Montebello (Not Monticello)

I love to pick up these privately pressed Christmas records, especially when they have a unique cover. Too often, groups will choose to go with a stock cover offered by the company pressing the record. That's fine if you need to save a little money, but it's really a missed opportunity to differentiate yourself a little bit from the crowd, and maybe offer a talented member of your group to make a contribution beyond just singing. I'm sure that was the reason I picked up this record in the first place and the reason I grabbed it this year to record. Let's see, do we know anything about this record? The flipside is completely blank so I guess that was their one cost-cutting measure here. Montebello doesn't seem all that common, so let's see if Google can tell us anything. Well, based on the address of the record label being in Burbank, California, this is from the Montebello School District, located just outside of LA. There are other Montebello's out there, so I could be wrong, but this seems the most likely choice. I also found a reference to a Kenneth L. Cook in a yearbook from Montebello High School, so I think this is our school. That yearbook was from 1958, though I don't think this recording is quite that old, but maybe. Anybody else find anything different? This is The A Cappella Choir Of Montebello-Christmas Concert (Location Recording Service LRS 2471, Mono).

1. Carol Of The Drum
2. Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine
3. Mary's Little Boy Chile
4. While Stars Their Vigil Keep
5. Glory To God In The Highest
6. Awake, Ye Shepherds
7. O Jesu So Sweet
8. Away In A Manger
9. The Shepherds' Story
10. The Christmas Symbol
11. Come To The Manger
12. Fanfare For Christmas Day
13. Sweet Holy Child
14. Today There Is Ringing
15. Christmas Is Just For Children

MEGA

Deutsch (Not Dutch)

There's been some chit-chat in the comment sections of the blog recently about Germany back before it was reunified. That sort of reminded me of this share that I wanted to finish and post here before I wrapped things up. I have lots of half-finished projects like this in the archives, I'm not sure what I'm going to be able to finish and what I'm going to have to leave un-done before I wrap up for the year. We'll just have to wait and see. But in the meantime, maybe you'd like to give a listen to these kids from the then-West Germany as they sing Christmas songs for you. This is Student Madrigal Choir Of Muenster, West Germany-Silent Night & Other Christmas Carols (No Label CO 3353, Stereo). A quick Google search tells us that this choir is a group from the University of Muenster, founded in 1947 and still going strong. No idea when this relic was released though. Enjoy!

1. O Heiland, Reiss Die Himmel Auf
2. Nun Komm, Der Heiden Heiland
3. Entre Le Boeuf Et L'ane Gris
4. Je Sais, Vierge Marie
5. Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging
6. Pujdem Spolem Do Betlema
7. Pasli Ovce Valasi
8. Nas Pantato Rozmily
9. Birjina Maite
10. Fum, Fum, Fum
11. Señora Doña Maria
12. Mary Had A Baby; Go, Tell It On The Mountain
13. Benedicamus Domino
14. Himmel Und Erde Von Jubel Erklingen
15. Das Heil Der Welt, Ein Kleines Kind
16. Schalf, Mein Kindelein
17. Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht
18. Vom Himmel Hoch, Da Komm Ich Her
19. Psalm XXXI

MEGA

Up On Cherry Hill

I've still got plenty of these church-based Christmas records to share with you, so don't think you're out of the woods just yet. For some reason, the name on this one reminds me of that old Disney move, The Lavender Hill Mob. Is that the name of it? Maybe it was The Lavender Hill Gang. I think Cloris Leachman was in it. I have vague memories of seeing it at a drive-in when I was a wee one. (I just looked it up and I am way off base in my memories. The movie it looks like I am thinking of is called The North Avenue Irregulars. How did I get the title so wrong?) Anyhow, none of that has anything to do with the share at hand, but lately I've been having a hard time coming up with anything to say about these old records, so that'll have to do as an introduction. This is The Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir And Festival Orchestra-The Boar's Head Festival (The Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church AR 3375 (Dearborn, Michigan), Stereo). Oh, looking at the cover again, I think I was under the impression this was a high school production, but it's not. I think many high schools have a madrigal concert around Christmas and The Boar's Head Carol seems to be a popular song and theme. I've been to a few of those things, sometimes they're OK, sometimes they are not. I'll let you decide what you think of this one.

