Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas Eve

I almost forgot that I'm supposed to share this out on Christmas Eve. This one is for all the little ones out there who might be having trouble getting to sleep on this special night. If that description fits your house, please download and enjoy 'Twas The Night Before Christmas (RCA Camden CAS-1101, Stereo, 1968). I've been sharing this one on Christmas Eve since 2006.

Merry Christmas Everybody!

A Merry Christmas To You


I know it's late, but I wanted to get one more little thing up for you guys this year. See that little stereo at the top of this record jacket? That's the magic word. I've been in love with this record ever since I first heard a couple of tracks from it shared out over at Lee's Music You (Possibly) Won't Hear Anyplace Else many years ago. I eventually found and shared a mono copy, but this year I finally stumbled across a nice stereo copy. I've been meaning to share this with you all season, but I just today got the chance to put the package together and share it. The scanning was a pain since pretty much every pass I made had blue and yellow streaks in it. The flip side is all shades of gray, yet it scanned blue. I guess this thing is on the fritz, and it's not gonna get fixed until after the holiday. Oh, and one of the tracks skipped very quietly, so I had to go back and re-record that just now. But without further ado, here it is, my last share of the season, We Wish You A Merry Christmas-15 Great Christmas Favorites Sung By Warner Bros. Stars (Warner Bros WS1337, Stereo, 1959). Have a Merry Christmas, y'all!

1. Efrem Zimbalist Jr.-Adeste Fideles
2. Warner Bros. Stars-Deck The Halls
3. Connie Stevens-Away In A Manger
4. Edward Byrnes-Yulesville
5. Peter Brown-Winter Wonderland
6. Ray Danton-God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
7. Poncie Ponce-Mele Kalikimaka
8. Eddie Cole-Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
9. Bob Conrad-White Christmas
10. Dorothy Provine-Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
11. Clint Walker-Silver Bells
12. Roger Moore-Once In Royal David's City
13. Warner Bros. Male Chorus-Star Carol
14. Ty Hardin-It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
15. Warner Bros. Stars-We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

For Christmas

Anybody out there still looking for something to get me for Christmas? How about a hardcover copy of my blog? Looks like it would run two volumes at about $144 ea. Makes a great stocking stuffer. I may have to buy myself the $8 digital version if no one comes through for Christmas.

A Benny For Your Thoughts


This is one of the things that I lost when my hard drive crashed earlier this year. I had a stereo copy of this ripped and ready to share when I found a stereo tape of it! I had recorded that, but hadn't cut it into sections when the hard drive decided to take an early retirement. So you're going to have to make due with my same old mono share dating all the way back to 2005. But it's still a great record. You get songs from Dennis Day, and the occasional bit featuring the famous Jack Benny. That alone is worth more than the price of admission. I know the scan above shows the stereo logo across the top, but I just put it up there for no good reason back in the day. In fact, stereo copies omit the banner across the bottom highlighting the presence of Jack Benny. But enough talk, please download Dennis Day Sings "Christmas Is For The Family" Featuring Lou Hollingsworth At The Wurlitzer Electronic Organ & The Vail Boys Choir With Full Orchestra (Design Records DLP-X-1, Mono). Just a little over 24 hours to Christmas. Are you ready yet?

1. Dennis Day & Jack Benny-I'm Ready Dennis
2. Jingle Bells
3. White Christmas
4. May Santa Fill Our Hearts
5. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
6. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
7. Christmas Is For The Family
8. Dennis Day & Jack Benny-Dennis
9. Silent Night
10. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
11. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
12. Oh Holy Night
13. Away In A Manger
14. Oh, Come All Ye Faithful/The First Noel/God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
15. Dennis Day & Jack Benny-Oh Mr. Benny

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Luboff Love


Here's the lost soundtrack to a lost television special from 1968. The Night Before Christmas isn't one of those specials they repeat every year, or at least they don't include it in their 25 Nights Of Christmas programming (which seems to include every special Christmas presentation known to man, plus a few unknowns...). I shared this out in 2007, and you can read more about it there. I'd write more here, but I'm still a little under the weather and bed is calling my name. Please download and enjoy The Norman Luboff Choir-The Night Before Christmas (Elba Productions, Stereo, 1968).

