys of tinkly cocktail hour piano that are either something you're going to love or hate, there is no middle ground. So if that sounds like something you might enjoy, please download the individual tracks from George Feyer's Echoes Of Christmas (Vox VX25-010, Mono, 1955) or the two sides all in big long tracks, George Feyer's Echoes Of Christmas (Vox VX25-010, 1955), it's your choice.

1. Introduction
2. White Christmas
3. Anderson: Sleighride
4. Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)
5. Waldteufel: Skaters Waltz
6. Away In A Manger
7. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
8. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
9. Jingle Bells
10. O Tannenbaum
11. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly
12. O Tannenbaum-Reprise
13. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
14. Winter Wonderland
15. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
16. Noel, Noel
17. Tchaikovsky: Troika (From "The Seasons")
18. Tchaikovsky: Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy (From "The Nutcracker")
19. Silent Night, Holy Night

Oh, and if you want a couple of bonus tracks, check out this post and this one from Christmas In July.

Good News And Bad-I received an email from George Feyer's daughter-in-law last night, and she tells me that the family is in the process of making all his recordings available for legal download. That's the good news. The bad news is that I can't share it with you anymore, but I think the good outweighs the bad. So keep checking back and hopefully I'll have some information about when and where you can download some tasty George Feyer.

A Piano Fort?

Here's a curious share from last year featuring the world famous Siena Pianoforte. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I don't know very much about said piano, but apparently it's quite famous. Feel free to leave me a comment if you've ever heard of it. Before I even reshare this one out, I'm going to point you towards a bonus track that I shared out during Christmas In July. I suppose there are folks out there for whom the 19 tracks on this LP will not be enough, so that bonus track makes it an even 20. And once you come back from the hours of fun that is Christmas in July, please download Grace Castagnetta-Christmas On The Siena Pianoforte (Counterpoint/Esoteric (An Everest Records Production). Fake Stereo, S-2411-53005).

1. Joy To The World
2. Oh, Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
4. Christmas Is Here
5. What Child Is This?
6. Deck The Halls
7. Oh, Holy Night
8. Rise Up, Shepherd, An' Foller
9. Away In A Manger
10. Adeste Fideles ("Come All Ye Faithful")
11. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
12. How Brightly Beams The Morning Star
13. I Saw Three Ships
14. Good King Wenceslas
15. The Holly And The Ivy
16. We Three Kings
17. Jingle Bells
18. The First Nowell
19. Silent Night, Holy Night

Cool Coral

This is a great share that I don't think I've ever seen anywhere else, or even seen a second copy of the record. This double 7" features songs from four different artists, and all of the songs are making their first appearance here, according to the liner notes. Not too many Christmas releases can say that. This was originally shared out back in 2005 and I'm pleased to bring this back for your enjoyment. Please download Merry Christmas From (Coral Records EC-82003, Mono).

1. The Ames Brothers-Sing A Song Of Santa Claus
2. The Ames Brothers-Winter's Here Again
3. Don Cornell-Let's Have An Old Fashioned Christmas
4. Don Cornell-I've Got The Christmas Spirit
5. Eileen Barton-The Little Match Girl
6. Eileen Barton-The Night Before Christmas Song
7. Johnny Desmond-(You Can Just Feel) Christmas In The Air
8. Johnny Desmond-Christmas Is A Time (That Will Never Change)

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Fire The Cannons!

The King Of JingALing was nice enough to share a track off of this record with you last night for his annual ADVENTure in Carols collection, so I wanted to go ahead and share the rest of the record with you. This was a nice little surprise when I found it, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it, too. I'm a bit pressed for time today, so I'm not going to go on and on about it, just be my guest and download Ace Cannon-Christmas Cheers From Ace Cannon, His Alto Sax And Chorus (Hi SHL 32022, Stereo, 1964).

1. White Christmas
2. Winter Wonderland
3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
5. Here Comes Santa Claus
6. Frosty The Snowman
7. Blue Christmas
8. Jingle Bells
9. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
10. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
11. Jingle Bell Rock
12. Rock Around The Christmas Tree

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

27 Days Of Christmas-Day The Fourth

It's the fourth day of my compilation, and I'm going to crib one from The Captain tonight. My LP skips on a song, so I wasn't able to share out the whole thing, but luckily you can get the whole record from A Christmas Yuleblog. I'm gonna offer you a little taste of this fantastic record with a totally awesome cover. Please download and enjoy Here Comes The Fattest Man In Town by Vincent Lopez And His Orchestra Featuring Eddie O'Conner from Christmas Music (Coral CRL 57189, Mono, 1957). The credits on the back of this record include "Color TV on cover photo by Motorola, chair by Knoll". Ahh, the fifties

