Ernie (Not Bert)

Saturday, November 29, 2025

A Cartoon Christmas 15

Awful late in the day to find any cartoons on TV, but maybe I'll get lucky if I flip around for a while. What's this, some commercial for a toy dog that I can adopt? What a great idea! I wonder if they made a Christmas album for it? Why yes they did, and here's a copy of Pound Puppies-Pound Puppies Sing And Bark Jingle Bells And Other Christmas Favorites (Peter Pan/Tonka GT-13, Stereo, 1985). Tonka, the toy truck people? Clearly anyone can and did make a Christmas record during this period. Though I think they were a little devoid of ideas by the time they got to this one. I think they listened to The Singing Dogs doing Jingle Bells, and sort of took all their inspiration from there. You'll see.

1. Jingle Bells
2. Night Before Christmas
3. Frosty The Snowman
4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
5. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
6. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
7. Deck The Halls
8. My Favorite Things
9. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
10. Twelve Days Of Christmas

A Cartoon Christmas 14

Back home again and checking the channels for some more cartoons. Back up on the UHF station and they've got some old Popeye cartoons running. And wouldn't you know it, here's a Christmas album from one and the same! This is Popeye And Friends-Hear 4 Exciting Christmas Stories With Popeye And Friends (Peter Pan 8215, Stereo, 1977). This one says it features the original voice of Popeye, Jack Mercer. Sounds just like the guy on the TV, so I guess that's correct.

1. Christmas Pie
2. Pearlburgers
3. Deck The Halls
4. Santa Popeye

A Cartoon Christmas 13

Thought I could stay home and watch cartoons all day, but I guess I was wrong. Have to go with Mom out shopping, but at least we get to stop at the toy store. But wait, what's this at the toy store? It happens to be a Toys 'R Us and they've got a Christmas record featuring their mascot, Geoffrey the Giraffe. What luck! Who expected to find a Christmas record based on an animated character from TV commercials. This is Geoffrey Giraffe-A Merry Geoffrey Christmas (Wonderland Records for Toys 'R' Us WLP-302, Stereo, 1975). I believe the Jeff Wayne who did the music here is the same Jeff Wayne that did the War Of The Worlds album that was a staple of record stores when I was younger. I could be wrong though.

1. Geoffrey's Christmas Tree
2. Geoffrey And His Christmas Snow Machine
3. Geoffrey's Christmas Dream
4. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas (According To Geoffrey)

A Cartoon Christmas 12

High noon on a Saturday morning, that's usually when the cartoons switch over to afternoon horror movies or Wide World Of Sports. Not here though. Around here, it's all Christmas all the time, and today it's all cartoons. Time now for everyone's favorite Belgian import. No, not Tintin, it's The Smurfs, and they're singing their usual happy little songs. I'm asking myself why there wasn't a record-collecting Smurf. There probably was, but he was way in the back of the group shots, hoping the picture would be over soon and he could go visit the nearby thrift store before they closed. Oh well. This is The Smurfs-Merry Christmas With The Smurfs (Starland Music S-1033, Stereo, 1983).

1. Smurfing Bells
2. Winter Wonderland
3. Santa Claus Is On His Way
4. Let Us Sing Together
5. Churchbells Are Singing (Church Bells Are Breaking The Silence)
6. Oh, Christmas Tree
7. Christmas Presents
8. Little Drummerboy
9. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
10. Santa Claus Will Come Tonight
11. Deck The Halls
12. Bells Jingle
13. Silent Night, Holy Night
14. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
15. Merry Christmas Little Smurfs Everywhere

