Sunday, December 9, 2012

Christmas Deja Vu

So, I'm browsing through the record bins at a local thrift store, and a green metallic cover catches my eye.  "Wishing You a Merry Christmas" the title beckons.   The cover is a retro-chic shiny object.  I am compelled to pick it up and look further.

Whoa!  Look at this!  It's a red vinyl album inside the shiny green sleeve!  I love colored vinyl.  I even have a blue vinyl version of Elvis' "Moody Blue" framed and hanging on the wall in my Elvis room (yes indeed - an Elvis room).  So, what could be better than a bright red vinyl record of Christmas music.  The artist is Johnny Cole and his Chorus.  Ok - I'll pay the 99 cents and give it a new home.



Now we come to rip-to-vinyl time.  Hey - I think I've heard this before.  Like last year (or was it the year before?) when I shared out Johnny Kay.  I think there's a thread out on a Christmas blog somewhere about Johnny Cole/Johnny Kay and his releases through the years. 

There are at least five songs on Johnny Cole's album that weren't on Johnny Kay's.  And, on the songs in common, even though Johnny's vocal tracks are very similar, the arrangements and instrumentation is different.  So, as it turns out, it is a different record than the Johnny Kay share.  And, best of all, the music is really pretty good.

So, here you go - Johnny Cole and his Chorus - "Wishing You a Merry Christmas"

New link location as a Google Doc.  Please comment and let me know if you are able to access and download:

download link

12 comments:

  1. Mediafire did it again
    flagged it as copyright protected

    Perhaps a torrent file or another file sharing service?

    Unless someone has you in his/hers scope for some reason and reports your posts.

    Anyway thanks for your effort to bring wonderful
    music in our attention.

    Stay well

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  2. How about a torrent file? That way we can assist in sharing it out to others.

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  3. The google link worked fine and it downloaded in seconds. Thank you.

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  4. It dl'ed for me in no time. Thank you for a new addition to the library, der Bingle. Cheers!

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  5. Worked just fine and fast.
    Thank you.

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  6. Worked just fine. Thank you. Best regards, Frank

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  7. Wow!!! That was Speedy! Great Idea!

    Thanks a lot and Happy Holidays!

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  8. Thanks for all the good reports. Looks like I'll be transferring some more files over to Google Docs for sharing.

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  9. This Album was also released as Christmas Songs for Young Hearts by Gene Martin .... at least I think some of the songs on your rip are the same ....

    So this guy went under three names ....

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  10. I would like help in researching more info about this singer. This is what I have so far: John Kaminski recorded as Johnny Kay and Johnny Cole, and possibly Gene Martin. The Christmas music album that I grew up listening to, which you posted on your blog in 2010 as by Johnny Kay with Al Goodman and his Orchestra, was released by the Diplomat label. It appears to have been re-released as by Johnny Kay with the Abbey Chorus on the Crown Label.

    There are other albums by this singer released by Crown as Johnny Kay with the Robert Evans Chorus, which are available for purchase on iTunes. These include albums of Italian songs, Hymns, and others.

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    Replies
    1. *edit to above comment: the albums available on iTunes are listed as by Johnny COLE, not Johnny Kay.

      When I google search Johnny Kay, I only get your blog posting from 2010 or the occasional listing on ebay for that very Christmas album.

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  11. Hey, Johnny Kay has a facebook page!! Be sure to LIKE it and check out his Christmas Candle and One Blue Carnation videos on Youtube!! I am sure you all are wondering where he is as much as I am. I hope he is still alive!!! He has to have family somewhere!!

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