One More Awesome Organ

You want more really good organ music? How about this second album from Eddie? Yep, that's what it is. Go download Eddie Dunstedter-The Bells Of Christmas Chime Again (Capitol ST 1968, c. 1963). I think this is the third record for Christmas from Eddie. You can get the second one, which is probably the absolute best one (but they are all good!), over at FaLaLaLaLa. Tell 'em Ernie sent you. You can read my two previous posts about this one here and here. And I think the Captain reviewed all three of them over at A Christmas Yule Blog at some point, so go read that, too.

One Awesome Organ

Are you looking for some great organ music this evening? Well, you've found it. For the third year in a row, this is Eddie Dunstedter-The Bells Of Christmas (Capitol ST 1264, c. 1959). Trust me when I say you won't regret downloading this one. Read more about it here and here.

26 Days Of Christmas-Day 6

When I posted the A side of this single last year, I had a hard time choosing which side I would share. So now I get to make right what once went wrong. No, wait, that's not right. Both sides are awesome, and now you get to enjoy this side and the one from last year, too. This is the amazing Crew-Cuts With David Carroll And His Orchestra-Dance Mr. Snowman Dance from the Twinkle Toes single (Mercury 7" 45 rpm 70491-X45, 1954). Absolutely awesome!

Previous Tunes:
Mickey Gilley-Don't The Girls All Get Prettier At Christmas Time
Scott Fagen-Sandy The Blue Nosed Reindeer
Russ Morgan-The Mistletoe Kiss
Sascha Burland-The Chickens Are In The Chimes!
Commander Shea School Boys' Choir-Chree-See-Mus

Speaking Of Enoch

I mentioned Enoch Light and his Grand Award label a few minutes ago, and that reminded me of this post from last year. I think this came out after Enoch had left Command to the barbarians at ABC and headed over to start his new label, Phase 3. But it still has all the usual suspects on it, so it's almost as good as it would have been had it come out a year or two earlier. I was really excited about this LP last year because it became a featured download over at FaLaLaLaLa! That's a real honor to me, since that's the website that helped me get started sharing out my own albums here at the blog. You can't go wrong by downloading Merry Christmas From The Command Family Of Recording Stars (Command RS 920 SD, 1967). Trust me on this...

Used Music-Track Ten

Does this count as being lazy? I'm posting a track from a record I showed you the cover for just a couple of posts ago? It's a really nice track, if that makes any difference. I was listening to the record after I posted the scan, and I decided I needed to record it. But I'm short on time, and I don't want to do all the research to see what I can share and what I can't, so I'm just going to grab one track for tonight and save the rest for some other time. The next track for the Used Music-Christmas Compilation Compilation is The Mills Brothers-You Don't Have To Be A Santa Claus from Around The Christmas Tree-A Special Christmas Day Program (Decca DL 9056). This is a really nice song by a really great group. There was an incredible and almost unknown track from these same guys (with Count Basie!) featured back during Christmas In July that you'd be remiss if you didn't go get it.

Previous Tracks:
The Sanborn Singers-Jingle Bells
Les Baxter Orchestra And Chorus-Hang Your Wishes On The Tree
Sandler & Young-Mister Santa
Peggy Lee-Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
Danny Kaye-Deck The Halls (With Boughs Of Holly)
Debbie Reynolds-There's No Place Like Home
Claudine Longet-Snow
The Glad Singers-We Three Kings Of Orient Are
The Ed Sullivan Orchestra-I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

The Original, Maybe?

Take a close look at the cover above. Now click on over to my previous share. Look familiar? Obviously, the painting on that other record is just a copy of the actual photo on this one. The artists involved seem to be the same as well. But the label isn't the same. This one is on Waldorf Music Hall, and the other one is on Grand Award. I guess I didn't know there was a connection between the two. Now I know. I didn't do a side-by-side comparison (because I'm too lazy), but it doesn't look like the songs overlap. So get this one in addition to the other one, and you're well on your way to completing the collection. As before, artists include Enoch Light, Artie Malvin and Mike Stewart, with the addition of Dottie Evans and some assorted orchestras and choruses. Maybe you can figure out what's going on here. Just go download When Christmas Comes To Our House (Waldorf Music Hall 10" MH 33-140).

A Grand Return

This great album pops up frequently on my iTunes, and every time a song from it plays, I have to stop, listen for a bit, and look to see where it's from. It's several different artists, and each one is just great. The artists include Enoch Light, Artie Malvin, Mike Stewart and a couple of others. I originally recorded and shared it last year because it's on Grand Award, an early label run by Enoch Light. You can't go wrong with this one, so go download Songs To Sing At Christmas Time (Grand Award G.A. 33-348). The record inside is labelled Christmas Comes To Our House, so I don't know exactly what the title should be...

