Oodles Of Doodles CLXXVII

Been a good long time since I've brought you a doodle, so here you go. This is from the flip side of The Crew-Cuts Sing (RCA Victor LPM-2037, 1959), which was near the top of the stack because I gave you a track from it on the last day of my Christmas In July share-a-thon. I also mentioned a tag from the LP, and here it is below, "Song Fest". Enjoy!

For those of you who weren't around back in the golden age of doodles, or at least my golden age of sharing them, these bits of black and white art were commonly found on the back of old LPs from the fifties and sixties. They were a cheap way of adding a little art to the record jackets without the cost or difficulty of photos and color. Search through the blog archives and you'll find almost 200 of these jewels I put up in my first year of blogging. The tag is something you see a lot less frequently. It was used as part of the logo on records from RCA Victor from 1958 to 1961 (or thereabouts). I used to think they were all different, but I've found a few that are identical. I've even found different versions of the same LP that have different tags, although I can't remember which one that was right now...

The Three Suns And Rudolph

Here's another little thing a found today that I couldn't wait to share. This is the companion EP to one I shared with you last Christmas. I've been hunting for it ever since, and today I got it. It had the wrong record in it, but that's OK. I already have all the tracks from it. This is The Three Suns-Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (RCA Victor EPA-654, 1955). The artist signature looks like Gerston to me, the same as was on the other record. I can't find anything on the net under that name. Anyhow, I just wanted to share this great cover with you. I'll get the music reposted come this Christmas.

The Original NRA

I found a tie today that I thought was neat, but I didn't realize just how neat it was until I took a close look at the skinny end. A small piece of paper folded around the tie proclaimed that it was produced in accordance with the National Recovery Act. This program was instituted by FDR way back in 1933, and overturned by the courts in 1935, but was quite popular in the meantime. That means this tag has been attached to this tie for more than 70 years! You never know what you'll find in those thrift stores...

The Best From Christmas In July

For those of you who didn't download all 31 days worth of shares I threw up in July, I put together a single-disc, single-download best-of. It's really pretty good, if I do say so myself. I've been listening to it for a few days now, and it's very listenable. Download and enjoy! (There's one track in there I didn't share out. I recorded it, but then decided not to share it since you can get it pretty easily on CD. But it fit into my theme quite well, so I hope it's OK if I put it on a compilation for you. Don't tell the RIAA though!)

Chanukah In August-Part 2

You didn't think I was going to do a second edition of Chanukah In August, did you? Well, I'm full of surprises. I was also surprised to find a small stash of records I'd put together at some point, all with a decidedly Jewish theme. So we'll see what I can find.

Tonight's track is Tzena by The International Folk Singers from Hava Nagila (Come, Let's Be Happy) (London SW 99021, 1960). Is this a Chanukah song? I don't know. I'm afraid that many of the songs I'm going to share with you have nothing to do with Chanukah, but I'll try. I grabbed this one because of the name. It turns out that the Smothers Brothers track I shared the other day, Swiss Christmas, well, the second half of that track features a song called Tzena, Tzena, Tzena. I don't know if there is a connection or not, but I'm making one up in my head and running with it. So download today's track, and enjoy!

Chanukah In August-Part 1

Yesterday was the end of Christmas in July, so today is the beginning of Chanukah in August. (A tradition proudly started last year!) Chanukah songs are much harder to come by in the dusty old LPs that I enjoy collecting, but I got lucky last week, and got this one track for you.

Chanukah by Ray Middleton from Ten Jewish Holy Days (Candle Records CAN-112, 1957). Yep, it's the story of Chanukah, told in story and song. Now I know all about the Maccabees and the oil lasting for eight days. (I am, however, unsure about why they mention Palestine in the song. I guess I need to brush up on my history.) This great old record comes complete with an insert the gives all the words and lyrics to the stories inside, as well as a card you can send back to whoever bought you the record, thanking them politely for the gift. I guess whoever got this record bought it for his or herself, and not as a gift. The orchestra and chorus behind Ray Middleton belong to Howard Barlow ("The Voice Of Firestone"), and the lyrics were written by Gerald Marks (writer of Is It True What They Say About Dixie, which I have been enjoying of late in a performance by Phil "Balloo" Harris). "Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Rabbinical Approval"!!!