1. Savory Serenade
2. Wintertime
3. Lullaby Time
4. The Night Before Christmas
5. The Morning Of Christmas

Monday, December 21, 2009

Slowing Down

You may have noticed that I sharply curtailed my sharity today. It's a combination of a couple of things. I started feeling under the weather yesterday (and today hasn't been one iota better) and it's getting pretty close to Christmas. I don't think the folks on my nice list are going to be too impressed when I give them a CD of some Christmas music I ripped. So I need to find some time to do a little Christmas shopping. But I really can't do that until I feel better. So curling up on the couch under a blanket is going to take precedence over sitting in front of the glowing monitor for a bit. Besides, I think you have more than enough music already. But here's one more, from 2006. Please download Emilien Allard-Noels au Carillon de l'Oratoire Saint-Joseph (Carols At The Carillon Of Saint Joseph's Oratory) (RCA Victor of Canada LCP-1024, Mono).

1. Minuit, Cretiens (O Holy Night)
2. Sainte Nuit (Silent Night)
3. Venez Pasteurs
4. Gesu Bambino
5. Dans Cette Etable
6. Les Agnes Dans Nos Campagnes
7. Ca, Bergers Assemblons-Nous
8. Adeste Fideles
9. Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant
10. D'ou Viens-Tu Bergere?
11. Silence Le Ciel
12. Noel (d'Aquin)

FaLaLaLaLa News Update

I know that some of you folks who come by the blog here are also fans of FaLaLaLaLa. Well, in case you haven't noticed, that site is down. Story I heard is that he's become too popular, and his ISP booted him. He's found a new host for the website and is in the process of moving things, but it might still be a little while before he gets things up and running. Unfortunately, you can't put Christmas on hold, so The King is up against a pretty solid deadline. I'll let you know more as soon as I hear something. Maintaining a site like that is a real labor of love, but sometimes love stinks.

No Wurlitzer


I've shared plenty of records with you this season that feature the Wurlitzer organ, but I think this may be the only one that features the Kimball organ. And the main reason for that would be that this record was put out by the Kimball company in a bid to get you to buy their organs. Makes sense... Not much more I can say about this one, except that it's one of the records I've been sharing here since 2005, and I'll probably be sharing it for many more years to come. Please download A Kimball Christmas (KPO 82-004, Stereo, 1982).

1. Byron Melcher-Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers
2. John Norton-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
3. Hal Vincent-Mary's Little Boy Chile
4. Bill Ryder-Silver Bells
5. Byron Melcher-Just A Closer Walk With Thee
6. Byron Melcher-Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
7. Hal Vincent-Blue Christmas
8. John Norton-Christmas Medley
9. Wade Bray-Sleighride
10. Bill Ryder-O Holy Night

Sunday, December 20, 2009

A Doll Story


From the 2008 Sharity Season, this is a curious record that appears to have come with a doll. Or maybe you ordered the record after you got the doll. Or maybe you get the record during the year and then hope the doll showed up for Christmas? I don't know, I never played with dolls. But here's you chance to listen to Christmas through a doll's ears. Or something like that. Please download Heidi-The Night Before Christmas (Majorette M-304, Mono, 1965).

1. Introduction
2. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
3. Silent Night
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
5. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
6. O Christmas Tree
7. Deck The Halls
8. Frosty The Snowman
9. Joy To The World
10. The First Noel
11. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
12. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
13. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
14. And The Night Before Christmas Story

The Best, 2009 Style


It's taken me way too long to finish this, but here it is. This is a collection of the best tracks I shared out this year during Christmas In July. I think it will give you a good idea of what goes on around here during the month of July. Each of the tracks on here was pulled from a non-holiday LP, which means you're liable to miss it come the holiday season. But I don't want that to happen, so I compile and share these out during July. I think I shared well over 200 songs this year, and I think these are the 31 best. Each track below is linked to the day I originally shared it, in case you want to read more about it. Please download and enjoy Ernie (Not Bert)'s The Very Best From Christmas In July 2009-Life's A Beach (Ernie (Not Bert), 2009).