Previous Tracks:
The 4 Seasons-Jungle Bells
Jimmy McGriff-Hip Santa
Lorne Greene-Christmas Is A-Comin' (May God Bless You)

The One, The Only, Charo

Before I call it a night, I wanted to get one last reshare in. This is the second most popular share ever here at Ernie (Not Bert), and I think you can see why. This lady needs no introduction, and I know you're going to love this song. Please download Charo-(Mamacita) ¿Donde Esta Santa Claus? , (Salsoul SG 201 12" 33 RPM Single, Stereo, 1978).

1. (Mamacita) ¿Donde Esta Santa Claus?
2. (Mamacita) ¿Donde Esta Santa Claus?-Instrumental

A Carillon For The Birds

If you read my last post, you'll know what I'm about to throw up here. This is an LP that attracted me primarily for it's cover, but it turned out that the music was at least slightly interesting, but mostly for what snuck into the recording that shouldn't be there. You've seen all sorts of Christmas on a carillon records here at the blog in past years, but I think this is the first one this year. What you probably haven't heard on any of my other carillon records is the birds that normally live in the bell tower. But on this record, they are included. I was somewhat shocked to hear them when I was recording the record. They're just chirping away in the background, clear as day, seemingly unperturbed by the huge bells pealing away a few feet from where they must have been perched. I wondered if they had been noticed back in 1955 when this was recorded, and sure enough, a close reading of the liner notes mentions them. How hi the fi, indeed! So download this for yourself and listen to the birdies sing along. This is Arthur Lynds Bigelow, Bell Master-Princeton University-Christmas Carillon (Columbia CL 750, Mono, 1955).

1. Adeste Fideles
2. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
3. The First Noel
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
5. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
6. Nu Zijt Willecome
7. Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabella
8. Les Agnes Dans Nos Campagnes
9. What Child Is This Who Laid To Rest
10. Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging
11. Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht
12. Away In A Manger
13. O Tannenbaum
14. Deck The Hall With Boughs Of Holly
15. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
16. I Came Upon The Midnight Clear
17. Joy To The World

More Bells (No Cow)

From two years ago, this is an LP that I shared out strictly for the cover. I found the combination of bells and organ to be a little tedious, however, I can listen to it in the background OK. But how could you pass up that great cover? I'm resharing it with you tonight because I have another LP from Arthur Lynds Bigelow that I want to share, and I want to corner the market on his Christmas recordings. Besides, the new one has a good cover, too. So if you really want to, please download Arthur Lynds Bigelow, Bell Master, & Marjorie MacComb, Organist-Ring! Christmas Bells (Columbia CL 915, Mono, 1956).

1. Gesu Bambino
2. Tune Of The Sleigh Bells
3. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
4. Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
5. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
6. A La Venue De Noel
7. Good King Wenceslas
8. There Once Fell A Heavenly Dew
9. Born Is Jesus The Infant King
10. The Holly And The Ivy
11. Silent Night, Holy Night
12. Noel d'Aquin

More Marion

I try to keep an eye on many of the other blogs out there posting Christmas music this time of year, and I try not to post the same stuff that you can get elsewhere. Sometimes that happens anyway, but sometimes I get lucky and I can post something that actually compliments what you get elsewhere. That's the case here. If you head on over to A Christmas Yuleblog, you can download Marion Anderson-Christmas Carols. (Tell 'em Ernie sent you, you'll get a discount on all your free downloads.) So I'm gonna share out the 10" record you see above, Marion Anderson Sings Christmas Carols With Franz Rupp At The Piano (RCA Victor Red Seal 10" 33 RPM LM 7008, Mono). Entirely different recording from a few years earlier than the Captain's share. So how's that? Double your pleasure, double your fun!

1. Silent Night
2. Oh! Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)
4. The First Noel
5. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
6. Cantique De Noel
7. Angel's Song
8. Hallelujah

A Light In The Dark

Another good rerun from last year is this LP from The Lighthouse Singers. You can read all about it at the post I did then, but right now I wanted to tell you about the cover artist. I think it was Stephen (Hey!) who pointed out the signature that I hadn't paid any attention to. It says Jon Whitcomb, and it turns out he's a well-known illustrator. I guess it helps to pay attention to those signatures. That might also explain why this LP is not all that common. So why don't you go right now and download Christmas Carols By The Lighthouse Singers (Vik SPV-2, Mono). Oh, I shared an EP of tracks from this record two years ago, if you want to check that out. There's nothing on the 7" record that isn't on this one, and I think even the cover is almost identical. But you never know.

