The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 17

Uh-oh, missed a day.  I was so tired last night, I just had to give it a pass.  Oh, well.  Something a little special for tonight, though, a handful of Christmas comedy for you folks.  Here goes...

Track one is The Old Philosopher himself, Eddie Lawrence, performing That Holiday Spirit from the LP The Kingdom Of Eddie Lawrence (Coral CRL 57203, Mono, 1958).  I knew he had a handful of Christmas singles (which I don't have), but I didn't know of any album tracks.  This was a bit of a surprise.

Track two is Christmas Dinner by Jerry Clower from An Officer And A Ledbetter (MCA 5602, Stereo, 1985). Ha-ha-ha.

Track three is Stan Freberg With Billy May And His Orchestra doing Abominable Snowman Interview from The Best Of The Stan Freberg Shows (Capitol 2xLP WBO1035, Mono, 1958).  Funny stuff, but reminds me of a very similar Jonathan Winters skit I shared out years ago.  Not sure which one came first.

Track four is a rerun, but it's still hilarious to collectors of Christmas music from a certain era. Christmas Is Our Business is by Charlie Manna and I pulled it from his album Manna-Live! (Decca DL 4213, Mono, 1962).  Again, this reminds me of another track, this time by Anna Russell, from a few years earlier.

Lastly, a classic bit of fun from Irving Taylor called Department Store Santa Claus (sung to the tune of Jingle Bells) from his LP Garbage Collector In Beverly Hills (Warner Bros BS 1254, Stereo, 1959).  I seem to recall I paid real money for this one, as I wanted a stereo version and stumbled across it in a record store somewhere.  This stereo version was something I recorded a year or two ago, but never shared.  Glad to finally be able to get it out there.

There you go, something to tickle your funny Christmas bone.  Here's the download, have a nice night.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 16

Something a little different tonight, just to shake things up.  From December of 1967, a radio show for The National Guard featuring Ed Ames doing three Christmas songs, or at least playing three Christmas songs from his new Christmas LP, Christmas With Ed Ames. The songs are Do You Hear What I Hear?, Deck The Halls & Ballad Of The Christmas Donkey.  There's also plenty of chit-chatting with show host Martin Block, and the usual promo stuff for the National Guard.  (Some of those promos are almost exactly word-for-word the same as a record of promos I shared out some years ago for the US Navy.)  Anyhow, the LP is titled Guard Sessions, and features sessions 305, 306, 307 & 308.  I'm sharing 307 with you tonight, that's the one with all the Christmas music, and I'm going to throw in 306 as well.  That one has Ed's hit When The Snow Is On The Roses, which just happens to have a wintery title.  And you have your choice, you can download the individual tracks here, or you can download the full shows here.  The choice is yours. (I included the non-Christmas tracks, What The World Needs Now & Try To Remember in there as well, just for the sake of completeness.)  I researched this record a little on Google and found a Billboard article from September 30, 1967, about the passing of Martin Block.  That was several months before this show was released, and the article actually mentions that he had recorded a few shows prior to his death, this one and one with Judy Garland.  You never know what you might find out on the interweb!

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 15

Not many of my nights have a theme, but the theme tonight is more shares from albums that you've already seen this month.  Lots of the records I pull tracks from have more than one holiday related track, so tonight is made up of many of those other songs.

Track one is Little Baby Jesus, directed by James A. Miller but performed by a whole gaggle of other people who's names I'm too lazy to type in.  The LP, you may remember, is Happy Time Nursery Songs (Herald Press 10" 33 RPM HP 1001-33 1/3, Mono).

Next up is White Christmas from Red Carter and Santa's Musical Grog (Frog Recording, Ltd. RG 001, Stereo).  I really like this one, they're fun arrangements.

Thirdly, we have Connie Francis singing The Bells Of St. Mary's from In The Summer Of His Years (MGM E4210, Mono, 1963).  I'm going to have to dig this one up in stereo.

