Organ Donor, Part 4

More magic, more organ here for you now. No boring story about this one I'm afraid. This is The Magic Organ-The Musical Magic Of Christmas (Ranwood R2001, Stereo). There's some overlap between this record and that last one, I'm afraid. By my count five of the songs are repeated. Sorry about that.

1. Jingle Bells
2. Joy To The World
3. Here Comes Santa Claus
4. Silent Night
5. Frosty The Snow Man
6. Winter Wonderland
7. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
8. Oh Holy Night
9. Christmas Waltz
10. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

MEGA

Book Of Lists 6

Christmas may have come and gone, but we keep the fun and excitement going for a while longer around here. This is the last of my lists, but I'm always looking for other things to enshrine in list form. Thinking about doing all the Christmas songs about the Beatles, that should be easy. And maybe one about celebrities in general. Oh, and how about celebrities singing at Christmas? The possibilities are endless! If you have a good idea, lemme know, I'll see what I can put together. But I'm getting ahead of myself. This current list for today is a bit obscure and the Christmas content is only visible once you've put the list items together. Back in the Sixties, Capitol Records put out a sampler LP to radio stations once a month with tracks from all their new albums trying to get them to play the songs on the radio. In 1969, they put a special image of a pretty girl on the cover of each one, along with a note on the back of the album telling you to hold onto the records as they came in and put them together for a surprise. The key part of the surprise was the hippy Santa that graced the December cover (the only record with any real Christmas connection). With him as the centerpiece, you could arrange the other albums around him to see that all the pictures came together to show all the girls were gathered around Santa in a somewhat salacious gathering. Those clearly weren't elves, and none of them looked like Mrs. Santa.  It's a fun collection, but it would cost you four or five hundred bucks to put the collection together if you got all the records from Discogs. If you'd like to buy them and send them my way, I'd love to hang the set on the wall. If you don't want to spend the money, just download all the pictures from Discogs and put them together, that's what I did. I'm not going to share the full image with you, it'll be a surprise for you just like it was for those jaded disc jockeys back in the swinging sixites. Enjoy!

The List!

Organ Donor, Part 3

From a Happy Organ we move now to a Magic Organ. Not sure what the difference is as it sounds pretty similar to me. Don't forget, I told you it's all generic stuff today and I meant it. This is The Magic Organ-A Magic Christmas (Ranwood R-8136, Stereo, 1974). I just remembered that I had a hard time with this record, there was a pretty bad warp right at the edge and the first track on each side wouldn't play. Several months later a second copy turned up in the archives and I was able to get a good rip from that version. So if it sounds like slightly different sound on some of the tracks, that's why.

1. Magic Christmas
2. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
3. Jingle Bells
4. Blue Christmas
5. Joy To The World
6. White Christmas
7. Here Comes Santa Claus
8. Silent Night
9. Silver Bells
10. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
11. I'll Be Home For Christmas
12. Adeste Fideles
13. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

MEGA

Where In The World? Part 5

I haven't updated the map in a while, mostly because I haven't gotten a lot of new additions for it. Everyone gets pretty busy as Christmas gets closer, and doesn't have time to worry about such things as blog maps. But I've kept up with it as best I could and here's where we stand. I've had visitors leave comments or send me a card from 96 different places covering just about the entire world. Sure, we're missing Africa and Antarctica, but we've got South America, Russia, Australia and even the Hawaiian islands in there. Seems pretty good to me! If you're still stopping by, leave me a note and I'll add you to the map. There'll probably be one more update before I close up shop for the season.

This is the map that Google gives me showing all the hits to the blog based on the IP address. As you can see, I get a lot of visitors that haven't left me a note, but that's OK. I suspect there's a language barrier, and some of those folks are probably just visiting a single post based on a keyword hit. But it's a much fuller map, don't ya think. :)

Organ Donor, Part 2

If you liked that last generic organ album, you'll appreciate this one as well. Part of that is due to the fact that this one reprises eleven of the twelve tracks on that previous LP, but it adds nine new tracks. I suspect those nine tracks came from an album I don't have by these guys, so this comp will have to do for now. Don't forget that Bob Kames was a part of the duo that brought you this LP, so if you're a fan of his organ stylings, you'll enjoy this record. This is Happy Organ-20 Christmas Favorites (GNP Crescendo GNPS-2138, Stereo, 1980).