1. The Weavers-Santa Claus Is Coming (It's Almost Day)
2. John Klein, Orchestra And Chorus By Leo Addeo-Sweet Nutcracker!
3. Perry Como With The London Boy Singers-Christmas Dream
4. 101 Strings-Ski Run
5. Larry Chesky And His Orchestra-Sun Valley Polka
6. Johnny Dyno-Jingle Bells-Polka
7. Tom T. Hall-Christmas Is
8. Skitch Henderson, His Piano And Orchestra-I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
9. The McGuire Sisters With Orchestra Directed By Dick Jacobs-Children's Holiday
10. The Honolulu Symphony Orchestra Conducted By George Barati-Mele Kalikimaka
11. Roger Miller-Footprints In The Snow
12. The Duluth Accordionaires, Directed By John Copiskey-Brazilian Sleigh Bells
13. Lockhart Cougar Chorus-Will The Real Santa Please Stand Up
14. The Merrill Staton Voices-That Man Over There
15. David Rose And His Orchestra-The Sad, Sad Rocking Horse
16. Eddie Albert-Let There Be Peace On Earth
17. Fay McKay-Twelve Daze Of Christmas
18. Dick Shawn, Arranged And Conducted By Milton DeLugg-My Favorite Things
19. Jane Morgan-The Marvelous Toy
20. Anna Russell With Eugene Rankin And Arthur Hoberman-Let Us Hang The Holly
21. The Ray Charles Singers-A Toy For A Boy
22. Jack Shaindlin Conducting The Cinerama Symphony Orchestra-Hup-Sa-Sa
23. Leroy Anderson-Song Of The Bells
24. Merle Haggard-Blue Christmas
25. Kurt Wege & His Orchstra-Sleigh Ride
26. Ernie Maxwell-The Bells Of St. Mary
27. Esquivel, His Piano And His Orchestra-Snowfall
28. Ray Bohr-Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers
29. Polyphon Music Box-Silent Night
30. Jimmy Soul-Rockin' Santa
31. Eddie Lawrence, The Old Philosopher-What Do You Want For Christmas

Maid Marion


This is a little bit more on the operatic side of things than what I usually like, but I don't think it's so far into that territory that you can't enjoy it. I posted this last year in response to a post by CaptOT at his blog of a later 12" LP from Ms. Anderson. I think his post is still good, and now mine is too. Please help yourself to Marion Anderson Sings Christmas Carols With Franz Rupp At The Piano (RCA Victor Red Seal 10" 33 RPM LM 7008, Mono).

1. Silent Night
2. Oh! Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)
4. The First Noel
5. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
6. Cantique De Noel
7. Angel's Song
8. Hallelujah

Caroling X 2


A nice LP here from a singing chorus. I guess all choruses sing, but you know what I mean. At least I hope you know what I mean. Warner Bros. put out some really good Christmas records in their first few years and this is no exception. I first shared this out just last year, but if you missed it, please download The Gene Lowell Chorus-Caroling, Caroling (Warner Bros. WS 1233, Stereo, 1958).