Fourthly, it's Snow In Lover's Lane, another great track by The Anita Kerr Singers With Orchestra from the lost LP Love--Well Seasoned (Sesac N-2609/10, Mono).  Really good stuff here.

Last, the track that Buster has been most looking forward to, a giant medley of For You A Lei, An Old Hawaiian Custom & The Hawaiian Christmas Song by The Banjo Barons, pulled from the LP Golden Hawaiian Hits (Columbia CL 1983, Mono, 1963).  I keep finding typos in my track tags tonight.  I'm trying to correct all those before I send these things out, but if they're getting to you in poor form, I apologize.

That's it, all new tracks, but all secondary tracks.  Here's the link, see you tomorrow.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 14

Almost halfway there.  Trying to save some good stuff for the second half of the month.  What do I have for tonight?  Let's take a look...

The first is something I was very excited to discover, I had no idea it existed.  Over the years, I have shared every album, single and random Christmas track I could find from The Three Suns.  Except this one.  It's buried deep in a medley, and it's very, very, very late in their career, but it's there.  From the LP Country Music Shindig (RCA Victor LSP-3354, Stereo, 1965), give a listen to Wagon Wheels/Please Help Me, I'm Falling/Till I Waltz Again With You/Jingle Bell Rock.  How about that!

Up next is I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm from Bill Dayton And His Orchestra from their eponymous LP (Private Pressing BD-1, Stereo, 1977).  A little later than the usual share around here, but a throwback to the music we visit a lot.

Track three is from old favorites Fred Waring And The Pennsylvanians and their Broadway production Hear! Hear! (Decca DL 9031, Mono, 1955).  This is a version of Dance Of The Sugar Plums.  Not sure if this was recorded just for the show, or if they pulled tracks from his discography to mimic the show, but it's worth a listen either way.

Track four is a nice jazzy take on Baby, It's Cold Outside by Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery from their album Jimmy & Wes-The Dynamic Duo (Verve V6-8678, Stereo, 1967).  Gotta love that swingin' sound.

Last is a rerun, but it's now in stereo, a version I've been looking for since the very first year of Christmas In July.  Finally found it this year, and now I can share it with you.  You're really going to enjoy White Christmas by Steve Lawrence from Eydie & Steve Sing The Golden Hits (ABC-Paramount ABCS-311, Stereo, 1960).  Been waiting a long time for this one, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

There you go, another really strong night if I do say so myself.  Here's the download link, see you all tomorrow, same bat time, same bat channel.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 13

Lucky number 13!

We begin with Bob Wills and Tommy Duncan With The Texas Playboys and their version of a song that previously showed up here in an instrumental, Snow Deer.  This is from the LP Mr. Words & Mr. Music (Liberty LST 7194, Stereo, 1961).  Not sure how holiday sounding this is, but it has the word Snow in the title...

Track two is The Christmas Wine by The Voices Of The Accademia Monteverdiana-Music Composed And Conducted By John Barry from the soundtrack to the film The Lion In Winter (Columbia Masterworks OS 3250, Stereo, 1968).  Interesting.

And speaking of The Lion In Winter, track three is The Lion In Winter by Sandy Nelson from Rebirth Of The Beat (Imperial LP-12424, Stereo, 1969).  I doubt if this is anything like the version from the film.

Track four is version of Ave Maria by Connie Francis taken from her Kennedy tribute LP In The Summer Of His Years (MGM E4210, Mono, 1963).  Solemn stuff.

Track five, the only rerun of the night, and not really a rerun, since it's never been featured during Christmas in July, is Chree-See-Mus by The King Sisters And The Children.  I pulled this from a 45 and shared it years ago, but this one came from a collection of King Family stuff called Love At Home (Capitol DT 2352, Duophonic, 1965).  Such a great song that's never really gained any popularity over the years.

There you have it, three songs for the 13th day.  Here's the download link, enjoy!

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 12

Another day, another great collection of Christmas music.  Here goes...