1. Silent Night, Holy Night
2. O Come, All Ye Faithful
3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
4. The First Noel
5. Ave Maria
6. Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
7. O Holy Night
8. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
9. Joy To The World
10. The Lord's Prayer

Thanksgiving Bird

I keep forgetting to post this picture of a red-shouldered hawk I took at my parents house on Thanksgiving day. He was giving the evil eyeball to some goldfish in Mom's fish pond until I walked up and scared him off. She tells me that every once in a while she finds a fish that's missing part of a tail, but she hasn't lost any since she put a screen over the top of it. Poor guy's gotta eat, though.

Well, I think he's a red-shouldered hawk. Something about him isn't right. I know these guys show a lot of color variation, but something is throwing me off.

Yingle Yells

Someone left a nice comment on one of my old shares of this EP, so I figured I'd throw it up here again for those of you who may have missed it. If you like your Christmas novelty tunes with a Fargo-area accent, then you're gonna love this. You can read all about who this actually is at my original post, but you don't really need to know all the back story to enjoy it. Just go download Yogi Yorgesson With Johnny Duffy And The Scandahoovians-Yingle Bells (Capitol 7" 45 rpm EAP 1-461, Mono, 1951).

1. The Christmas Party
2. I Yust Go Nuts At Christmas
3. I Was Santa Claus At The School House (For The P.T.A.)
4. Yingle Bells

Monday, December 01, 2008

27 Days Of Christmas-Day The Third

The third installment in my 27 Days Of Christmas collection is a track from the Jersey Boys themselves, The 4 Seasons. It's a cover of a track that I think was originated by Les Paul, although I don't think he wrote it. I'd share the Les Paul & Mary Ford version with you, but I haven't scanned my single yet, so I didn't have any artwork. I need to get busy and spend a couple of hours in front of the scanner sometime. But anyhow, for your listening pleasure, here's The 4 Seasons-Jungle Bells from The 4 Seasons' Christmas Album (Phillips PHS 600-223, Stereo, 1962). You can get this LP on CD if you like, but this song was ripped from my own personal vinyl. Well, actually, it looks like the CD is out of print, but you can download it in MP3 form from that same link I gave you.

Previous Tracks:
Jimmy McGriff-Hip Santa
Lorne Greene-Christmas Is A-Comin' (May God Bless You)

I Can See Christmas Now

Shocked I was, shocked, when I saw this LP in a stack of non-Christmas vinyl at a record store this summer. First, I almost flipped past it without a second glance. I knew vaguely who Johnny Nash was, but wasn't aware that he had a Christmas record. But thankfully I took a second glance, then flipped it over to look at some some song titles, and sure enough, it's Christmas. Then I figured that this was the sort of record that had to be on CD, but it doesn't appear to be. So I knew it would be something I'd have to share out with you. That cover was a bit of a pain, too. The picture of Johnny there in the center is one of those lenticular pictures. It changes a little, especially the background, when you tilt it back and forth. And there were some bad scratches on it. But I came up with the idea of rotating it 90 degrees between scans, and sure enough one of the scans came out better than the others. Sometimes, you have to get creative around here. But enough of my stories, please be my guest and download the short but sweet Johnny Nash-Prince Of Peace (JAD JS/1001, Stereo, 1969).

1. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
2. Prince Of Peace
3. Away In A Manger
4. Mary's Little Boy Child
5. The Borning Day
6. The Christmas Song
7. Sweet Little Jesus Boy
8. Medley: Silent Night-Oh Holy Night
9. Go Tell It On The Mountain

Oodles Of Doodles XLV-Redux

While I'm beating my poor old Ralph Hunter record into the ground, I may as well go ahead and repost the doodles from the back side of it. I first posted these way back in July of 2005, when the blog was only a few months old, as part of my first Christmas In July celebration. Those scans were a little dubious, so I'm happy to offer these crisp new scans. The original images are actually quite small on the back of the album, so some of the fuzziness is coming from the fact that I'm blowing them up, but I still think these look better than the originals. Again, these are from the flipside of Christmas Surprises From The Ralph Hunter Choir (RCA Victor LSP-2063, 1959).

