A Christmas Journey

This is the sort of thing I like to find and post, though they're becoming somewhat rarer as the years go by. A custom production complete with unique songs for a bank in New Jersey, featuring a few kids and a guy on an accordion, how can you go wrong with that? Beautiful cover, too! They just don't make 'em like this anymore. The record is split into two side-long pieces, and you have your choice. You can download it as a pair of side-long tracks, or a version where I've cut each side up into it's individual tracks.  Both versions are nice, I'm sure you'll get a big kick out of it.  This is Cathy, Peter, Paul And Carol-Anne Accompanied By Dellaira-Journey Into Christmas (Delham Productions For Trenton Trust Company (Trenton, New Jersey), Delham 68119, Mono, 1965). I forgot to mention the great sound effects! And the acting! It's a complete package of family entertainment!

1. A Christmas Journey
2. Christmas Day

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Or...

1. Deck The Halls
2. At The Station
3. Over The River And Through The Woods
4. Jingle Bells
5. Ring Christmas Bells
6. Oh Christmas Tree
7. Decorating The Tree
8. Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
9. We Three Kings
10. Silent Night
11. Up On A Housetop
12. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
13. The Friendly Beasts
14. Snow Flakes
15. Open The Presents
16. The Orchestra
17. Going Home Again
18. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

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Put The Blame On Ukraine

What with all the political turmoil in the USA today, how could I resist the temptation of this LP featuring Christmas music from Ukraine? I mean, it's not their fault that they got pulled into the middle of the US impeachment inquiry. But I'm not going to make this a political post, it's just some music sung by immigrants to the US from a country that happens to find itself in the middle of a mess that's not of their doing. The songs on here are probably not the carols you sing in the church musical every year, but they're things that you can still enjoy and appreciate for the meaning behind them. Be my guest and download Ukrainian Bandurists Chorus-Volodymyr Bozyk And Peter Potapenko, Conductors-Ukrainian Carols (Ukrainian Bandurists Chorus #5 (Manufactured By RCA Custom Records, Chicago, Illinois), Mono, 1960).

1. A Precious Gift (Dar Nyni Prebahatyj)
2. A New Joy Descended (Nova Radist Stala)
3. Happiness Came (Radist Z Neba Wsim Pryjshla)
4. God Eternal (Boh Predvichnyj)
5. Christmas Greetings (Dobryj Vechir Tobi)
6. What Wonder Is This (Shcho To Za Predyvo)
7. In The River Jordan (Na Jordanskij Richi)
8. The Saints Sat (Sviati Sydily. Shchedrivka)
9. All Rejoice (Rozveselimsia Wsi)
10. O God Sees (Oj Vydytj Boh)
11. This Day Singing (Dnes Pojusche)
12. Joyful Tidings (Po Vsiomu Svitu)
13. Christmas Bells (Dzony)

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Christmas On The Ocean

Here is a slight rarity for me.  This record came in a plain jacket with no sticker, no artwork, no nothing. I don't often pick those up to see what's inside, but for some reason, I checked this one, and I found a Christmas record that I'm betting you've never heard.  Well, I'd bet not many people have ever heard it, period. This seems to be a vanity pressing of a group of singers associated with the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office in Washington DC.  There are several mentions of this group in the newsletter of the office, called simply The Bulletin, but I can find only one mention of a record. I see where Margaret Rogers is mentioned in the same 1970 edition, so that's probably the date on this record. Not sure if it ever had a cover, since nothing is mentioned in The Bulletin about that.  Some reader someday will come across this site and clue us in about this record, I hope.  In the meantime, this is Navoceano Choral Group-Margaret Rogers, Director-Melvin Coles, Piano-Navoceano Choral Group-U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office (No Label, No Sleeve CSM-264, Stereo, c.1970). Not sure if this one counts towards one of my military shares, since this was probably more clerical employees than enlisted personnel, but maybe...

