Merry Christmas!
Usually at this downloading season, I would be posting new Christmas albums that I would have rummaged for at thrift stores, haggled for at record shows, and sniped at the last minute on eBay.
Several things prevented me in doing that this year - I could bore you with the details but I'll refrain. I did want to continue the tradition that I started five Christmases ago - the annual Yuleblog Sampler.
Normally, this would have been posted on Christmas Day - my present to you. But I decided to move the release date up by 10 days since I don't have anything else to post this season.
I'm excited about this release for two reasons: 1.) Many of the 45s and 78s I found for the sampler were nowhere to be found in my 22,000+ Christmas song library. 2.) These singles were the first vinyl transferred on my new Stanton T.92 USB turntable and captured to digital on my new Dell PC.
None of the vinyl I've transferred before has sounded better than this. Welcome to the 21st century Capt.
Your 2010 Christmas Yuleblog sampler:
Track 1 - Franklin MacCormack - I Like Christmas
Chicago Federal Savings Promo - ZTSC-9044-1A - 195?
MacCormack was a longtime Chicago radio host who helped to pioneer the spoken word album back in the 1950s.
Open a Christmas club account, get this record - sweet!
Track 2 - Dick Roman - Christmas Village
Harmon Records - 1011 (NO7W-0796-2) - 1962
"Pretty song about a dream of childhood days is sung with much feeling by the lad, while the ork lends good support. Could grab spins". - - Billboard Magazine, 12/1/62
I agree!
Track 3 - The Di Mara Sisters - Santa's Italian Wife
Pip Records - 100X-A - 1971
Did you that wife that Santa comes from Italy? And your presents on Christmas morning could have a very cheesy smell? Every Italian stereotype is thrown in good measure on this song - eh cumpari!
Track 4 - Johnny Long & His Orchestra (Vocal by Francey Lane and the Ensemble) - Winter Wonderland
Signature Records - 15150-B (SRC-434) - 1947
Found this 78 at a local thrift store - I've since discovered this came from a larger set of Christmas 78s that featured other artists. Keep watching...
Track 5 - Frank and Jack - Twas The Night Before Christmas (Breaking Through The Sound Barrier)
Bergen Records - 100A - 1957
Taking a cue from Buchanan & Goodman, two radio guys decided to have some fun in the radio studio. Instead of break-ins with Elvis and Fabian, they chose sound F/X and celebrities. Strange...
Track 6 - Hank Crawford - Merry Christmas Baby
Atlantic Records - 45-5032 (A-8326) - 1964
Crawford has a long career in the R&B/jazz world and was astounded to find this at a garage sale for a dime.
If you want some Christmas sax this holiday, look no further than this.
Track 7 - David Hill (with Ray Martin & His Orchestra) - Christmas Bride
RCA Victor - 47-7430 (H2PW-7812) - 1958
I've never heard of a song that combines wedding proposals and Christmas before. Not exactly rock-n-roll, not exactly pop... love the sax solo.
Track 8 - Red Buttons - Bow-Wow Wants A Boy For Christmas
Columbia Records - 40384 (CO 52652) - 1954
I won a promo 45 of this record several years ago on eBay. Found this 78 RPM earlier this year - one of the first 78s on the new turntable.
I think the songwriter on this is Steve Allen - can anyone confirm that?
Track 9 - The Gus De Wert Trio (with Gay LaComb) - Space Age Santa Claus
Ross Records - WW1004-B (SJW-3524) - 196?
Track 10 - Monica Lewis (with Ray Bloch & His Orchestra) - The Christmas Song
Signature Records - 15151-B (SRC-540) - 1947
This was the other 78 RPM I found (see track four above). The third 78 in this set was Ray Bloch & His Orchestra doing "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and "Let It Snow x 3".
Artwork anyone?
Track 11 - Judy Storey - Christmas Cheer From Heaven
Breaking Records - IRDA 576-A - 1979
A Christmas song from a dead wife singing to her husband from heaven.