A Cartoon Christmas 11

I'm feeling too sick from all that cereal so I can't get off the couch to change the channel. Looks like it's a double feature of Strawberry Shortcake today, what luck. Of all the cartoons on my schedule today, this is the only character with two Christmas records. This one looks like it was put out by some different people than the last one, though still in cahoots with American Greetings. This outfit, Scholastic, was the the group that did the school book fairs and publications aimed at classrooms and education. Not sure what the history of this record is, but it's clearly not aimed at the same amrket as the previous one. This is Strawberry Shortcake-Strawberry Shortcake And The Winter That Would Not End (Scholastic/American Greetings 0-590-31088-7, Stereo, 1983). As you can see below, it's a picture disc, though only on one side. The flip side is black like a regular record, but it's still made of some sort of clear plastic like this type of picture disc is (you might be able to hear a slight reduction in the sound quality because of that). Looking at the Discogs entry for this record, it's supposed to have a picture on both sides, my copy must be some sort of error disc. Maybe it's worth a small fortune, I should sell it and retire. (Looks like I'm also missing a book that should have come with it, so much for it being worth anything.)

1. Strawberry Shortcake And The Winter That Would Not End Part 1
2. Strawberry Shortcake And The Winter That Would Not End Part 2

A Cartoon Christmas 10

Ten AM, still prime time on a Saturday morning, let's check the TV Guide and see what's up next. Actually, we didn't get the TV Guide, we got a local version that came for free with the Sunday paper. It was always there in a handy spot near the Magnavox so we could look up when our favorite shows might be coming on, or what was on the Wonderful World of Disney Sunday night. Looks like some more product placement from the fine folks at American Greetings. Does Strawberry Shortcake look like Holly Hobby to anyone other than me? Sure she's got a different name and wears fruit-themed clothing, but the little face and the big puffy hat really seem like a rip-off, or if you want to be more kind about it, an adaptation of the earlier character. Hmm, they both seem to be products of American Greetings, I think I may be on to something here. I'm going to go do some more research while you download and listen to Strawberry Shortcake-Christmas Album (Kid Stuff/American Greetings KSS 5005, Stereo, 1981).

1. Strawberryland
2. Dialogue
3. Time For Winter
4. Dialogue
5. Strawberryland (Reprise)
6. Jam And Jelly
7. Dialogue
8. Strawberry Shortcake's Winter Wonderland
9. Dialogue
10. Strawberryland (Reprise)

A Cartoon Christmas 9

What channel can we flip to next? It's prime viewing time, when all the networks are showing their best cartoons so there's got to be something good on. Oh, everybody loves Scooby Doo! I enjoyed Scooby before the annoying little Scrappy Doo came on the scene and though I see him there on the cover of this record, I don't remember him figuring in any of the stories. Unlike 90% of these kiddie cartoon records, this one actually has the original cast of the cartoon doing the voices of the characters. That means you get to hear Casey Kasem as Shaggy! Dig it! And now here's a long-distance dedication with Scooby Doo And Friends-Exciting Christmas Stories (Peter Pan Records/Hanna-Barbera 8214, 1978). The Peter Pan label is back with this one, licensed from the great Hanna-Barbera. Surprised they didn't release this one themselves, but perhaps their record-releasing days were behind them. They had a thriving label for a while with a few Christmas records even.

1. The Mystery Of The Missing Santa
2. Trouble At Santa's Workshop

A Cartoon Christmas 8

Time to flip the channel back to something a bit more modern, or at least modern for the early eighties. The Cabbage Patch Kids? What a sensation they were for a while, what with parents actually fighting with each other in the stores to make sure their kids got one for Christmas. So much for peaceful little puffy babies born in a cabbage patch, given birth certificates and being raised by kids. To be honest, these creatures were a little creepy to me even back then and much more so in hindsight. Still, if you want to relive those good-old-days, please download Cabbage Patch Kids-A Cabbage Patch Christmas (Parker Brothers Music PB 7214, Stereo, 1984). Parker Brothers? The board game people? How'd they get a finger in this pie?