Please download and enjoy this special track for Chanukah in August!

(This is part of a series???)

August 2006

Rather than wait until the end of the month, I think I'll share out the monthly calendar at the beginning this time. It just seems to work better that way. Anyhow, this was one of my favorite pictures from last year's trip to Cleveland. I don't remember the name of the statue or the building, but the combination of the two made for a great image. Look closely near the base of the statue and you can see water droplets frozen in midair. (The statue is in the center of a fountain.) I still want to get this blown up to poster size and hung on my wall, I'm that impressed with it.

Orange For The First Week In August

It's the first week in August, which means you get a calendar page, and what a doosey of a picture. This is a tight detail of the inside of a spectacular flower. My mom has one of these in her yard, so maybe she knows the name of it. I'm afraid I don't. This isn't the one from her yard, though. I found this one in Siesta Village on Siesta Key, FL, not 50 feet from the beach.

Christmas Preview

OK, I can't keep it under my hat. I've already been busy getting a bunch of stuff ready to share with you in December. And some of it is really good and exciting, at least to a Christmas nut like me. If you're interested, here's a small teaser you can download that has 20 sample tracks from 20 of the albums that I've recorded so far. I'm not even going to tell you what's in there, but if you're the type who likes to open presents before Christmas, then re-wraps them for Christmas day, download this little present. Most of this stuff will show up complete between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but some of it may get bumped for better stuff. I didn't necessarily pick the best tracks or the worst tracks, it was pretty much just a random sampling that I tried to pick without duplicating any songs. Oh, wait, I put Jingle Bells in there twice, no, three times. I should have put more time into this, I suppose. Anyhow, enjoy this little taster!

Christmas In July-Part 31-The End

Congratulations! You've made it to the end of another wonderful Christmas in July! Download these three final tracks, and you'll have yourself a wonderful collection of 112 songs that can help you get in the holiday spirit all year long.

Track one: Happy New Year, Happy New Year from Charlie Weaver. This appeared on the same LP as the track from the other day, Charlie Weaver Sings For His People (Columbia CL 1345), and apparently on a single with the same track. Still not very funny.

Track two: Perhaps it was inevitable. What did you think I was going to end the faux holiday season with? Yep, it's Auld Lang Syne as performed by Mrs. Miller from It's Party Time! (Capitol Canada T6094, 1964). You know you wanna listen to this.

Track three: A second, and much better, version of Auld Lang Syne by The Crew-Cuts from The Crew-Cuts Sing (RCA Victor LPM-2037, 1959). What a fitting way to end the month, with a track from the glory days of the RCA label. There's even a tag line on the front of this LP, "Song Fest". I wish the scanner worked.

There you have it. 112 tracks. The most repeated song? Baby, It's Cold Outside showed up 7 times. The most popular artist? Henry Mancini with 5 tracks. The absolute best track? That's for you to decide. I hope you enjoyed the songs. I know I enjoyed tracking them all down. My original goal was to share two or three a day, but it sort of snowballed out of control. Stay tuned though. Christmas is coming, and I've got plenty of surprises in store. There might even be more this week...

The Last Two Days In July

Here's a pelican action shot for the last couple of days in July. I don't remember when I took this specific picture, but I suspect I was standing on a bridge at the time. I stand on a lot of bridges while I'm out shooting pictures. Anything to get a little elevation.

Christmas In July-Part 30

Here we are, the next to the last day of Christmas In July. As promised, I have some more comedy for you today, including some actual funny stuff, plus one song, which isn't funny at all, but is actually quite good. So let's look and see what's in the zip file that you should start downloading before you read all this.