Track one is an interesting little medley I found on a radio station promo that doesn't seem to exist out there on the internet anywhere.  If you can find anything more about this disc, please let me know.  The track is called The Sound of Christmas, the artist is 101 Strings, the album is called American Holidays on one side and American Holidays And Special Occasions on the other.  No catalog number, either, I'm afraid, it's in mono, and each track is a locked groove so the DJ doesn't embarrass himself if he forgets to stop the record.  Nice track, and I've got a couple more from this disc that I'll share later.  I'm trying to figure out if these tracks are unique to this record, or if they were just retitled and released elsewhere.

Track two is a gospel bluegrass version of Children, Go Where I Send Thee, and it's just just as nice as that description makes it sound.  I found this on an LP from The Marshall Family (their first, apparently) entitled Come Springtime (Rebel SLP-1541, Stereo, 1975).  I don't know anything else about these folks, but this is a nice version.

Track three is a seasonal song called When Winter Comes A'Calling by Peter Todd And His Orchestra from the LP Till We Meet Again (RCA Camden CAL 418, Mono).  Again, I have no idea who this artist is, but I saw the winter song on there and grabbed it.

Track four, which I think is a repeat is from Fred Waring And The Pennsylvanians.  It's Hanover Winter Song from the LP Alma Mater Memories (Capitol ST1949, Stereo, 1963).  Good stuff.

Lastly, a rerun that I think is showing up for the third time around here, but I can't pass it up when I see a copy.  Blue Christmas (not the song you're thinking of) by The Hollywood Studio Symphony Orchestra Conducted By Mitchell Powell from the soundtrack LP The Apartment (United Artists UAS 6105, Stereo, 1960).  I like it, I hope you do, too.

There you go, five more selections for you.  Here's the download link, enjoy!

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 11

Some really top-shelf stuff tonight, all recorded by me back in 2013, but not shared with you until now.

Track one is the great German version of The Little Drummer Boy entitled Der Trommelmann by Marlene Dietrich Mit Orchester from her LP Die Neue Marlene-Marlene Deitrich Singt Chansons (Electrola-Odeon (Germany) STE-73788, Stereo, 1964).  I've had this track forever on various comps, but never the original LP from which it was drawn.

Second is a version of Greensleeves, from The Arthur Lyman Group and their LP Cotton Fields (HiFi Life SL1010, Stereo, 1963).  This certainly would not sound out of place on Lyman's Christmas LP.

Third we have Judy Holliday & Gerry Mulligan performing an original composition called It Must Be Christmas released on Holliday With Mulligan (DRG Records SL 5191, Stereo, 1980).  This appears to have been originally recorded back in 1961, but not released for nearly 20 years.  Not sure as to the reason, but it's a good song that should be better know.

Fourth is White Christmas, another track from Eddie Fisher With Axel Stordahl And His Orchestra and their album The 21 Academy Award Winning Songs, 1934-1954 (RCA Victor LOC-1024, Mono, 1955).  Short and sweet.

Fifth and last is Jingle Bells Mambo, a great take on a classic song by Pete Rugolo And His Orchestra, taken from his album Adventures In Rhythm (Columbia CL 604, Mono, 1955).  I shared this out once before on a Christmas compilation Jen and I put together for our first Christmas together, so you've probably heard it before.  I couldn't resist sharing it again because it's so good.

There you have it.  Five great tracks that have been in the vault for a while, but now they're out there for you to enjoy.  Here's the download link, see you tomorrow.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 10

Here we are, 33 and 1/3% of the way there.  Well, sort of.  Anyhow, here're five good tracks for the 10th of July.

In the words of Kris Kristofferson, Jesus was a Capricorn, and so I think that makes a song called Capricorn a good track for the blog.  Well, at least it's a seasonal track.  This is from Any Time (Mercury SR 60073, Stereo, 1959) by Hal Mooney And His Orchestra.  I ripped the whole record, I have a thing for LPs with a theme and all unique music, and this one features all twelve signs of the zodiac..  I can think of a few others from this same era, one of all famous male singers, one of all pretty famous girl names, one of colors, quite a few of drinks, you get the idea.