1. Best Time Of Year
2. Christmas Time In The Cabbage Patch
3. Deck The Halls
4. There's Nothing Like The Old Christmas Carols
5. Christmas Favorites
6. Some Of The Newer Arrivals At The Patch
7. Sleigh Ride
8. That Was Great Colonel Casey
9. One More Dream Til Christmas
10. Christmas Hoop-De-Do
11. Did Santa Claus Really Bring All These Presents
12. Mrs. Santa Claus
13. Christmas Didn't Always Turn Out Right For Everyone
14. Gimme Gimme Take Take
15. While The Villians Were Grumbling
16. Children Go Where I Send Thee
17. Are You Kids Enjoying Yourselves
18. All One Family At Christmas

A Cartoon Christmas 7

That classic Bugs Bunny got me in the mood for some more of the olde classics. I lied when I said we only got three channels, there's actually a fourth one, but it's way up high on the UHF dial and I've got to spin a different knob on the Magnavox to get there. Doesn't always come in, but maybe I'll get lucky today. It's an independent channel, no network affiliation, so they play odd shows, most of which are really old. Looks like today they're playing some old Bozo the Clown, so we'll tune into that for a few minutes. Give this is a listen, it's Larry Harmon as Bozo The Clown-Bozo's Christmas Sing Along (Little World Records LW-912, Mono, 1966). This one got a later reissue on Peter Pan where it had a tear-off Christmas decoration as part of the front cover. I got unreasonably excited at a local record shop recently when I found a copy that included a minty version of that decoration. There's a scan in the download.

1. Introduction 1
2. Jingle Bells
3. Deck The Halls
4. The Story Of The Night Before Christmas
5. Introduction 2
6. Silent Night
7. Interlude
8. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
9. The New Years' Mentioning Intentionings

A Cartoon Christmas 6

After spotting a fake Wile E. Coyote in that last show, I'm wanting to see some classic Looney Tunes, and as luck would have it, look what's up next! It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights! Wait, that's the Muppets song. What was the Bugs Bunny Show theme? Who knows what heights we'll hit, on with the show, this is it! This is Bugs Bunny And His Friends-Holly-Daze (Peter Pan 8137, Stereo, 1974). This one was also released as Christmas With Bugs Bunny And Friends, I'll drop the cover for that one in below and the full scans are in the download. I think this is the first cartoon record I've shared that actually features the voice of the characters, in this case the immortal Mel Blanc! Shame they couldn't get some actual artists in for the drawings though. The front cover images are sort of OK, but the cartoons on the back cover look nothing like the classic characters. This one is not from Kid Stuff, but one of the other heavy hitters in such records, Peter Pan.

1. Bugs, The Red-Nosed Bunny
2. Santa-Claustrophobia
3. Holly Daze
4. Twas A Sight Before Christmas

A Cartoon Christmas 5

Flipping channels like a madman, back and forth between CBS, ABC and NBC. ABC doesn't come in so well, but with some strategic repositioning of the rabbit ears, I can get it in well enough. Looks like they're playing a cartoon about some old dolls. Blech. But wait, is that Wile E. Coyote in there? Hard to tell with the snow and the picture rolling every few seconds, but I think it is. Maybe I'll give this a chance. This is Raggedy Ann & Andy-Christmas Party (Kid Stuff KSS 5006, Stereo, 1981). More here from the ubiquitous Kid Stuff Records.

1. Story And Songs
2. Story And Songs (Continued)

A Cartoon Christmas 4

My sugar rush is starting to mellow a bit, so I can sit still for another cartoon. Ooh, Pac-Man, I love going to the Family Fun Center on the south side of town and pumping a few quarters into the game, maybe the cartoon is good, too. Not sure why I would think that, but you never know. Another fine record here from the licensing experts at Kid Stuff. This must have been after the first wave of Pac-Man Fever because Ms. Pac-Man is in there now. I've got a pocket full of quarters and I'm headin' for the arcade while you listen to Pac-Man-Pac-Man Christmas Album (Kid Stuff KSS-5029, Stereo, 1982).

