Not King Cole

Nat King Cole is one of the great singers, and an even greater icon of Christmas. It wouldn't be Christmas if you didn't hear one of his versions of The Christmas Song or any of the other tracks that he contributed to the season's sound. But I don't think anyone has ever heard of Bishop Caines, if there ever was such a person. So he knew that to appeal to a wider audience, they'd have to put Nat's face on the cover instead of his. And if you heard any of this record at a distance and weren't paying attention, you might think it was something by Nat for a second, but it's really just Bishop doing his best imitation. Give it a listen and see what you think of his attempt at forgery. This is Bishop Caines-Christmas Memories Of Nat King Cole (Holiday HDY-1914, Stereo, 1980). Enjoy!

1. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
2. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
3. O Holy Night
4. White Christmas
5. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
6. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
7. Jingle Bells
8. The First Noel
9. Count Your Blessings
10. Silent Night

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Hanover Fist

Sometimes I just buy stuff for the cover. This is one of those times. The simplicity of this design was just great. And the music isn't bad, but that's not why you're downloading it. This is Hanover College A Cappella Choir & Chamber Singers-Christmas (Audiocraft Recording HC-1/2, Mono, 1966).

1. Fanfare Noel
2. The First Nowell (AKA The First Noel)
3. How Unto Bethlehem
4. Coventry Carol
5. Touro-louro-louro!
6. A Child To Us Is Born
7. A Babe Is Born
8. A Boy Was Born
9. Go Tell It On The Mountain
10. A Virgin Unspotted
11. Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head
12. Patapan
13. The Shepherd's Carol
14. Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming
15. Songs Of Joy To Heaven Raise
16. He Is Born

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Down In The Valley

Does anyone really look at these late night posts? Does anyone see them in real time, staying up until two in the morning just to see what sort of Christmas album might be posted next? I suppose folks outside my time zone might appreciate such posts, but I'm not sure how many visitors we get from outside the US who might really benefit from such postings. Leave me a comment letting me know if you're from far, far away and downloading in the middle of the night, I'd love to hear from you. This is a record I found some years ago and thought it was something special. I don't know why I was so excited to find it, it's just a local civic group singing together at Christmas. The sleeve was split into two halves and the record was all scratched up. But I fixed all that just to have something to share with you right now. This is The Men Of Rose Valley-Christmas At The Old Mill (Helffrich Recording Labs HRL 1716, Mono, 1967). Now I'm ready for someone to wander by and tell us that their dad was in this group. I love it when that happens.

1. O Come, All Ye Faithful
2. The Lord's Prayer (Chanted)
3. Glory And Honor Are Before Him
4. Still, Still, Still
5. The Birthday Of A King
6. Joseph, Dear One, Joseph Mine
7. Away In A Manger
8. Caroling, Caroling
9. African Noel
10. Do You Hear What I Hear?
11. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
12. Here We Come A-Wassailing
13. The Little Drummer Boy
14. Silent Night
15. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
16. The Lord Bless You And Keep You; Sevenfold Amen

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French Rehash

I almost forgot I needed to do a remaster today, but here I am. I've never actually shared this version of this record, instead I had a shorter US release that I ripped and shared back in 2010. This time I dug up a Canadian version of the LP that features all the tracks on the original French release. In fact, I just recently came across a copy of the French version, but didn't buy it because I knew I had this one. That and I didn't want to part with the $4 they wanted for it. I'm cheap, what can I say? Anyhow, this is Mireille Mathieu Accompagnée Par Le Grande Orchestre De Paul Mauriat-Le Merveilleux Petit Monde De Mireille Mathieu Chante Noel (Polydor (Canada) 2424 040, Stereo, 1968). Enjoy!

