15-Non-English Christmas

You know that Christmas is a holiday celebrated around the world, but you may not be familiar with the music of Christmas in those countries that don't speak English. The collection of 78s at The Internet Archive features music from around the world, and I was able to get some good stuff from there to share with you. And it turns out that many countries (and Denmark in particular) enjoy novelty American Christmas tunes in their own language!  So there's a good portion of those here as well.  Lots to love in this collection, so dig in!

MEGA

Update-4 Jan 2023-Added tracklist to allow searching.

1. Vivian Bazan-Biale Gody; White Christmas (Polish)
2. Weekend-Hyttens Kor Og Orkester-Bjældeklang (Jingle Bells)
3. Hedvig Volmer-Synger 3 Stemmigt Med Sig Selv Akkompagneret af Melodikvintetten-Hvid Jul (White Christmas)
4. Lørdagspigerne Med Hans Peder Åse's Kvartet-Hvor Gik Min Snemand Hen (Where Did My Snowman Go)
5. MIE Med Sid Merrimans Orkester-Jeg Så Julemanden Kysse Mor
6. Peer Rygård Nielsen (6 år) Med Bent Fabricus-Bjerres Trio-Kender I Den Om Rudolf (Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer)
7. Los Ruiseñores-Noche De Paz (Silent Night)
8. Roger Miron Et Ses Laurentiens-Noel De Chez-Nous
9. Gerda And Mirko Pugelj With Organ Accompaniment And Church Bells-Silent Night (Vocal In Slovenian)
10. Andy Russell With Male Choir And Paul Weston And His Orchestra-The First Noël (La Primera Navidad)
11. Ralph Pedi With Orchestra-White Christmas (Italian)
12. Gustav Winkler Med George Swensson's Ensemble-Du Kære Gamle Julemand
13. Regina Kujawa, Bernard Witkowski I Jego Orkiestra, Srebrnych Dzwonów-Dzwoneczki (Polish Jingle Bells)
14. Les Petits Chanteurs De Granby-Directeur: Frère Emmanuel, S.C.-Harmonisè Par Ernest Gagon-Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant (He Was Born The Christ Child)
15. The Okey Dokies Med Helge Jacobsens Kvartet-Når Vi Holder Julefest (Christmas In Killarney)
16. Trio Los Panchos (Gil-Navarro-Avillés)-Navidad Y Año Nuevo (Son Huasteco)
17. Claire Marti-Goat Shepherd's Song (Sung In Swiss Dialect)

 

Hoot!

Went out looking for owls tonight, and got lucky with this girl and her mate. She's a great horned owl, in case you aren't familiar with the species. In case you're curious, they use that neck pouch to hoot, just like a frog. :)

14-The Jingle Bells

I know I just yesterday told you that I'm trying not to duplicate the same song in a playlist around here, but rules were made to be broken. Today I have a pile of versions of that venerable old Christmas classic, Jingle Bells, for you.  It's played in any number of different ways, I don't think you're going to be bored with it at all. After I collected up all the music I wanted to share with you this year (courtesy of The Internet Archive), Jingle Bells appeared to be the song I had gathered up the most versions of. And I certainly didn't grab every version they have, just the ones that didn't look familiar. So download this collection and set it to play at random.  There are some surprises in here, I can almost guarantee you are going to hear versions that you haven't heard before. Enjoy!

MEGA

Update-4 Jan 2023-Added tracklist to allow searching.

1. Gustav Winkler-Gy Holdorf Med George Swensson's Ensemble-Bjældeklang (Jingle Bells)
2. Freddie Mitchell Orch. Featuring Rip Harrigan On Piano-Jingle Bell Boogie
3. Leo Watson With The Vic Dickenson Quintet-Jingle Bells
4. Riley-Farley And Their Orchestra-Jingle Bells
5. Slam Stewart Quintet-Jingle Bells
6. The Keynotes, Vocal, With Primo Scala And His Banjo And Accordian Orchestra-Jingle Bells
7. Glenn Miller And His Orchestra-Vocal Refrain By Tex Beneke, Ernie Caceres And The Modernaires-Jingle Bells
8. Ozzie Nelson And His Orchestra-Vocal Chorus By Ozzie Nelson And Harriet Hilliard-Jingle Bells
9. RCA Victor Salon Orchestra Under The Direction Of Rosario Bourdon With Male Quartet-Jingle Bells Fantasy
10. Joe Gumin And His Orchestra-Jingle Bells
11. Dick Powell With The Foursome-Instrumental Accompaniment Directed By Harry Sosnik-Jingle Bells
12. Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians-Vocal Chorus By Kenny Gardner And The Lombardo Trio-Jingle Bells
13. George Cates And His Orchestra-Vocal By Tom Mack And The Heartbeats-Jingle Bells Around The World-Sung In English, German, Italian, Franch, Spanish
14. Cowboy Copas, Vocal With String Band-Jingle Bells
15. Robert Rheims, Organ, Chimes And Bells-Jingle Bells

