CHRISTMAS MEDLEY B/W NEW YEAR MEDLEY

by Eddie "Piano" Miller


RAINBOW RECORDS
R-377/388
1950s
MONO


SIDE A:



CHRISTMAS MEDLEY

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SIDE B:



NEW YEAR MEDLEY

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Editor's note: a few interesting tidbits can be found about Eddie "Piano" Miller here. I kind of enjoy listening to this at 33 RPM. It gives off a laissez-faire effect that most likely will be ruined by a speeding up to 78 RPM. I mean, they didn't call him "Piano" for his grunge-y and dirge-y spirit, I'm assuming. We'll see.

CHRISTMAS 1968 WITH THE GOING THING

by The Going Thing


PRIVATE PRESS
XCSV-141473
1968
STEREO





SIDE A:



The Christmas Song
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
My Christmas Tree
Silent Night
The Christmas Waltz

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Editor's note: wfmu's site states:

The Going Thing were a band manufactured by the Ford Motor Company for marketing purposes. This one-sided Christmas LP was given away to Ford employees for Christmas of 1968. John Naughton, a Ford executive at the time, delivers the spoken introduction that opens the album.

I suppose that's better than actually researching it for myself.

MERRILL WOMACH SINGS CHRISTMAS CAROLS

by Merrill Womach


NEW LIFE RECORDS
LP6801
1979
STEREO





SIDE A:



O Come, All Ye Faithful 3:32
Silent Night 4:32
Joy To The World 1:44
The First Noel 3:38
I Wonder As I Wander 3:45
O Holy Night 3:53

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SIDE B:



Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 2:34
Away In A Manger 2:15
What Child Is This 3:48
The Birthday Of A King 2:39
Star Carol 3:07
Gesu Bambino 4:35
O Little Town Of Bethlehem 3:18

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Editor's note: a big big big voice for a record collector if only due to his disfigurement from a plane crash that Mr. Womach survived. Yeah, that's his big claim to fame with most vinyl enthusiasts and I'd be lying if I didn't keep a watchful eye out for him as well. It's a curious story made better by the fact that his faith was not borne of his tragedy. Not that I'm a religious person but it's nice to see that he wasn't converted by circumstance. A nice record either way.

ORGAN AND CHIMES CHRISTMAS FAVORITES

with Alexander Goodrich at the organ


DIPLOMAT RECORDS
XS-1713
1964?
STEREO




SIDE A:



JOY TO THE WORLD
HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING
JINGLE BELLS
IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
TANNENBAUM
O HOLY NIGHT
GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN

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SIDE B:



O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL
THE FIRST NOEL
AWAY IN A MANGER
O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
SILENT NIGHT
AULD LANG SYNE

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Editor's note: something Steve Peregrin Took might have recorded had he not met Syd Barrett or dabbled in 'shrooms. A sound Xmas organ and chimes billet-doux to all ye Yuletide cherubs.

A-CAROLING

with the Notre Dame Glee Club


UNIVERSAL RECORDS
JPJ 5655
1977
STEREO

SIDE A:



Do You Hear What I Hear
carol of the Bells
The Boar's Head Carol
Here We Come A-Caroling
Jingle Bells
The Sleigh
Deck the Hall
We Wish You A Merry Christmas

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SIDE B:



Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
Carol of the Drum
O Come, O Come, Immanuel
What Child Is This
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The Lord's Prayer

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Editor's note: one of the better records of the season. About what you'd expect from an university choir: professional enough to fool a tone deaf dolt like myself. Not that anyone was listening for faults in the performance.