1. White Christmas (Noël Blanc)
2. Petit Papa Noel
3. Noel D'Aubervilliers
4. La Cambo Mi Fa Mauo
5. Mon Beau Sapin
6. Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant
7. Vive Le Vent
8. Douce Nuit
9. Rin Rin
10. Les Enfants De Noel
11. Minuit Chretiens
12. Les Anges Dans Nos Campagnes (Gloria In Excelsis Deo)

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The Muffler Woman

I share a lot of records from weird places with you, but this may be the first album I've ever shared that was produced by a muffler shop. Don't believe me? Have a close look at the credits on the back and you'll see that I'm right. That doesn't mean it's not a good record, and this lady is a fine singer. Not sure why but I suspect she was married to the owner of the muffler shop, and perhaps this was a promo item they put out to customers. I mean if tire stores can do it, why not a muffler shop? This is Raine Hrovat-Rainbow Christmas (Rainbow Corporation RRCL5106, Stereo).

1. White Christmas
2. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
3. The Christmas Waltz
4. O Holy Night
5. I'll Be Home For Christmas
6. Winter Wonderland
7. You're All I Want For Christmas
8. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

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Polka Your Eyes Out

From the organ to the accordion, I'm really mixing it up now. From Frankenmuth, Michigan, apparently home to polka lovers, this is Marv Herzog-Christmas Greetings From Frankenmuth Michigan-Weihnachts Grüsse Aus Frankenmuth Michigan (Herzog Records 3002, Stereo, 1981). One side features carols in English, then the other side features some of the same carols in German. Bronner's Christmas Decorations warrants a mention on the back of this one and they appear to still be in business. Stop by and tell them Ernie sent you.

1. Silver Bells
2. O Come All Ye Faithful
3. White Christmas
4. Joy To The World
5. Away In The Manger
6. Silent Night
7. Leise Rieselt Der Schnee (How Softly The Snow Is Falling)
8. Ihr Kinderlein Kommet (O Children, Come One And All)
9. Süsser Die Glocken Nie Klingen (Sweeter The Bells Never Sounded)
10. O Du Frölige (Blessed And Joyous Christmas Time)
11. Herbei O Ihr Gläubchen (O Come All Ye Faithful)
12. Stille Nacht (Silent Night)

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Better Organ 2

Whatever you do, don't say I'm not giving you enough organ music for Christmas. Here's another one that I haven't shared before, though I don't know how I've avoided it all these years. And sure enough, it has another foil cover! Must be a trend. This is The Organ And Chimes Of Edmund Francis-Merry Christmas (Imperial LP-12250, Stereo, 1964). Enjoy!

1. We Wish You A Merry Christmas; O Tannenbaum; The Wassail Song
2. O Come All Ye Faithful; O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. Silent Night
4. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing; Angels We Have Heard On High
5. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; I Saw Three Ships
6. Carol Of The Bells; We Three Kings
7. Joy To The World; Carol Of The Drum; Deck The Halls
8. O Holy Night; Christ Was Born On Christmas Day
9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Good King Wenceslas
10. The First Noel; Away In A Manger
11. Twelve Days Of Christmas

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Look, I've got a bonus label for you from an audition copy of the record! I'm full of surprises!

Where In The World? Part 2

Time for a review of the visitor map! In case you missed it, I asked visitors to leave a city, state and country so I could plot some spots on a map. When I posted that first map I had two dots on it, now I have 44! Pretty impressive for a humble little blog. We've got visitors from all over Europe and the States, and one from Australia! I know there are more of you out there, so please leave a comment and let me know where you are at, please! I'll keep updating this map all the way to Christmas and see if we can cover the whole world.