1. Prelude
2. Deck The Halls
3. The Holly And The Ivy
4. Here We Come A-Wassailing
5. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
6. The Boar's Head Carol
7. I Sing Of A Maiden; Be Not Afraid; Gloria In Excelsis Deo
8. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
9. Kings To Thy Rising
10. What Child Is This
11. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence; Postlude

MEGA

Another European Christmas

Wow! Today is March 1st and I'm still sharing records from Christmas 2025. I certainly didn't set out to go this long, yet here we are. This is far and away the longest I've ever continued to share Christmas music on a daily basis in the 20 year history of the blog. One year I shared out collections of Christmas music from 78s I grabbed from the Internet Archive once a week for the entire year, but that would have totaled 52 shares and I've shared about 60 records since the beginning of 2026. And there are still a few records up my sleeve, so stay tuned. Today is a little something special in that it's popular music done by real recording artists with a focus on music from the European continent. I think I've shared out more than a handful of Christmas records by this same title, but this one is unique as far as I can tell. There's some interesting stuff on here, and some of the same sold stuff, but I think the good outweighs the boring. This is Christmas In Europe (Philips (Holland) 6300 014, Stereo). Big shoutout to Elizabeth J. Hester for buying this record all those years ago. If she hadn't done that, we wouldn't have this record to share today. I think I missing photoshopping her name out of a gift tag printed on the flip side of this sleeve. I noticed that as I was uploading this and didn't take the time to go back and fix it. I figure maybe that adds some character to this release, and gives Ms. Hester a bit of credit. The APO in here address means she was serving in the military, right? She didn't really live in NYC, that was just a mail drop for overseas soldiers, I think.

1. Wuppertaler Chor, Ltg. Franz Schneider-Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht
2. Gals And Pals-När Jüldagsmorgen Glimmar
3. Wiener Sängerknaben-O Du Fröhliche
4. De Leeuweriken (Childrenchoir)-De Herdertjes Lagen Bij Nachte
5. Mozarteum Chamber Choir-Chorus Master: Ernst Hinreiner; Camerata Acadeica of The Salzburg Mozarteum, Franz Sauer: Organ; Conductor Bernard Paumgartner-Ave Verum Corpus KV 618
6. The London Symphony Choir, The London Symphony Orchestra, Conductor: Colin Davis-For Unto Us A Child Is Born (From "Messiah")
7. Paul Mauriat And His Orchestra-Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant
8. Eila Pienimäki-Helkää Pienet Tiu'ut
9. The Mike Sammes Singers-Little Drummer Boy
10. Mixed Chorus-Accorri A Betlemme
11. Ray Adams With Girls' Choir-Jeg Er Så Glad Hvér Julekveld
12. Nana Mouskouri-Christos Genate

MEGA

That'll Leave A Scar

Last day of February and I can't believe I'm still sharing Christmas records. I've never gone this far into the new year because I'm usually too burned out on Christmas music by the time January rolls around and I don't have anything in the can ready to post. This year was a bit different since I recorded so much stuff ahead of time, then I was gone most of the actual Christmas season. So I hope you're really enjoying all of the bonus stuff this year. I know it's a bunch of non-pop stuff, but there are still treasures in these records to be found. Here's hoping you'll find something good in this one. This is Scarsdale Community Baptist Church Senior Choir-Candlelight Carol Service And Christmas Eve Carol Service (Recorded Publications Company AZB-47461/47462, Stereo, 1968). The Scarsdale community here appears to be located in New York and it looks like the Baptist Church there is still going strong.

1. Exaltation
2. Processional Hymn "O Come, All Ye Faithful"
3. Opening Sentences
4. The Sleep Of The Infant Jesus
5. Wind Through The Olive Trees
6. Sleep, My Jesus, Sleep
7. Masters In This Hall
8. Wonder! Wonder!
9. Magnificat From Christmas Oratorio
10. Pastorale From Le Prologue De Jesus
11. Call To Worship
12. Processional Hymn "Hark The Herald Angels Sing"
13. A Lute Carol
14. O Come, O Come, Emmanual
15. The Annunciation
16. He Is Born (Il Est Ne)
17. Indian Christmas Carol
18. Guiding Star Carol
19. Eastern Monarchs
20. O Holy Night (Cantique De Noel)