Oodles Of Doodles CCCXIV-Christmas 2007

What I failed to mention in the previous post about two very similar albums was that they have completely different back covers, each with a different doodle, one great, one good. The above family around the Christmas tree is from Around The Christmas Tree-A Special Christmas Day Program (Decca DL 38170). The oversized Christmas tree and presents below come from the back of Around The Christmas Tree-A Special Christmas Day Program (Decca DL 9056). It's not as great of a doodle as the one above, but it's still pretty good!

A Curious Discovery

CaptOT shared out a great Christmas collection yesterday over at his blog, A Christmas Yule Blog. I believe it's the album you see above. But check out the album below. Same title, same subtitle, same label, same picture. But not the same collection of songs, and not the same catalog number. The one above is Around The Christmas Tree-A Special Christmas Day Program (Decca DL 38170) while the one below is Around The Christmas Tree-A Special Christmas Day Program (Decca DL 9056). The first features artists like Alex Stordahl, Vincent Lopez, The Columbus Boys Choir, Dick Haymes & The Four Aces. The second features artists like Bing Crosby, The Mills Brothers, Peggy Lee, The Four Aces and Dick Haymes. Which came first? Don't know. Which is better? Don't know. Does it matter? Doubt it. I'm just pointing it out for the curious among you.

26 Days Of Christmas-Day 5

A real special treat for you tonight. The first time I Googled this record, I got no hits. I found a version of the same song by The King Sisters, but references to that were pretty sparse, too. I finally found it listed over at Both Sides Now in their Cadence discography, but the spelling was off. But at least they've heard of it. I'm hoping that this song is new to you, because it was new to me, and now I'm loving it. Hurry up and download Commander Shea School Boys' Choir-Chree-See-Mus (Cadence 7" 45 RPM 1375, 1959) so you can hum it for the rest of the week, and possibly on through Christmas. It's so catchy! I'm still having a hard time picturing a group of NYC schoolboys singing this song.

Previous Tunes:
Mickey Gilley-Don't The Girls All Get Prettier At Christmas Time
Scott Fagen-Sandy The Blue Nosed Reindeer
Russ Morgan-The Mistletoe Kiss
Sascha Burland And The Skipjack Choir With Mason Adams-The Chickens Are In The Chimes! (Adapted From "The Twelve Days Of Christmas)

Vengance Is Mine

I recorded the record above to hear one single song. With a title like "Now Vengeance Hath Been Taken (Christmas Oratorio)", I had to at least give it a listen. Was it worth it? Eh... Give it a listen yourself. This is The Eric Silver Chorale-Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly (Rondo-lette 890). After I got this all recorded, I happened across the LP you see below, and I thought it odd that it had that same song on there. Then I realized that all the tracks were the same. So I'm pretty sure it's a reissue of the same tunes on a different label, and with no artist credit. That one is Christmas Hymns And Carols (Ultraphonic 51503, 1956). I have my doubts about that date, but it's right there on the back of the LP, along with a list of over a hundred other releases. Who knows?

Used Music-Track Nine

How about some hip music from the most square fellow on television? That's right, Ed Sullivan, the guy who brought you Elvis, The Beatles and Senor Wences. He knew how to stay out of the limelight and let the stars shine, I suppose. Tonight's track, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, is taken from A Very Merry Christmas-Volume 3 (Columbia Special Products for Grants, CSS-997, 1969), but it's originally from a full Christmas LP by The Ed Sullivan Orchestra that I've never found. I downloaded a copy last year from someone over at the FaLaLaLaLa forums, but a hard copy eludes me. Don't worry, though, I'm tenacious. Someday, vengeance, or at least an Ed Sullivan Orchestra Christmas LP, shall be mine!!!

Previous Tracks:
The Sanborn Singers-Jingle Bells
Les Baxter Orchestra And Chorus-Hang Your Wishes On The Tree
Sandler & Young-Mister Santa
Peggy Lee-Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
Danny Kaye-Deck The Halls (With Boughs Of Holly)
Debbie Reynolds-There's No Place Like Home
Claudine Longet-Snow
The Glad Singers-We Three Kings Of Orient Are

Another Corporate Christmas

As if the two previous shares weren't enough to turn you off on corporate choruses, here's one more. This time the group is from well-known tool maker Snap-On, and it's actually composed of guys who work at the company. You can read all about it on either last year's post or the year before that. This one isn't on fancy colored vinyl, but I know you'll still want to download The Snap-On Male Chorus-Carols Of Christmas (RCA Custom Record Dept. SOLP 6363). Enjoy!

More Corporate Chorus

Here's another slab of groovy green vinyl for you, this time from an advertising company. I don't think that the folks singing on this one were actually employees of the company in question, they sound a little too polished for that. And the occasional narration is a bit too slick to be voiced by Fred from the office down the hall and on the left. But maybe. This is called Sing It Outdoors and it's from John Donnelly & Sons. No catalog number, no date, no real info on this one. There's music on both sides this time, but side two isn't Christmas tunes, and therefore I didn't record it. I hope you enjoy this corporate rock, errr, I mean chorus.