Better Organ

Here's another organ album for you from the late 50's, when such things were pretty popular for some reason. No idea why people wanted to listen to such albums, but I suspect it hearkened back to an earlier time when you went to church on Christmas Eve and that's the sort of music you heard. All I know for sure is that at one time, organs were a very popular form of entertainment, and from my vantage point, even more popular at Christmas time. I remember there used to be an organ store in every mall that would often have somebody out front playing whenever you walked by, trying to entice you into the store for a purchase and to sign up for lessons. You don't see that anymore, and only rarely see new Christmas organ albums. Point is, there's a lot of this music out there, so I'm going to share some of it with you. This is John Gart At The Conn Electronic Organ With The Yuletiders-Silent Night (Kapp KS-3045, Stereo, 1959). Enjoy! Huh, just noticed this one has a foil cover, same as the last. I had a couple copies that didn't have the foil cover, but they were all mono. The stereo ones I had weren't in the greatest shape.

1. Adeste Fideles; The First Noel; Joy To The World
2. Silver Bells
3. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!; Frosty The Snowman; Winter Wonderland
4. Oh, Little Town Of Bethlehem; Away In A Manger
5. Deck The Halls; We Three Kings Of Orient Are; Good King Wenceslaus; God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Hark The Herald Angels Sing
6. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)
7. Silent Night
8. Sleighride
9. White Christmas
10. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; Jolly Old St Nicholas; Angels We Have Heard On High
11. I'll Be Home For Christmas; It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
12. Oh, Holy Night
13. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
14. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town; Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer; Jingle Bells

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Bad Organ

I am going to share a few good organ records with you today, but this is not one of those. I wouldn't have paid any attention to it but it had this grandiose textured foil cover that I thought was pretty neat (the scan really doesn't do it any justice, it's cooler in person). But the cover may be the bast thing about it. The music inside is nothing special and was probably released a dozen times by the budget labels. But I recorded it, and you're going to get it. This is Gerald Eason On The Organ-Robert Knott On The Carillon-Organ And Chimes For Christmas (Baronet B 1003, Mono). Enjoy, if you can!

1. Silent Night
2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. Good King Wenceslas
4. Angels We Have Heard On High
5. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
6. O Tannenbaum
7. We Three Kings
8. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
9. O Come All Ye Faithful
10. O Holy Night
11. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
12. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
13. The First Noel
14. Joy To The World
15. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly
16. Away In A Manger
17. What Child Is This?
18. Angels From The Realms Of Glory

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Christmas In Venezuela

I recorded a lot of Christmas music from Latin American countries this year, and I'm not sure what to do with it. Sometimes there's something interesting on the records, but most of the time I find them hard to get into because I don't speak the language and the music doesn't sound like Christmas to me. I'm going to share a few of them out, but certainly not the whole stack. I'm putting this one up just because there's a pretty lady dressed in gold on the front. The cover image was so dark and muddy I wasn't sure where she was supposed to be until I lightened it up a little while processing the scan. I recorded it because I thought maybe Donde Esta San Nicholas was a version of Donde Esta Santa Claus, but no such luck. If anyone has a lot of interest in more of the records like this, please say something in the comments and I'll share some more out for you, but if not, they're going to be few and far between. This is Nancy Ramos-Que Felicidad...Esta Navidad! (Promus (Venezuela) LPPS-20275, Stereo). All the way from Venezuela, I just wish I could get more into it. Enjoy!

1. Que Felicidad
2. Aqui Estamos Otra Vez
3. La Matica
4. Si Tu Volvieras
5. Donde Esta San Nicolas
6. Que No Me Da La Gana
7. Llego Diciembre
8. A Cantar En Navidad
9. Las Mariposas
10. Esta Noche Es Noche Buena

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The Son And The Moon

I didn't realize what this was until I was halfway through recording it, and I was a little shocked. I can remember growing up and hearing news reports on TV about mass marriages being conducted by some guy named Rev. Sun Myung Moon and then later he got in a lot of trouble for taking too much money out of the church he founded (though many people thought the church was more akin to a cult, calling the members Moonies). Turns out this LP was performed by members of his Unification Church, and put out as an official product of the church. I had no idea such a thing existed. Other than that little bit of backstory, there's not too much special about this release. Give a little listen to New Hope Singers International-A Gift Of Christmas (New Hope Singers International NR5248, Stereo, 1974).