1. Christmas Album Part 1
2. The Magic Of Christmas
3. Christmas Album Part 2
4. Snowflakes And Frozen Lakes
5. Christmas Album Part 3
6. Under The Tree
7. Christmas Album Part 4
8. Deck The Halls
9. An Old Fashioned Christmas
10. Christmas Album Part 5
11. Somedays Are More Important
12. Christmas Album Part 6
13. Friends Again
14. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

A Cartoon Christmas 3

Cereal is all gone, stomach is a little queasy but the sugar is starting to kick in. I doubt if I can sit through a whole cartoon. I'll leave it on in the background of course, but I think I'm going to read some comic strips in the paper. I much prefer the funny comics, like Bloom Country, The Far Side and Dilbert to the serious things like Prince Valiant and The Phantom. Then there are the stuff things that have been in there forever and will go on forever because they get passed down from the original cartoonist to his kids, like Blondie, Nancy and Hagar The Horrible (Wizard of Id anyone?). Peanuts has been around forever, too, but at least it's funny. I really don't like Annie, what's up with those eyeballs? Did the artist run out of ink before he could dot some pupils in there? It's like looking at old Greek statues. Anyhow, Annie is the subject of our next cartoon record, in case you couldn't tell. I suspect this record has more to do with the stage show than comic strip, but I'm not super familiar with either. Couldn't watch the show after I was creeped out by the eyes in the strip. So without further ado, this is Annie-Annie's Christmas (Columbia CC 38361, Stereo, 1982). This one didn't seem very conducive to being cut into bits, so you just get two long sides here. Enjoy!

1. Annie's Christmas Part 1
2. Annie's Christmas Part 2

A Cartoon Christmas 2

I've eaten all the cereal, but I've got a bowl full of neon-colored milk left, so I'm going to pour in some more cereal (and another heaping spoonful of sugar) to watch the next cartoon with. What's up next on the Magnavox? Ugh, Rainbow Brite, that's for girls. I'd get up and change the channel, but I'm too lazy and besides, we only have three channels and the other two haven't started showing the cartoons yet, one is still showing the daily farm report and the other one hasn't even signed on yet. Gonna be a long day. This is Rainbow Brite-Christmas (Buena Vista Records/Hallmark Cards 2111, Stereo, 1985). Ooh, this one is on a Disney label, though I doubt they really had much to do with it. I think that mention of Hallmark Cards is the bigger clue here as to who was in charge. This was a marketing push to sell, sell, sell, sell from back in the days when you could push product through a cartoon aimed at kids. But enough yelling at clouds, go download and enjoy this one. Murky & Lurky are my favorite here.

1. Rainbow Brite & The Color Kids-A Gift Of Love
2. The Color Kids-Jingle Bells
3. Twink, Murky & Lurky-The Twelve Days Of Christmas
4. Rainbow Brite & The Color Kids-Silent Night
5. The Color Kids-Joy To The World
6. Murky & Lurky-Christmas In The Pits
7. Rainbow Brite & The Color Kids-The First Noel
8. Rainbow Brite, The Color Kids & Sprite Chorus-Deck The Hall
9. The Color Kids-Christmas Medley: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Hark The Herald Angels Sing; O Christmas Tree
10. The Color Kids-We Wish You A Merry Christmas

A Cartoon Christmas 1

Good morning! We're up super early on a Saturday morning, we've got a really big bowl of cereal that's covered in sugar and it's slowly turning the milk to some bright neon color, let's watch some cartoons. And since it's a Christmas blog, they're going to be Christmas cartoons. It's a Super Saturday, which means lots and lots of share with some uniting theme. Obviously the theme today is cartoons of some sort or another. We'll start out with one of my favorite characters, though it's certainly not my favorite version of the character. I prefer the cool '60s version based on the movie version, but that's just my age showing. You get some nice songs here, interspersed with some action sequences with all sorts of cartoon trouble. I can't help but think of Peter Sellers when hearing Inspector Clouseau and even a bit of Steve Martin, too. I don't think any real voices show up on this record, though, either famous or from actual iterations of the cartoon. That seems to be a running theme in these cartoon-based records. My cereal is getting soggy, why don't you go give a listen to The Pink Panther-A Pink Panther Christmas (Kid Stuff KSS 5007, Stereo, 1981). You'll find that lots of these record adaptations are on the Kid Stuff label, they loved this kind of thing.