Track one is the actual song of the day. Winter Night by Eydie Gorme from Love Is A Season (ABC-Paramount ABCS-273, 1959). I spotted this LP today in a thrift store, and figured with a title like Love Is A Season, I would surely be able to find a holiday season song there-in. And sure enough, there it was. The copy I found was in mono, so when I came home I trolled through the archives, and sure enough I already had a stereo copy. Perhaps this is a sign that I have too many records. Or perhaps that I don't have enough. Anyhow, this was a very fortuitous discovery, as it's a great track. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Track two is perhaps the least funny of today's bunch, but I'm a completist so I'm throwing it in here. Family & Holidays by Pat Cooper from More Saucy Stories (United Artists UAS 6690). Only partly about Christmas, I'm afraid, but the Christmas part is about as funny as the whole bit gets. Listen and see for yourself.

Track three is moving up the funny meter a notch, but just one. Christmas Sing Along With Jose-Jingle Bells by Bill Dana from Jose Jimenez In Orbit-Bill Dana On Earth (Kapp KL-1257). Here's another example of why Political Correctness does have a place. Although it is slightly cute, this track's humor derives entirely from the poor English pronunciation of poor Jose. These days they wouldn't let Jose across the border, so maybe he's lucky to be in the US at all.

Tracks four, five and six are all pretty funny, and that's because they are all from The Smothers Brothers. These guys knew their funny from their, well, from their not funny. The earliest track is a warped version of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town from the LP Think Ethnic! (Mercury SR 60777). Short, but sweet. The next track, also the longest, is Swiss Christmas from Curb Your Tongue, Knave! (Mercury SR 60862). Actually, this is two songs, as the song itself goes to great pains to explain. Last is another short snippet of humor called Santa Claus from Mom Always Liked You Best! (Mercury SR 61051). Do all Smothers Brothers album titles end with an exclamation point? These three do, and they are also all produced by David Carroll, who showed up earlier here at Christmas In July. This last Smothers Brothers track isn't really a song, just a short bit about the jolly fat man who always wants to give your kids some candy.

OK, next to the last day and you get six tracks. Not too shabby. Here's the link, now go enjoy yourself. More tomorrow.

Christmas In July-Part 29

Only three more days to go, counting today. What's left in my stack-o-tracks for you? Not a whole lot, really. But that doesn't mean that what's left isn't worth waiting around for. Today and tomorrow I've got some little comedy bits to mix into your Christmas collections. Well, maybe they were funny back in the day, but to my ears they aren't up there with The Kings Of Comedy. But first, one last version of Snowfall that I found today.

Track one, Snowfall, this time by Enoch Light from The Big Band Hits Of The Thirties (Project 3 PR 5049 SD, 1970). Piano on this track is handled by Dick Hyman, whose own version of Snowfall I brought you earlier. Small world, isn't it?

Track two, Xmas In Mt. Idy by Charlie Weaver from Charlie Weaver Sings For His People (Columbia CL 1345). A little song, and a little story, from the former Cliff Arquette. Reading the liner notes from the back of this LP, I learn that Charlie Weaver achieved popularity on the Jack Parr show. Still not too funny.

Track three is Jose Jimenez The Santa Claus Instructor by Bill Dana from Bill Dana In Las Vegas (Kapp KS-3402). Hmmmm, again, not too funny. Ethnic humor, perhaps that's what political correctness is all about.

Track four, Frontier Christmas by Hudson And Landry from The Best Of Hudson And Landry (Dore LP 333). I don't know what it is, but these Christmas bits just aren't too funny, and this one is the worst. I give it to you today only in the sense of completeness. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day.

Anyhow, here's the link, download to your heart's content, but don't say I didn't warn you!

Christmas In July-Part 28

Four weeks into our share-a-bration! The fake Christmas season will soon be gone, and then you'll have to wait for whatever Santa might bring you in December. Hopefully the gems I've shared with you this month will help tide you over. Here's today's swag:

Track uno: My Favorite Things by The Trapp Family Singers, or, if you read the label more closely, Members of The Trapp Family Singers. The LP is called The Sound Of Music (RCA Victor LPM-2277, 1960), and features some of the actual subjects of the musical singing the songs. I know the Trapp family put out a couple of Christmas LPs on Decca, but I didn't know they recorded the music from their own life story.

Track dos: The Ski Song (Slalom) by David Carroll from Contrasts (Mercury Wing MGW 12146). I thought I had this record in stereo, but I can't find it. You can download the whole LP (in stereo, no less!) from These Records Are BenT if you like this sample track. I found this tune last year, and really enjoyed it.