1. Les Anges Dans Nos Campagnes (Angels We Have Heard On High)
2. Sleep Holy Babe
3. El Cant Dels Ocells (The Carol Of The Birds)
4. Mary Had A Baby
5. Joy To The World
6. Es Ist Ein' Ros' Entsprungen (Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming)
7. Veni, Veni, Emmanuel (O Come, O Come, Emmanuel)
8. Hallelujah (from The Messiah)

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Ring Those Bells

I was quite surprised by this record at least twice. First is that there's Christmas bells on the Atco label.  Seems a little low rent for the label that handled Bobby Darin and The Coasters, but you never know. The second surprise was that I really enjoyed it, much more so than some of these albums. The music is good, the sound is good, the arrangements keep it interesting, I'm sure you'll listen to this one more than once. Now if I could just find it in stereo, but I'm sure that won't happen until I've put all the work into sharing this mono copy. So until I find a stereo version next season (I've already waited two seasons...), this is Paul & Nancy Steffen-Christmas Bells (Atco 33-114, Mono, 1959). Enjoy!

1. Silent Night
2. Joy To The World
3. O Tannenbaum
4. The Coventry Carol
5. We Three Kings
6. In Dulci Jubilo
7. Jingle Bells
8. Angels From The Realm Of Glory
9. March Of The Three Kings
10. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
11. Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
12. Deck The Hall
13. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
14. Song Of The Bells
15. The Holly And The Ivy
16. Frosty The Snowman
17. O Sanctissima
18. What Child Is This
19. Adeste Fideles

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Winnie (Not Pooh)

How about something a little more vocal now, something not involving a box playing music? I've got just the thing. Here's a nice set of traditional carols done in a folky style that's sure to soothe you after all those jangly music boxes. This is Winifred Smith-A Christmas Delight-Winifred Smith Sings The Folk Carols Of Christmas (Impact R1950 (AKA HWS-1950), Stereo, 1968). This is good stuff, I think you'll like it. Enjoy!

1. The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy
2. Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
3. Ye Shepherds Leave Your Flock
4. Carol Of The Bagpipers
5. I Wonder As I Wander
6. Fum, Fum, Fum
7. Pat-A-Pan
8. Medley: Rockabye Jesus; Amid The Ass And Oxen Mild; A La Nanita Nana
9. Sing A Lamb
10. Maria Walks Amid The Thorns
11. Silent Night
12. 'Twas In The Moon Of Wintertime

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Still More Music Boxes

OK, I think I've finally found a new one to share with you. Took a while for me to remember the title of this one, though I knew I had it tucked away somewhere. There's not much I can say about these old albums, though I will point out that the music boxes recorded in them are not the same as the little toy you had as a kid. These are elaborate machines that could play different sounds, different melodies and in some case even additional instruments. So don't write 'em off so easily. This is Wishing You An Old Fashioned Christmas (Golden Crest CR 4006, Mono, 1960).

1. 15" Regina Music Box-Adeste Fideles
2. 15" Regina Music Box-Jingle Bells
3. 15" Regina Music Box-Ave Maria
4. 15" Regina Music Box-Hark The Herald Angels Sing
5. 15" Regina Music Box-The First Noel
6. 15" Regina Music Box-Silent Night
7. The Mills Violino-We Three Kings Of The Orient Are
8. The Mills Violino-O Little Town Of Bethlehem
9. The Mills Violino-O Tannenbaum
10. The Mills Violino-It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
11. The Mills Violino-Good King Wenceslas
12. The Mills Violino-While Shepherds Watch Their Flock By Night
13. The Mills Violino-Deck The Halls

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More Music Boxes

One good post deserves another, so here's a collection of Christmas music from music boxes that I don't believe I've shared with you before. Nope, I'm wrong, this one is also a remaster, also from 2008. I've got to get my act together and find some new stuff for you today. I hate to put up two remasters in a single day. I'm sure it's inevitable in some of these themes, but I didn't intend to do it today. While I go hunt for something new and exciting to post, please download and enjoy Music Boxes For Christmas (Westminster WST 15016, Stereo).