Who gave the green light to this one? Truly inexplicable.
Track 12 - Consuela & Luisa Valdez - This Xmas Day
Mosaic Records - 210419A - 1970
Mother/daughter duo who self-produced and wrote this tribute to a family member at Christmas.
Found at Wooden Nickel Records in Fort Wayne (thanks Tim!).
Track 13 - The De John Sisters - The Only Thing I Want For Christmas (Is To Keep The Things That I've Got)
Epic Records - 5-9133 (ZSP 37226) - 1955
The second 45 to feature a sister singing act. This is yet another song I'd nominate to get more radio airplay at this time of year.
Track 14 - Joel Grey - Santa's Little Sleigh Bells
Majar Records - 137-X45 - 1954
Recorded at the beginning of his career, Grey was primarily known as an comic actor/dancer. His comic sensibilities are showcased in this silly song about a rogue sleigh bell.
Track 15 - Mona Abboud - I Should Have Left The Light On For Santa
Mona Records (Phonograph Records) - 100180-B - 1980
The flipside (listen to audio, ignore video) of this song was considered for "The FPT Christmas Revue". Spoke to Ms. Abboud who gave me her blessing to use the song (theater rejected it). Her voice hasn't aged a day - thanks Mona!
Track 16 - Lois Lynn - Every Christmas We Know
Concept Records - 45-896 - 1956
Purchased at a record show, this is either a haunting Christmas song or a bizarre experiment gone wrong.
Think I'm kidding? Check out this Billboard ad...
Track 17 - Heavy Duck - A Wonderful Christmas
Derrick Records - 45-DRC-113A - 1976
Okay, so Rick Dees scores big with "Disco Duck" in late 1976 which obviously prompted this Christmas single trying to cash in on its popularity several months later...
Things can never be explained...
Track 18 - Prof. Anonymous & The Marshalls - Christmas Elf
Isabelle Records - IS 0003-A - 1986
On nights when I can't sleep, I'll surf eBay for hours. While half-asleep one night, I purchased this. It was the sleeve I tell ya...
Later included on a cassette-only Christmas compilation with lots of other Boston Christmas garage rock - wow!
Track 19 - Dick Haymes & The Song Spinners Choir (with Jesse Crawford at the Organ) - Joy To The World
Decca Records - 24120A (73992) - 1948
Frank Sinatra made it big after he left Tommy Dorsey's band in 1942. His replacement was Dick Haymes. Haymes tried mightily (radio, records, movies) but never gained Sinatra's popularity - great voice on this 78 RPM, just not "The Voice".
Track 20 - The De Castro Sisters - Snowbound For Christmas
Abbott Records - 3012-A - 1955
The third 45 to feature a sister act (new record).
Lush, beautiful, wintry ballad - the sisters De Castro do a very nice job with this one.
Track 21 - Ken Griffin (Sung by Karen Ford & Bill Snary) - Our Christmas Waltz
Rondo Records - R-206-A (UB-9-1142-R) - 1949
Say what? When I was handed this 78 and noticed Ken Griffin, the king of the roller rink organists, had VOCALS?
And nice vocals they are - thanks to my wife's family for this one!
Track 22 - Eddy Howard & His Orchestra - Dearest Santa
Majestic Records - 1173 (T-1289) - 1947
Another amazing 78 from Mr. Howard and his band.
Dedicated to Dian B. Brown of Scottsdale, AZ. Type in "Eddy Howard Dearest Santa" into Google and her Amazon.com request for this song is the first thing to come up. Glad I could help!
Track 23 - Joe Walega & His Happy Hearts - Request To Santa Claus
Chicago Polka - 512-B - 19??
The flipside ("Christmas Without Daddy") is everywhere to download on the Internet. But this B-side isn't...
Sweet mother of God, what evil have I just unleashed?