Track the second is Happy Christmas by Romaine Sala, Soprano; James A. Miller, Tenor & Recorder; Samuel Lehman, Boy Soprano; Mary Oyer, Cello; Charles Burkhart, Piano & Recorder; Helen S. Miller, Piano (whew!) from the LP Happy Time Nursery Songs (Herald Press 10" 33 RPM HP 1001-33 1/3 , Mono).  I think this record was designed to accompany a song book you could buy with all sorts of nice little songs.  Short versions, but sweet.  More to come from this one.

Track three is Jonah Jones doing The Bells Of St. Mary's from Jazz Bonus (Capitol ST 1773, Stereo, 1962).  As is the case every year, I recorded this track in mono earlier, then stumbled across the stereo version.  I didn't realize it until I tried to save the file and it said the name was a duplicate.  So if I accidentally share the mono version with you later on, I apologize.

Number four, and the start of the rerun tracks, is The Dukes Of Dixieland and Clara Ward And Her Gospel Singers performing Go Where I Send Thee from the album We Gotta Shout! (Columbia CS 8842, Stereo, 1963).  And indeed, they do shout.  If you don't remember this one from before, play it loud.

Track five is sort of a rerun, but I first shared it from a 78 copy many years ago.  I think it was one of the first things I ripped from a 78, in fact.  This time around, I found it included as a track on a collection of square dance tunes called, appropriately enough, Square Dances (RCA Victor LPM-1238, Mono, 1956), performed by Carson Robison And His Pleasant Valley Boys, Calls By Lawrence V. Loy.  Pretty cool.

There you go, a pretty diverse selection tonight.  Here's the download link, now go get some sleep, tiger.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 09

Boy, do I have some goodies for you today!  If you don't like some of these tracks, you don't like Christmas!

Track one, and clearly the best, is Blossom Dearie and Bob Dorough dueting on Baby It's Cold Outside, from Blossom's live LP Needlepoint Magic (Daffodil BMD 105, Stereo, 1979).  I almost couldn't believe what I was seeing when I picked this up, I imagined I was the only person in the world who knew it existed.  Then I saw it show up on a Christmas comp last year.  Oh, well, I'll keep digging.  If neither of those names means anything to you, hit up the Google.

Track dos is Hallelujah (from the chorus of the same name) as performed by The Elmer Iseler Singers And The "Synthescope" Digital Synthesizer Ensemble from the album The Electronic Messiah (Moss Music Group, CBC Series D-MMG 113, Stereo, 1982).  A little later than the time period I usually feature around here, but I couldn't resist.

Track three is Jingle Bells as performed by The Hi-Lo's.  Well, that's what the label says.  Pretty sure this isn't the group you might think of when I say it's The Hi-Lo's.  What do you expect from a budget label?  Anyhow, I snagged this from Reflection In Rhythm With The Hi-Lo's! (Tiara TST 559, Stereo).  Well, at least it's a Christmas song.

Track four is If Winter Comes (Summer Will Come Again), a winter-themed selection by The Tyree Glenn Quintet from Let's Have A Ball (Roulette R 25115, Mono, 1958). Nice enough, I suppose.

Track number five is The Wedding Of The Painted Doll by Lawrence Welk, His Accordion And Orchestra, a rerun from Nimble Fingers (Coral 2x7" 45 RPM EC-82005, Mono, 1955).  Still got a track off this one to go, so you have that to look forward to.

There you go, some good stuff, some bad stuff, and some stuff in between.  And four new tracks, how about that?  Here's the download link, get after it!

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 08

After listening to all that Christmas music on CaptOT's radio show last night, I'm more determined than ever to get through the whole month here.  So I need to get busy and record a ton more vinyl so I don't run out of shares.  But first, there's today's music...