1. Regina (American) With Zither Attachment, 15-1/2" Disc-Adeste Fideles; Silent Night; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
2. Symphonion (German, 1882) With Bells, 14" Disc-O Sanctissima; Ihr Kinderlein Kommet (O Dear Little Children)
3. Swiss Cylinder Box, Mandolin Expressive Type, 1870-Hallelujah Chorus; He Shall Feed His Flock (From Handel's "Messiah")
4. Stella (Swiss, 1890) 25" Disc-Silent Night
5. Thorens (Modern Swiss) 4" Disc-O Tannenbaum; Jingle Bells; O Little Town Of Bethlehem; O Sanctissima
6. Regina (Swiss) With Zither Attachment, 15-1/2" Disc-The First Noel; O Sanctissima; Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town; Jingle Bells; O Tannenbaum
7. Regina (American) 20-3/4" Disc-Silent Night; The Rosary; Monastery Bells
8. Kalliope (German, 1880) 13" Disc-Leise, Leise (From Weber's "Der Freischütz")
9. Mire (Swiss), 1886) 18-1/2" Disc-Ave Maria; O Tannenbaum; Auld Lang Syne
10. Upright Regina (American) 15-1/2" Disc-Holy City; Cloister Bells Reverie; Monastery Bells
11. Interchangable Cylinder Orchestral Swiss Music Box, 17" Music Roll, Set Of Bells, Drum, Castanet And A 24-Note Organ Attachment-Stabat Mater; See The Conquering Hero Come; Christmas Song; Ave Maria; Luther Hymn; Hallelujah Chorus

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Musical Boxes

Good morning, and welcome back! Got another remaster for you this early morning, one of the records that came out in the early years of the great Warner Bros. label. There's not too much from that label that hasn't been reissued at this point, but I think this one is still safe. I shared this out back in 2008, I think perhaps in response to my buddy CaptOT posting a mono copy. I hated to step on his toes, but I thought it sounded a whole lot better in stereo, and I think he agreed. We'll see if he chimes in this season about this one. In the meantime, please download and enjoy Music Box, Bells, And Chimes-The Sounds Of Christmas (Warner Bros WS 1238, Stereo, 1958).

1. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
2. The First Noel
3. Jolly Old St. Nicholas
4. Away In A Manger
5. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
6. O Christmas Tree
7. O Come All Ye Faithful
8. Silent Night
9. Joy To The World
10. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
11. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
12. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
13. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly
14. Jingle Bells
15. Winter Wonderland
16. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
17. White Christmas

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Harping On Christmas 8

Well, this is the end of the Christmas harp records. Eight is enough I once heard someone say. If I could find more, I'd keep going, but this was the end of the pile. I didn't even think the pile would be this big at first, I figured it would be three, maybe four records, but they just kept coming out of the woodwork. I bet there are more out there somewhere, I'm going to keep looking and eventually update this series. But for now, this is the end. I've save a good one for last, or at least not a boring one. Some of them just don't hold my attention for very long, they're meant as background music for your Christmas quiet time, but this one is a little better than that. Lots of songs on here you've never heard, I'll bet. Give it a listen and see how you like it. I'm going to drift off to sleep now after a long day of hard harp work. I wonder what I can listen to that will lull me off to sleep? This is Dorothy Remsen, Harpist-Dorothy Remsen, Harpist (Avant AV 1000, Stereo, 1967). Enjoy!