1. Pink Panther Christmas
2. A Pink Panther Christmas Part 1
3. Jingle Bells
4. A Pink Panther Christmas Part 2
5. Twelve Days Of Christmas
6. Christmas Is Gonna Be Pink
7. A Pink Panther Christmas Part 3
8. Deck The Halls
9. A Pink Panther Christmas Part 4
10. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Friday, November 28, 2025

Two Of The Same Nut

I've got two versions of The Nutcracker here for you in the middle of the night. I recorded them at different times, cleaned them up and cut them into pieces at different times, scanned and edited the sleeves at different times, and only realized this was two releases of the same recording from different sides of the pond much later. I seem to recall they may be edited a bit differently and maybe the speed of one is a little off from the other, but they're certainly the same. I think was finally clued me in was that both records name the same female performer even though the listed groups are different. I love to find little coincidences like this, you can't plan for it, but you have to be ready when it happens. The first one I'll give you is Denise Bryer And The Famous Theatre Company With The Hollywood Studio Orchestra-The Nutcracker Suite (United Artists/Tale Spinners For Children UAC 11011, Mono). This one was released in the US as part of the extensive Tale Spinners For Children series by United Artists.

1. The Nutcracker, Side 1
2. The Nutcracker, Side 2

And this second version, released in the UK, is London Theatre Company Featuring Denise Bryer-The Nutcracker (Beano Records Limited (England) BE.12/015, Mono, 1965). I suspect this is the original and was licensed to the US company a year or so later. I updated the listings at Discogs to tie these two records together, and I saw there were other Beano record titles that were duplicated in the Tale Spinners series. I wonder if they're also reissues? I don't have the Beano issues of any others, so I can't say for sure.

1. Nutcracker, Part 1
2. Nutcracker, Part 2

Seasonings Three

Last record in this series of celebrity Christmas wishes and probably my favorite out of the bunch, if only for the inclusion of a great greeting from Stevie Ray Vaughn. There are a few artists duplicated between this record and the last one, but they are all new greetings as near as I can tell. Same great range of artists as well, from Luther Vandross to Gregory Hines to Quiet Riot! How can you go wrong? Don't delay, supplies are limited! Download Holiday Greetings From The Epic, Portrait And CBS Associated Family (Epic EAS 1393, Stereo, 1988) now! Least favorite greeting on this one? Living Color. Come on, they couldn't be bothered to actually record something related to the holiday? This record was first shared around these parts back in 2010, but this new post is a brand new rip in fancy FLAC format.

1. Gregg Allman Of The Gregg Allman Band
2. Billy Always
3. Basia
4. Robin Zandar Of Cheap Trick
5. Rick Nielsen Of Cheap Trick
6. Cherrelle
7. Alice Cooper #1
8. Alice Cooper #2
9. Gloria Estefan #1
10. Gloria Estefan #2
11. Gloria Estefan #3
12. Europe #1
13. Europe #2
14. The Fabulous Thunderbirds
15. The Godfathers
16. Peter Coyne Of The Godfathers
17. Gregory Hines
18. Insiders
19. Living Colour
20. Alexander O'Neal
21. Ozzy Osbourne #1
22. Ozzy Osbourne #2
23. Quiet Riot #1
24. Quiet Riot #2
25. The Rave-Ups
25. 'Til Tuesday
26. Kevin Cronin Of REO Speedwagon
27. Rhythm Cords
28. Dan Siegel
29. Slammin' Watusis #1
30. Slammin' Watusis #2
31. Henry Lee Summer #1
32. Henry Lee Summer #2
33. Jim Peterik Of Survivor
34. Tony Terry
35. Luther Vandross #1
36. Luther Vandross #2
37. Gino Vanelli
38. Stevie Ray Vaughan #1
39. Stevie Ray Vaughan #2
40. Weird Al Yankovic #1
41. Weird Al Yankovic #2
42. Weird Al Yankovic #3

Seasonings Two

Up next is another spanking new remaster of a classic share featuring seasonal greetings from all your favorite artists. This one features a similarly wide array of greetings as the last record, this time ranging from Ozzy Osbourne (RIP) to Charlie Daniels to Weird Al Yankovic! Grab yourself a copy of Holiday Greetings From The Epic, Portrait And CBS Associated Families (Epic Portrait Associated/CBS EAS 2864, Stereo, 1987). This one was first shared back in 2011 and has been brought back frequently ever since.