MEGA

Just A Little North

Here's a record put out by a church choir in the city just to the north of me, Bradenton, Florida. I lived there for quite a few years in a rental apartment before I bought my condo just across the county line in Sarasota, so I feel I have a pretty deep connection with the town. I can even remember coming down here in the summers as a kid to go to the beach. Taking a look at this place on the map, it looks like it's not too far from the office of my endocrinologist where I have an appointment next week. Maybe I should drive by and get a current picture. Looking at the latest images on Street View, I feel like I've driven by it before. It's pretty big and their website says they've been in the same spot since 1956, so they're pretty old as well. Now you can enjoy the sound of a Christmas presentation there in the year I was born. This is West Bradenton Baptist Church-Annual Program Of Christmas Music (Mark Custom Records MC 3074, Stereo, 1970). That stock cover image has likely been used on dozens of albums, but probably not many Christmas records. It's eerily reminiscent of my view of sunset when I lived in Bradenton. I was new to photography at the time and I was constantly removing the screen from my third-floor window and leaning out to shoot pictures of the sunset. The row of trees in the foreground separated our apartments from the tonier houses on the other side of the wooded area. Good memories.

1. Prelude-The First Noel
2. Processional-Silent Night
3. Anthem-Glory To God In The Highest
4. Cantata-A City Of The King
5. Cantata-A City Of The King (Continued-Part 2)
6. Hallelujah Chorus-The Messiah

MEGA

Great Danes

I was really interested to hear the music behind this cover, but it's not really my sort of thing. It's a kiddie choir, but it's not the fun kind of kiddie choir. Too many pre-pubescent kids singing in a very high register and it makes my ears hurt. I do like the cover image and wish my copy didn't have all that take holding the edges together. If you want to hear some really high-pitched kids singing a nice international selection of Christmas songs, this is St. Clement Danes Chorale-Conducted By Martindale Sidwell-Organ: John Langdon-Christmas Carols Around The World (Marble Arch (England) MALS 1365, Stereo, 1970). Enjoy!

1. Sir Christmas (English)
2. Hail, Blessed Virgin Mary (Italian)
3. Hodie Christus Natus Est (French)
4. The Infant King (Basque)
5. I Sing Of A Maiden (English)
6. The Three Drovers (Australian)
7. De Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy (West Indian)
8. A Chinese Christmas Cradle Song (Chinese)
9. Mary Had A Baby (Negro Spiritual)
10. Polish Carol (Polish)
11. Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine (German)
12. O Tannenbaum (German)
13. The Angels And The Shepherds (Bohemian)

MEGA

Oh Delaware, My Delaware

As near as I can tell, this is the first record I've ever shared from the small state of Delaware. I almost went to Delaware once when I was on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake in Maryland, but I wound up not doing it. Too many things competing for my time in the area, including all of the museums of the Smithsonian in nearby Washington, DC. Adding one small state to my life list wasn't nearly as appealing as seeing our nation's treasures. Anyhow, as I think I've mentioned a few times this long season, I gave a lot of thought to trying to share a Christmas record that came from each state in the union. There are lots of states I couldn't find, but I did record quite a few before I gave up and this is one of those. From the University of Delaware in Newark (No, not the one in NJ, this is about 108 miles SW of that one), this is University Of Delaware Choral Organizations-Carols And Noels (Ken-Del LP S5582, Stereo). The keen-eyed visitors will notice there is a song listed in the tracklisting that turns out to have not been pressed into the vinyl. New Year's Carol by the Women's Chamber Ensemble appears to have been cut from the lineup after the label and sleeves had been printed. Oh, well.

1. Concert Choir-University Of Delaware-The Holly And The Ivy
2. Concert Choir-University Of Delaware-Silent Night, Holy Night
3. Concert Choir-University Of Delaware-While Shepherds Watched
4. Concert Choir-University Of Delaware-George Broske, Organist-Shepherd's Farewell
5. Concert Choir-University Of Delaware-We Wish You A Merry Christmas
6. Madrigal Singers-University Of Delaware-As I Sat Under A Sycamore Tree
7. Women's Chamber Ensemble-University Of Delaware-Arthur Roberts, Pianoforte-Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine
8. Chamber Singers-University Of Delaware-God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
9. Chamber Singers-University Of Delaware-Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
10. Chamber Singers-University Of Delaware-David Lutz, Pianoforte-Good King Wenceslas
11. Chamber Singers-University Of Delaware-Angels We Have Heard On High
12. Chamber Singers-University Of Delaware-Virginia Hughes, Soprano-David Lutz, Pianoforte-O Holy Night
13. Choral Union-University Of Delaware-Deck The Halls
14. Choral Union-University Of Delaware-Adeste Fidelis
15. Choral Union-University Of Delaware-The First Noel
16. Choral Union-University Of Delaware-Joy To The World

MEGA

The Kids From Nashville

Once upon a time, there was a choir of children based out of Nashville. Not sure how it happened, but they released two Christmas records in the same year. Neither of them seems to have been very popular, but I seem to have stumbled across one of them in my years of record collecting. Not sure if I'll ever dig up the other one, but maybe. Curiously enough, this group still seems to be going, though I don't see where they've released much more music. If you like that sort of thing, with a fine production sheen on top of it, this is Nashville Children's Chorus-Family Christmas Favorites (Heartland/Warner Special Products OP-3521 B, Stereo, 1990). Enjoy!