A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES AND FIVE POEMS

by Dylan Thomas


CAEDMON RECORDS
TC 1002
1958





SIDE A:



Fern Hill
A Child's Christmas in Wales

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SIDE B:



Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night
In the White Giant's Thighs
Ballad of the Long-Legged Bait
Ceremony after a Fire Raid

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Editor's note: the booming bass of Dylan Thomas' voice is as omnipresent in the poetry world as the voice of poetry is mostly silent in the real world. It's relegated to the circles of intellectuals, professors and dandies and this isn't always a prudent tact since some is rather relevant to time and place. Thomas fits perfectly with the moderns and bridges the giant gap between his contemporaries and the post-modernists and the end of classical writing in the genre. Now, everybody is a comedian and confessional in the worst possible way: cutesy and boring. Imagine Bukowski in a clown suit dancing a jig and everybody in the crowd whooping it up because they think that Allen Ginsberg is in their midst and entertaining them. Yeah, it's that bad. This album, however, is a rememberance of good poetry. Remind me to post more in the coming new year.

CHRISTMAS EVE...CHRISTMAS DAY

by Jim Smith of Detroit


PLUMBLINE RECORDS
4105N4
1960s?
STEREO





SIDE A:



O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL 2:51
HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING 3:00
SILENT NIGHT 3:33
IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR 3:44
AWAY IN A MANGER 1:47

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SIDE B:



JOY TO THE WORLD 2:18
O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM 3:00
WHITE CHRISTMAS 3:35
CHRISTMAS SONG 4:00
THE FIRST NOEL 2:16

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Editor's note: my, oh, my has Detroit changed these past 50 years or so. Seeing it nowadays it's hard to believe that beautiful music was ever possible in the city. Not exactly my taste in Christmas spirit but a very professionally done and pleasant sounding record.

CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT MASS

by Pope John Paul II


VOX CHRISTIANA RECORDS
VC 3004/5
1979
STEREO?





SIDE A:



Introit--"Laetentur Coeli"--"Cantate Domino"
Kyrie/Gloria/Opening Prayer
First Reading--(In Spanish) Isaiah 9:1-6
Responsorial Psalm--"Tecum Principatus"
Second Reading--(In English) Titus 2:11-14
Gospel Acclamation--Alleluia
Gospel--(In Italian) Luke 2:1-14

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SIDE B:



Homily (In Italian)/Credo
Prayer of the Faithful
Offertory Hymn

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SIDE C:



Preface (In Latin)/Sanctus Benedictus
Canon/Our Father/Agnus Dei
Communion Hymn--"Adeste Fidelis"

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SIDE D:



"Adeste Fidelis" continued and "Ave Verum"
Concluding Rite--Prayer and Communion
Solemn Blessing and Dismissal
Final Hymn--"Laetentur Coeli" (recorded December 25, 1978 in St. Peter's Square)
Hymn to the Pontiff (Gounod)
Christmas Greetings in Various Languages
Final Blessing--"Urbi et Orbi"
Hymn to the Pontiff (Gounod)
Italian National Anthem & Final Greeting

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Editor's note: there is far too much clapping in this recording. Especially since this is a mass and you're not really supposed to clap in church are you? I mean maybe after a sermon or something but during a choral work? What do I know about church? Listen up halo-carriers and heathens alike and maybe you'll find yourself some religion. Though nothing to knock a pope over for!

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

by The Caroleers


DIPLOMAT RECORDS
SX 1720
1960s
STEREO




SIDE A:



'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS HYMN
GOOD KING WENCESLAS
GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN
GATHER AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE
NOW LIGHT ONE THOUSAND CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS
MARCH OF THE KINGS
SING WE NOW OF CHRISTMAS

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SIDE B:



THE SHEPHERDS' CAROL
I WONDER AS I WANDER
RISE UP SHEPHERD AND FOLLOW
AWAY IN A MANGER
CHRIST WAS BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY
SOFTLY THE NIGHT IS SLEEPING
CANTIQUE DE NOEL
LET OUR GLADNESS KNOW NO END
RING OUT WILD BELLS

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Editor's note: a bit crackle-y, 'tis it not? All the better say the old-timers who used to sit by the voice box and listen to the crackle of war, wine-worn music and reality by the fireplace when there was nothing left of the day. Imagine that while you warm yourself with a space heater, a Snuggie and a spicy can of Red Bull.