1. Variations Pastorales Sur Un Vieux Noël
2. Les Enfants À La Crêche De Noël (From Images, 2e Suite)
3. On An Old Christmas Song (Silent Night)
4. The Psalmist
5. Six Noels
6. Revery
7. Noël Provençal
8. La Bôite À Musique
9. Concert Variations On O Tannenbaum

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Before I put this project to bed, so to speak, I found a couple of harp-led albums in the archives I should link to. One of them is Robert Maxwell, the other is Dorothy Ashby. Both of them would be great additions to the harp pile. That makes ten harp records today!

Harping On Christmas 7

You're probably wondering how many more of these harp Christmas records I have up my sleeve, and you'll just have to wait and see. But in the meantime, here's yet another one. This one features a pair of harpists, and some bits of The Christmas Story on side one, then it's all carols on the flip side. Interesting cover on this one, it may have been the one that I've had in my collection the longest. Give it a listen and see what you think. This is Joe Longstreth And John Escosa-Harpists-Christmas With Joe Longstreth And John Escosa (Carriage CRLP 5031, Mono, 1963), Enjoy! Oh, almost forgot, there are some vocals on side one, courtesy of Harriet L. Whonsetler. I thought you might like to know.

1. The Christmas Story According To St. Luke-Part 1
2. Carol Of Love
3. The Christmas Story According To St. Luke-Part 2
4. There Was A Night
5. The Christmas Story According To St. Luke-Part 3
6. What Giveth You?
7. Oh, Come All Ye Faithful
8. Carol Of The Bells
9. Good King Wenceslas
10. What Child Is This?
11. Patapan (Willie, Take Your Drum)
12. Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
13. Away In A Manger
14. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
15. Silent Night, Holy Night
16. Go Tell It On De Mountain

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Harping On Christmas 6

I think the title on this one sums up the whole series, Christmas Loves A Harp. After putting all these records together in one place, I'm beginning to believe that's true. Some of these songs really hold your attention, but others are designed to be there in the background, just giving you the feeling of the season without intruding on your life. I took this one out of the shrinkwrap, and I have a second copy that's still in the shrinkwrap. Perhaps it was a popular gift, but the recipients never opened them. Who knows, but the sound is pretty good. This is Roberto Perera, Harp-Juan Areco, Guitar-Christmas Loves A Harp (Stanley Enterprises Records AR 4210, Stereo, 1979).

1. Silent Night
2. Jingle Bells
3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. Little Drummer Boy
5. It's A Small World
6. Greensleeves
7. White Christmas
8. Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer
9. Silver Bells
10. The First Noel
11. Joy

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Harping On Christmas 5

Time passes, and I have another harp record for you. Did you ever imagine there were so many out there? I certainly didn't know it until I started pulling a few together this season while recording some shares. They just kept turning up from nooks and crannies of the collection. This next one might be the oldest I have here and I think I noticed arrangements from this one copied on some of the others. And this is on a major label, too!  Please download and enjoy Carlos Salzedo, Harp-Christmas Carols In Hi-Fi (Mercury MG50116, Mono, 1956). I automatically love records with Hi-Fi in the title!

1. Concert Variations On Adeste Fideles (Oh Come, All Ye Faithful)
2. Silent Night
3. Jingle Bells
4. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
5. Concert Variations On Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly
6. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
7. Angels We Have Heard On High
8. I Wonder As I Wander
9. Concert Variations On O Tannenbaum
10. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
11. Away In A Manger
12. The First Noël
13. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
14. Away In A Manger (To The Tune Of "Flow Gently, Sweet Afton")
15. Concert Variations On Good King Wenceslas
16. What Child Is This (To The Tune Of Greensleeves)
17. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
18. Fantasy On A Noël Provencal
19. Fantasy On A Neapolitan Carol
20. Fantasy On A Catalan Carol
21. Fantasy On A Basque Carol

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Harping On Christmas 4

Once more we move up into the Eighties (I think, there's no date on this one, but it looks and sounds Eighties) for more Christmas music from the harp. None of these harpists I'm sharing today are really big names, or at least I don't know much about any of them. Wait, are there any big-name harpists? I guess it's not my instrument of choice, but it makes for nice Christmas music. This is Greg Buchanan-A Harp For Christmas (Bread 'N Honey WBHR135, Stereo). Enjoy!