1. Joy To The World
2. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
3. The Little Drummer Boy
4. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
5. O Come, All Ye Faithful
6. The Glory And The Lord
7. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
8. Do You Hear What I Hear
9. Hallelujah
10. Angels We Have Heard On High
11. Silent Night

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My Favorite

I've shared a lot of stuff with you this season, and I hope to share much more before the season heads back to the North Pole for the summer, but the thing I am most excited to have found this season is right here. It's not the rarest thing, and it's certainly been shared out all over the internet in versions better than what I was able to get from my copy, but I was just so excited to find it after all these years.  I was digging through the budget Christmas records at Clearwater Record Show, and I happened to see a pile of framed album covers.  This one was on the top and I figured it was just the cover. I took it up to the counter and asked if I could open it up.  They opened it up and there was a record still in the sleeve.  They put a price on it, then set it down in a spot far away from all the other records I wanted to buy.  I was halfway out the door before I realized it wasn't with my other goodies, so I had to go back and pay for it. I rushed home and recorded it that night. When this came out, it was cutting edge music, even though it wasn't all new. I think eight of the tracks were on a 10" record that came out two years before, and Greensleeves was on a record they released the previous year. So that means there were only three new tracks recorded for this, but it's still great. If you've never heard, it, don't hesitate, just download it.  This is the great Ferrante & Teicher-Adventure In Carols (Westminster WP 6021, Mono, 1956)! And talk about a classic cover? No wonder they had it framed!

1. Sleigh Ride
2. Good King Wenceslas
3. What Child Is This? (Greensleeves)
4. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
5. White Christmas
6. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
7. Christmas Song
8. The First Nowell
9. Silent Night
10. Jingle Bells
11. Adeste Fideles
12. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

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Another Westminster

Would you like to take a trip around the world without even leaving the comfort of your desk?  Then this album is for you! From the great Westminster label, a record that I had never seen before until I stumbled across this copy recently at a Goodwill here in Sarasota. I've been a fan of releases on the early Westminster label for many years now.  Just do a quick search for Westminster here on the blog and you'll see many, many Christmas records here on that label. So it was certainly unexpected that I would find another one, but there it was. I love when that happens.  You think you know something pretty well, and then something new pops up and surprises you! I hope this release is full of surprises for you as well.  This is Le Groupe Des Chanteurs Traditionnels De Paris (Helene Brunet, Alto-Marcel Giteau, Tenor-Madeleine Gerault, Soprano) With L'Orchestre Du Théâtre De Champs Elysées (Conducted By Marc Honegger)-Christmas Around The World (Arrangements By Joseph Canteloube) (Westminster WL 5372, Mono, 1954).  This isn't exactly pop music, and I don't really know anything about any of those names.  But it's Christmas, so it's good stuff.  Enjoy!

1. A Bethléem Allons Vite
2. La Viérge Maria Va À Bethléem
3. Chantons Tous La Plus Haut
4. Quand Dieu Naquit À Noël
5. Lève-Toi, Cousine
6. Le Petit Jésus Dort
7. Mon Beau Sapin
8. Beaux Bergers, Ou Allez-Vous?
9. On Annonce Une Nouvelle
10. Cette Nuit Est Bienheureuse
11. O Dieu
12. Qui Frappe Ici?
13. A Bethléem Quand L'Enfant-Dieu Naquit
14. La Premier Jour De Noël

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N'awlins Christmas

I've been sharing out some stuff from around the USA this month, and here's another installment of that transcontinental trip. From the Big Easy this time, it's a set of Christmas tunes, both original and traditional, performed by some schoolkids, one priest, and a singer who must have been popular in the area at the time. I don't know that she went on to anything big, but this album makes her out to be a big deal. (Looks like she's still out there singing!) For your listening pleasure today, this is Sylvia Johns And The Children Of The Archdiocese Of New Orleans (with one track by Rev. Frank Coco on clarinet)-The Miracle Of Christmas (South Savings & Loan Association SMM-1001, Stereo). Love that cover shot!  Especially the furniture dolly they neglected to move out of the shot, and I think there's a person lurking behind the bushes on the left side. A tourist no doubt.