A VERY MERRY ELECTRIC CHRISTMAS TO YOU!

by Douglas Leedy


CAPITOL RECORDS
ST-339
1968
STEREO





SIDE A:



JOY TO THE WORLD
GOD REST YE MERRY, GENTLEMEN
THE FIRST NOEL
FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH
DECK THE HALLS

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SIDE B:



IN DUCLI JUBILO
THE COVENTRY CAROL
GOOD KING WENCESLAS
WE THREE KINGS
SILENT NIGHT

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Editor's note: if you came to hear the Canadian Brass then you'll have to come back next year because I found this one yesterday at a thrift store and it trumps any damned brass band from the north. By today's standards this is a pretty tame effort but considering that this beast was put out in 1968 it is a monumental recording. Not electronica like we know it and mostly that's a good thing. Not so fortuitous is the newspaper clipping glued to the front sleeve, interesting as it may be.

LET'S TURN ON THE LIGHTS ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE / MISTLETOE WALTZ

by the Di Mara Sisters


SLICKO RECORDS
EOL 1001
Circa 1950s


SIDE A:



LET'S TURN ON THE LIGHTS ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE

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SIDE B:



MISTLETOE WALTZ

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Editor's note: the Di Mara sisters were Italian immigrants to Detroit and busted out an album or two. Or so said an account I read on the internet. Everything on the internet is true, right? Of course it is. Lalalala.

A GERMAN CHRISTMAS

with the Bielefelder Kinderchor
Directed by Friedrich Oberschelp

CAPITOL RECORDS
SM-10308
STEREO



SIDE A:



VON HIMMEL HOCH (From Heaven High)
IHR HIRTEN, ERWACHT (Watch, You Shepherds)
ES IST EIN ROS' ENTSPRUNGEN ('Lo How A Rose Ere Blooming)
VON HIMMEL HOCH, IHR ENGLIEIN KOMMT (Come, You Angels, From Heaven Above)
JOSEF, LIEBER JOSEF MEIN (Joseph, My Sweet Joseph)
STILL, STILL, STILL, WEIL'S KINDLEIN SCHLAFEN WILL (Quiet, Quiet, Quiet, As The Child Is Sleeping)
GELOBET, SEIST DU, JESU CHRIST (Praise Ye, Jesus Christ)
HERBEI, O IHR GLA|UBIGEN (Come, All Ye faithful)
STILLE NACHT, HEILIFE NACHT (Silent Night, Holy Night)

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SIDE B:



SUSSER DIE GLOCKEN NIE KLINGEN (The Bells Never Sounded Sweeter)
IHR KINDERLEIN KOMMET (Come, You Little Children)
O TANNEBAUM
HEILIGE NACHT, NACHT DER UNDENDLICHEN LIEBE (Holy Night, Night Of Everlasting Love)
DER CHRISTBAUM IST DER SCHONSTE BAUM (The Christmas Tree Os The Most Beautiful Tree)
O FREUDE, UBER FREUDE (O Joy Of Joys)
LASST UNS DAS KINDLEIN WIEGEN (Let Us Rock The Child)
AUF DEM BERGE, DA WEHET DER WIND (The Wind Is Blowing On The Mountain)
ALLE JAHR WEIDER (Every Year Again)
O DU FROHLICHE (O Joyful Christmastime)

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Editor's note: nice choir music without any goose stepping!

CHRISTMAS PARTY

by the Three Suns


RCA RECORDS
LPM 3056
1952
MONO




SIDE A:



RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER
HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS
HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING
O, HOLY NIGHT

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SIDE B:



O, LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
THE FIRST NOEL
MERRY CHRISTMAS POLKA
FROSTY THE SNOW MAN

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Editor's note: these guys are more than just two guys with Pee Wee Herman haircuts inside a Christmas ornament and a third guy with that third guy look about him. They are a party band and they bring you this Xmas festivity from a half century ago with enough vigor to rock you for another half century or two.