Vinyl Doppelgangers, Volume One

One of the things I wanted to show you this year were some of the albums I've found that feature, shall we say, less than unique cover art. And the first example is the cover from Christmas Surprises From The Ralph Hunter Choir (RCA Victor LSP-2063, 1959), which I just shared with you. Now, compare it to the cover below, from For A Musical Merry Christmas (RCA Victor For B.F. Goodrich PRS-253, 1967). (I shared a track off this tire company compilation last year.) Pretty similar, eh? Yeah, I see a lot of that and I hope to bring you more examples as the season wears on.

Hunter No More, Here It Is

I'm always on the lookout for nicer versions of records that I've already shared with you, and this was one that I was really excited to find and upgrade for you. My old copy was an Australian pressing, and it had been owned and played with by a young girl for many years. I know all this because she had scribbled things on the cover, again and again and again, including her name. I forget now what her name was, but for I long time I had it committed to memory because it took me so long to Photoshop it off of that cover. But now I've got a shiny new copy, an actual US pressing (not a 1S/1S though, but what do you expect for $1) that I'm gonna share with you. It's even got a 317X sticker on it, and it doesn't obscure any of the artwork, so I don't mind so much as I do sometimes. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this record, please read the write-up from when I first shared it here. Then come back and download The Ralph Hunter Choir-Christmas Surprises From The Ralph Hunter Choir (RCA Victor LSP-2063, Stereo, 1959). Oh, and if you read my old post you'll know this, but if you didn't, this record was later released as Living Voices Sing Christmas Music (RCA Camden CAS 725, Stereo, 1962).

1. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
2. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers
3. Jingle Bells
4. Winter Wonderland
5. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
6. White Christmas
7. Wassail Song
8. Carol Medley: Joy To The World; God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
9. The First Noel
10. Indian Christmas Carol
11. Latin Lullaby (Cancion De Cuna)
12. Silent Night

Oh, look! There's even one of those tags on the front label that I like so much that wasn't on the Australian pressing. "New Sounds For Christmas", how cool is that?

What's A Pocketbook Doll?

The first new share of the day is this rather curious record that seems to be the by-product of a long-forgotten toy. Who was this Heidi, and what was a pocketbook doll? Well, I'm not sure, and I'm not sure I really want to know. If you want some Christmas music sung by what I don't think is a real little girl, and sung off-key at that, then this is the download for you. There's also a short retelling of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas at the end, but I don't think that's any great shakes, either. But I'm not here to tell you what to enjoy or not, I'm just here to share dusty old Christmas records. Go get yourself a copy of Heidi-The Night Before Christmas (Majorette M-304, Mono, 1965).

1. Introduction
2. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
3. Silent Night
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
5. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
6. O Christmas Tree
7. Deck The Halls
8. Frosty The Snowman
9. Joy To The World
10. The First Noel
11. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
12. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
13. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
14. And The Night Before Christmas Story

27 Days Of Christmas-Day The Second

As is typical every year for my annual compilation, I'm behind. So this should be day four, but it's only day two. I'm going to try to get caught up, but bear with me in the meantime. I'm really switching gears for the second track here. You go from Lorne Green to Jimmy McGriff and some really funky organ playing. I can tell you all about it, or you can just download Jimmy McGriff-Hip Santa from Christmas With McGriff (Trip TLP-8027). Mine is the cheap reissue on Trip, a subsidiary of Mistletoe. I've never seen the original, but I do believe it's available on CD, and that's the only reason I'm not sharing out the whole thing. It's a pretty swingin' affair.

Oh, almost forgot. Jimmy passed away this year. So I'll call this a tribute to him and his music. I think the Captain reviewed this record earlier this year, also. Nope, two years ago. Close enough.

Previous tracks:
Lorne Greene-Christmas Is A-Comin' (May God Bless You)

Trumpet Mann

Here's another oldie that came up on my iTunes today and made me stop for a second. This is a trumpet Christmas album, which is something you don't hear every day. I've shared it out a couple of times before, but in case you missed it, here it is again. Oh, and I've seen it with two different covers, shown above and below. Same music, different picture, that's all. Anyhow, be my guest and download Gary Mann-Blues For Baby Jesus (The Educator & Executive Insurance Companies EE-101, Stereo, 1972).

1. Jingle Bells
2. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
3. Alone At Christmas Time
4. Sleigh Bells
5. Blues For Baby Jesus
6. O Holy Night
7. Adeste Fidelis
8. The First Noel
9. Silent Night
10. Christmas Song

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

Sunday, November 30, 2008

The First Few Days

I know we're only a few days into this holiday season, but I wanted to get my annual list started. I like to keep a running list of everything I've shared out, so you guys can scan through it and see all the great stuff I've thrown at you recently. I don't want you to miss anything important. So without further ado, here goes...