Track 24 - George Bowers - Lonely Christmas
Nashville Talking Machine - M-001 A (PRP 34272) - 1971
Ernie (not Bert) shared out side A of this song a few hundred shares ago - he's mad, MAD I tell ya! But in a good way...
Here's side B - recorded in MONO just as the label states!
Track 25 - Lucho Gatica (con Los Cuatro Soles y la Orquesta de Jose Sabre Marroquin) - Noche De Paz (Silent Night)
Capitol Records - F71060 (45-X41854) - 19??
A foreign 45 in scratchy condition that I paid peanuts for at a thrift store - I can't find a thing about this one anywhere.
Pretty version in Spanish - a testament to the new turntable and computer how this one cleaned up.
Track 26 - Franklin MacCormack - My New Year's Wish For You
Chicago Federal Savings Promo - ZTSC-9043-1B - 19??
We come full circle with Side B from Mr. MacCormack.
What he wishes for New Year for you goes for me too.
Two not-so-secret Bonus Tracks
You knew these were coming... don't play coy!
Don't forget - the 2008 Yuleblog Sampler and the 2009 Yuleblog Sampler are still available to download. Lots of great rare tracks!
Oh, by the way, did you know about these sharity items?
Next month will mark the fifth anniversary of this blog. The occasion will not be marked by a retrospective, a self-congratulatory pat on the back, or anything else special. In the five years we've been online, I've probably have two years' worth of material.
I started this as a way for me to keep track of the new additions to my Christmas music collection. It mushroomed into a Christmas review blog, a sharity site, and home to Christmas videos and advertisements. It's been fun, harrowing, time-consuming, and one of the best things I've done in my life.
There's so much that I want to upgrade here. I want to continue to post Christmas ads, videos, and Christmas music reviews. I want to remaster all of the shares I have here - I finally have the equipment and the understanding of that equipment to do that.
Sitting down in front of the computer to do anything is, for me, a challenge.
Every school day for the past year, I drop the kids off at school and then head to the gym. I like this routine and it has served me well - I've lost weight and kept it off. My cholesterol is low, my back is finally pain free, and I'm eating healthy and sensibly.
An unfortunate by-product of this lifestyle change is the fact that I can seldom sit longer for one hour behind the computer. I'm too active to allow myself to do more than that - I take walks, run errands, volunteer my time with my best buddy Joel and his theater activities, anything to stay away from the desk where I used to sit for hours on end; snacking, typing, drinking soda after soda, typing, eating...
As my children have grown from day-care tots to the precocious kids they are now, school activities like scouting, cheerleading, and basketball stretch my time tighter and harder than Joan Rivers' face.
I re-read my notes from last year's Sampler:
When I find the balance in 2011, I will post an entry here. It won't be as bad as the drought this year - 2010 was a learning year. I'm hoping to put some of that knowledge into practice with the aforementioned projects I want to complete for the blog.
The big finish:
Rob Martinez aka Capt
Several things prevented me in doing that this year - I could bore you with the details but I'll refrain. I did want to continue the tradition that I started five Christmases ago - the annual Yuleblog Sampler.
Normally, this would have been posted on Christmas Day - my present to you. But I decided to move the release date up by 10 days since I don't have anything else to post this season.
I'm excited about this release for two reasons: 1.) Many of the 45s and 78s I found for the sampler were nowhere to be found in my 22,000+ Christmas song library. 2.) These singles were the first vinyl transferred on my new Stanton T.92 USB turntable and captured to digital on my new Dell PC.
None of the vinyl I've transferred before has sounded better than this. Welcome to the 21st century Capt.
Your 2010 Christmas Yuleblog sampler:
Chicago Federal Savings Promo - ZTSC-9044-1A - 195?
MacCormack was a longtime Chicago radio host who helped to pioneer the spoken word album back in the 1950s.
Open a Christmas club account, get this record - sweet!