1. White Christmas
2. Winter Wonderland
3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. Frosty The Snowman
5. The First Noel
6. Here Comes Santa Claus
7. O' Little Town Of Bethlehem
8. I'll Be Home For Christmas
9. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
10. A Marshmallow World
11. There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays
12. Silver Bells
13. The Chipmunk Song
14. Jingle Bells
15. Holiday Polka
16. Christmas Waltz
17. Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer
18. Christmas Island
19. Let It Snow
20. Silent Night

MEGA

Organ Donor, Part 1

Today's theme is Christmas music from the organ. I've got all sorts of generic organ music for you today, records that could have been performed by just about anybody, and probably were. There's no telling who was behind the keyboard on these releases, though I've got one big name that does turn up. This first record is credited only to Happy Organ, but a close reading of the credits reveals that there were two organists involved and one of them was blog-favorite Bob Kames. I don't think any of his solo organ records are currently available to be downloaded around here, they're pretty old shares, but I hope to get some of them remastered for you next year. In the meantime, this LP is going to be your best bet. This is Happy Organ-All-Time Christmas Favorites (Sunnywale/GRT 9330-303, Stereo, 1976).

1. Silent Night
2. O Christmas Tree
3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. The First Noel
5. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
6. Christmas Island
7. Let It Snow
8. White Christmas
9. Jingle Bells
10. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
11. Silver Bells
12. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

MEGA

Jim & Tammy

One last gospel record today, or at least it's religious. I had planned a whole series of records by TV preachers this year, but I never finished most of them. Many of them weren't quite as great as I'd hoped. But here's one I did finish up, and you need to download it only so you can hear the great Tammy Faye Bakker sing. You heard her here recently doing some puppet voices, but on this record she sings it straight. This is Christmas...With Love From Jim & Tammy (PTL Club Records PTL-RLP-1824, Stereo, 1980). Even though Jim Bakker is the preacher behind this release, I don't think he actually shows up anywhere on it.

1. PTL Voices-Conducted By Brad Kelley & Kevin Hofer-Music Director: Thurlow Spurr-Hark The Herald Angels Sing
2. Jeanne Johnson-Conducted By Brad Kelley & Kevin Hofer-Music Director: Thurlow Spurr-Celebrate Christmas In Your Heart
3. Eric & Rosalinde AuCoin-Conducted By Brad Kelley & Kevin Hofer-Music Director: Thurlow Spurr-Birthday Of The King
4. Vern McLellan-Conducted By Brad Kelley & Kevin Hofer-Music Director: Thurlow Spurr-O Holy Night
5. PTL Singers-Conducted By Brad Kelley & Kevin Hofer-Music Director: Thurlow Spurr-Medley: Carol Of The Bells/I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
6. Tammy Faye Bakker-Conducted By Brad Kelley & Kevin Hofer-Music Director: Thurlow Spurr-O Come All Ye Faithful
7. Men With A Song-Conducted By Brad Kelley & Kevin Hofer-Music Director: Thurlow Spurr-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
8. Terry & Wanda White-Conducted By Brad Kelley & Kevin Hofer-Music Director: Thurlow Spurr-Precious Jesus
9. PTL Orchestra-Conducted By Brad Kelley & Kevin Hofer-Music Director: Thurlow Spurr-Away In A Manger
10. Lee Robbins-Conducted By Brad Kelley & Kevin Hofer-Music Director: Thurlow Spurr-Ave Maria

MEGA

Just Christine

While we're in a gospel mode, here's an album by just plain Christine. Actually, she has a last name, but you'd have to look carefully at the credits to find it (Or just look at the label, I see it's there in big letters. I remember having to hunt through the credits for it, I must not have been paying much attention). I guess she wanted to be more like Madonna or Cher, or maybe it's just hard to pronounce. This is Christine-Christine's Christmas (Milk & Honey/Singspiration MH1019, Stereo, 1979). And for the search engines, it's Christine Wyrtzen.

1. Shadow Of A Tree
2. Reason For The Season
3. Poverty Carol
4. Special Gift
5. Close Your Eyes
6. All Year Long
7. I Know Now
8. Reaching
9. Good Tidings
10. Silent Night! Holy Night!
11. Christmas Medley
12. Why Can't Christmas Just Be Christmas

MEGA

Gospel After Christmastime

How about something today that isn't a remaster? Something brand new, or at least brand new to the blog? I've got this gospel record that I think you'll enjoy. It's a good label sampler with a bunch of stuff that I've not heard of before. Got to be something on here that you'll dig, though it sounds a little too slick 80's at times. This is Gospel At Christmastime (Malaco MAL-4404, Stereo, 1985). I feel like I've shared something from this label before, it sure looks familiar. But if I have, I can't find it.

