FaLaLaLaLa

An image that I gave to my friend Ward.

http://wardomatic.blogspot.com/2012/12/merry-christmas-eve.html

Dec. 24 - The Golddiggers - Silent Night (1969)

One of the first Christmas albums I recorded from vinyl was “We Need A Little Christmas” by The Golddiggers.

The Golddiggers were most well known as performers/backup singers on Dean Martin’s TV show. This album was recorded during that period and is full of some great late 60’s Christmas spirit.

The lead vocal on this particular number was provided by 19 year-old Nancy Bonetti (now Nancy Bonetti Ray), who I’ve chatted with a bit on Facebook.

It’s great that this fantastic Christmas music is now available for all to hear again and it’s nice to connect to the people that performed it and give them the credit and appreciation they deserve!

Merry Christmas, Nancy!

Here’s the track listing so far (links are to purchase MP3 at Amazon):

Here’s the link to the whole mix: FaLaLaLaLa 2012 ADVENTure in Carols

Check back each day between now and Christmas for a new song. And subscribe to the playlist on Spotify for updates as well.

Source: Spotify

FaLaLaLaLa 2012 ADVENTure in Carols

Dec. 23 - Jack Jones - Christmas Is… (1969)

Jack Jones is an integral part of Christmas in our household, mostly due to his presence in The Judy Garland Christmas Special that we watch each year.

But his two Christmas albums are also first rate crooner/Rat Pack Christmas outings. This track is from his decidedly funkier 1969 offering (though this track doesn’t have some of the funky drumming and gospel singers that appear on other tracks). And this version of “Christmas Is…” is nowhere near the definitively soulful version that Lou Rawls makes a masterpiece. But it’s got plenty of swanky Christmas spirit….

Here’s the track listing so far (links are to purchase MP3 at Amazon):

Deck The Halls - The Music City Brass
Christmas Candy - Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely
Ebenezer Scrooge - Teresa Brewer
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - John Klein
Baby, It’s Cold Outside - Joanie Sommers
Frosty the Snowman - Esquivel and His Orchestra
The Christmas Song - Judy Garland and Mel Torme
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - The Hollyridge Strings
Mister Santa - Dorothy Collins
Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town - The Three Suns
Sleigh Ride - Ira Ironstrings
Twelve Days of Christmas - Kenny Burrell
Winter Wonderland - Johnny Tillotson
Christmas Spirit - The Four Lads
You Don’t Have to Be a Santa Claus - The Mill Brothers
A Pocketful of Mistletoe - Sonny James
Vive Le Vent (Jingle Bells) - Dalida
Christmas Day is Coming - Los Blue Diamonds
The Holiday of Love - The King Family
The Little Drummer Boy - The Soulful Strings
A Holly Jolly Christmas - The Fireside Singers
Silver Bells - Doris Day
Christmas Is… - Jack Jones

Here’s the link to the whole mix: FaLaLaLaLa 2012 ADVENTure in Carols

Check back each day between now and Christmas for a new song. And subscribe to the playlist on Spotify for updates as well.

Source: Spotify

FaLaLaLaLa 2012 ADVENTure in Carols

Dec. 22 - Doris Day - Silver Bells (1964)

Part of what’s new about the ADVENTure in Carols this year is that I can include works that have seen recent release but are maybe not as well known or heard as the versions you hear on commercial Christmas radio.

This is not rare, but it’s a lovely little gem. Silver Bells is one of my absolute favorite Christmas songs. And I think Doris Day is somewhat underrated as a singer. True, she’s not incredibly soulful or original. But she has such a sweet and warm tone that I think works perfectly for the comforting quality of a Christmas song like this.

And so I will share with you her version of Silver Bells.

(P.S. Real Gone Music has released a CD that includes all of Doris Day’s Christmas music. They’re releases are top notch and I highly recommend them.)

Here’s the track listing so far (links are to purchase MP3 at Amazon):

Here’s the link to the whole mix: FaLaLaLaLa 2012 ADVENTure in Carols

Check back each day between now and Christmas for a new song. And subscribe to the playlist on Spotify for updates as well.

Source: Spotify

Q:Hi there, I just heard a great song on Sirius XM Christmas Traditional called "shoppin'" (I think) by the Four Pipers. I cannot find ANYTHING about such a group, but we loved the song. It's got to be from the 40's from the sound. Do you know of such a band or a song? I would love to get it.

majorbot-deactivated20130522

I don’t know of it available anywhere on CD or MP3. Apparently it was part of a 1952 TV broadcast. You can see it mentioned here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0809670/

Just got this from somebody at KDHX in St. Louis:

We’ve just released KDHXmas 2012, our second collection of holiday tunes, all recorded live in our studios. It’s pretty festive!

http://kdhx.org/about/news/ring-the-bells-and-bang-the-drums-kdhxmas-2012-is-here

KDHXmas 2012 is streaming for free (with many songs downloadable) via SoundCloud.

