Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas (especially for some pals in NH)!!

I called up a couple of old friends last night to wish them and theirs a Cool Yule...and mentioned that I have a (relatively) new music blog. They weren't aware of it yet. I told them to keep an eye on it...there'd be something special posted just for them.

...and here it is.

Isn't this cute? Les and Mary on a Christmas-oriented EP, issued October, 1954.

I'm posting the songs in the order shown on the front cover, but, should you want to save the files, I've numbered them to play back in the order presented on the record.

Jingle Bells
http://www.box.net/shared/253ncagowo
Silent Night http://www.box.net/shared/2tiwe8usc0
White Christmas http://www.box.net/shared/72w3bnsowg
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town http://www.box.net/shared/n1j0zr34ks

Here's another treat...the complete Christmas 1948 broadcast from the Royal Roost, featuring Charlie Parker and his Quintet. Let me rephrase that...Bird's broadcast set is complete, WMCA went back to the Roost to air Charlie Ventura's band shortly afterwards.

Anyhoooo....Bird and his men are in fine spirits. Parker even is persuaded to do White Christmas!

Royal Roost, NYC, Christmas 1948: Kenny Dorham, trumpet; Charlie Parker, alto sax; Al Haig, piano; Tommy Potter, bass; Max Roach, drums. Symphony Sid Torin, announcer.

1 Announcements & Sid's Theme http://www.box.net/shared/n08vrn4gcw
7. Closing Announcement & Sid's Theme http://www.box.net/shared/09ljfbew4g


Now one of my favorite Christmas novelties...Jim Backus, in his Mr. Magoo voice, as Santa Claus! The reindeer is played by Daws Butler, doing a younger-sounding variation of his Mr. Jinks hipster character.

My guess is that this was released in late 1958 or so.


I Was a Teenage Reindeer http://www.box.net/shared/5vhl506go4

And, last but not least, a song that will be forever linked in my mind to birthday cake, the King of the Hill marble game (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/4701 for a real Blast From The Past), and hot cocoa after sledding parties (has it really been almost 40 years?)...Allan Sherman's Twelve Gifts of Christmas.

Oh...the image I snagged off the 'net (I don't have a scanner) is of the mono issue...my copy is in stereo. Nyah-nyah!
...and a Happy Holiday Season to all!


1 comment:

Geordie said...

Any chance of reposting the Les Paul and Mary Ford Silent Night? It's the only one of the four for which the link is dead.