Track one is something I just sat down and recorded.  Great title, but it doesn't really sound too much like Christmas music.  This is Santa Claus Blues by Turk Murphy And His Jazz Band from When The Saints Go Marching In (Philips B 07035 L (Holland), Mono, 1954).  How did I come across a copy of this from Holland when it was realeased right here in the USA on Columbia?  Who knows?  I may have seen it a dozen times before I noticed a Christmas In July track on it.  Serendipity plays into a lot of what I do.

Track two is by the great Lighthouse Singers.  Years ago, I found a small 7" EP by them that was full of Christmas music.  Took me forever, but I eventually found their full LP and shared it here at the blog.  And for those of you that downloaded it back then, here's a bonus track for you.  Ave Maria from their LP Songs Of Reverence (Vik (RCA) SPV-1, Mono, 1955).

Track three, and the start of tonight's reruns is Baby, It's Cold Outside by Marty Gold And His Orchestra from one of his entries in the Stereo Action series, Stereo Action Goes Hollywood (RCA Victor LSA-2381, Stereo, 1961).  I think I've now found two or three records from the series in mono, which kinda defeats the purpose...  One of them may be a sampler for radio stations, which I can kinda understand if they wanted the stuff to get played, but the other two look like regular consumer releases.

Track four, the great Chet Atkins with Dennis Farnon And His Orchestra doing Greensleeves from the album Chet Atkins In Hollywood (RCA Victor LSP-1993 RE, Stereo, 1961).  Funny, two tracks in a row from LPs with Hollywood in the title.  I didn't plan that, honest.

Track five, and maybe the best here, is The Bells Of St. Mary's by David Carroll And His Orchestra from the LP RePercussion (Mercury MG 20389, Mono, 1958).  It start out and ends kinda slow, but that middle section swings.  Give it a listen.  Lots of percussion all-stars in his orchestra for this LP.

And that's it.  Here's the download link, give 'em a listen, lemme know what you think in the comments.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 07

Got some good stuff for you tonight.  So when you're done listening to CaptOT's Christmas In July radio special, download my stuff and give it a listen.

We begin with a track from The Anita Kerr Singers With Orchestra called Snowbound from one of their very rare LPs for SESAC entitled Love--Well Seasoned (Sesac N-2609/10, Mono).  Not sure how many of these records she made, but there's a full-Christmas one and this seasonal one, and they're next to impossible to find.  I was so excited when I found it, it was one of the big reasons I wanted to share out Christmas this July.  Give it a listen, you can't go wrong.

Track two is Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year by Leslie Uggams-Arranged And Conducted By Glenn Osser (who backed Jane Froman earlier this month) from the album So In Love (Columbia CS 8871, Stereo, 1963).  Leslie recorded some Christmas music early in her career, but never a Christmas album, so this will have to do.

Track three begins the repeats, it's My Favorite Things by The Lennon Sisters-Arranged And Conducted By Jimmie Haskell from The Lennon Sisters' Favorites (Dot DLP 25481, Stereo, 1963).  I'm not going to get into an argument about whether or not this is a Christmas song, but it fills the blog.  :)

Track four is Snowfall by George Shearing-String Choir Conducted By Billy May from the album The Shearing Touch (Capitol ST1472, Stereo, 1960).  I guess this one shows up plenty of places, so you don't really need me to tell you about it.

Track the fifth is The Skater's Waltz by Will Glahé And His Orchestra, taken from the LP The New Beer Barrel Polka (London Phase 4 SP 44069, Stereo, 1965).  I love those fancy Phase 4 albums, with their far-out 4 on the covers.

There you go, some good stuff in there tonight.  Here's your download link, enjoy!

Christmas In July, Radio Style

Those of you near a radio tonight, or, more likely, near a computer, can listen to a Christmas In July special by our good buddy CaptOT!  He's doing an all-request show, and yours truly made a request.  So maybe he'll play my song from among the thousands of requests I'm sure he received.  So head on over to WBOI and give him a listen.  He's on from 8 to 10, EDT.  Tell him Ernie sent you, not Bert.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 06

A quickie tonight, I've got other stuff to do...