Track tres: March of The Toys by Marty Gold from 24 Pieces Of Gold (RCA Victor VPS-6012, 1962). I think this is the third track from Marty Gold I've shared with you, and maybe the fifth or sixth version of this same song. But it's still good. I bet I've picked this LP up a dozen times in the past year, but never noticed this track was there until yesterday. Sometimes I'm a little slow like that. Other times I pick up a record for no reason, and there's something great on there.

Track quatro: Snow Flake by Jim Reeves from the various artists collection Big Country Hits, Volume 1 (RCA Victor LSP-3606, 1966). This is a great example of a track that came from a record I picked up for no reason. Why would I ever have suspected a country compilation like this would have a slightly seasonal song? And from two years after the death of Mr. Reeves, no less.

Those are your tracks for today, here's the link, see you back here tomorrow!

Christmas In July-Part 27

Ah, the 27th day. Time is growing short, which is good, because my list of stuff to share is getting short, too. But not to fear, I've reserved some special stuff for the last few days of the month so that it doesn't turn into a schlock-fest right at the end. But today is not going to be my best day. (I'm secretly putting this post together a day early, because I will probably be busy tomorrow. I don't suppose you'll be able to tell the difference, but I believe in truth-in-advertising.)

Track one: Wait For The Wagon by Jimmy Dean from The Songs We All Love Best (Columbia CS 8988, 1964). As I mentioned before, this really isn't a Christmas tune, but as a kid, I had this song on a compilation and it's always been in my head for Christmas. I think the lyrics might have been slightly different, though. I'll have to dig up the one I had all those years ago and see...

Track two: March Of The Toys/Toyland by The Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra from The Immortal Victor Herbert (RCA Victor LM-2515, 1961). This is a little to operatic for my taste. Maybe you'll like it. If it means anything to you audiophiles out there, this was s shaded dog. Mono, but still a shaded dog. Sounds the same to me, but whatever. I'm listening to a record right now on Vik, and it sounds just as good as that shaded dog did... I'll shut up now.

Track three: Skater's Waltz by Bob Crosby from The New Bob Crosby (Coral 97007 LPCM, 1956). Don't ask me how I wound up with a German pressing of a Bob Crosby record. Some things in life I can't explain. I don't know when this record was actually released, but the recording date for the track in question was listed as 1956, so that's what I wrote.

Track four: Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers by Richard Hayman from Harmonica Holiday (Mercury PPS 2005). Go listen to the version of this same song by The Harmonicats that I posted the other day. Sound similar? Hmmmmm... I guess there are so many arrangements when it comes to harmonica hijinks.

Is that it? I think so. Here's the link. Hope you enjoy these!

Christmas In July-Part 26

26 days down, 5 to go. Well, 26 days down after this post with four spanking new tracks. Well, not new, but newly recorded by me. Are you ready? Here we go...

Track 1: Ave Maria, this time by Ferrante & Teicher from their LP Ferrante & Teicher Play Light Classics (ABC-Paramount ABCS-313, 1960). Not my favorite version, but some nice filler. This isn't from their prepared-piano period, instead it's from their easy-listening period, which turned out to be most of their career.

Track 2: White Christmas by Jane Wilson & Stuart Foster and Track 3: Baby, It's Cold Outside by The Robert Thomas Singers, both from 26 Academy Award Winning Songs (Dolphin Records CXSV 67679, circa 1960). Again, a nice little bit of filler, but nothing you haven't heard before, probably while visiting your parents or grandparents during the holidays. Good track coming up next, I promise.

Track 4: Bobsled by Clebanoff from Strings Afire (Mercury SR 60871). When the album is titled Strings Afire, you know it's going to be really good or really bad. And in this case, we got lucky. This is definately a keeper, and I think it more than makes up for the other three tracks I schlepped off on you today. Play it, and play it loud!

OK, download it, enjoy it, and remember me when it comes time for holiday gift-giving.