The Office, This Ain't

This is a rerun from last year, but I wanted to bring it back tonight because it goes so well with the next post. Back in ye olden days, like the fifties, the people who worked together actually hung out and did things. Sometimes it was bowling or a softball team, or maybe bridge. But sometimes it was a chorus. And sometimes those groups made records. And sometimes those records survived the years, and someone in Florida would find them at a thrift store, buy them, and share them with all of you through the magic of the internet. So, here's a record made by a chorus of people employed by some company named Kenyon & Eckhardt. I think it's pretty neat, and I hope you will, too. Please download and enjoy Merry Christmas With The KE-Notes (Olmstead Sound Studios OSS-2267, 1959). Did I mention it's on green vinyl? And it's only got one side? Will wonders never cease?

Used Music-Track Eight

Two installments of Used Music in one day? Sure, why not? I'm a few days behind, so that's the only way I'm going to get caught up. This is a great track, and I can even point you to a spot where you can download the whole LP if you like it. This is The Glad Singers-We Three Kings Of Orient Are from Wishing You A Merry Christmas (Columbia Special Products CSS 1431). Like what you hear? Then head over to FaLaLaLaLa and you can get the whole album! It's great stuff, isn't it? I think this version is actually in stereo, but no one has yet managed to find the whole album in stereo yet. Just imagine...

Previous Tracks:
The Sanborn Singers-Jingle Bells
Les Baxter Orchestra And Chorus-Hang Your Wishes On The Tree
Sandler & Young-Mister Santa
Peggy Lee-Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
Danny Kaye-Deck The Halls (With Boughs Of Holly)
Debbie Reynolds-There's No Place Like Home
Claudine Longet-Snow

26 Days Of Christmas-Day 4

The most fun we've had yet in 26 Days Of Christmas is this single by Sascha Burland And The Skipjack Choir With Mason Adams-The Chickens Are In The Chimes! (Adapted From "The Twelve Days Of Christmas) (RCA Victor 74-8277, 1963). I'm pretty sure you won't be able to listen to this without chuckling. Or cackling, as the case may be. I found this single a couple of weeks ago, and thought it sounded familiar. Turns out it was shared in the forums over at FaLaLaLaLa.com last year, and reposted after I mentioned finding it. So head over there if you want to download the flipside as well. If the name Sascha Burland doesn't ring a bell, go read up on him.

Previous Tunes:
Mickey Gilley-Don't The Girls All Get Prettier At Christmas Time
Scott Fagen-Sandy The Blue Nosed Reindeer
Russ Morgan-The Mistletoe Kiss

A Rose For You-Part Two

I'm sure that somewhere out there on the other side of the internet, someone saw the last David Rose I just threw up there and crossed his fingers hoping that this one was next. Well, here it is. I don't normally like to post requests, but I got quite a few for this one. I also don't like to post retitled reissues, but I've never seen the original of this one, entitled The David Rose Christmas Album (Capitol ST-2853). So I figured I'd go ahead and record this one and share it. I had to find it again, since I'd misplaced it after sharing the doodle from the back with you during July's doodle-thon. But I found it and I recorded it on Sunday. I scanned the cover in today and tonight I share with you David Rose-Little Drummer Boy (Capitol ST-290). There's a remake on here of David's earlier Christmas song, The Christmas Tree, that I really like, and shared with you two years ago. There was also a tune in the more recent Halloween collection if you really can't get enough David Rose.

A Rose For You-Part One

Allow me to point you towards another great share from last year. This is A Merry Christmas To You From David Rose And His Orchestra (MGM E3469, 1956). It consists of two side-long medleys of Christmas tunes, a whole side of which was later reissued on this other share from last year. I normally shy away from big long medleys like this, but someone of the caliber of David Rose I'll let slide.

The Wright George, Parts 3 & 4

That last double post of George Wright didn't do it for you? How about another double post of George goodness? This time the stereo-mono differences are less pronounced, but I shared the mono with you last year and this year I've finally got a stereo version to share with you. I've got to say that of all the organ records I've ripped and shared, these George Wright ones have been my favorite. Well, among my favorite. I've got some Eddie Dunstedter I've got to reshare with you, and then there's Dick Leibert. Well, the list goes on and on. While I'm working on a ranking system that I can patent and sell to the BCS, here's two different versions of George Wright At The Wurlitzer Pipe Organ-Christmas Time (Stereo-Dot DLp 25479, 1962) or (Mono-Dot DLP 3479, 1962). If you really need more George Wright, there are some bonus tracks lurking out there in the Christmas In July stuff (1 and 2). Oh, and this whole (non-Christmas) LP was rumored to be George Wright under a female pseudonym. How about this Two-For-Tuesday version of The Mickey Mouse March also by George?