The Best From 2019

Here's another little project I've been working on for a while now that I want to share with you this season. Some of you may know about the annual Christmas In July celebration that goes on around these parts in July (and frequently into August and sometimes September), but for those that don't, here's a short primer.  I collect up records all year long that hold a Christmas song or two, then I try to share out the seasonal songs with you in daily batches all during the month.  Often there is really good stuff, but other times it's endless versions of Skater's Waltz or Ave Maria.  So I like to eventually put together a collection of all my favorites from the season, and that's what you have here. This is all the things that I really liked during the 2019 Christmas In July celebration, all in a single download.  The list of what's here is below, but the files should be tagged with a little more info for you.

01. Unknown Artist...Let's Go Get Our Christmas Tree (01:31)
02. The Harmonaires...The Song Of The Snow (01:36)
03. Tom Glazer...Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (02:58)
04. Esther Williams And Ricardo Montalban...Baby, It's Cold Outside (02:31)
05. George Hamilton IV...Song For A Winter's Night (02:54)
06. Children From New York Public School 24...I Believe In Santa Claus (03:00)
07. J & K...Troika (00:28)
08. Walter Gieseking...Children's Corner Suite No. 4: Snow Is Dancing (02:04)
09. Vera Lynn...The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot (02:55)
10. Bobby Bond...Snow Balls In July (02:07)
11. Bethany College Choir...Nu Ar Dei Jul Igen (01:23)
12. Jack De Mello And His Orchestra...Dance Of The Menehunes (02:37)
13. Eileen Donaghy...Christmas Time In Ireland (02:48)
14. New York Percussion Trio...Sleigh Bells (02:00)
15. Mahlon Merrick And His Orchestra...Snow Flurries (02:48)
16. The New Swing Sextet...My Favorite Things (03:38)
17. Redlands High School Concert Choir...Carol Of The Bells (Ukranian Carol) (01:19)
18. Jimmy Jenson...Jingle Bell Rock (02:05)
19. The Irish Rovers...The Marvelous Toy (02:34)
20. The Modern Folk Quartet...Riu Chiu (01:44)
21. Ella Jenkins...Winter (01:15)
22. Unknown Artist...Joy To The World/Good King Wenceslas/We Wish You A Merry Christmas (02:19)
23. Sally Niven, David Cryer & The Women...My Holiday (02:53)
24. Ithaca College Band...Holiday Parade (02:20)
25. The Lutheran Church Of The Good Shepherd...A Joyous Glad Noel (02:17)
26. Crescent Temple String Band...Toyland (01:40)
27. Paul Bley Trio...Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (03:36)
28. Little Johnny Everything And His Sister Judy...The Story Of Christmas (01:41)
29. Robert Q. Lewis And The Star-Time Kids Chorus...Jingle Bells (00:39)
30. Wheaton College Men's Glee Club...The Sleigh (01:03)
31. National Lampoon (Christopher Guest, David Hurdon, Gilda Radner)...Kung Fu Christmas (03:52)
32. Jack Kane And His Orchestra...Ski Trail (02:24)
33. Wonderland Chorus...Winter Wonderland (02:12)
34. Mojo Nixon...Transylvanian Xmas (00:37)
35. Jamall Badry...Some Children See Him (03:16)
36. Guitar Magic...Jingle Bells (01:40)
37. Poplar Hill Development School...See The Flakes Of Fleecy Snow (02:06)
38. Dolf Van Der Linden Und Sein Metropol-Orchester...Holiday In Hollywood (02:49)
39. The Harlequins...A Winter Romance (04:00)
40. Gayle Moran...Christmas Song (01:19)
41. Unknown Artist...Be A Santa (02:42)
42. Sister Jean, P.M. With Orchestra...My Favorite (03:03)
43. The Salvation Army Band...The Spirit Of Christmas (Christmas Carol) (02:41)
44. Mel Tormé With The Page Cavanaugh Trio...What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? (03:03)