1. The Miracle Of Christmas
2. O Come All Ye Faithful
3. Joy To The World
4. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
5. Silent Night
6. Christmas On The Bayou
7. Amazing Grace
8. Away In A Manger
9. The First Noel
10. Christmas Piano Medley
11. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

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Again With The Pittsburgh

This is one of the more fun local records I've found this year. In fact, it was pretty enjoyable and worth more than a single listen which is rare for these sorts of releases. The songs are good, the music is good, the singing ain't bad, and there's a narrator who's either poorly mixed or speaks so quietly you can barely hear him.  It certainly adds a bit of humor to the proceedings that are already pretty fun.  Give it a shot, I think you'll enjoy it.  There were two copies of this in the dollar bin at the record store, and I bought them both, just in case.  Both were mono copies, and Discogs says it also came out in Stereo, so I need to see if I can track one of those down.  Got one?  Send it my way, I'll really appreciate it.  This is Staff of Pittsburgh Hospital-Christmas Is Fun And Love (Pittsburgh Hospital PH 6655, Mono, 1966). There also appears to be a rock band from the area, The Del Monacos, involved in this somehow.

1. Greetings-Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
2. Carol Of The Bells-Silver Bells
3. Deck The Halls
4. Hurry Here, Hurry There...-I Wonder As I Wander
5. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
6. Oh Come Little Children-Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
7. Reprise-Carol Of The Bells-Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (Flapper Style)
8. Joy To The World-Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
9. Sweet Little Jesus Boy
10. Do You Hear What I Hear
11. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year-White Christmas-Frosty The Snow Man
12. Jingle Bells
13. Jesus, Thou Art Coming
14. Oh Come All Ye Faithful
15. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year Auld Lang Syne And A Christmas Wish From Us To You...

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A Wolfe In Children's Clothing

This is a record that's been requested of me a few times, and I'm not sure why I never shared it.  I found an older rip on my hard drive, but for some reason I never scanned in the art work and finished it off. When I found another copy of the LP earlier this year, I ripped it again, and I finally finished up the artwork so I can share it with you. This album seems to have a lot in common with the one Wolfe made with Arthur Godfrey, also for RCA, done three years earlier.  I wonder if maybe these were leftover tracks from those sessions, or if they are new recordings. These are the sorts of questions that keep me up at night. So if you've been waiting for me to share this album for all these years, here it is.  This is The Richard Wolfe Children's Chorus-Christmas Is For Children (RCA Camden CAS-1121, Stereo, 1970).

1. Christmas Is For Children
2. Medley: A Holly Jolly Christmas; Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
3. Sleigh Ride
4. Medley: Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town; Frosty The Snow Man
5. A Merry Christmas Wish
6. Medley: Here We Come A-Caroling; Deck The Halls; Jingle Bells; Joy To The World
7. The Little Drummer Boy
8. Medley: O Little Town Of Bethlehem; The First Noel; Silent Night; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
9. White Christmas
10. Medley: O Christmas Tree; Oh Come, All Ye Faithful

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The Big Tree, in Darkness

There it is, the big tree at Rockefeller Center, plus the big gold statue. Quite the site, and it was pretty packed for a Thursday night. I wouldn't want to be there on a Saturday.

No Open Fire

I'd never had chestnuts before, but there's always a first time. There may not be a second time, though. A very odd taste. I finished the whole bag though.

Avoid The Noid

Well, how about that. I seem to be out of remastered albums to share in the usual 8:00 PM time slot. I thought I had recorded way too many repeats this year, that's why I set aside a special time to get them out there to you.  But I only have one left that I know of, and it's not quite ready to share yet.  So that means you get a new share from me each night for a while, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.  First up is an album brought to you by the fine folks at Domino's Pizza. I think the Odyssey group here is just a production service that records tracks and then licenses them out to whoever wants to pay the fees. I suspect they are the same folks behind that 3M record from last year, though I didn't check to see if any of these tracks are actually the same as those. I wouldn't be surprised to find that these songs are elsewhere in the library under different names, too. Generic records have a tendency to recycle the same tracks over and over and over again.  So give these a listen and let me know if you've heard them elsewhere.  This is The Odyssey Orchestra And Singers-Season's Greetings-Domino's Pizza Presents... (Yoder & Company AMR/DOM-82, Stereo, 1982).

1. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
2. You're All I Want For Christmas
3. Carol Of The Bells
4. It's Always Christmas Time
5. Deck The Halls
6. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
7. Jingle Bells
8. What Child Is This
9. The Night Before Christmas
10. Up On The House Top

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No Rockettes

i hope these pictures are decent. I'm on my phone and I can't really tell how things look. This is Radio City Music Hall, Showplace of the nation. I'm posting this from the basement of Rockefeller Center. The skating rink is behind me. I keep expecting Buddy the Elf around every corner.