1. Joy To The World
2. The First Noel
3. I Saw Three Ships-O Little Town Of Bethlehem-Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
5. Still, Still, Still
6. Adeste Fidelis (O Come All Ye Faithful)
7. Westminster Carol (Angels We Have Heard On High)
8. Silent Night
9. Merry Christmas One And All
10. The Wassail Song-O Christmas Tree-The Holly And The Ivy
11. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
12. Caroling, Caroling

The Other 2010 Calendar


I almost forgot that I didn't tell you when my second calendar came in. This one is for the shop we have in Cleveland, Ohio, so it's a montage of sights in downtown Cleveland. I only visited Cleveland once last year, so that didn't give me much time to get many really good pictures. We settled on these 5 and I collaged them together. Let me see, what's in the picture... Starting from the left, that's the lighthouse in Lake Erie that marks the opening to the Cuyahoga River. Next up is the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, designed by I.M. Pei. Then there's a long jetty sticking out into Lake Erie behind the Science Center. Then we have the Key Tower and some skyscraper that I don't know the name of in downtown near sunset. And last is one of the many historic railroad bridges in The Flats district. I could look up the name of it, but it would take forever. All of the shots below were pictures we considered but wound up not using.

This is the view of downtown Cleveland from Wendy Park. This is my new favorite place to go when I'm in Cleveland.

This is the view of downtown from a marina in Ohio City, just the other side of the Cuyahoga River.

This is the full shot of that lighthouse that made the calendar.

The Cleveland Browns stadium.

And, of course, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Two Mike


Here is the second album of Christmas tunes I promised from Mike Douglas this morning. This one is later than the first, and to my ears it's the lesser of the two. You may enjoy it, though. I believe I first brought you this in 2007, and I'm bringing it back today. This is The Mike Douglas Christmas Album (Word WSB-8815, Stereo, 1979).

1. Oh Holy Night
2. One Small Child
3. Do You Hear What I Hear?
4. What Child Is This?
5. Christmas Song
6. It's O.K. To Be A Kid At Christmas
7. Christmas Is Love
8. Thanks To You At Christmas
9. Special Delivery
10. Happy Birthday, Christmas

One Mike


From the celebrity vocal folder, here's the first of two Christmas records from Mike Douglas. I first shared this in August of 2006, not long after Mike Douglas has passed away. It's actually much better than most albums of it's ilk, since Mike could actually sing. He was also quite the talker, which is where I know him from. I'm sure you're going to enjoy Mike Douglas-My Kind Of Christmas (Epic BN 26322, Stereo, 1967).

1. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
2. The First Noel
3. Do You Hear What I Hear?
4. O Holy Night
5. (The Story Of) The First Christmas Carol
6. White Christmas
7. Silent Night, Holy Night
8. Silver Bells
9. Ave Maria
10. Touch Hands On Christmas Morning

Stereophonic Christmas


Here's a record you don't see every day, or at least I don't see it every day. Maybe it's a regional thing, but this is the only copy I've ever seen. It's part of Kapp's Medallion series, meant o show off all the great things about Stereo. They were well-recorded, well-engineered and unfortunately, higher-priced. Perhaps that explains the rarity part. As far as I know, this was the only Christmas entry in the series, but I could easily be proven wrong on that. I first shared this out back in 2007, and I'm bringing it back for you today. Please download The Medallion Orchestra And Chorus, Directed By John Paul Krance-The Sound Of Christmas-Deck The Halls (Medallion (Kapp) MS-7512, Stereo, 1960).

1. Joy To The World-Deck The Halls-The Wassial Song
2. Carol Of The Bells-The Little Drummer Boy
3. The Christmas Song
4. Hark The Herald Angels Sing-Away In A Manger-It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
5. White Christmas
6. Oh, Little Town Of Bethlehem-The First Noel
7. Oh, Tannenbaum-Angels We Have Heard On High
8. Silent Night
9. Jingle Bells-Winter Wonderland
10. We Three Kings Of Orient Are-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
11. What Child Is This?-The Coventry Carol
12. Adeste Fideles

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Christmas You Can't Have


There's an interesting story here. I finally found a copy of this record by The Quinto Sisters. It features the first version of A Holly Jolly Christmas ever released, even before Burl Ives made a classic out of it. But I can't share it with and you can't purchase it anywhere. You can, however, listen to it over at The Quinto Sisters website. It seems they don't want anybody to share it out, and I have to respect that. I figure maybe if enough people head over to their site and learn more about this great music, the greater the chance that it will receive a new release someday. At least that's what I'm hoping by mentioning it here. Go give this a listen!