Harmon Records - 1011 (NO7W-0796-2) - 1962
"Pretty song about a dream of childhood days is sung with much feeling by the lad, while the ork lends good support. Could grab spins". - - Billboard Magazine, 12/1/62
I agree!
Pip Records - 100X-A - 1971
Did you that wife that Santa comes from Italy? And your presents on Christmas morning could have a very cheesy smell? Every Italian stereotype is thrown in good measure on this song - eh cumpari!
Signature Records - 15150-B (SRC-434) - 1947
Found this 78 at a local thrift store - I've since discovered this came from a larger set of Christmas 78s that featured other artists. Keep watching...
Bergen Records - 100A - 1957
Taking a cue from Buchanan & Goodman, two radio guys decided to have some fun in the radio studio. Instead of break-ins with Elvis and Fabian, they chose sound F/X and celebrities. Strange...
Atlantic Records - 45-5032 (A-8326) - 1964
Crawford has a long career in the R&B/jazz world and was astounded to find this at a garage sale for a dime.
If you want some Christmas sax this holiday, look no further than this.
RCA Victor - 47-7430 (H2PW-7812) - 1958
I've never heard of a song that combines wedding proposals and Christmas before. Not exactly rock-n-roll, not exactly pop... love the sax solo.
Columbia Records - 40384 (CO 52652) - 1954
I won a promo 45 of this record several years ago on eBay. Found this 78 RPM earlier this year - one of the first 78s on the new turntable.
I think the songwriter on this is Steve Allen - can anyone confirm that?
Ross Records - WW1004-B (SJW-3524) - 196?
This one has floated around cyberspace for a long time with Jeannie Jay listed as the singer.
Jay was the credited singer on side two ("When Christmas Bells Are Ringing"), LaComb on side one. Hope this clears up any confusion.
Jay was the credited singer on side two ("When Christmas Bells Are Ringing"), LaComb on side one. Hope this clears up any confusion.
Signature Records - 15151-B (SRC-540) - 1947
This was the other 78 RPM I found (see track four above). The third 78 in this set was Ray Bloch & His Orchestra doing "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and "Let It Snow x 3".
Artwork anyone?
Breaking Records - IRDA 576-A - 1979
A Christmas song from a dead wife singing to her husband from heaven.
Who gave the green light to this one? Truly inexplicable.
Mosaic Records - 210419A - 1970
Mother/daughter duo who self-produced and wrote this tribute to a family member at Christmas.
Found at Wooden Nickel Records in Fort Wayne (thanks Tim!).
Epic Records - 5-9133 (ZSP 37226) - 1955
The second 45 to feature a sister singing act. This is yet another song I'd nominate to get more radio airplay at this time of year.
Majar Records - 137-X45 - 1954
Recorded at the beginning of his career, Grey was primarily known as an comic actor/dancer. His comic sensibilities are showcased in this silly song about a rogue sleigh bell.
Mona Records (Phonograph Records) - 100180-B - 1980
The flipside (listen to audio, ignore video) of this song was considered for "The FPT Christmas Revue". Spoke to Ms. Abboud who gave me her blessing to use the song (theater rejected it). Her voice hasn't aged a day - thanks Mona!
Concept Records - 45-896 - 1956
Purchased at a record show, this is either a haunting Christmas song or a bizarre experiment gone wrong.
Think I'm kidding? Check out this Billboard ad...
Derrick Records - 45-DRC-113A - 1976
Okay, so Rick Dees scores big with "Disco Duck" in late 1976 which obviously prompted this Christmas single trying to cash in on its popularity several months later...
Things can never be explained...
Isabelle Records - IS 0003-A - 1986
On nights when I can't sleep, I'll surf eBay for hours. While half-asleep one night, I purchased this. It was the sleeve I tell ya...
Later included on a cassette-only Christmas compilation with lots of other Boston Christmas garage rock - wow!