Live From NYC

The posts are on auto at the moment, and for the first time, I'm visiting NYC for the holidays. If this works, I can post a few pictures for you of Christmas in Manhattan. If you don't recognize it from a few album covers, here is the big tree at Rockefeller Center. I think they've had the same angels since the 60s.

800 Years

Here's another record that I bought at Fantasyland some years back.  In fact, it was sealed when I bought it, I only just opened it a month or so ago to play it for the first time. Not really any Christmas music here, I'm afraid, but it does feature the Preacher of Bourbon Street, a fellow who's records are a staple of thrift store record racks everywhere.  Except for this one album though.  I've only ever seen this one copy, and I think I paid a bit of a premium because of it's rarity, as well as being sealed. I'm a sucker for Christmas stuff sometimes.  There are three tracks here, two parts of one sermon, and another long sermon on the flip side.  There's a little bit of organ on one of the tracks, if you're desperate for music. It's good for a listen or two, or maybe to cut up into bit and pieces for a mix maybe. If that sounds at all interesting, please be my guest and download Bob Harrington-Birthday Of A King (World Records BH #22, Stereo, 1975)

1. Birthday Of A King-Part 1
2. Birthday Of A King-Part 2 (Organ By Carolyn Cowan)
3. 800 Years Before Christmas

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Europe In Stereo

Does the cover above look familiar? You may recognize it from an album I shared last year while I was touring all around the world at Christmas. Not long after the season ended last year, I came across this LP in a thrift shop and thought it was just another copy of what I had already recorded and shared. But a closer examination revealed that not to be the case. While it does share the same cover, this is a stereo version with some different artists and tracks! Who knew? So even though I'm sharing this as a remaster, it's really not.  There is new music on here that you haven't heard yet!  This is Christmas In Europe (Philips (Holland) 850 019 PY, Stereo).

1. Vienna Boys' Choir With "The Pummerin," The Bell Of The "Stephansdom" In Vienna-Silent Night, Holy Night
2. Wally Stott And His Orchestra And Chorus-Good King Wenceslas
3. Der Bender'sche Kinderchor With Orchestra And Organ-O Tannenbaum
4. Chorus And Orchestra Conducted By Jean-Paul Kreder-La Noel Passee
5. Choeur Des Mesanges Under The Direction Of Raymonde Davet With Organ Accompaniment By Linack-Tout Dort Dans La Nuit Sombre
6. Cantores De Madrid, José Perera-Conductor-En Belen Tocan A Fuego
7. Der Bender'sche Kinderchor With Orchestra And Organ-O Du Froliche
8. Wally Stott And His Orchestra And Chorus-White Christmas
9. Der Bender'sche Kinderchor With Orchestra And Organ-Ihr Kinderlein Kommet
10. Royal Male Choir Mastreechter Staar-Conductor Martin Koekelkoren-Nu Sijt Wellecome
11. Chorus And Orchestra Conducted By Jean-Paul Kreder-Oh, Que De Gens
12. Resegone Alpine Chorus, Danilo Bertani-Conductor-Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle
13. Harry Secombe With Orchestral Accompaniment-Oh Come All Ye Faithful
14. Lillian Fugman With Arne Lamberth And His Orchestra-Du Kaere Gamle Julemand
15. Der Jugendchor Vera Schink With Orchestral Accompaniment-Susser Die Glocken Nie Klingen
16. Maitrise De La R.T.F., Conductor Jacques Jouineau-Les Anges Dans Nos Campagnes

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Meet Me In St. Louis

While I'm sharing out earlier parts to Christmas albums I shared out last year, here's an earlier album from the St. Louis Christmas Carols Association, the same group that brought you this album last year. For some reason I thought I had ripped this album in previous years, but never shared it. So when I went to share it recently, I found that I had never ripped it. So I had to record it in a bit of a hurry, but I think it came out pretty well.  When I went to scan it, I had to remove a price tag from Fantasyland Records in Atlanta, so I must have bought it during a trip up there four or five years ago. Naturally, I found a second copy in the archives, heaven knows how long I've had that one, or where it came from, but it wasn't in as nice a shape as the copy from Fantasyland. Anyhow, it's a surprisingly good and diverse collection of Christmas tunes by local St. Louis artists, including a couple of originals and plenty of things you don't hear often. You'll enjoy it, and if you haven't already, be sure you go download the other volume!  (PS-Barbershop Alert!!! Oh, and at least two corporate choruses!!!) This is A Saint Louis Christmas (St. Louis Christmas Carols Association TS-74-792/793, Stereo, 1974).