1. The Jackson Southernaires-Say A Prayer For Christmas
2. The Fantastic Vionlinaires-The Sound Of Christmas
3. The Sensational Nightingales-Go Tell It On The Mountain
4. Bill Moss-The Christmas Spirit In The Air
5. Louise "Candy" Davis-Happy Birthday Jesus
6. The Evereadys-Love Is The Greatest Gift Of All
7. The Williams Brothers-Till Morning Comes
8. The Gospel Keynotes-Only God Knows
9. The Angelic Gospel Singers-Glory To The New Born King
10. The Truthettes-Dig A Little Deeper
11. Salt Of The Earth-Hallelujah

MEGA

Ski Season 3

The third and last of the skiing related remasters of the day (didn't I say earlier there were only two? What do I know?) is this set of songs featuring two different groups. I suspect that one of the groups' songs were stuff that the label had rights to for some strange reason and they didn't know what to do with them. So they created a studio group to record some other songs and put the whole thing out as an album. I see on Discogs that this is available in stereo, but I don't have one. I recorded my same old mono copy, the only one I've ever seen, the one where the front cover is no longer attached to the back cover and the vinyl is covered in scratches. I'm not happy with the sound on this one, but I'll have to keep sharing it until I get something better. If anyone has the stereo version, hit me up! This rip is still better than what I shared with you back in 2008, I even got it to play through so there are no skips this time! And between a close listen and close read of the liner notes, I think I was able to separate out the tracks by The Yodelin' Guides from The Blazers this time. To complete today's skiing trilogy, this is The Blazers & The Yodelin' Guides-Track!-Songs Of The Skiers (Kapp KL-1218, Mono, 1960).

1. The Blazers-Ski Trails
2. The Blazers-Winter Song
3. The Blazers-There's A Tavern In The Town; Vive La Compagnie
4. The Yodelin' Guides-S.B.B. (The Swiss Railroad Song)
5. The Blazers-She'll Be Skiing Down The Mountain; The Man On The New Pair Of Skis; Wham! Went The Skier
6. The Blazers-The Happy Wanderer
7. The Yodelin' Guides-Hop-Sah-Sah
8. The Blazers-Ski, Ski, Ski
9. The Blazers-We're The Gang; Give A Cheer
10. The Yodelin' Guides-The Weggis Song
11. The Blazers-Beer Barrel Polka
12. The Blazers-It Happened In Sun Valley

MEGA

Ski Season 2

As promised, I have another non-Christmas album for the snow skiers out there. I mention that it's for snow skiing since I live in Florida and if you say skiing to someone here, they assume you mean water skiing. Of course, we can't do much of that this time of year. Well, I guess you could, but that water sure is cold. Not as cold as the snow they ski on though. This next LP is a remaster of something also first shared in 2011 and is making a very welcome return today. This record has a bit more winter content and many of the songs could be dropped into a Christmas mix without too much concern. If you go back to the old post you can read all about this one and the various bona fides of the brothers shown sharing a single pair of skis there on the cover. Trust me when I say they were quite a bunch. I believe that there are some conflicting ID's given in the contents so even after all these years I'm unsure of which is which. Maybe you can figure it out. In the meantime, please download and enjoy The Wegeman Brothers, Ray Whitaker Orchestra-Gentleman Skiers-Ski Songs By The Wegeman Brothers (Raynote RN 5008, Mono, 1959).

1. Winter Wonderland
2. Two Boards
3. Wacky Waxer
4. Oola
5. Here's To The Skier
6. Sven
7. Skiers Medley
8. Skiers Lament
9. Under The Take-Off
10. Sun Valley
11. Winter Song
12. Ski Heil

MEGA

Ski Season 1

Christmas is over now, so I want to push out a couple of remasters that are winter-related but certainly not Christmas. This first one is part of a long, long series of folk-comedy records that Oscar Brand put out over many years in the sixties. He ridiculed all the branches of the US armed forces and put out a long series of bawdy song records that seemed to have been particularly popular with the college kids of the time. But on this record he turned his wit to the skiing set. His songs seem to alternate between enjoying the hobby and lamenting it's many, many headaches. The language is certainly dated but I'm sure many of these songs would resonate with skiers today. First shared here in 2011 and remastered for you here in 2023, this is Oscar Brand And The Ski Bums-A Snow Job For Skiers-Ribald Songs For The Stretch Pants Set (Elektra EKS-7228, Stereo, 1963).