1. Joy To The World
2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. O Holy Night
4. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
5. Carol Of The Bells
6. Silent Night
7. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
8. Little Drummer Boy
9. Away In A Manger
10. The First Noel
11. O Come All Ye Faithful
12. Go Tell It On The Mountain

MEGA

Methodist (Not Lutheran)

Here's a little record with a bit of backstory. I've shared any number of Christmas records from Ohio around here. For some reason, they seem to be really common here in Florida, much more so than a lot of other northern states. I'm told it's because Interstate 75 runs straight down from central Ohio to this coast of Florida. That may be true, but I found this on the other coast of Florida, near Interstate 95, which doesn't venture to Ohio as far as I know. I found this near St. Augustine while my wife and I were there on our honeymoon in April of 2025. I don't remember if I found it in St. Augustine proper or one of the other small towns we visited along the coast as we drove south, but I know it showed up on that trip. And I just happened to have it in my possession as we walked home to our B&B from the off-site parking lot. That route happened to take us past a building called The Record, so of course I had to get my picture made in front of the big sign while holding up a record, and this happens to be the record I'm holding. So take a look down at the bottom of this post, and you'll see a proud record collector displaying his trophy from the day's hunt. Still not sure why this building was called The Record (looks like that used to be the home of the local newspaper...), it seemed to be some low-rent apartments for the folks who work in the tourist industry in that tourist-infested town. It may be the oldest city in the US, but it's a giant tourist trap these days. This is First Methodist Chancel Choir-Sing Noel (No Label 8617/8618, First Methodist Church, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Stereo). Enjoy!

1. Chimes
2. Fanfare For Christmas Day
3. O Come All Ye Faithful
4. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
5. There's A Song In The Air
6. Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
7. While By Our Sleeping Flock We Lay
8. Lo, How A Rose E're Blooming
9. Joy To The World
10. Silent Night, Holy Night
11. The First Noel
12. Away In A Manger
13. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
14. What Child Is This?
15. Rise Up Shepherd And Follow
16. A Joyous Carol
17. Hallelujah Chorus (Messiah)

MEGA

Captain Jean-Luc

Up next is a collection of Noels from France (via Canada). I'm not entirely sure what that means, but I know Noel means Christmas, so it's got to be Christmas related. It might be a little different to the other stuff I normally share, but that doesn't mean you won't enjoy it. I don't speak French so I can't tell you exactly who or what is going on here, I just hope I got the names and titles correct. So for this fine Sunday, here is Jean-Luc, Frère de Taizé-Les Noëls De Daquin (Select (Canada) SSP-24.238, Stereo). Well, I do know that all the music was written by a guy named Daquin a long time ago, that's not nothing.

1. Noël 10: Grand Jeu Et Duo
2. Noël 7: En Trio Et En Dialogue
3. Noël Suisse: Grand Jeu Et Duo
4. Noël 5: En Duo
5. Noël 9: Sur Les Flûtes
6. Noël 4: En Duo Sur Les Jeux d'Anches
7. Noël 11: En Récit Et En Taille

MEGA

Dunaway (Not Faye)

I miss the good old Saturdays when I could inundate you with posts, sharing something every hour all day long, usually with some theme tying everything together. But I've long since exhausted my pile of records to share and I'm dripping and drabbing them out one at a time for the past month or two. Keep in mind that what takes a month to share out now is what I shared every five days for the entire Christmas season, and even quicker if there was a Saturday in the mix. But I'm very happy to still be able to share these things with you here as we get close to the end of February. I think this Christmas music makes it a little easier to keep Christmas in your heart. And as Bing, Ella and others have said before, the secret of Christmas is the Christmas things you do all year. (And no, I will not be doing this all year. Even I have limits.) That's a long boring way to introduce today's share about which I know next to nothing. It's another of the many religious shares I've brought you this season, though this time it appears to be a husband and wife team. Duets are always a welcome treat, it's like getting the best of both worlds, male and female vocals combined. I'm sure you'll enjoy this whole package. This is Phil And Marlene Dunaway-The Beauty Of Christmas (Spectrum Records LPS-2818, Stereo). Enjoy!