Track one is the new selection, another track from Red Carter and his half-Christmas LP Santa's Musical Grog (Frog Recording, Ltd. RG 001, Stereo).  Tonight's selection is Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer.  Did I mention before that side one is subtitled Santa's Selections?

And track two is sort of a rerun, but when I shared it out before it had a skip in it.  I've since found a better copy of it, so you can give it a listen now without fear of missing a revolution of the record.  Here is a 27:21 version of The Nutcracker Suite narrated by Captain Kangaroo himself, Bob Keeshan, also starring "Full Orchestra And The Sandpiper Chorus".  The LP is A Child's Introduction To The Nutcracker Suite (Golden Records LP 143, Mono, 1958).  I think this is a reissue, not the original from 1958, but that was the best date I could find.

And because it's such a long track, that's all I'm sharing tonight.  Put it on and let it play.  Here's the download link.  See you all tomorrow.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 05

What a long, strange Fourth it's been.  Not that I did anything at all today, but still.  Let's just jump right into some music.

First off with some new stuff.  Track one is Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! by Les Brown And His Band Of Renown from the LP All-Weather Music (Coral CRL 57039, Mono, 1956).  Good stuff.

Number two is Chet Baker And The Carmel Strings, a little West Coast jazz take on Christmas Song, from Quietly There (World Pacific WPS-21847, Stereo, 1966). More good stuff.

Number three begins the reruns, but they're good stuff. Latin Snowfall is a bit from the soundtrack to the movie Charade by Henry Mancini And His Orchestra (RCA Victor LSP-2755, Stereo, 1963).  An oldie but a goodie.

Number four is Eddie Fisher With Axel Stordahl And His Orchestra performing Baby, It's Cold Outside from the LP The 21 Academy Award Winning Songs, 1934-1954 (RCA Victor LOC-1024, Mono, 1955).  With so many songs on one LP, it's a bit short, but sweet.

Last, and certainly not least, a nice rerun but this time in Stereo, I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm by Sarah Vaughan & Billy Eckstine-Orchestra Conducted By Hal Mooney, from the LP The Best Of Irving Berlin (Mercury SR-60002, Stereo, 1958).  This LP was originally released only in mono, but I guess they recorded it on multitrack so they could go back and do stereo mixes.  I remember the LP was missing a track that the mono version had, but this was, for my money, the best song on there.  Really good stuff!

All five of these songs were ripped from my vinyl back in 2013, but I never shared them until now.  Here's the download link, enjoy!

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 04

Happy Fourth of July to all my visitors in America.  To the rest of you, Happy July Fourth!  Well, it was funny to me...  Let's jump into the music, shall we?

The first track is also the first of many songs from this album I hope to get to over the course of the month. In fact, the whole first side of the album is Christmas music, so I really could have saved it for Christmas, but I needed more stuff to share here in July.  The song is Winter Wonderland, the artist is Red Carter, and the album is Santa's Musical Grog (Frog Recordings, Ltd. RG 001, Stereo).  Good stuff here, you should be looking forward to the rest of the songs form this LP.

Next up is Ave Maria Lola, a mash-up between Gounod's Ave Maria and The Kink's Lola.  OK, not really, but that was what I was hoping for.  Not really anything Christmas related about this one at all I'm afraid, sorry.  But I'm sticking with it.  It's by El Cubanito And His Cha Cha Orchestra from their LP Hot (Musidisc M-6007, Mono, 1959).

Third is Skater's Boogie by Jo Ann Castle from 12 Great Hits In Ragtime (Dot DLP 25433).  Interesting, I'll give it that.  I'll also give you the fact that it's a rerun.

Fourth is a version of Greensleeves as performed on the duo harps of Dorothy Remsen And Catherine Johnk, with The Stanley-Johnson Orchestra, from the album Have Harp Can't Travel (Liberty LST 7118, Stereo, 1959).  This one is all about the cover image, but I'm not sharing that.  Sorry.  But look it up, it's a blast.