Even Better In Stereo


Santa came to see me earlier this year, and he brought a couple of presents. One of them was this stereo copy of an album I've loved and shared for a long time here at the blog. If this isn't already a favorite of yours, I think it soon will be. As good as the mono version has been all these years, the stereo version is just that much better! The Jimmy Joyce Singers were one of those groups who rarely appeared on their own (although they somehow released two different Christmas albums), but they often appeared as backup on other artists records. And the orchestra they've chosen to work with here belongs to none other than the great Billy May. There are even a couple of instrumentals on here that are all Billy May. So be certain you download this, it's probably one of the best shares I'm going to give you this year. Here's The Jimmy Joyce Singers With Orchestra Conducted By Billy May-A Christmas To Remember (Warner Bros WS 1237, Vitaphonic Stereo, 1958).

1. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
2. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
3. An Old Fashioned Christmas
4. Jingle Bells Around The World
5. Christmas Hop
6. Medley Of Foreign Carols
7. Round About Christmas
8. Santa Claus Sleigh Ride
9. The Story Of Christmas
10. Christmas Dinner Country Style
11. Reprise Medley
12. Medley Of English Carols

Success Story, Volume 11 Plus Bonus


Here's another great album that I used to share but which is now on CD. And that's a good thing, because that means you can hear this one in all the crystal clear fidelity that it so richly deserves. Let me see if I can find a link for you to buy this...Ahh, here's a link to Amazon for ya. If you don't recognize the cover, this is The Voices Of Walter Schumann-The Voices Of Christmas (RCA Victor LPM-1141, Mono, 1955).

Now that you've promised to go out and buy the CD I mentioned above, I've got a special little present for you. Turns out Mr. Schumann and his voices recorded a Christmas song for RCA that isn't on the record. But it is on the record above and the single below. No idea how this got left off the record, it's a pretty nice little song written by Mr. Schumann and a couple other folks. This is The Voices Of Walter Schumann-The Sound Of Christmas from To Wish You A Merry Christmas-The RCA Victor Family (RCA Victor 3x7" 45 RPM EPC-1037, Mono, 1954)

I need to look up the date of this single... Ahh, 1953. So RCA-Victor 47-5542 was out the year before it was compiled onto the album above.

Still More Disco For Your Christmas

Think you can stand any more disco for Christmas? I'm guessing that many of you are reaching the tipping point. Perhaps I'll slack off after this one share from 2006. This one actually has some original music on it, not just your old royalty-free chestnuts. Please download and enjoy Christmas Disco Party (Classic Christmas CCR 1941, Stereo, 1979).

1. Santa Claus Is Disco'n To Town
2. All I Want For Christmas Is A Disco Beat
3. Jingle Bell Disco Rock
4. Dancin' In A Winter Wonderland
5. What I Want For Christmas (Is Just To Have You Here)
6. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
7. The Beat Moves On
8. Rock Around The Christmas Tree (With Me)
9. (Gonna Have A) Disco Christmas Party

Living In Florida


One of the amazing things about living in Florida is the possibility of being eaten at any time. You've got to keep your eyes open. People forget that, and they get in trouble. Every few days, there's something in the paper or on the news about someone who's little dog is eaten by an alligator that they didn't know was there. Well, people, let me tell you, they are everywhere in Florida. This one was on the side of the road this afternoon, not fifty feet from two different subdivisions. The temperature dropped last night after a cold front passed through, and he was no doubt trying to warm up after a hard night. In case you can't get a sense of scale in the picture, he's probably about 8 feet long, from the tip of his snout to the tip of his tail. I watched him for maybe 15 minutes, and he only moved once. Well, he moved his head a little bit to keep his eye on me, but after I'd been there for a bit, he didn't even do that.

Other than his teeth, his tail is the most dangerous part. Once that thing starts whipping around, it packs a lot of momentum. One good whack to you and you're going down.