1. Ring The Bells
2. Away In A Manger
3. The Straw Carol
4. Silent Night
5. No Room
6. Behold That Star
7. The Friendly Beasts
8. O Holy Night
9. Christmas Dinner
10. C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S

MEGA

Finally Friday

Been a long week 'round these parts, but it's finally Friday. Just a few more hours to the weekend. Since you've been such good visitors and you're still coming around almost two months after Christmas Day has come and gone, here's a nice little record that's a little more commercial than some of the privately-released stuff I've been sharing of late. Of course, it's all in Italian, but that should make it more interesting, not less. No American standards here, either, it's all original stuff like you might hear in Italy if you get away from the more touristy spots. Never had the chance to visit Italy during the holiday season, but I'm sure it's a wonderful place to visit when it's time for Babbo Natale to come around. To put you in that Italian Christmas mood, this is Roberto Murolo-Christmas In Italy-Natale Napoletano (Request Records SRLP 8182, Stereo, 1972). Enjoy! I know this was released here in the US, but I'm pretty sure it was recorded in Italy and just licensed to the US distributor. Sounds authentic to my ears.

1. Pastorale Natalizia (A Christmas Pasture)
2. 'A Zampogna (The Bag Pipe Player)
3. Natale 'Nzieme A Tte (Christmas With You)
4. Lettera 'E Natale (A Christmas Letter)
5. Zampugnariello (The Young Piper)
6. Zampugnaro 'Nnammurato (The Piper In Love)
7. Nott' 'E Natale (Christmas Eve)
8. 'E Zampugnare (The Bag Piper)
9. Natale (Christmas)
10. 'A Nuvena (The Novena)
11. Lacreme Napulitane (A Neapolitan's Tears)
12. 'Na Prumessa D'Ammore (A Love Promise)

MEGA

Up With This

I told myself I wasn't going to share this, but here it is. Someone left a comment on the Up With People Christmas record in the archives (look in the comments there for a link), and that reminded me of this later effort by the then-current iteration of the group. I recorded this a few years ago and really didn't like it, so it's been in the can for a while. I went ahead and scanned the sleeve in this year and when it came up in conversation, I decided why not put it out there. Most people don't know that Up With People recorded two Christmas records (at least two, there may be more, they persisted longer than you think). I'm not a fan of this one, it sounds too polished and professional compared to their more folksy work from the Sixties. I guess once you've performed at a few Super Bowls (Five! And a pre-game show in 1991!), you can never go back to being homespun. This is Up With People-Holiday Greetings From Up With People (Up With People 1127, Stereo, 1980). Enjoy, if you can.

1. Medley Of Traditional Carols: Deck The Hall; The First Noel; It Came Upon The Midnight Clear; Angels We Have Heard On High; Joy To The World
2. Carol Of The Bells
3. The Little Drummer Boy
4. Carols From Other Lands: We Wish You A Merry Christmas; Ding Dong! Merrily On High; Tu Scendi Daile Stelle; Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabella; Il Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant; Als Ich Bel Meimen Schafen Wacht; El Rorro; Fum, Fum, Fum; We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Reprise)
5. Winter Medley: Sleigh Ride; Ring Those Christmas Bells; Silver Bells; Winter Wonderland; Sleigh Ride (Reprise)
6. What Child Is This?
7. O Come, All Ye Faithful
8. Children, Go Where I Send Thee
9. Do You Hear What I Hear?

MEGA

Seeing Double

I knew this sleeve looked familiar! I shared a record with this same cover image earlier in the season, commenting about how familiar it was. I'm sure when I recorded this record I had intended to share both on the same day, but it was yet another plan that fell under the wheels when I went to New Mexico for Christmas. This is The Temple Ladies Chorale-The Glorious Sounds Of Christmas (Tennessee Temple University 94580, Stereo). I keep telling myself I need to hold back some of these stock cover sleeves, then share a whole days' worth of records with the same cover. But I'm too lazy to make that happen. Maybe someday...