1. Why The Hell Do We Ski
2. Skier's Proposition
3. Ski Racks And Boot Sacks
4. Old Ski Tow
5. Ballad Of The Snow Bunny
6. Ski Instructor
7. Back To Town
8. Come Along Boys
9. Roll Your Leg Over
10. Summit Ski Meet
11. Hills Of West Virginia
12. Stretch Pants Lament
13. Skier's Daydream

MEGA

En Español-Volumen Siete

Time to bring this multi-cultural Christmas extravaganza to a close with one last various artists record. Took me a while to figure out what was going on here, but I think I finally got it. All the tracks are performed by the same band, but they've brought in a handful of different vocalists to add their touches on each track. The big name here (at least the only one I recognize) is Celia Cruz. Nobody else rings a bell with me though you might be more educated about such things. Please feel free to educate me on who we're listening to down in the comments, I'd love to hear from you. This is Celebremos Noche Buena Con Sonora Matancera (Seeco SCLP-9206, Mono, 1961).

1. Sonora Matancera-Canta: Celia Cruz-Noche Buena
2. Sonora Matancera-Canta: Willy-Navidad De Ayer
3. Sonora Matancera-Canta: Celia Cruz-Pachanga En Navidad
4. Sonora Matancera-Canta: Willy-Tu Y Yo En Navidad
5. Sonora Matancera-Canta: Celia Cruz-Fiesta De Navidad
6. Sonora Matancera-Canta: Willy-Navidad Me Hace Acordar
7. Sonora Matancera-Canta: Celia Cruz-Eterna Navidad
8. Sonora Matancera-Canta: Emilio Dominguez (El Jarocho)-Vamos Todos De Pachanga
9. Sonora Matancera-Canta: Celia Cruz-Capricho Navideño
10. Sonora Matancera-Canta: Emilio Dominguez (El Jarocho)-A Comer Lechon
11. Sonora Matancera-Canta: Celia Cruz-Rey De Los Cielos
12. Sonora Matancera-Canta: Emilio Dominguez (El Jarocho)-Bachata En Navidad

MEGA

En Español-Volumen Seis

Time for a little various artist action in our Spanish speaking extravaganza today. Having tracks from different artists can help to give a more varied listening experience, I think, and I find that I enjoy the Spanish-language compilations a little more than the single artist collections. Perhaps that's just because I haven't found the right artist yet. Anyhow, I'm just blathering on about nothing. Here's part two of a compilation that I have not seen a part one of. Keep an eye out and let me know if you find the other one. This is Fiestas Navideñas (Melodias Navideñas Vol. 2) (Seeco SCLP-9185, Mono).

1. Claudio Ferrer-Santo Nombre De Jesús
2. Claudio Ferrer-A Mi Puerto Rico
3. La Calandria-Brindis
4. Bobby Capó-Alegre Navidad
5. Conjunto Tipico Ladi-Trullas De Navidad
6. Daniel Santos-A Los Santos Reyes
7. Claudio Ferrer-Aguinaldo De Las Flores
8. La Calandria-Felicitación
9. Daniel Santos-Romance Del Campesino
10. Bobby Capó-Le Lo Lay
11. La Calandria-Parrandeando
12. Ada Carrillo & Tony Cordero-A Gozar Y A Reír

MEGA

En Español-Volumen Cinco

Time to dive back into the wonderful world of Spanish-language Christmas albums with this interesting record from who-knows-where. There aren't a lot of details here to work with. Discogs says Venezuela on another edition with this cover (and gives a date of 1983), but it's on a different label. Suffice it to say that this is a record you will enjoy. Some familiar songs on here for us English speakers, and I believe some familiar Spanish titles as well. At least they look familiar to me, but you be the judge. This is Coro Infantil "La Trepa"-La Eterna Navidad (Compas CLP-6023, Stereo, 1983).

1. Los Peces En Del Río
2. Campanilleros
3. Campana Sobre Campana
4. Arre, Borriquita
5. Jingle Bells, "Repican Las Campanas"
6. Noche De Paz, "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht"
7. El Pequeño Tamborilero, "The Little Drummer Boy"
8. Dime, Niño, ¿De Quien Eres?
9. ¡Ay, Del Chiquirritin!
10. Vamos, Pastorcillos
11. Navidades Blancas, "White Christmas"
12. El Canto De Los Pajaros

MEGA

En Español-Volumen Quatro

So, this probably doesn't count as a Spanish-language release since I believe it's all instrumental. But I didn't listen to it all that closely and they may have snuck something in on me when I wasn't listening. This is Alba Rosa Castro-Alba Rosa En Concierto De Navidad (Fragoso (Puerto Rico) FLP 591, Stereo, 1975).