There's a lot of good music in there, I promise you. The cover art is a picture I took in a small church in Italy (Chiesa Santa Maria Delle Grazie in Gravedona, I think), a trip I embarked upon a couple of days after I finished the festivities in 2019. So if you're looking for something newer than the 78's I've been sharing out this year, this is the collection for you.  Please have a listen to The Very Best Of Christmas (In July) From Ernie (Not Bert) 2019!

MEGA

I've been doing these collections for a long time now, going all the way back to the very first one in 2006.  If there's not a collection, that means I didn't do Christmas In July that year.  Here are the links to the posts where you should be able to find good downloads (look in the comments!).

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2015

2017

2018

 Now I just need to get busy on a collection from the 2020 season...

13-Polka Christmas

Is there anything that says Christmas more than a peppy polka? I don't think so!  Get up from your seat and dance a while to these awesome slices of Christmas revelry, sourced from, you guessed it, The Internet Archive, and their deep collection of vintage 78s. Even though some of these have the same name, I don't think they're all the same song. I've tried to keep duplicates to a minimum this year, but things happen.

MEGA

Update-4 Jan 2023-Added tracklist to allow searching.

1. Frankie Yankovic And His Yanks-Vocal Chorus By Frankie Yankovic And Bud Griebel-Christmas Polka
2. Freddy Martin And His Orchestra-Vocal Refrain By Merv Griffin And The Martin Men-Merry Christmas Polka
3. Eddie Habat And His Polka Orchestra-Polka Vocal By Bob And Millie Holt-Santa Claus Polka
4. The Globe Trotters-Sleigh Ride Polka
5. The Modernaires Featuring Hal Dickinson-Orchestra Under The Direction Of Lou Bring-The Jingle Bell Polka
6. Dinah Shore With Jud Conlon's Rhythmaires-Orchestra Under The Direction Of Harry Zimmerman-The Merry Christmas Polka
7. Benny Strong And His Orchestra-The Merry Christmas Polka
8. Joe Biviano With RCA Victor Accordion Orchestra-Wooden Soldier Polka (Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers)
9. Jimmy Wakely With Cowboy Band-Christmas Polka
10. Margaret Whiting And The Mellomen With Frank DeVol And His Orchestra-Mistletoe Kiss Polka
11. Jerry Dostal And His Polka Band-Snow Man Polka

12-I... I... I...

Another great batch of Christmas songs today from the Internet Archive, this time loosely themed around the first person point of view. I this and I that. I've this and I'll that. You'll feel personally connected to the season after taking in all these great tracks.  Have a listen and let me know what you think.

MEGA

Update-4 Jan 2023-Added tracklist to allow searching.

1. Al Russell And The Do-Re-Me Trio-I Don't Want To Be Alone For Christmas
2. Tony Pastor And His Orchestra-I Want A Beautiful Doll For Christmas
3. Betty Johnson With Jimmy Leyden-Conductor-I Want Eddie Fisher For Christmas
4. Janet Lane-Vocal, With Rhythm Westerners-I'd Like A Boyfriend For Christmas
5. Ernest Tubb-I'll Be Walkin' The Floor This Christmas
6. Sydney Lipton And His Grosvenor House Dance Orchestra-Vocalist: Eddie Bryant-I'm Spending Christmas With The Old Folks
7. Don Cornell With Chorus And Orchestra Directed By Norman Leyden-I've Got The Christmas Spirit
8. Lu Ann Simms, Orchestra Under The Direction Of Percy Faith-I Just Can't Wait 'Til Christmas
9. Jimmy Collett-I Remember Christmas
10. Mervin Shiner With Orchestra Directed By Roy Ross-I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
11. Jimmy Ray And His Orchestra-I Told Santa Claus To Bring Me You
12. Mae Questel (The Betty Boop Girl)-I Want You For Christmas
13. Eddy Howard And His Orchestra-I'll Be Home For Christmas