Hank Sylvern-Christmas In Hi-Fi: Chimes, Bells And Organ
Larry Ferrari-I Wish You The Merriest
Loretta Young-The Littlest Angel and Gregory Peck-Lullaby Of Christmas (rerun)
Burgess Meredith With Joe Reisman's Orchestra And Chorus-Christmas Classics 1963 (rerun)
Frank Chacksfield-Music For A Merry Christmas (rerun)
Nelson Riddle-Avon Wishes You A Happy Holiday And A Joyous New Year (rerun)
Avon Goes On Record (rerun)
Christmas With Ogden Nash
Felix Slatkin-Season's Greetings (rerun)
Saint Patrick's Cathedral Choir Sings Christmas Carols (rerun)
Saint Patrick's Cathedral Choir Sings Christmas Songs (rerun)
Jimmie Davis-It's Christmas Time Again
Pete Fountain-Candy Clarinet (rerun)
Big 'Tiny' Little-Christmas With Big Tiny Little (rerun)
Veo Gray And The Jodie Lyons Singers-A Christmas Happening
Lorne Greene-Must Be Santa 45 (rerun)
The Sisters Of Divine Providence-Christmas Mosaic (rerun)
The Glen Riddle Franciscans-Choral Group-Sisters Of St. Francis-We Sing Of Christmas (rerun)
The Bison Glee Club-The Joy Of Christmas (rerun)
The Cardinal's Cathedral Choristers-Carols Of The Nations
Christmas In Cleveland (rerun)
A Kimball Christmas (rerun)
The Candy Store-Turned On Christmas
Christmas 1968 With The Going Thing (rerun)
The Joy Strings-Well Seasoned (rerun)
Maurice Copeland-How We Got Our Christmas Customs
Maurice Copeland & Adele Scott-Squanto And The First Thanksgiving
Spencer Ross-Thanksgiving Day Parade 45 (rerun)
The Blazers & The Yodelin' Guides-Track!
Ray Conrad-The Cotton-Pickin' Lift Tower And Other Skiing Songs (rerun)
Six Family Mountain-Takin' A Ride With The Wind (rerun)

What a list, and it's only part of a week! We've got a long way to go between now and Christmas, so keep comin' back, and keep leavin' those comments, I love 'em.

Hammerin' Hank

Well, if that last organ record was right up your alley, then this one may be too. Unfortunately, I do have to describe it as more sedate, but still good. This is from Hank Sylvern, a player in early television who was also a recording artist. He recorded this great LP for the great ABC Paramount label, and you know how I can't pass up anything with Hi-Fi on the cover. So please be my guest and download Hank Sylvern-Christmas In Hi-Fi: Chimes, Bells And Organ (ABC-Paramount ABC-146, Mono, 1956).

1. Joy To The World
2. Away In A Manger
3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
4. The First Noel
5. Deck The Hall
6. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
7. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
8. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
9. Jingle Bells
10. The Cherry Tree Carol
11. O Come, All Ye Faithful
12. Silent Night

Ferrari (Not Enzo)

OK, it's late, and I've been working on my computer all day trying to get rid of this persistent mal-ware. But all my scans this evening have come back negative, so I'm hoping for the best. I'll probably disconnect it from the internet tonight and take the PC into work with me tomorrow so I can scan the HD in a different PC. That will convince me that it's clean. But I feel comfortable enough with it to post this great share for you from the great Larry Ferrari. Unfortunately, I have no idea who he is, but I'm told that he's great. I guess he had his own TV show for a while, but you can learn all about that on Wikipedia. If all you want is the Christmas music, then here is Larry Ferrari-I Wish You The Merriest (Sure Music Volume 703, Mono). Don't miss that autograph on the cover! I'm re-listening to this as I type, and it's some spirited stuff. Organ and chimes Christmas, this aint.

1. We Need A Little Christmas
2. Sleigh Ride
3. Medley-It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! and Reprise: It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
4. Silver Bells
5. You're All I Want For Christmas
6. Medley-Christmas Bells, I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day and Reprise: Christmas Bells
7. Winter Wonderland
8. Little Drummer Boy
9. We Wish You The Merriest
10. Medley-There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays and I'll Be Home For Christmas
11. White Christmas
12. Medley-Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, Jingle Bells and Frosty The Snowman
13. The Christmas Song
14. Blue Christmas

Saturday, December 06, 2008

Friday, December 05, 2008

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Monday, December 01, 2008

Sunday, November 30, 2008

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