Decca Records - 24120A (73992) - 1948
Frank Sinatra made it big after he left Tommy Dorsey's band in 1942. His replacement was Dick Haymes. Haymes tried mightily (radio, records, movies) but never gained Sinatra's popularity - great voice on this 78 RPM, just not "The Voice".
Abbott Records - 3012-A - 1955
The third 45 to feature a sister act (new record).
Lush, beautiful, wintry ballad - the sisters De Castro do a very nice job with this one.
Rondo Records - R-206-A (UB-9-1142-R) - 1949
Say what? When I was handed this 78 and noticed Ken Griffin, the king of the roller rink organists, had VOCALS?
And nice vocals they are - thanks to my wife's family for this one!
Majestic Records - 1173 (T-1289) - 1947
Another amazing 78 from Mr. Howard and his band.
Dedicated to Dian B. Brown of Scottsdale, AZ. Type in "Eddy Howard Dearest Santa" into Google and her Amazon.com request for this song is the first thing to come up. Glad I could help!
Chicago Polka - 512-B - 19??
The flipside ("Christmas Without Daddy") is everywhere to download on the Internet. But this B-side isn't...
Sweet mother of God, what evil have I just unleashed?
Nashville Talking Machine - M-001 A (PRP 34272) - 1971
Ernie (not Bert) shared out side A of this song a few hundred shares ago - he's mad, MAD I tell ya! But in a good way...
Here's side B - recorded in MONO just as the label states!
Capitol Records - F71060 (45-X41854) - 19??
A foreign 45 in scratchy condition that I paid peanuts for at a thrift store - I can't find a thing about this one anywhere.
Pretty version in Spanish - a testament to the new turntable and computer how this one cleaned up.
Chicago Federal Savings Promo - ZTSC-9043-1B - 19??
We come full circle with Side B from Mr. MacCormack.
What he wishes for New Year for you goes for me too.
You knew these were coming... don't play coy!
Don't forget - the 2008 Yuleblog Sampler and the 2009 Yuleblog Sampler are still available to download. Lots of great rare tracks!
Oh, by the way, did you know about these sharity items?
Next month will mark the fifth anniversary of this blog. The occasion will not be marked by a retrospective, a self-congratulatory pat on the back, or anything else special. In the five years we've been online, I've probably have two years' worth of material.
I started this as a way for me to keep track of the new additions to my Christmas music collection. It mushroomed into a Christmas review blog, a sharity site, and home to Christmas videos and advertisements. It's been fun, harrowing, time-consuming, and one of the best things I've done in my life.
There's so much that I want to upgrade here. I want to continue to post Christmas ads, videos, and Christmas music reviews. I want to remaster all of the shares I have here - I finally have the equipment and the understanding of that equipment to do that.
Sitting down in front of the computer to do anything is, for me, a challenge.
Every school day for the past year, I drop the kids off at school and then head to the gym. I like this routine and it has served me well - I've lost weight and kept it off. My cholesterol is low, my back is finally pain free, and I'm eating healthy and sensibly.
An unfortunate by-product of this lifestyle change is the fact that I can seldom sit longer for one hour behind the computer. I'm too active to allow myself to do more than that - I take walks, run errands, volunteer my time with my best buddy Joel and his theater activities, anything to stay away from the desk where I used to sit for hours on end; snacking, typing, drinking soda after soda, typing, eating...
As my children have grown from day-care tots to the precocious kids they are now, school activities like scouting, cheerleading, and basketball stretch my time tighter and harder than Joan Rivers' face.
I re-read my notes from last year's Sampler:
I realize I'm in a Catch-22 situation: I can continue to lose weight by being away from the computer but can only work on all these projects if I'm in front of the computer. I have to to find a balance inbetween somehow...
When I find the balance in 2011, I will post an entry here. It won't be as bad as the drought this year - 2010 was a learning year. I'm hoping to put some of that knowledge into practice with the aforementioned projects I want to complete for the blog.
The big finish:
Rob Martinez aka Capt