1. Gregg Allman
2. Ana
3. Big Trouble
4. Bill Carter
5. Robin Zander Of Cheap Trick
6. Rick Neilsen Of Cheap Trick
7. Cherrelle #1
8. Cherrelle #2
9. Angela Clemmons
10. Charlie Daniels
11. Mary Davis
12. Gloria Estefan And Miami Sound Machine
13. Fabulous Thunderbirds
14. David Hallyday
15. Hiroshima
16. Insiders #1
17. Insiders #2
18. Tuesday Knight
19. Krystol
20. Lion
21. Aimee Mann Of 'Til Tuesday
22. Teena Maria #1
23. Teena Maria #2
24. Kathy Mathis
25. Ozzy Osbourne #1
26. Ozzy Osbourne #2
27. Ozzy Osbourne #3
28. Quiet Riot #1
29. Quiet Riot #2
30. The Radiators
31. REO Speedwagon
32. S.O.S. Band #1
33. S.O.S. Band #2
34. Dan Siegel
35. Charlie Singleton
36. Survivor
37. Robert Tepper
38. Wa Wa Nee #1
39. Wa Wa Nee #2
40. Weird Al Yankovic #1
41. Weird Al Yankovic #2
42. Weird Al Yankovic #3
43. Weird Al Yankovic #4
44. Weird Al Yankovic #5
45. Pia Zadora

Seasonings One

I've gotten a lot of requests for these records over the years, so I finally decided to go back and remaster them and share them in FLAC. This is the first of three albums I have filled to the brim with Christmas greetings from multiple musical artists. There's a huge selection of artists here from Poison to Willie Dixon to MC Hammer. Something for everyone, as they say. Grab it before it's gone, and sprinkle it liberally around your Christmas library. This is The Best For '89 From The Entire Capitol Family (Capitol SPRO-79471, Stereo, 1989). Almost forgot to mention I first shared this out in 2010 and I don't think I've remastered it since then. The share this year is sparkly and new.

1. Paul Shaffer
2. Anne Murray
3. Peter Blakeley
4. Steve Miller
5. Ann Wilson Of Heart
6. Shadowfax
7. Crowded House #1
8. Crowded House #2
9. Megadeth
10. Flesh For Lulu
11. Climie Fisher
12. Johnny Clegg & Savuka
13. View From The Hill
14. Sequal
15. The Reivers
16. Melba Moore
17. Hazell Dean
18. Pat McLaughlin
19. Aslan
20. Tracie Spencer
21. Suave
22. Bret Michaels Of Poison
23. Pete Bardens
24. Willie Dixon
25. Chapter 8
26. 101 North
27. Lloyd Cole & The Commotions
28. Bert Robinson
29. MC Hammer & The Posse
30. Richard Thompson

Double Up

Second day of the season, and I'm gonna share my first double album. Most years I share exactly zero double albums, but I think I must have ten or more this season. Not sure if I'll get to all of those or not, but I do know that I've got one here and now. I'm not sure if this was ever a commercial release or if it was just sent out to bandleaders and performers in hopes of selling some sheet music. It feels like it could have been sold to the general public though. It's got a lot of originals and a few unique arrangements of public domain songs. I'm sure the artist is not the Tom Fettke I've credited here, but there are no artist credits on the record that I can find and he got his name all over it for doing the arranging. I hate to use Unknown Artist so I'm going with Mr. Fettke. Take a look at the tracklist, there are lots of unique things here that you've likely never heard. Be my guest and download Tom Fettke-Carols Alive! (Lillenas Musicreations 2xLP L-9001, Stereo, 1979). (Is that a Chanukkah song snuck in there? Maybe...)

