Saturday, December 26, 2009

Johnny Pineapple - Hawaiian Holiday - 1960

Since we are in the middle of the holidays I thought maybe a record with holiday in the title might be nice and it might be nice to have something that isn't Christmas music. I'm sure many are tired of the Christmas music blitz. No Christmas songs here, but plenty of relaxing Hawaiian tunes. If you are in one of those snowed in states or regions, this might be just the thing to transport you to a tropical paradise. Join Johnny Pineapple as he croons some island classics for you.

Enjoy!

01 Paradise Isle.m4a
02 Hilo March.m4a
03 My Hawaiian Kula La Ni.m4a
04 Na Ka Pueo.m4a
05 I Hear Hawaii Calling.m4a
06 Pretty Mermaid Of The Southern Sea.m4a
07 Maui Chant.m4a
08 Aloha Oe E Kuu Lei.m4a
09 My Tane.m4a

Johnny Pineapple - Hawaiian Holiday.zip

Friday, December 25, 2009

The Peppermint Kandy Kids - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

This is a fun record because of all the interlude dialogue between the songs. If you listened to this year's Christmas mix you'll notice a few samples from this record.

The jacket is interesting the because the left side with Santa actually folds out and has perforations along the side so you could rip it off and hang it up as a decoration. The record is dusty and noisy, but what can you do. It is still a fun listen.
Merry Christmas!

01 Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.m4a
02 Interlude #1.m4a
03 We Need A Little Christmas.m4a
04 Interlude #2.m4a
05 It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas.m4a
06 Interlude #3.m4a
07 Winter Wonderland.m4a
08 Interlude #4.m4a
09 The Christmas Song.m4a
10 Interlude #5.m4a
11 The Man In The Red Suit.m4a
12 Interlude #6.m4a
13 Santa Medley.m4a
14 Reprise_Up On The Housetop.m4a
15 Interlude #7.m4a
16 Santa's Magical Bag.m4a
17 Interlude #8.m4a
18 My Favorite Things.m4a
19 Interlude #9.m4a
20 The Marvelous Toy.m4a
21 Interlude #10.m4a
22 Scarlet Ribbons.m4a
23 Interlude #11.m4a
24 Happiness Is.m4a
25 Interlude #12.m4a
26 Love Is A Simple Thing.m4a
27 Interlude #13.m4a
28 We Wish You A Merry Christmas.m4a

The Peppermint Kandy Kids - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.zip

Thursday, December 24, 2009

The Story Of Christmas As Sung By Tennessee Earnie Ford

Thought for the night before Christmas I'd share this record, which can get you into a sort of spiritual or sacred mood if you swing that way. Myself I try not to forget the whole reason behind all this gift giving and decorating.

Merry Christmas and Enjoy!

01 Medley - Joy To The World, Sing We Now Of Christmas, O Tannenbaum, Oh Holy Night.m4a
02 Some Children See Him.m4a
03 Children's Christmas Songs - Xhosa Lullaby (Africa), El Rorro (Mexico), Cherry Flower (Japan).m4a
04 Little Gray Donkey.m4a
05 Medley Of Christmas Songs - It Came Upon A Midnight Clear, He Is Born, Deck The Halls, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, Adeste Fideles.m4a
06 The Christmas Tree.m4a
07 O Tannenbaum.m4a
08 We Three Kings.m4a
09 The Story Of The Nativity From The Gospel Of St. Luke Part 1.m4a
10 What Child Is This_.m4a
11 The Story Of The Nativity From The Gospel Of St. Luke Part 2.m4a
12 O Little Town Of Bethlehem.m4a
13 The Story Of The Nativity From The Gospel Of St. Luke Part 3.m4a
14 Gesu Bambino (Introducing _O Come All Ye Faithful_).m4a
15 The Story Of The Nativity From The Gospel Of St. Luke Part 4.m4a
16 Angels We Have Heard On High.m4a
17 The Story Of The Nativity From The Gospel Of St. Luke Part 5.m4a
18 The Virgin's Slumber Song.m4a
19 The Story Of The Nativity From The Gospel Of St. Luke Part 6.m4a
20 Joy To The World.m4a

Tennessee Ernie Ford - The Story Of Christmas As Sung By Tennessee Ernie Ford.zip

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Redlands High School Choirs - Alleluia, Noel

I know a few posts earlier I said I wasn't a big fan of choir Christmas songs. I should clarify. I'm not a fan of more recent popular music that was meant for a solo voice being re-arranged for choir. Carols and old songs meant for choir are a different story. I'm far more forgiving. I like this record, because the arrangements are quite good and can get you into a real Christmas Spirit. Also I love that these are all High School kids. They really sound great.

This record also give me a good opportunity to spout off about one of my pet peeves this year. Listen to track 2 "The First Noel" and you will notice that they sing the lyric "they looked up" and pronounce "looked" with two syllables. This is how it should be. This is how it should be in my book because the song is a religious song. It is a carol. It is a hymn. It is sung like a hymn and anyone who has sung hymns before knows that often single syllable words are sung as two syllables for the sake of the song. What has driven me crazy this year is the number of times I've heard more recent interpretations of the song sung with one syllable. To me it is a sign that the artist has never sung a hymn and therefore (maybe even unfairly) I think they are not being genuine in singing the song. Funny how something so small can ruin a song for me. I'm such a music snob. Let me know if you have an opinion on the matter.

Enjoy!

01 Alleluia Now Is The Christmas Morn.m4a
02 The First Noel.m4a
03 The Coventry Carol.m4a
04 The Birth.m4a
05 The Little Drummer Boy.m4a
06 Bell Song.m4a
07 Deck The Halls.m4a
08 Silent Night.m4a
09 O Come All Ye Faithful.m4a
10 Joy To The World.m4a
11 Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming.m4a
12 What Kind of Cradle Was That_.m4a
13 Crusader's Hymn.m4a
14 Angels We Have Heard On High.m4a
15 Christmas Is Just For Children.m4a
16 The Lord Bless You And Keep You.m4a

Redlands High School Choirs - Alleluia, Noel.zip

Monday, December 21, 2009

The Waltons' Christmas Album - 1974

This record looks and sounds better than perhaps the actual record it. By that I mean, I love the album cover. I love the idea of a Walton's Christmas album, but when you get down to it, it's not really what you might hope it would be. It's not like John Boy is singing up a storm. There is a bunch of narration (like the show) with sentimental memories of Christmas and some carols. The songs are nothing special. But with all of that said and while the record isn't what I really had hoped it would be, it is worth at least one listen because the stories are engaging. If you watched "The Waltons", then this might bring back some sweet memories. But just think how great it would have been if the record did have John Boy or Grandpa singing. Oh well.

Enjoy!

01 The Waltons Theme.m4a
02 The First Noel.m4a
03 The Wish Book.m4a
04 Visit To Town.m4a
05 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.m4a
06 The Christmas Tree.m4a
07 It Came Upon A Midnight Clear.m4a
08 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.m4a
09 Silent Night.m4a
10 Joy To The World.m4a
11 Grandpa's Christmas Wish.m4a
12 O Come All Ye Faithful.m4a
13 O Little Town Of Bethlehem.m4a
14 Christmas Eve.m4a
15 Spirit Of Christmas.m4a

The Waltons - The Waltons' Christmas Album.zip