1. Carol Of The Bells
2. Blessed Little Baby
3. Forever Worthy
4. Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head
5. Fum, Fum, Fum
6. Silver Bells
7. Joy To The World
8. Sing Alleluia! Christ Is Born
9. Ivory Palaces
10. Infant Holy
11. Away In A Manger
12. Jesus Our Lord We Adore Thee
13. Noel, Noel Bells Are Ringing

MEGA

Tuna Fish

Here's another one of those records where i really have little to no idea what's going on. I think Tuna De Cayey is a band, but it may also be a type of band. And Uni-Coop is some type of store maybe, or an exchange, or a buying club? I'm not sure, I can't keep it straight. The only mention I see of this LP on the internet is a copy for sale at eBay. No idea how I stumbled onto a copy, but I could have had this thing for decades, I dunno. It's not your usual Christmas music, but you might enjoy it if you give it a chance. This is Tuna De Cayey-Navidades Con Uni-Coop (Producciones Alvarez-Miranda (Puerto Rico) No Number, Stereo).

1. Trulla Navidena
2. Plena Navidena
3. Hasta Aqui Llegamos
4. Son Borinqueno
5. Mosaico Del Lechon
6. Noche De Paz
7. Parranda Del Sopon
8. La Gata
9. Candela
10. Si No Me Dan De Beber Lloro
11. Puerca Sinverguenza
12. Tengo Un Swing

MEGA

We Are The Musicmakers

Up next is a budget LP full of Christmas medleys to tickle your earlobes. Well, maybe. Each side was presented as a long medley, but they weren't recorded as medleys and the edits in many cases were just horrible. So I cut it into tracks were those edits seemed especially bad and tried to make it a little more listenable. Some of the songs are still in medleys, I thought those sounded OK. There are still some abrupt fades and cuts on some of the tracks, I assure you those are not my fault, that's how these songs were pressed into the vinyl. But all faults aside, it's worth a listen. This is The Musicmakers-Christmas Party Sing-Along 20 All Time Favorites (Hallmark/Pickwick (England) SHM 811, Stereo, 1973). Oh, it does say Pickwick on the label, I guess that explains a lot.

1. Winter Wonderland; Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
2. Jingle Bells
3. The Little Drummer Boy
4. Mary's Boy Child
5. Little Donkey
6. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night; Good King Wenceslas
7. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
8. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
9. White Christmas; Rudolf The Rednosed Reindeer
10. The First Noel; Away In A Manger; Silent Night
11. The Christmas Song; Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
12. Hark The Herald Angels Sing; O Come, All Ye Faithful
13. Auld Lang Syne

MEGA

Farr (Not Jamie)

Up next, it's a family affair on a nice little religious record that attracted me with the cover. I buy so many records based on the cover that you might say I judge the records by their cover. You're probably not suppose to do that, but my only other option would be to carry a record player with me everywhere I go, and that just doesn't seem very feasible. This one is enjoyable enough, but it's not really anything special. I've shared so many of these religious records this season that they have all tended to run together. I remember at least one of them featured a moog on a couple of tracks, but I can't for the life of me remember which one it was. I figured someone would chime in about it during the season, but no one said anything. I remember it playing at random at some point and I had to go see what it was. Wish now I'd made a note about it. Anyhow, if you're still around at this late date, this is The Farr Family With The Sunday Strings-For Unto Us A Child Is Born-Alleluia (Hymntone Records HPS 7716, Stereo, 1974). Enjoy!

1. Gloria
2. Excerpt From Gloria In Excelsis
3. Silent Night
4. A Gift Of Love
5. Away In A Manger
6. Do You Hear What I Hear?
7. Carol Of The Star
8. Alleluia
9. Jesus Bambino
10. The Little Drummer Boy
11. In The Bleak Mid-Winter

MEGA

The Joy Of Christmas

Back into the random religious records we plunge with this plainly covered record from another artist that's never made it to the big time. The stacks are filled with records like this, people who likely got lots of compliments from church members and friends, got hooked up with a local radio show, then decided to record an album and release it. Whether they tried to sell it or give it away we don't know, but somehow a copy made it's way down through time and landed in my collection. I hope that someday a relative or friend of this artist (or any of the many artists I share here) will chime in and tell us a little more about this person and their life. It happens occasionally and it's always a good feeling. The internet sometimes brings things together that have been separated for a long time. Anyhow, I'm blathering because it's late and I'm tired. This is Ralph McGilvra-Christmas Joy From The Gospel Hour (The Gospel Hour TH 1070 (label) AKA TH70 (front cover), Stereo). There are a couple of duets hidden here among the usual male vocals, so don't be surprised when you listen.