1. I Know Now
2. No Longer A Baby
3. Child In The Manger
4. Listen To The Story
5. A Thousand Candles
6. My Christmas Gift
7. Mary, Sing Alleluia
8. Beautiful Savior
9. Stranger In The Straw
10. Get Ready
11. What Did You Say Was The Baby's Name?-Medley: For Unto Us; What Did You Say Was The Baby's Name?
12. Some Children See Him
13. Messiamas Carol
14. Let All Mortal Flesh
15. To Jesus, From The Ends Of The Earth
16. I Wonder As I Wander
17. Incarnation
18. We Would Worship Thee
19. Burn, Candle, Burn
20. When God Almighty

Three Stories

I like to share out some of these spoken word records well before Christmas so that people have a little time to mine them for bits that might be useful on their Christmas mixes. Not sure if there's anything here interesting enough to put on a mix, but you never know. If you do find something here worth using, send me a copy or a link, I'd love to hear it. If you want to see what there is to see, here's The Wonderland Players-Three Christmas Stories (Wonderland/A.A. Records WLP-328, Stereo, 1980).

1. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
2. The Night Before Christmas
3. The Twelve Days of Christmas

Thursday, November 27, 2025

Not The Nutcracker

Last one of the day, I promise. Hopefully you've had a good day with lots of family and food. Thank you for joining me here at the blog for our 21st Christmas sharity celebration. Always a pleasure to be able to share my hobby with you, in both good years and lean. This year promises to be a full one if I can just find the time to make it all happen. I've been working on it since before the season ended last year, and I've still got a lot of stuff I wanted to do that isn't going to get done. The last post of the evening is something more classical than the usual fare around these parts. I believe this is the US release of a Russian recording. Sort of an odd release for a US company in the middle of the Cold War. I wonder what the explanation is behind the different artist name on the rear sleeve versus the labels. Maybe an American company didn't want USSR right there on the outside of the record. Bolshoi may sound Russian but it's not as antagonistic as USSR. But I'm just making baseless suppositions here. For a bit of Tchaikovsky that isn't The Nutcracker, please give a listen to Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra (AKA State Radio Orchestra Of The U.S.S.R.) Conducted By Nicolai Golovanov-Symphony No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 13 "Winter Dreams" (Westminster XWN 18224, Mono, 1956).

1. Allegro Tranquillo
2. Adagio Cantabile Ma Non Tanto
3. Scherzo: Allegro Scherzando Giocoso
4. Finale: Andante Lugubre - Allegro Moderato

Christmas In ATL

If you liked that last record from Cincinnati, then I suspect you'll enjoy this similar record from Atlanta. Took me a bit to connect this one with Atlanta, but it helps to read the liner notes. The cover image leaves a bit to be desired, but I guess it's effective in it's own way. Still a lot of grain in that picture, must be from the night exposure. Rich's was a popular department store in downtown Atlanta, Georgia and what you're looking at is a pedestrian bridge that connected various buildings that housed the store. The custom each year was to put a giant tree on top of that bridge, then stage a huge celebration to light it. Local schools contributed recordings to soundtrack that event, and this record was a souvenir. Nice little story, but I don't know if anyone outside of Atlanta has ever heard of it. Now you can take part in the celebration, just 40 or so years too late. This is Christmas Music From Rich's Lighting Of The Great Tree (Rich's Department Store, Atlanta, GA, Stereo). This record goes out to my Christmas buddy Brad who recently moved to Atlanta. Best of luck to you in your new home, and let me know if there's still a Rich's in the town.

