I am going to be posting listen links for some of my favorite Chistmas songs. These will just be quick entries without elaboration so that I can get them circulated on my new Blip FM stream. There will be kinks, I will work them out later. The tracks are hosted on rapidshare.
Santa's Too Fat For The Hula Hoop
Here, now, for your listening pleasure, Big Balls of Holly proudly presents Christmas At Our House. Recorded in 1958 this album features the dulcet tones of Martha Tilton as well as the golden digits of George Mather at The Console.What we have here is a classic Christmas recording from some big time and long time Christmas music players. This is the record that was referenced in The Captain's Yuleblog a couple of seasons back, so read that again, please. The great find here is God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. This is the original release of the Thurl Ravenscroft version of this song. Mr Ravenscroft is most famous to Christmas music fans for having sung "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch." IF that is news to you, yes you are thinking or the correct version and like all of us you thought that Boris Karloff sang that. Karloff did the narration of the original cartoon and Ravenscroft did the song. I am also adding the beautiful Martha Tilton version of Jingle Bells to my primary Christmas playlist, and straight to my ipod. It is interesting to note a couple of facts here. Ravenscroft and Tilton lived through just about all of Christmas music recording history and died within a year or so of each other in 2005 and 2006. Also, on the Martha Tilton tribute website neither these songs nor this album are listed in her discography. If you know any TIlton fans, make sure they see this share. Finally, I am adding a listening link for another Thurl Ravenscroft song. I do not have the record, but rather, found this at WFMU's Beware of the Blog.
Christmas At Our House
Santa's Too Fat For The Hula Hoop
Hello Everybody! I have not posted in a while, and now it's time to kick it into high gear. I heard a terrific song today and knew that I had to post the album for share. Leroy Holmes was an American composer, arranger and band leader throughout the 50's, 60's and 70's. What you will find on this record is that quintessential 60's sound that we love in so many great artists of that time. The song Snowflakes And Sweethearts transported me to Christmastime. Other tracks that are going onto my Christmas playlist are; The Worst Darn Winter In Years, Button Up Your Overcoat and Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow.
Snowflakes And Sweethearts
Big Balls of Holly proudly presents for your enjoyment, Western Christmas! This is one of the great Christmas records. Here again, as in my most recent share, the best track may be The Night Before Christmas Song. There are some songs here that are not really Christmas songs but they continue the festive mood just the same. One of the songs is new to me, Wait For The Wagon (On Christmas Day). You will have to let me know what you think of that one. Will it be added to your playlist, downloaded to your iPod, included in your podcast? Speaking of podcasting, BBOH received a comment from HellBound Alleee and she has an interesting podcast. Here is the new share:
Western Christmas
This weeks Christmas record share is Christmas With The Caroleers. The King, or Ernie, had posted the album cover on Flikr, but the wrong record was in the sleeve, so I do not believe this has been shared. The Caroleers were a group of talented vocalists who did not normally receive recognition by name on records. They recorded in many different styles and, as such, this isn't really a cohesive album, but it does shine on a few tracks. You will not be downloading the entire record. You are getting all of side A. Side B was too far gone to salvage, and to be frank, the songs on the b side are nothing special. That being said, there is one fantastic track on side B, The Night Before Christmas.I did work at length to clean that one up for you. It's not perfect but, man, that's a great song! Listen to that track now, then download the share.
The Night Before Christmas
Christmas With The Caroleers
Here is a new Christmas share called Christmas Songs For Young Hearts. The singer is listed as Gene Martin and the band as The Arthur Carre Orchestra. Many of the Caroleer Records releases were intended to sound like popular artists on the major labels. This is clearly a Dean Martin and I think it does sound like him. It's a pretty cool record, quite enjoyable. I wish I had been around in those days to try and trick people by using names similar to famous people. I think I would put out a Bang Crosby and maybe a Maryrose Clooney! What fake names would you have used? Please post some ideas.
Christmas Songs For Young Hearts
Many of you may remember The Lundstrom Family. Headed by the Lowell Lundstrom they traveled around the country on a gospel tour. They traveled 300 days per year for 40 years. No, doesn't ring a bell? Not with me either. They also had a radio show and television specials. Lowell Lundstrom produced more than 60 records. What's relevant here is that they produced a record in support of their Wilderness Christmas television special, and that's what I am sharing. This one is of interest because Lowell and his family speak on the record and even the young children "sing". 
This isn't really my cup of tea but I have received email from a couple of readers who listen to Christmas music with their grandchildren. This may be just perfect for children to listen along with. In my opinion, this record includes possibly the worst Christmas song that I have ever heard, and I am literally surrounded by bad Christmas music! I will let you judge. Please come back after you listen and let me know what you think. These are not broken into tracks, just sides, this way you can hear the record as intended with all of the family chatter.
The Lundstrom's Wilderness Christmas
Hello everybody and special thanks to my wife for getting me the perfect turntable for Christmas. So here we have Christmas Eve Favorites from The Longines Symphonette Society. LSS released a lot of music, often times without much info, and I don't see much being offered for share. I am sharing a good one here. Montovani is credited as the musical director and we can assume that means that he is conducting the orchestra, maybe even his own orchestra? This is a beautiful record and I am particularly interested in who the singers might be. When I heard the second track, Mister Santa, I thought immediately of the Mike Sammes Singers. I know at least one of you out there is wondering, why I think so.
So here goes... the Mike Sammes Chorus, sang background vocals in the U.K. in the 60s. They also recorded with Montovani in the States, including the album for Kismet, and a set of Christmas songs in 1963. The Christmas release was called Christmas Greetings From Montovani And His Orchestra, it was re-released in 1979. Kismet was released in 64. None of the songs from the 63 release, (aside form DTH), appear on the one I am sharing. It makes sense that either they recorded the others at the time or got together at a later date specifically for LSS. So here we may have a record that is not credited to Mike Sammes Singers but sure sounds like them to me. This is certainly not Mike Sammes Singers music, so it is difficult to compare, but if you have heard them over at FaLaLaLaLa let me know what you think of my hypothesis.
Christmas Eve Favorites
So, now, here is my first official share. As I have mentioned in an earlier post, I bought this record for the cover. When I go hunting for Christmas records I am looking for a few different things. Those things include, artists, songs, specific albums, covers and condition of the vinyl. Rarely do I find "that perfect" record. I bought this for the cover and I do not normally like child choirs. I will post them because I know some people really like this sort of thing. There are some nice surprises on this record. First, I actually enjoy listening to this, not every track, but it would indeed be rare for me to like every track on a record. The other great thing here for me is the song The Sleigh. I had never heard it before I put this on the turntable, and currently, The Sleigh is my favorite Christmas song. Enjoy, and please come back as I will be posting at least one new record each week throughout the year.
The Sound Of Children At Christmas
