Come On Ring Those Bells - 1975

I am not really too sure who the "A Reason To Sing" television family is or was, but I am guessing that it has something to do with a Christian TV show or television network from the 70's.  I'm gathering that from the group names like "New Life" and Jericho Brass." Most of these songs definitely focus on the Christ part of Christmas and not so much on the man in the big red suit.  That is fine by me.  I think you have to have both.  This record has something beyond just the traditional carols and some good arrangements which is why I like it.  There is also a thin layer or 70's cheese on these tracks as well that I find enjoyable as well.  "Go Tell It On The Mountain" is a virtual cheese fondue of 70's goodness.  Reminds me of the effervescence of the Up With People choir from the 70's. "Christmas Shopping" is also an extra cheesy gem.  It may even cross the line into comedy it is so happy.  I can picture this song being performed on some super white bread show like Lawrence Welk with lots of teeth and smiles.  It also brings to mind perhaps an SCTV parody making fun of this whole wholesome genre, except this is genuine and not ironic.  To me that makes it all the more better.  So give the songs a listen.  They'll brighten up your holiday season.

01 Come On, Ring Those Bells - T.A.C.T. Singers and New Life
02 The Secret Of Christmas - Reflection
03 The Christmas Song - Jericho Brass
04 Do You Hear What I Hear_ - Jerry Nelson and New Life
05 O, Little Town Of Bethlehem - Brotherhood II
06 Go Tell It On The Mountain - New Life
07 O, Holy Night - Lee Stalling and Daybreak
08 Where Has He Gone_ - T.A.C.T. Singers
09 Christmas Shopping - Brotherhood III and Reflection
10 Hark, The Herald Angels Sing - Jericho Brass
11 Everybody Will Be Praisin' The Lord - Keith Showalter and New Life

Enjoy!

Come On Ring Those Bells

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Broadway Records - Christmas Songs - 1968

My favorite thing about this record is the caption at the bottom of the cover that says "vocals and orchestration by popular radio and television artists".  I love it because nowhere on the record does it ever tell you who those artists are.  I guess we are supposed to use our imagination as to who those "popular radio and television artists" are.  So I've just listed the artist as Broadway Records.  The second thing I love about the record is the cover artwork.  I have this hanging in my hallway this year I love it so much.  The music is not bad, but it isn't great either.  Generic is probably the best word to describe it.  It covers all the standard Christmas selections.  Nothing new or original.  Still not bad for a spin.  The tracks are:

01 Joy To The World
02 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
03 O Little Town Of Bethlehem
04 It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
05 O' Come All Ye Faithful
06 Deck The Halls With Holly
07 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
08 Good King Wenceslas
09 Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
10 Jingle Bells
11 Auld Lang Syne
12 Oh Tennenbaum
13 12 Days Of Christmas
14 Silent Night
15 The First Noel


Enjoy!

Christmas Songs

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Guitars Inc. - Guitars At Christmas - 1959

I picked up this record this past year.  I honestly can't remember if I bought it or if it was one of the many records that were given to me this year.  I'm leaning toward buying it.  Guitars Inc. was a group of studio guitar players here in LA back in the day.  From what I've read, they were some of the better musicians.  The group consisted of Al Hendrickson, Howard Roberts, Bobby Gibbons, Tommy Tedesco & Bill Pitman.  This is a very fun instrumental record.  The arrangements are light and playful.  I will be using some of these tracks in Christmas mixes in the future for sure.


Enjoy!

Guitars At Christmas

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Bielefelder Kinderchor - Christmas In Germany - 1965

Have you been asking yourself how come I don't have more German music at Christmas?  Well I've got a record for you.  This is a record of German choir Christmas music.  It is all very traditional choir music.  I personally don't speak any German so I don't understand any of the lyrics, but I do recognize a few of the melodies.  Surprisingly, though, there is no "Oh Tannenbaum" which may be one of the more famous German carols.  That is okay, you can find that on many records.

My basic internet research pegged the date of this record at 1965.  The previous owner of the record wrote on the front and the back "about 1960."  I find it funny how it was just not the practice to put dates on old records.  I don't know what the thinking was, but it sure makes writing about these records years later a little more challenging.

Most of the tracks are a children's choir.  At least that is what I gather from the photo on the back and my basic German translation that assumes Kinderchor means children's choir.    The track listing can be read on the photo of the back jacket.

All in all the record is okay.  It works if you are in the mood for the more traditional sounds of Christmas.  None of these tracks will liven up a Christmas party, though.  The record isn't pristine, but I've cleaned it up the best I can with what I've got.

Enjoy!

Christmas In Germany

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The Three Suns - The Sound Of Christmas - 1955

I first became acquainted with The Three Suns back in the 90's when the whole lounge music thing saw a resurgence.  I bought a bunch of different lounge music compilations and then over the years I have picked up many of those artists on vinyl.  The Three suns have a bit of a cheese factor that is the product of the 50's.  They have applied a layer of that same cheesey goodness to some Christmas standards.  What I love about their approach is that even though this are songs you have heard a thousand times before, they put in plenty of surprises in their arrangements.  The music is playful and keeps you guessing.  I think their versions of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" are a good example of this.  This is a record I just picked up this year and it has already worked its way into some regular rotation.  I won't be surprised if one or two of these tracks end up on a Christmas mix in the future.


Enjoy!

The Sound Of Christmas

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The Pixie Helpers And Santa Claus - Sing Along With Santa's Helpers - 1959

As you can see by the images this was a kids' record at some point. The crayons are a dead give away that this record was loved.  When you hear it you'll hear that the record is a little trashed as well.  It is still very listenable and fun.  I also love the artwork.   The album takes on the guise that the songs are being sung by Santa and his "Pixie Helpers."  In reality what that means is a chipmunk style record knock off.  So if you like that sort of thing, then this is the record for you.  The funny thing to me is that it sounds like whoever the real artists are, they didn't really have the whole chipmunk thing down.  Some of the dialogue and singing is really measured and not very natural.  I think this is because the speaking and singing had to be done slow and then sped up which is an unnatural process.  I assume that the producers of this record saw the success of the chipmunks and thought it would be easy to replicate.  This record shows that it wasn't.  It isn't a total disaster, but it isn't the chipmunks.


Enjoy!

Sing Along With Santa's Helpers

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Claremont High School - Christmas Gems

I picked this record up at a thrift store some time earlier this year.  I love rolling the dice with these high school or college choir albums.  They seemed to have been quite popular in the late 60's and 70's.  This one I think is particularly good not only in the quality of the performance, but the record is in pretty good shape as well.

01 We Wish You A Merry Christmas
02 Fum, Fum, Fum
03 To Bethlehem, Singing
04 A Christmas Noel
05 The Holly And The Ivy
06 Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
07 Ring Those Christmas Bells
08 The Carolers
09 What You Gonna Call Yo' Pretty Little Baby
10 Christmas Tide
11 Be Joyful, Be Merry
12 A Mountain Carol
13 Behold That Star
14 Christmas Day
15 Trepak
16 O Holy Night
17 Gloria In Excelsis

Enjoy!

Claremont High School - Christmas Gems

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