1. Joy To The World
2. Ralph McGilvra & Georgia Horne-Down From His Glory (Duet)
3. Ring The Bells
4. There's A Song In The Air
5. Ralph McGilvra & Georgia Horne-Away In A Manger (Duet)
6. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
7. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
8. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
9. O Holy Night
10. Ralph McGilvra & Georgia Horne-That Beautiful Name (Duet)
11. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
12. Ralph McGilvra & Georgia Horne-Silent Night, Holy Night (Duet)
13. O Come, All Ye Faithful
14. If Jesus Had Not Come

MEGA

Lipton, Not Tea

Does anyone else remember the Claymation commercials for Lipton's brand of bottled tea in the late eighties to early nineties? They would have animated celebrities drink the tea in some odd situation and then an imitator's voice would say the tagline, "That's Brisk!". The only one I can clearly remember is Frank Sinatra as voiced by Joe Piscopo. Maybe there was another one with Rocky drinking a bottle after he knocked out his latest opponent. I was reminded of this by the last name belonging to the artist on this latest share, Celia Lipton. I doubt really if she has anything to do with the tea company, but that's where my mind headed when I was trying to think of something to write here. The front of the record kindly tells us that this record went gold in the UK, though I suspect that also means it's a year or two old since that sort of thing doesn't happen overnight. Odd that it would show up on an unknown label if it was such a big hit. It's nice enough though, I think there's plenty here to enjoy. This is Celia Lipton-With Love...Merry Christmas (Independent Record Corp CMLS1392, Stereo, 1987). Enjoy! (Oh, says here she married the guy who invented the paper milk carton!)

1. We Need A Little Christmas
2. The Christmas Song
3. Winter Wonderland
4. Child
5. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
6. Jingle Bells
7. White Christmas
8. Sleigh Ride
9. Puppet On A String
10. Let It Snow, Let It Snow
11. Silver Bells
12. I Dreamed A Lovely Dream

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Hilarious

When I first spotted this record on the shelf, I thought perhaps I had mis-filed it. Didn't look much like a Christmas record. But a quick scan of the contents told me I was wrong and it was indeed a Christmas record. I guess I should have known that because it does say Christmas right there on the front cover. I think this is another vestige of my abandoned project to share a Christmas record from every state in the union, representing Alabama in this case. I have no explanation for the title, other than it appears to be an annual thing with the University Of Alabama music department. This is University Of Alabama Singers & Jazz Ensemble-Hilaritas (Boutwell Recording Studios for Hilaritas, Music Department, The University Of Alabama, NR14998/NR14898, Stereo, 1983). Enjoy!

1. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year; Have Yourself A Merry Christmas; I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas; Do You Hear What I Hear
2. Little Jack Frost Get Lost; I'll Be Home For Christmas; Let It Snow
3. O Come All Ye Faithful
4. Sing We Now Of Christmas; Away In A Manger; I Wonder As I Wander; Lullay; Shepherd's Carol; Hark, The Herald Angels Sing; How Far Is't To Bethlehem; Jingle Bells
5. The First Noel
6. Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire; Deck The Hall; Angels We Have Heard On High; We Wish You A Merry Christmas

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Pop Music

Been a while now since I've shared a Christmas album full of actual pop music with you, so here's the closest thing I still have in my pile of Christmas goodies. Not sure if you want to count George Beverly Shea and The Korean Children's Choir as popular music, but at least it's not another church choir. There are some bigger names here that I'm sure you'll enjoy, like Tennessee Ernie Ford, Lawrence Welk and Pat Boone, but even those might not fall under the head of pop. What attracted me to this album was the possibility that some of these tracks were exclusive to this disc. I'm not sure all of these artists released full albums on Word Records, who put this collection together for Guideposts in 1977, and there are no note on the back of the LP about how tracks were licensed elsewhere. I didn't dig much deeper than that, but maybe one of my loyal visitors will be able to clue me in on what's what here. Please have a go at The Guideposts Treasury Of Christmas Hymns (Word GPR 002, Stereo, 1977). Some of these artists have been shared here at the blog from full albums of their own. You might be rewarded richly if you do a few searches.

1. Tennessee Ernie Ford-O Little Town Of Bethlehem
2. Lawrence Welk-O Come All Ye Faithful & Away In A Manger
3. The King Family-It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
4. Pat Boone-Hark The Herald Angels Sing
5. George Beverly Shea-O Holy Night
6. Evie-Mary's Little Boy Child
7. Richard & Patti Roberts-Go Tell It On The Mountains
8. Ralph Carmichael-Little Drummer Boy
9. Korean Children's Choir-Silent Night
10. Jim Roberts & Norma Zimmer-Silver Bells

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Saint Who?