1. Fox Senior High School Honor Choir, Directed By Martin S. Johnson-Carol Of The Bells
2. Concert Choir, Lutheran High School South, Directed By Henry J. Engelhardt-He Lives
3. Solo And Autoharp Accompaniment By Clare Condon-Silent Night in German, French & English
4. Soldan High School Concert Choir, Directed By Charles H. Gladney, Jr.-God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
5. Jennings Senior High School Dickens Carolers, Directed By Dr. Ron W. Phillips-Sing A Round For Christmas
6. Southwestern Bell Belltones-Serena Rowan, Soloist-O Holy Night
7. Cantor Leon Lissek-Durmé Durmé (Sephardic Jewish Ladino Lullaby)
8. Ritenour High School Choir, Directed By Allan C. Byers-What Is This Lovely Fragrance?
9. Kirkwood Chapter-Sweet Adelines, Inc.-Directed By Betty Oliver-White Christmas
10. Southwest High School Concert Choir, Directed By Miss Lee Meyer-Cradle Song Of The Shepherds
11. Rosati-Kain High School Glee Club/R.K. Voices, Directed By Sister Carol-Glory To God
12. Solo And Piano Accompaniment By Bill Benson-The Little Drummer Boy
13. Berkeley Senior High School Senior Girls Ensemble, Directed By Miss Shirley Brown-Peace, Peace
14. Fontebonne College Choir, Directed By Sister Tobias-Touro, Louro-Louro!
15. The French Class Of Immaculate Heart Of Mary School, Directed By Mrs. Agnes Jennings-Dans Cette Étable
16. The Ralston Purina Singers-Westminster Carol/Merry Christmas

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Deckin' Those Halls

A remaster of a great album I first shared in 2007 here for you tonight.  It was an attempt by the Kapp label to compete with the stereo showpieces from the likes of RCA, Audio Fidelity or United Artists at the time. Fancy packaging, a prestige name, and ultra-wide stereo separation were the hallmarks of these releases, as well as extensive liner notes telling you exactly how the music was made, captured, pressed onto the premium discs, and then, most important, how you were supposed to listen to it.  You can read all that, if you care, it's on a scan of the inside gatefold in the download, but I just care about some cool Christmas music.  And there's plenty of that here.  I believe this particular LP that I ripped is a slightly later issue, they've removed the 1960 date from the cover, and there's a white band all the way around it, unlike the original version. I tried ripping that older copy, but it had some background noise in it that I just couldn't get out.  This copy isn't prefect, but it's much better than the other one, believe me. And it's much better than the old version I've been sharing all these years.  So please give a listen to The Medallion Orchestra And Chorus-The Sound Of Christmas-Deck The Halls (Medallion (Kapp) MS-7512, Stereo, 1960). PS-The fade in the green across the cover from left to right is a scanning artifact I couldn't fix, I'm not sure why it's doing that. I scanned the cover in two parts from left to right, each pass in the same direction, so why the color changes, I don't know.  I'm not as good in Gimp as I wish I was, or I'd be able to fix it.  But there aren't enough days in the season to make each album cover as good as I would like.


