Organs and Bells!

Here on December 23rd, I'm wrapping up sharing season with a pair of fine vintage albums, guaranteed to boost your Christmas spirit.  As I was enjoying the early morning today with my canine buddies, coffee, and Christmas books, I listened to these albums.  They were perfect for the moment.

That Happy Christmas Feeling - The Organ Orchestra

"That Happy Christmas Feeling" by the Organ Orchestra on the RCA Camden label, is as aptly titled as any Christmas album in my collection.  The ten songs are all Christmas standards, smartly arranged, and indeed very 'happy' in the performance.  This is an absolutely festive album, full of the sounds of mid-century America that we in the collector community find so nostalgic and heart-warming.  This is absolutely a wonderful record!

I hope that you can find time in these last couple of days before Christmas day to download and enjoy "That Happy Christmas Feeling".

<download link>

Ring! Christmas Bells - Arthur Lynds Bigelow

And the final share of this season is "Ring! Christmas Bells" by Arthur Lynds Bigelow, Bell Master Laureate, Carillon School of Mechlin Belgium and Bell Master of Princeton University.   As with the Organ Orchestra album, "Ring! Christmas Bells" brings the sounds of Christmas 1960's back into your home.  Twelve songs, including a few that are likely new to you, of organ and bells will fill your parlor (does anyone have parlors these days?) with fine performances of spiritual Christmas songs.  

Mr. Bigelow performs on hand bells, carillon bells, and sleigh bells, all accompanied by organist Marjorie MacComb.  Extensive program and performance notes on the album back cover provide you with a vivid picture of the sessions and song selections.

As you can see, the album has been well-loved over the years.  The cover is held together with masking tape, but the album sound was quite good, although it may have a few more residual pops and clicks than usual.  

Please enjoy "Ring! Christmas Bells"

<download link>