Time for another album from a group you've never heard of from a church you've never heard of named after a saint you've likely never heard of. I tried to do a little research on the church and found that it had closed back in 2008, the congregation being folded into another church so close that the parishioners walked down the street to symbolically join the other church. I'm not sure who the group singing on the record is, could be the church choir or maybe some other group affiliated with the church. And lastly, I looked to see who St. Casimir was, turns out he was linked to Poland and Lithuania, which makes sense because the church in questions appears to have been founded by Lithuanian immigrants in Pittston, PA in 1890. So as I've said before, some of these records can really lead you down a deep rabbit hole of history if you're interested in such things. And there's also some music if you're interested. This is Saint Casimir-Listen To A Christmas At Saint Casimir's (Studio 'V' 1171095, Stereo, 1970). Well, it's not really by St. Casimir, since he passed away in 1484, but I didn't know what else to call the performers here. Enjoy!

1. Gloria In Excelsis
2. O Hearken Ye
3. Rejoice And Sing
4. Do You Hear What I Hear
5. Bekite Ziurekit
6. Gloria In Excelsis Gieda Angelai
7. As With Gladness
8. My Shepherd Is The Lord
9. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
10. A Christmas Amen
11. An Acclamation For A Christmas Gospel
12. The Miraculous Star
13. Now Let Us All Praise God And Sing
14. The Heavens Declare
15. Marija, Marija
16. O Come, All Ye Faithful
17. Sveikas Jesau Maziausis
18. Sheep May Safely Graze
19. A Great Amen

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Tiny Dancer

I feel like today is the day where I break the record for longest Christmas season. I've really drug it out this year but you've got to strike while the iron is hot. I've got all these records ripped and mostly ready to go, so I may as well post them. I'm not sure if I've broken a record for the most days total since Thanksgiving was so late last year, but I'm too lazy to go back and count. Suffice it to say, we're in uncharted territory here.  And in the interest of really dragging it out, here's another record you likely don't need. This is Lynn Stanford-Christmas Music For Ballet Class Volume Two (Bodarc BOD 89-15, Stereo, 1989). This is volume two, and yes I have volume one somewhere. I appear to have recorded it a few years ago, but never scanned the artwork for it. Hopefully I'll come across the record sometime soon and I'll be able to finish up the package.

1. Plie: Away In A Manger
2. Tendu: Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
3. Degage: Masters In This Hall
4. Rond De Jambe A Terre: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
5. Frappe: Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
6. Fondu: I Saw Three Ships
7. Rond De Jambe En L'Air: I Wonder As I Wander
8. Developpe: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
9. Petite Battement: Here We Come A - Wassailing
10. Grand Battement: Oh Christmas Tree
11. Stretch: O Holy Night
12. Tendu: Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
13. Slow Pirouette: Blue Christmas
14. Waltz Pirouette: I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
15. Adagio: Ave Maria
16. Allegro: French Christmas Carol
17. Pique: Do You Hear What I Hear?
18. Grand Allegro: Good Christian Men, Rejoice
19. Reverence: Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire

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Again With The Lutherans

Today's share is a recording from a small Lutheran-linked college in Minnesota. But beside that, being from Minnesota, it's a small reminder of the situation in Minneapolis. This is not a political blog, but the killing of US citizens by masked government agents is unacceptable. That's all I'm going to say about that. This is an interesting choir recording that is possibly the most recent recording I've ever shared on the Delta label, known for pressing records of school and civic group performances across the country. I always assumed they had called it quits by the 80's, but here's something from 1983 that appears to show they were still going strong. Note that the date comes from the catalog number. I've cross referenced a few dozen of these releases and the date (when available) on the release always matches the last two digits in the first half of the catalog number on the label. They didn't always do that, but at some point they started and it makes dating these things a little easier. This is The Gustavus Choir-Christmas (Delta DRS83-3028, Stereo, 1983). There was a concert program from a performance this group did in 1985 inside the sleeve. I went ahead and scanned that in for you as well even though it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the performance captured on this vinyl.

1. Joy To The World
2. I Wonder As I Wander
3. Now We Sing Of Christmas
4. Away In A Manger
5. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
6. Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light
7. O Come All Ye Faithful
8. A Christmas Carol
9. In Dulci Jubilo
10. Coventry Carol
11. Once In Royal David's City
12. In The Bleak Midwinter
13. Wake, Awake

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