1. The Young Singers Of Callanwolde-Stephen J. Ortlip, Conductor-The Snow In The Street; Sing A Glad Noel
2. North Fulton Special Choir-Robert S. Lowrance, Jr., Conductor-Carol Of The Drum
3. Second Ponce De Leon Baptist Church Junior Choir-Mrs. Mabel Stewart Boyter, Conductor-A Christmas Mosaic
4. Central Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir-Don Robinson, Conductor-What Shall I Give Him; The First Noel
5. Georgia State University Brass Ensemble-Mr. William H. Hill, Conductor-Music Of Christmas
6. Decatur Civic Chorus-Miss Mary Ann Sharp, Conductor-A Christmas Song
7. Briarcliff High School Choir-Robert Ellis, Conductor-Caroling, Caroling
8. Rosewell Street Baptist Church Youth Choir-Reflections-Ragan M. Vandergriff, III, Conductor-Calypso Noel
9. Morehouse College Glee Club-Dr. Wendell P. Whalum, Conductor-Go Tell It On The Mountain
10. Smyrna Community Chorus-Mrs. Noel Roberds, Conductor-Holly, Jolly Christmas
11. Second Ponce De Leon Baptist Church Junior Choir-John Condra, Conductor-Japanese Christmas Carol
12. Frederick Douglas High School Choir-Mrs. Muriel Harper, Conductor-Mary Was The Queen Of Galilee
13. Westminster Elementary School Choir-Mrs. Scott Campbell, Conductor-Angels We Have Heard On High
14. Choral Guild Of Atlanta-Tom Schwartz, Conductor-While By Our Sleeping Flocks We Lay
15. Georgia State University Brass Ensemble-William H. Hill, Conductor-Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
16. Cross Keys High School Honor Chorale-James T. McRaney, Conductor-He Is Born; Deck The Halls
17. Peachtree Male Chorus-Louis A. Costabile, Conductor-Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
18. Oglethorpe Community Chorus-James Bohart, Conductor-A Virgin Unspotted; Torches
19. Rebecca Daniels-Haskell Boyter, Conductor-O Holy Night; Silent Night

Christmas In Cincy

I don't know why but I'm trying to overload you with Christmas music here on this first day of sharity. I don't like the idea of taking my time and slowly doling it out, I want to push out as much Christmas music as I can just as quick as I can. I'm sure some of you aren't even done with your Thanksgiving dinner yet, but here I am, chomping at the bit, ready to go, Go, GO! What can I share next? I've got so much stuff in the bin ready to go, it's hard to choose something. How about a bunch of songs from schoolchildren in Cincinnati? I've shared weirder stuff. This is Christmas Songs From Our Schools-A 1984 Cincinnati Christmas Album (The Central Trust Company CT102684RPW, Stereo, 1984). Look at that label with the hand-typed text. I guess 1984 was well before home computers and the publishing revolution that came with them. Even in 1988 I headed off to college not with a laptop but with a new typewriter. I don't think I ever used it though. I spent hours writing whatever needed to be written in the computer labs, then printing them out on the shared laser printers. Those things probably cost more than a dollar a page to print at the time, but they were free for students. Somebody saved a lot of money by hand typing those labels you see and not having to send them to the typesetter.

1. Northern Kentucky University Chamber Choir-Directed By John Westlund-Jingle Bells
2. St. Ursula Academy Glee Club-Directed By Mary Jo Chavez-Pat-a-Pan
3. Withrow Senior Academy-Directed By Carolyn Mitchell-O Come All Ye Faithful
4. Kilgour Elementary School Fifth And Sixth Grade Choir-Directed By Mary Lyon-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
5. Colerain High School Ensemble-Directed By Mike Hanning-Lulelulay
6. McAuley High School Vocal Ensemble-Directed By Kathy Backherms-The Wassail Song
7. Fairview Elementary School Fifth Grade-Directed By Helen Frary-Silent Night (English And German)
8. Elder High School Glee Club-Directed By David Allen And Mary Alexander-The First Noel
9. Elder High School Glee Club-Directed By David Allen And Mary Alexander-Deck The Halls
10. McAuley High School Vocal Ensemble-Directed By Kathy Backherms-What Child Is This
11. Kilgour Elementary School Fifth And Sixth Grade Choir-Directed By Mary Lyon-Friendly Beasts
12. Withrow Senior Choir-Directed By Carolyn Mitchell-Angels We Have Heard On High
13. Colerain High School Ensemble-Directed By Mike Hanning-In The Bleak Mid-Winter
14. Fairview Elementary School Fifth Grade-Directed By Helen Frary-O Christmas Tree (English And German)
15. Northern Kentucky University Chamber Choir-Directed By John Westlund-Away In A Manger
16. St. Ursula Academy Glee Club-Directed By Mary Jo Chavez-We Wish You A Merry Christmas

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