1. Joy To The World-Deck The Halls-The Wassial Song
2. Carol Of The Bells-The Little Drummer Boy
3. The Christmas Song
4. Hark The Herald Angels Sing-Away In A Manger-It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
5. White Christmas
6. Oh, Little Town Of Bethlehem-The First Noel
7. Oh, Tannenbaum-Angels We Have Heard On High
8. Silent Night
9. Jingle Bells-Winter Wonderland
10. We Three Kings Of Orient Are-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
11. What Child Is This?-The Coventry Carol
12. Adeste Fideles

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1985

Isn't there a song called 1985? Bowling For Soup, maybe? Trying to remember how it goes but it's not coming to me.  Anyhow, it just came to mind since that's the title of this Christmas record. This appears to be the first volume of an album I shared with you last year (or actually very early this year). I'm a little confused because they both seem to have come out in 1985, so maybe I put the wrong date on the other one.  Or maybe they actually did come out at the same time, I don't know.  The two covers are both very similar, paintings of a famous homestead in Akron, Ohio. Just like the other volume, there is some good stuff on here, it's certainly worth a listen or two. Maybe if we're lucky someone who performed on here will chime in at some point and tell us more about it.  That happens around here once in a while, and it's really nice when it happens, especially on the more obscure local recordings.  This is 1985 Songs Of Christmas By Members Of The Greater Akron Community (WAKR-Acme No Number, Stereo, 1985).

1. University Of Akron Vocal Jazz Ensemble-Deck The Halls
2. Festival Choir & Orchestra, Chapel In University Park-Tidings Of Joy
3. Jill Cromley-Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
4. Music Ministry, Our Lady Of Victory Catholic Church-Angels We Have Heard On High
5. Garry Edwards-The Happy Feelings Of Christmas
6. University Of Akron Bassoon Ensemble-Yuletide Fantasy
7. Akron Brass Quintet-The 12 Days Of Christmas
8. Ken Kramer-Oh Holy Night
9. Arlington Church Of God Choir-Hosannah
10. Dennis Ankrum-White Christmas
11. Yusef Kahn Grotto Choir-Still, Still, Still
12. Westminster Presbyterian Church Choir-Sing We Noel

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Ring Bells In Stereo-Part Deux

Here's an interesting share for you, the original version of an LP I've been sharing with you since 2008 (the stereo version since 2010) that I didn't even know existed until I stumbled across it.  Thankfully, they didn't change the cover too much when they reissued it in 1963, just kinda rearranged things and gave it a new title, so when I flipped to it in a stack, I had a pretty good idea of what it was. By 1963, stereo wasn't as big of a gimmick as it was in 1959, so I'm pretty sure that was the impetus behind the name change. And they quit using the fancy foil printing that's impossible to scan with the 1963 version as well, so pardon the crudeness of my scan, that shiny foil just gives the scanner fits. (Keeping the same catalog number helped, too.) But I wanted to share the older model with you, so I guess you could say this is a remaster since you've heard the music here before.  If you dig the bells, please download The Holiday Bells-Christmas Bells In Stereo (Kapp KS-3038, Stereo, 1959).

1. Silent Night
2. Angels We Have Heard On High
3. The First Noel
4. Joy To The World
5. Jingle Bells
6. Oh, Christmas Tree
7. O Sanctissima
8. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
9. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
10. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
11. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
12. Deck The Halls
13. O Come All Ye Faithful
14. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
15. Away In A Manger
16. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
17. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
18. Good King Wenceslas
19. Jolly Old St. Nicholas

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Big Brad

Have you had enough chime music? OK, you're ready for some straight organ then! And what better organ music for around these parts than the whispering organ sound of Brad Swanson.  I don't know how he managed to have the career he did in the seventies, long after most of the easy listening organ masters had long since passed their prime, but he did. And it's certainly not the worst organ music you're going to hear in your life. Give it a listen and let me know what you think.  This is Brad Swanson-22 All-Time Christmas Favorites Played By The Whispering Organ Sound Of Brad Swanson (Thunderbird THS 9019, Stereo, 1974).

1. I'll Be Home For Christmas
2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
3. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
4. The First Noel
5. Winter Wonderland
6. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
7. Oh Come All Ye Faithful
8. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
9. Let It Snow, Let It Snow
10. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
11. Silent Night/We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Medley)
12. Jingle Bells Rock
13. Blue Christmas
14. Frosty The Snowman
15. The Little Drummer Boy
16. Silver Bells
17. White Christmas
18. Jingle Bells
19. O' Holy Night
20. Deck The Halls
21. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
22. There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays

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Rehashed Chimes

One good chime album deserves another, so since I brought you one this morning, I'm bringing you another one tonight.  And this time it's a reissue of something I brought you before, twice in fact, though I didn't realize that until after I recorded it. I was happy to see a CD reissue of a couple of John Klein's Christmas albums from RCA last year. That means I won't share them out anymore, but I think this one is still fair game. To be honest, those two are probably better than this one because they incorporate an orchestra with the chimes, and that really makes for some nice sounds. But this one isn't bad, I'm not going to knock it.  Why don't you download it and see for yourself?  This is John Klein-Bells Of Christmas Played On The Schulmerich "Carillon Americana" Bells (Schulmerich Carillon SCI-6, Stereo).