Track 5 is another repeat, The Bells Of St. Mary's by Roger King Mozian from the MGM stereo show-off series entry Spectacular Brass (MGM SE3844, Stereo, 1960).  Not too shabby.

And...there's a secret sixth track in there who's name shall not be spoken, but I found it today tucked onto the end of a ten inch record, and I thought it fit the theme quite well.

I'm also going to wish you a happy Fourth once again and throw in a Fourth of July track for you from The McGuire Sisters.  Enjoy!

Here's the download link, now go blow something up.

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 03

A little late today, as I was busy last night actually recording some tracks to share with you.  Hopefully, that means you get better songs today, at least I like to think so.

Track one is something I'm quite excited about, I had no idea it existed (but I see several on Amazon right now, at a not-too-exorbitant price).  You'll really dig The Airmen Of Note With Nancy Wilson performing What Child Is This from The Airmen Of Note & Friends (USAF SM-306, Stereo, 1968).  This was a promotional LP sent to radio stations and interested parties, featuring tracks from other, even rarer records.  I've never seen the original LP with The Airmen and Nancy Wilson, but if you want to send me a copy, that would be really swell!  This is as good as it gets folks, so enjoy!

Track two is something else I picked up and recorded yesterday (sometimes you just get lucky!), One Little Candle by Jane Froman.  No, it's not really a Christmas song, but I think I first heard it in the context of  Christmas, and it's stuck there.  This is from her album Faith (Capitol T726, Mono, 1956), orchestra and chorus duties are handled by Glenn Osser.

Track three is odd because I found just the vinyl.  No sleeve, no art, nothing.  I usually don't pay any attention to such loose records, but sometimes I do, and this time I got paid for my trouble.  (The Airman LP above was also free of a sleeve, but I found the sleeve in a box further down the table, with the wrong LP inside.  So I corrected the error and kept moving.)  This one is Go Tell It On The Mountain by Bob Vernon from The Inspiration Of Bob Vernon (Capitol T-2778, Mono, 1967).  This is a pretty nice version of the track, with spoken interludes between the verses quoting the Bible version of the birth of Jesus.

Track four is a rerun, but it may be well worth visiting in the wake of that Mad Men finale.  This is I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing by The Korean Children's Choir from the album To The World With Love (Word WST-8523-LP, Stereo, 1972).  Again, not really a Christmas song, but I've always thought of it in terms of that famous Coke advertisement, and the Christmas version as well.  And a Christmas choir consisting of kids who probably didn't speak English as their first language!  There you go!

Lastly, the first of a few tracks from Lawrence Welk, His Accordion And Orchestra.  This time it's Doll Dance, and the record is Nimble Fingers (Coral 2x7" 45 RPM EC-82005, Mono, 1955).  We'll revisit this record again (and again) as the month goes on, for more tracks only very tenuously related to Christmas.  Probably a rerun, but I didn't check.

So it that it?  Five tracks for the third.  Here's the download link, enjoy yourselves!

The Return Of Christmas In July-Day 02

Day one went so well, why not do another?  Where to start, where to start...

Track one, that's a good place to start. Jimmie Davis, 2-time governor of Louisiana and country music/gospel recording artist, in a Christmas song from what may have been his last LP,  This One's For You (Canaan (Word) CAS-9907, Stereo, 1983).  This track, entitled Going Home For Christmas, was a bit of a surprise.  I knew Davis had recorded two Christmas LPs back in his prime for Decca, and I'd found at least one single that wasn't on either of those LPs, but I never expected to find a Christmas song on one of his later albums.  But there it was.  I like when that happens!

Track two is Waltz Of The Flowers by Joe "Fingers" Carr from Joe "Fingers" Carr Plays The Classics (Capitol T649, Mono, 1955).  This may be a rerun, I'm not sure and I can't be bothered to check, but it's a cool version.