If you look close, you might see a little pink on his lower jaw. At first I thought that was blood from a recent meal, but it turns out to be some little flowers in the grass in front of him.

Just in case you thought I was being a little reckless by getting this close to a major predator, I wanted to show you that there was a pretty stout chain link fence between him and me. I wasn't about to get on the other side of that fence, even though he probably would have just waddled off into the water. I didn't want to take that chance. If this guy gets much bigger, they'll probably come along and trap him, then turn him into boots and tasty gator bites.

A Little More Disco For Your Christmas


You didn't think I was going to stop with just one disco disc today, did you? Nope, I'm going to post disco Christmas until I can't stand it anymore, and that may mean I'm going to stop pretty quickly. Our next foray into the seedy nightlife is this record from the great state of Montana. OK, maybe not. I don't think Montana was ever a known hotbed of disco, but someone must have liked the name. I first shared this out in 2007 and here it is back again. Please download Montana Orchestra-Merry Christmas (MJS 3302, Stereo) .

1. Montana Christmas Medley
2. Get Down New Year's Eve
3. New Year's Eve One More Time (Reprise)

A Little Disco For Your Christmas


You may think I'm all about old vinyl around here, and you'd be right. But the late seventies are now far enough in the past to count as old. And that means disco! Here is the first of several disco Christmas records I've shared out over the years that I want to revisit today. The problem with many of these Christmas disco records is that they are often the same. And I don't just mean they sound the same. They often feature the same performances by the same people, just re-titled and re-sleeved. But I'm going to try and avoid that problem today. I'm going to start with this share from 2007 that I don't think has the reissue problem. This is Disco Belles-Tis The Night To Disco (51 West (CBS) Q 16080, Stereo, 1979). Enjoy!

1. Winter Wonderland
2. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
3. Jingle Bells
4. Sleigh Ride
5. The Little Drummer Boy
6. O Tannenbaum
7. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
8. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
9. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
10. Auld Lang Syne

Note-This was originally two mixed sides, but I cut it into tracks for convenience sake. Any abrubt edits are my fault.

I've Got Spurrs That Jingle, Jangle, Jingle


One of the great lost Christmas albums you've never heard...wait, that's probably saying too much. One of the pretty good Christmas albums...That's still probably overstating it. This is an OK Christmas album for being put out by a group of religious singers sponsored by Chrysler. I dare say this is the best Christmas album ever put out by a group of religious teens sponsored by a car company. Well, right after The Going Thing. From one of my original shares in 2005, this is Christmas; Time For Song Featuring Thurlow Spurr And The Spurrlows Singing 12 Seasonal Favorites! (Word Records, WST-8310-LP, c. 1966). The cover below is from The Spurrlows-'Tis The Season Let Us Sing (Word WST-8310-LP), which I at first thought was more Christmas music by the same folks, but it turns out to just be the same tracks on a different album. Oh, well.

1. Joy To The World
2. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
3. Away In A Manger
4. The First Noel
5. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
6. Silent Night, Holy Night
7. Jingle Bells
8. White Christmas
9. Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer
10. The Little Drummer Boy
11. Winter Wonderland
12. The Christmas Song

The Littlest Lullaby?

Here are a couple of nice Christmas stories for you by movie stars from an earlier era. Loretta Young and Gregory Peck each get a side here, and both tell charming stories of Christmas. I believe each side was once it's own set of 78s, but their combined here into a single LP. I'm not too certain of my date, either. They hadn't issued too many albums in 1949, so that may be when they first released this material on 78. Anyhow, these are some good sides that I've been sharing with you since 2006. Please download Loretta Young-The Littlest Angel and Gregory Peck-Lullaby Of Christmas (Decca DLP 8009, Mono, 1949).

Friday, December 18, 2009

Chimes W/ Organ


Here's another entry in a great long line of organ and chime LPs I've shared with you this season. I'm a sucker for anything that says Hi-Fi in the title, and that's how I got roped into this one. I've only been sharing this out since last year, and it's never proven very popular, but I'm going to give it another chance tonight. Why don't you download and listen to Hank Sylvern-Christmas In Hi-Fi: Chimes, Bells And Organ (ABC-Paramount ABC-146, Mono, 1956)?