1. Angels We Have Heard On High
2. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
4. The First Noel
5. O, Little Town Of Bethlehem
6. Good King Wenceslas
7. As Lately We Watched
8. O, Come, All Ye Faithful
9. O Holy Night
10. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly
11. Away In A Manger
12. Good Christian Men, Rejoice
13. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
14. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
15. Silent Night
16. Joy To The World

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Two Hundred And Forty-Six Bells

Anyone who knows my fondness for Christmas chimes and bells could have predicted that I would buy this LP on sight.  I mean, how can you pass up a record that brags about featuring 246 bells? And now you can enjoy each and every one of them in the comfort of your own home!  This is Evelyn Irene Gibbs On The Maas-Rowe Grand Symphony Carillon And The 59-Rank Austin Pipe Organ-A Two Hundred Forty-Six Bell Christmas (Maas-Rowe Carillons 5126178, Stereo). You're Welcome!

1. Infant Holy
2. Joy To The World
3. Silent Night, Holy Night
4. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
5. O Come, All Ye Faithful
6. White Christmas
7. Petite Noel
8. O Christmas Tree
9. Silver Bells
10. The Christmas Song

MEGA

The Mystery, Expanded

During the Christmas season last year, I shared out an album that's very similar to the one I'm about to share, but not the same. My old copy came without a sleeve, but this time I got one with a sleeve, so you can see what's going on a little easier.  What I've decided is that the one I'm giving you tonight is the original, and the other one is a version that came out a little later.  They shuffled the tracks a bit, changed some artists around, just generally made some weird changes, and I don't know why.  Take a look and listen at this one, then go get the other one so you can compare and contrast.  And if you have any idea why they're different, please let me know. This one was pressed by Columbia, the other one was pressed by RCA. I thought maybe there were some licensing issues going on, but they seem to have all the same artists on both records, just with different songs in a different order.  It's really bothering me, but then I'm easily bothered by such mysteries.  Here is The Christmas Story In Carols, Basil Rathbone-Narrator (Westminster WP 6034 (XTV 25256/25257), Mono, 1956, Original Pressing). The pressing code on the RCA version (the other one) tells me it was pressed in 1957, not 1956. That's why I'm calling this one the original and the other one a re-issue.

Again, I'm too lazy to type in all 37 tracks.  Download it and see for yourself.

MEGA

Update-25 Jul 2020-I appear to have omitted track 14 from the download due to technical errors on my part. I've updated the link above, but if you only need the missing track, there should be a link to just that in the comments.  My apologies, but now you can hear it the way it was meant to be heard.

A Yellow Christmas

Looking at this record, I'm struck by how yellow it is.  And I can't think of a single other yellow Christmas album.  Surely there has to be something.  But I'm drawing a complete blank.  Hmmm, if you think of one, you'll have to clue me in down there in the comments.  In the meantime, I'm happy to share some Swedish Christmas music with you, by way of Chicago.  Some days I don't know how I find music like this, I think it must somehow find me.  Who else is going to bring you a glee club from Chicago singing Swedish Christmas carols?  Who else would give this album a second glance?  I was actually excited when I found it! But that's just me, your mileage may vary.  I'm not in a very talkative (typative?) mood tonight, so jumping right in, here is The Chicago Swedish Glee Club-Wayne Spies, Conductor-Sam Hill, Accompanist-For Your Christmas Collection-Wishing You God Jul-Merry Christmas (AKA Songs Of Christmas) (Chicago Swedish Glee Club U-63051, Stereo).

And I'm also too lazy to type out all these Swedish song titles with their umlauts and accents and carats and diacriticals and what not. Just download the ZIP file and you'll see what the songs are.