These 17 songs and performances are previously unreleased and not available elsewhere, so we thought you might enjoy checking them out and sharing with your readers. There’s a little something for everyone: pop, rock, soul, folk and blues.

Check it out.

Source: SoundCloud / KDHX

FaLaLaLaLa 2012 ADVENTure in Carols

Dec. 21 - The Fireside Singers - A Holly Jolly Christmas (1977)

I’m a sap for happy choirs and sappy strings, so I’m a total sucker for The Fireside Singers. I have a Reader’s Digest box set of LP’s from the late seventies that includes this track.

I think this was at pretty close to the tail end of the Easy Listening/Beautiful Music enterprise. You don’t find too much music like this released at that point.

But I’m glad they released it, ‘cause it’s just powder puff of syrupy Christmas joy!

Here’s the track listing so far (links are to purchase MP3 at Amazon):

Here’s the link to the whole mix: FaLaLaLaLa 2012 ADVENTure in Carols

Check back each day between now and Christmas for a new song. And subscribe to the playlist on Spotify for updates as well.

Source: Spotify

FaLaLaLaLa 2012 ADVENTure in Carols

Dec. 20 - The Soulful Strings- Little Drummer Boy (1968)

I have to admit that I’m surprised I never included The Soulful Strings on an ADVENTure in Carols until now.

This album is legendary among the Christmas music collectors that I know. It bridges the gap between the Beautiful Music/Easy Listening orchestras of the time and the soul/blues/disco era. It’s a great and original take (especially for the time) on traditional Christmas songs.

There are so many great songs on this album. I very highly recommend getting the entire album even though the mastering (from vinyl) isn’t the best.

Here’s the track listing so far (links are to purchase MP3 at Amazon):

Deck The Halls - The Music City Brass
Christmas Candy - Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely
Ebenezer Scrooge - Teresa Brewer
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - John Klein
Baby, It’s Cold Outside - Joanie Sommers
Frosty the Snowman - Esquivel and His Orchestra
The Christmas Song - Judy Garland and Mel Torme
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - The Hollyridge Strings
Mister Santa - Dorothy Collins
Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town - The Three Suns
Sleigh Ride - Ira Ironstrings
Twelve Days of Christmas - Kenny Burrell
Winter Wonderland - Johnny Tillotson
Christmas Spirit - The Four Lads
You Don’t Have to Be a Santa Claus - The Mill Brothers
A Pocketful of Mistletoe - Sonny James
Vive Le Vent (Jingle Bells) - Dalida
Christmas Day is Coming - Los Blue Diamonds
The Holiday of Love - The King Family
The Little Drummer Boy - The Soulful Strings

Here’s the link to the whole mix: FaLaLaLaLa 2012 ADVENTure in Carols

Check back each day between now and Christmas for a new song. And subscribe to the playlist on Spotify for updates as well.

Source: Spotify

Interesting Christmas ‘carol’ from the NBA

Source: youtube.com

FaLaLaLaLa 2012 ADVENTure in Carols

Dec. 19 - The King Family - The Holiday of Love (1965)

The King Family had a musical variety TV show back in the day, based around The King Sisters and their extended family. This track is from their 1965 album, Christmas With The King Family, which is now part of several MP3 collections.

Interesting note: King Family member Liza Rey Butler is the mother of Win and William Butler of The Arcade Fire.

Here’s the track listing so far (links are to purchase MP3 at Amazon):

Deck The Halls - The Music City Brass
Christmas Candy - Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely
Ebenezer Scrooge - Teresa Brewer
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - John Klein
Baby, It’s Cold Outside - Joanie Sommers
Frosty the Snowman - Esquivel and His Orchestra
The Christmas Song - Judy Garland and Mel Torme
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - The Hollyridge Strings
Mister Santa - Dorothy Collins
Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town - The Three Suns
Sleigh Ride - Ira Ironstrings
Twelve Days of Christmas - Kenny Burrell
Winter Wonderland - Johnny Tillotson
Christmas Spirit - The Four Lads
You Don’t Have to Be a Santa Claus - The Mill Brothers
A Pocketful of Mistletoe - Sonny James
Vive Le Vent (Jingle Bells) - Dalida
Christmas Day is Coming - Los Blue Diamonds
The Holiday of Love - The King Family

Here’s the link to the whole mix: FaLaLaLaLa 2012 ADVENTure in Carols

Check back each day between now and Christmas for a new song. And subscribe to the playlist on Spotify for updates as well.

Source: Spotify

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FaLaLaLaLa

Q:Hi there, I just heard a great song on Sirius XM Christmas Traditional called "shoppin'" (I think) by the Four Pipers. I cannot find ANYTHING about such a group, but we loved the song. It's got to be from the 40's from the sound. Do you know of such a band or a song? I would love to get it.

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