MELE KALIKIMAKA

by Waimanalo Keikis


TRADEWINDS RECORDS
TS-1129
1975?
STEREO





SIDE A:



Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Mele Kalikimaka la 'Oe
Twelve Days of Christmas
Christmas Lu'au
Iesu Me Ke Kana-Ka Waiwai
Kana Kaloka

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SIDE B:



Kani Na Pele
Po La'i E
Little Drummer Boy
Mele Kalikimaka la Kakou
Christmas in Hawaii
'Ekolu Mea Nui

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Editor's note: kids singing Hawaiian Xmas songs. Quite pleasantly I might add. Not enough to make me want to go to the islands though. In fact, I think I've gotten the ocean and nice weather out of my system for this lifetime.

POLKA CHRISTMAS IN MY HOME TOWN

by Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra


STARR RECORDS
BD 532/533
1979
STEREO


SIDE A:



Christmas In My Home Town 2:05
Churchbells Are Ringing 2:43
Jingle Bells Polka 1:38
The Christmas Song 2:31
Santa's Super Sonic Sleigh 2:11

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SIDE B:



On This Christmas Day 1:50
O! Holy Night 3:32
Twinkle Toes 1:56
Little Boy Jesus 2:06
Merry Christmas Polka 2:22

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SIDE C:



WSROD NOCNEJ CISNY (In The Still Of The Night) 1:28
DZISIAJ W BETLEJEM (Today In Bethlehem) 1:37
PRZYLECIELI ANIOLKOWIE (The Angels Came) 1:30
W ZLOBIE LEZY (Away In The Manger) 2:15
MY TEZ PASTUSZKOWIE (We Too Are Shepherds) 2:20
POJDZMY WSZYSCY DO STAJENKI (To The Manger) 2:30
SLICZNA PANIENKA (Beautiful Lady) 2:59

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SIDE D:



MEDRCY SWIATA (Kings Of The World) 1:52
LULALAJZE JEZUNIU (Sleep Little Jesus) 2:01
Pasterze Mili (Shepherds Mild) 2:08
TRYUMFY KROLA NIEBIESIEGO (Triumphant King Of Heaven) 1:59
HEJ W DZIEN NARODZENIA (Hail! The Day Of His Birth) 1:47
NOWY ROK BIEZY (New Year Begins) 1:17

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Editor's note: this is the long route to an hour's worth of polka Christmas music but I like it. 4 records shows dedication. Anything more or less would just be a record. This is a season upon itself. Polka Christmas welcomes thee and pulls you into her warm waltzing bosom o' love.

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER

by The Caroleer Singers and Orchestra


TINKERBELL/AMBASSADOR RECORDS
SX 1727
1960s
STEREO





SIDE A:



RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSE REINDEER
SANTA'S COMING DOWN THE CHIMNEY [WHEN HE COMES]
FIRST SKATER'S WALTZ
DOWN THE HOLIDAY TRAIL
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS SONG

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SIDE B:



JINGLE BELLS
GIDDI-YAP, GIDDI-YAP, WHOA! SANTA
WHEN SANTA CLAUS GETS YOUR LETTER
CHRISTMAS COOKIES AND HOLIDAY HEARTS
THE CHRISTMAS MERRY, HA, HA, HA

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Editor's note: despite the generic cartoon cover this is actually a great Christmas record! A breezy, well-played and sung carol spectacular. The only real problem is that it's actually too short! Imagine that!

ORIGINAL MUSIC BOX MELODIES OF CHRISTMAS

PICKWICK RECORDS
SPC-1014
1978?
STEREO





SIDE A:



Silent Night
O, Sanctissima
Song Of The bells
The First Noel
O, Tannenbaum
Adeste Fideles

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SIDE B:



Ave Maria
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Come All Ye Children
The Rosary
Jingle Bells
Auld Lang Syne

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Editor's note: you're probably not going to be very excited about this record unless you're a music box junkie. Then again if you're a music box junie you're probably not much in the habit of getting very excited, period.