MEGA

Back To The Harmonicas

Today's remastered LP is this classic from a splinter group of the original Harmonicats. When I decided to re-record this one, the copy I found turned out to have a slightly different back cover that featured a picture of the band.  And as I looked at the picture and actually read the words, I realized that Don Les, former Harmonicat, was not the most famous person in the group.  That honor goes to Mildred Mulcay (not 'Mudcay' as they've decided to spell it...) of the famous Mulcays!  They may not have been as famous back in the day as The Harmonicats, but at least she was a primary member of the group, unlike Don Les.  I've made a lot of fun of this album over the years, but it's certainly grown on me, and it's far from the worst thing I've ever shared with you.  Maybe this new rip will make you a fan.  If not, at least you didn't pay anything for it.  I had to buy the album. I think this could have been a real classic if they'd pepped up the tempo a bit and added some backing instrumentation.  This is The Don Les Harmonicats-Christmas With The Don Les Harmonicats (Halo 1005, Stereo). Note that 'Upon The Housetop' is listed on the cover, but doesn't actually show up on the album. (Instead you get 'O Little Town Of Bethlehem'.)  If you read the notes closely, I don't think that's the only error here.  Halo was certainly a budget label.

1. White Christmas
2. The Christmas Song
3. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
4. Jingle Bells
5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
6. Silent Night
7. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
8. March Of The Three Kings
9. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
10. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear

MEGA

The Boys Of Christmas

Isn't there a Christmas movie about Boys Town?  Maybe it's not a Christmas movie, but there is certainly a movie, and that was the first thing that I thought of when I spied this album. I also thought about an album that Buster has shared out before at his blog, but luckily this was a different LP altogether. I'm not super familiar with the concept of Boys Town, other than it seems to be a home for underprivileged boys that provides them with some sort of support system to help them grow into strong men.  And that's a good thing.  So to support that mission, they released this album back in the day.  I think it's the sort of thing we can all support and enjoy.  This is The Boys Town Choir-Msgr. Francis Schmitt, Director-Mr. Frank Szynskie, Assistant-Mr. Malcolm Breda, Organist-Christmas At Boys Town (Mastertone Recording Co. M-102, Mono).

1. Chimes-Magnum Nomen Domini
2. Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
3. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
4. Pastores A Belen
5. With Heart And Spirit Reconciled
6. Inimicitias Ponam
7. Ave Maria
8. Chimes (Adeste Fideles)
9. Chimes-Winter
10. As I Out Rode This Enders Night
11. Widele-Wedele
12. What Cheer
13. Now Start We With A Goodly Song
14. De New-Born Baby
15. The Christ Child
16. Der Englishche Gruss
17. Chimes (Silent Night)

MEGA

Weekly Feedback

Well, it's been a week since we got this party started, how you doin' out there?  Having any fun?  Too early to say?  How about favorites, you heard anything you can't believe you lived without all this time? Any questions?  Just opening up the floor here. :)

Ring Bells In Stereo

As we move on through December, I hope you're enjoying some of these older shares that I'm bringing back in remastered form, or in the case of this one, in a stereo version when I had a mono copy previously.  Having sound come out of both speakers is kinda nice, especially when you're listening to the soothing sounds of the carillon and handbells. You might want to save this one for Christmas morning as your children are waking up at 4 am and running down the stairs to see the magic Santa left for them overnight. I like how this early Word LP shows us how they identified the Stereo versions from the more common Mono versions at the time. Other labels did a top-to-bottom shift, but Word just did one cover for both with a small overprint in the upper right corner. But in this case, the Word logo was barely visible aagainst the dark photograph, so they added a small white sticker up there so that you knew it was a Word record. The smallest things interest me sometimes, I can't explain why. This is Del Roper With The Mason Swiss Bell Ringers-I Heard The Bells (Word WST-8011-LP, Mono, 1959).

1. Jingle Bells and White Christmas
2. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
3. Carol Of The Bells
4. We Three Kings
5. Gesu, Bambino
6. Joy To The World
7. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
8. O Holy Night (Cantique De Noel)
9. The First Noel
10. Silent Night
11. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
12. O Come, All ye Faithful (Adeste Fidelis)

MEGA