1. Joy To The World
2. Away In A Manger
3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
4. The First Noel
5. Deck The Hall
6. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
7. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
8. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
9. Jingle Bells
10. The Cherry Tree Carol
11. O Come, All Ye Faithful
12. Silent Night

The Proper Ornaments


I thought some of you might like to see some of the ornaments from the Christmas tree at work. I work at a sheet metal company, and many years, if we're not super busy, we'll design and cut out a fancy stainless steel Christmas ornament, then hand them out to employees, customers and prospective customers. The newest one is the angel above, celebrating our 35th year in business. I haven't been there that long, but some days it feels like it.

This snowflake was probably the most well received ornament. It took a long time to make these because of the little tiny scallops on the edges. And since this came out in 2001, we made sure to put a patriotic little USA on there.

Frosty is always a big hit, whether he's made of snow or stainless steel.

I was never sure what city that's supposed to be that Santa is flying over? We've got shops in Bradenton, Lakeland and Daytona Beach, Florida, as well as one in Twinsburg, Ohio. None of those places has a skyline that looks quite like this.

No, we did not cut the bell from silver. It cost enough to cut it from SS sheet. I think the only one of these I'm missing here is a sleigh we did that was so big and heavy you couldn't hang it on the tree. I'm still looking for one of those, but I'm not very optimistic that I'll find it before Christmas.

Organ W/ Chimes

I first shared this album out in 2006 because I couldn't figure out the cover. What is this a picture of? One of my visitors finally set me straight, and now I can see it, but it took me a while. What do you see? Maybe it helps if you cross your eyes. Since then, I've discovered that the same music from this LP is on several more LPs under slightly different names. I'm not going to elaborate because I hope to post about it someday, and I don't want to spoil the surprise. But don't hold your breath, because it's not that exciting. In the meantime, why don't you download Godfrey Malcolm & Fredrico-Chimes Of Christmas (Brigade P-1320S, Stereo)?

1. Joy To The World
2. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
3. Silent Night
4. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
5. Beautiful Savior
6. Good King Wenceslas
7. Shepherds Shake Off Your Drowsy Sleep
8. The First Noel
9. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
10. Angels We Have Heard On High
11. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
12. We Saw Three Ships
13. O Come All Ye Faithful
14. Away In A Manger
15. Oh Christmas Tree
16. God Give Ye Merry Christmastide
17. Deck The Halls
18. We Three Kings Of Orient Are

Something Different

You want something a little different? I don't think I've brought you a locally produced and distributed record in a while. So here's a little something from Cleveland. First shared out back in 2006, here's Christmas In Cleveland (Delta Records Of Ohio, Processed and Pressed by Columbia, XCTV-84680/1, Mono).

1. Bay High School Choir-Joyous Christmas Song
2. Bedford High School A Cappella Choir-Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
3. Berea High School Choir-Hallelujah (The Mount Of Olives)
4. Cathedral Latin High School Glee Club-Carol Of The Drum
5. Cleveland Heights High School Choir-O Holy Night
6. East High School Choral Club-Traditional Medley-The First Noel-Silent Night
7. Glenville High School Choral Club-16th Century Church Music-Gloria Parti-Palestrina
8. Holy Name High School Choir-Ring Christmas Bells
9. John Marshall High School Choir-Christmas Was Meant For Children
10. Lakewood High School Choir-Now Is The Carolling Season
11. Lutheran High School West Choir-Jesous Ahatonhia
12. Magnificat High School Senior Choir-Adeste Fidelis
13. Notre Dame Academy Choral Club-To The Manger
14. Our Lady Of Lourdes High School A Cappella Choir-The Sleigh (a la Russe)
15. Parma Senior High School Concert Choir-Away In A Manger
16. West High School Choral Club-Heavenly Light