1. Hoy Es Dia De Aguinaldo
2. La Rosa Blanca
3. Cantares De Navidad
4. Santo Nombre De Jesus
5. Feliz Navidad
6. A Quien No Le Gusta Eso
7. Aguinaldo De Las Flores
8. Si No Me Dan De Beber
9. La Luz
10. Blanca Navidad

MEGA

En Español-Volumen Tres

This next record takes us to Costa Rica, or at least that's where the record is from. Not sure if that's where the group of young singers on the record is from. Spending a little time on Discogs, I see where many of these Spanish language records were released in many different Spanish speaking countries over the years. I guess there is a big demand for records in the native language, and the major record companies only want to provide content in English because that's the big market. Share that it works that way, but corporations are all about the bottom line. But we're equal opportunity offenders around here, we'll share anything that says Christmas on it! This is Las Voces Blancas-Un Regalo De Las Voces Blancas (CBS (Costa Rica) 100.272, Stereo, 1975).

1. Llegó Navidad
2. La Virgen Bajó A Lavar
3. Pastores Venid
4. Dime Niño de Quién Eres
5. Mi Villancico
6. La Virgen Es Panadera
7. Arbolito
8. Noche de Paz
9. Arre Burriquito
10. De Contento
11. Catatumba
12. Canta, Ríe, Bebe

MEGA

En Español-Volumen Dos

Next up on today's tour of Christmas songs in Spanish is this curious record from Brooklyn. I assume that it was targeted towards Spanish speakers of Puerto Rican descent living in NYC at the time, but that's just a guess. I think these are all unique songs so no covers of cute Christmas carols in Spanish here. This is Los Nuevos Murcianos-Navidad Con Los Nuevos Murcianos (Amaral LP: 1012, Stereo).

1. Oye Su Cantar
2. Estaba Preparado
3. Navidad Contigo
4. Preparese Mi Compadre
5. Esta Navidad
6. Madrigal Navideño
7. Esta Es La Parranda
8. El Huerfanito
9. Todos A Casa E Juana
10. Tu Y Yo

MEGA

En Español-Volumen Uno

I mentioned way back near the beginning of the season that I had a pile of these Spanish-language Christmas records to share out, and I've given you a few of them here and there throughout the season, but today is going to be the big blowout. You'll be a fluent Spanish speaker by the time I get done today, or at least you'll know all the Christmas-related words. I'm beginning here with a record I believe was issued in the US but was licensed from their division in Columbia. The notes on the back mention a teaching post in Mexico and there's a sketch of the Christ The Redeemer statue in Brazil. Given all that, I'm not entirely sure where this music is from. But I'm sure you'll enjoy it anyway. This is Pina Alvarez Y Sus Coros-Cantata De Navidad (Columbia EX 5017, Mono). As with all my records, but today especially since I don't speak the language here, if you know anything else about these records, please chime in down in the comment section. I'd love to know more about this music.

1. Noche Buena (Canción)
2. Venid Oh Ninitos (Canción)
3. Callen, Callen (Canción)
4. En El Portal De Belen (Villancico)
5. Las Posadas (Canción Mexicana)
6. Fum, Fum, Fum (Villancico)
7. Ha Brotada Una Rosa (Canción)
8. Alegria Al Mundo (Canción)
9. En Navidad (Canción)
10. Duerme No Llores (Canción Mexicana)
11. Soy Un Pobre Pastorcito (Villancico)
12. Alegria, Alegria (Villancico)
13. Adornemos Nuestras Casas (Canción)
14. Aleluya (Canción)

MEGA

Dolls, Puppets & Toys-Part Six

Last post in our series of music from dolls and puppets today, and another remaster. Sorry about dumping so many of them into one day but I wanted to have a good solid theme and that's just the way it came together. This time I'm revisiting a share from 2012 with a remaster I've been meaning to get to since I found the sister album to this one and shared it with you in 2018. Now you'll have both of her Christmas albums in just about the best sound I can produce without having the master tapes. This is Marcy Tigner-Christmas With Marcy-Sing With Marcy (Corner Stone MT 113 LP, Mono, 1967). Enjoy!

1. Intro To O Little Town Of Bethlehem
2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. Intro To Silent Night
4. Silent Night
5. Intro To Away In The Manger
6. Away In The Manger
7. Intro To Hark The Herald Angels Sing
8. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
9. Intro To I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
10. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
11. Intro To His Name Is Wonderful
12. His Name Is Wonderful
13. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
14. Suzy Snowflake
15. Silver Bells
16. White Christmas
17. C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
18. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
19. O Come All Ye Faithful

MEGA