Track the third, which I know is a rerun, is Mele Kalikimaka, everybody's favorite Hawaiian Christmas song, here performed by The Honolulu Symphony Orchestra Conducted By George Barati from their LP White Ginger Blossoms (Decca DL 74564, Stereo, 1964).  I always look for this track on the Hawaiian albums I find, but it's very rarely there.

Track 4, The Christmas Tree by David Rose from David Rose Plays David Rose (MGM SE3748, Stereo, 1959).  Another rerun, but a really good track that deserves more exposure.  He wrote and performed this song while working as the bandleader on The Red Skelton Show.  Or something like that.  I may have the details mixed up, but you can look it up.

Lastly, Jingle Bells by Danny Kaye-Conducted By Leith Stevens from the soundtrack album The Five Pennies (Dot DLP 29500, Stereo, 1959).  Another rerun, but another good one.

Nice mix of things tonight.  Too many reruns, but that's what you get.  A couple of these tracks came from a folder of Christmas in July tracks I recorded back in 2013, and the other three were recorded but never shared last year.  I didn't record very much in those couple of years, but there is a little bit there.  Hope you enjoy them as much as I do, here's the download link.  Don't forget to tell your friends we're back online for the month!

Programming note: I removed the SiteMeter tracking counter from the blog.  I didn't have much trouble with it over the years, except it sometimes seemed to go down at bad times.  But I saw where it had been acting funny the past few days, and I read some not-so-good things on other blogs about it.  So if you've had any trouble on my site getting redirected strange places, that may have been the source.  But it's gone now.

The Return of Christmas In July-Day 1

Here's a little surprise for those of you who might still peek at my blog once in a while.  I've got my own little room over at Jen's house, and I'm filling it up with records.  Sometimes I have a minute or two to spare, and I've recorded a handful of tracks that qualify for Christmas in July.  With a little luck, I'm going to try to share those out with you for the next month.  I make no promises as to how many, or how often, we'll just have to see how this goes.  Lots of what I have is re-recordings of things I shared a long time ago, but I also have enough new stuff to make it worth your while.  So here goes...

Day one starts with a new track, The Star And The Wise Men by The Sarasota Messengers Quartet from their LP The Sarasota Messengers Quartet & The Southern Harmony Trio (Record Manufacturing Corporation 8011-47 (Private Press for The Bahia Vista Mennonite Church, Sarasota, Florida), Stereo).  Why not start with something local?

Track two, which I think is also new to the blog, is a medley of Honolulu Punch-Hawaiian Holiday-Mele Kalikimaka by The Banjo Barons-Arranged And Conducted By Marty Manning from Golden Hawaiian Hits (Columbia CL 1983, Mono, 1963).  Nice little medley with just a hint of Christmas thrown in at the end.  Wish I had found this one in stereo, but now I know to look for it.

Track three is a rerun, Skitch Henderson performing Snowfall with The Tonight Show Orchestra, recorded when he was bandleader on the Tonight Show.  Yes, they had a bandleader before Doc.  This is from the LP More Skitch Tonight (Columbia CS 9250, Stereo, 1966).

Track four, another rerun, The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy by The George Mitchell Choir-Conducted Be Robert DeCormier (well known for his work with Harry Belafonte) from the album Where Have All The Flowers Gone (Liberty LST-7316, Stereo, 1963).  A good track, well worth a revisit.

And finally, the last track and the last rerun of the night, My Favorite Things by The Norman Paris Quartet from their stab at the soundtrack to The Sound Of Music (Harmony (Columbia) HL 7235, Mono, 1960).  Meh, it's filler.

There you go, here's the download link.  Get it while you can, I make no promises.  Sorry if I sound a little rusty, I've been away from the blog for a long time, it may take me a while to find my footing.

Half

Merry Christmas and a half to you!  And happy birthday to me!  :)

An Ending

Bad news, folks.  I'm going to have to call an end to my re-sharing for the season.  There's been a death in Jennifer's family and there's not really time to post anything more to the blog.  Sorry.  There's no good time for these things to happen, but it's certainly worse when you loose someone close during the holidays.  Thanks for your understanding.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.