July (Better Late Than Never)

Did I not post the calendar for the month of July? I don't think I did. Someone out there needs to check up on me now and then. Here's a view of the town square in Twinsburg, Ohio. Every little town you pass through in Ohio has one of these town squares, with a church, a monument, and a cannon. Sometimes the cannon is replaced by a bell, and sometimes the monument may be a gazebo, but the general theme is always the same. Always.

Rock Climbing, 30's Style

Lest you forget, I was in Las Vegas recently. Everytime I think I'm done sharing the pictures, I find another one worth throwing up on the blog. This guy is a sculpture at Hoover Dam, meant to honor the men who risked their lives climbing the high rock walls of the canyon. Nowadays, rock climbing is a sport, but back then, it was a deadly occupation.

Christmas In July-Part 25

If this were December, today would be Christmas, right? I mean, it is the 25th day of the month. But Christmas In July is just a made-up excuse to share some Christmas music during the hottest time of the year, so don't go looking for any presents under your tree today. And why do you even have a tree up, anyway? It's July! Here're four tracks for your average, ordinary day in July:

Track one: Baby It's Cold Outside by Ted Heath and Edmundo Ros from Heath vs. Ros Round 2 (London Phase 4 SP 44089). This is my favorite version yet of this oft-repeated track. Some of you may remember it from last year when I shared it out at FaLaLaLaLa during the summer. Well, it's back, and every bit as great now as it was then. Imagine these two big bands shoved into one room, going full blast into the 20-channel mixer, and that's exactly what it sounds like. This one's a keeper for sure!

Track two is Merry Christmas Polka by Lawrence Welk from Music For Polka Lovers (Mercury Wing SRW 16210). I didn't realize until too late that this was fake stereo. Sorry about that. Still a neat track, though.

Track three is Sleigh Ride, as recreated in stereo by it's writer, Leroy Anderson, on the LP Leroy Anderson Conducts Leroy Anderson (Decca DL 78865). I'm certain this song predates the stereo era, so this has to be a recreation of the original, but it's still good. Anderson's stuff was crying out for stereo, even though it was written years ahead of the invention.

Track four is Vaughn Monroe doing the classic Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow from There I Sing/Swing It Again (RCA Victor LSP-1799, 1958). Again, this is a later stereo re-recording of the original hit by the original artist. He sounds a bit older in this one than I'm used to, but you'll still enjoy it.

Only six days left, then a long break until the fun starts up again in November. I'm hoping Santa brings me a new needle or two for my poor old turntable, 'cause I'm afraid I'm going to wear this one out! Here's the link to today's tracks. Enjoy!

Christmas In July-Part 24

Honest, I'm trying to get one of these shares up every day, but it's getting tough. I guess I should have planned things out a little better. It's going to take some work to see this thing through for another week. But I'm sure I'll get it. Now what am I sharing today? Oh, yeah...

Two versions of Brazilian Sleigh Bells. The first is the long-promised original by Percy Faith from Carefree (Columbia CS 8360, 1961). Percy had done this track in a slightly different arrangement earlier, before the advent of stereo, but I can't find that version. This one is good enough to tide you over. The second version is from our friend George Wright from his LP Encores At The Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ (HiFi/Capitol SW-91090, 1956). I had a mono copy on HiFi, then I stumbled aross a stereo version, but it was on the Capitol label. 1956 is too early for stereo, so I suspect this is a re-recording, but I can't prove it. Maybe I'll go back and grab the mono version just to see how different it sounds.

The third track is Winter World Of Love from Billy Vaughn and the LP of the same name (Dot DLP25975, 1970). Nothing very exciting here, I'm afraid. Billy was getting a little out-of-touch with the cutting edge by this point, if he was ever really there.

The fourth track is Ice And Snow by Eddie Wayne and Group from the cheapo LP The Ping Pong Sound of Guitars In Percussion (Coronet CXS-139). It's a pretty decent track (I actually recorded the whole LP) but the title of the album is pretty misleading. There is very little percussion going on, but some competent guitar work. There's also plenty of sax here, and even some piano, that makes it worth a listen. You'll enjoy it, I'm sure.

There you go, four more tracks towards the complete Christmas collection. Here's the link, so you hipsters go get it!