1. Angels We Have Heard On High
2. O Holy Night
3. Go Tell It On The Mountain
4. Concerto In Bᵇ
5. Silent Night
6. O Come, All Ye Faithful
7. Away In A Manger
8. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
9. Little Drummer Boy
10. What Child Is This

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Harping On Christmas 3

Up next is worldwide superstar Adele playing harp for you for Christmas! Wait, maybe it's not the worldwide superstar Adele after all, but it's still someone named Adele. That has to count for something, right? This is Adele Girard-Merry Christmas (Totem 1024, Stereo, 1976). Nice album, and it's autographed on the back! Enjoy!

1. O Holy Night
2. Angels We Have Heard On High
3. Away In A Manger-We Three Kings
4. The First Noel
5. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
6. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
7. Do You Hear What I Hear?
8. O Christmas Tree
9. Sleigh Ride
10. Winter Wonderland
11. What Child Is This?
12. Silver Bells
13. Good King Wenceslaus
14. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
15. Carol Of The Bells
16. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
17. Jingle Bells
18. Silent Night

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Harping On Christmas 2

Up next is a much more modern harp record for Christmas, all the way up to 1985. So as you can see, the harp trend lasted for a good long while. Don't know much about this one but I'm sure you'll enjoy it. This is Sylvia Woods-3 Harps For Christmas-Traditional Carols Performed On Three Harps (Tonmeister TNLP 1225, Stereo, 1985). Enjoy! (Since this one features three different harps, does it count as three entries into today's series?)

1. Angelical Hymn; Twelfth Night Song
2. Coventry Carol; While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks; The First Noel
3. Lo, How A Rose; O Sanctissima
4. I Saw Three Ships; Christ Was Born; Gloucestershire Wassail
5. Angels We Have Heard On High; Ding Dong Merrily On High
6. Oxen & Sheep; O Come Emmanuel
7. Up On The House Top; Jingle Bells; We Wish You A Merry Christmas
8. Away In A Manger; O Come, Little Children
9. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; O Come All Ye Faithful; Joy To The World
10. He Is Born; Bring A Torch, Jeannette Isabella
11. Silent Night
12. What Child Is This?
13. Twelve Days Of Christmas; Deck The Halls

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Harping On Christmas

Early in the morning and time for the daily reshare. This is a great and somewhat lost album that RCA made for their record club. I've been sharing it regularly since 2005, my very first year of blogging. I guess it was mono back then, but I got hold of a fancy stereo version the very next year and kept it in rotation ever since. I used to think that Christmas records focused on the harp were rare, but that's not entirely true as we'll see today. But we start out with this oldie from Gene Bianco who's been a friend of the blog for a very, very long time. This is The Rainbow Sound Of Bianco, His Harp And Orchestra-Joy To The World-Everybody's Favorite Christmas Music (RCA Victor CSP-104, Stereo, 1962). Enjoy!

1. Medley: We Wish You A Merry Christmas; Silent Night
2. White Christmas
3. Jingle Bells
4. O Holy Night
5. Medley: Away In A Manger; The First Noel
6. Medley: Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful); Joy To The World
7. Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
8. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
9. Silver Bells
10. Medley: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; Deck The Halls
11. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
12. Medley: Sleigh Ride; We Wish You A Merry Christmas

MEGA (Tracks)

MEGA (Uncut)

One thing I've done different this time around is offer a version as recorded on the vinyl where the tracks have very little gap in between them. It plays almost like a long medley on each side, though I think it's just edited that way. I've always shared out the tracks and was used to it that way, but when I went back to the original vinyl for the remaster this year, I thought it might be a good idea to offer it the other way for a change. Your choice!