Where It All Started

As, literally, long as I can remember, I've had Songs of Christmas by Bing Crosby, a 1960 release from Decca records (cat # DL 34461).  I was born in 1964, and I can remember this record in our house, basically forever.  I think I was about 5 years old when I got a record player for Christmas, a little light blue all-in-one, with built-in speakers and 16/33/45/78 speeds.  Somewhere in the house was a larger record player, or maybe it came and went as my older sister and brother moved out and back in.  But my little blue record player stayed, and Songs of Christmas was a very frequent visitor to its turntable (along with Lorne Greene's Have a Happy Holiday and, later, many Disney soundtrack records).  

You can see on the rather worn back cover my checkmarks, showing which songs were my favorites.  "Rudolph" and "Twelve Days" were by far the most played, made easy as the first track on each side.  I'm sure my parents in our four-room home got tired of hearing these played so frequently, and throughout the year.

I've toted this record everywhere with me as I've moved about - from home to college, then from college to Kansas City (2 apartments, one townhome, and two houses).  It's where my love of Bing Crosby came from.  It's where I first learned the nickname "Der Bingle" (although it's spelled "Der Bingel" on the back of the album).  And it's absolutely the seed of my love for Christmas music.  It's the icon of nostalgia of Christmases for me, bringing back the memories that seem to fade just a bit more each year.  Seeing this record and putting it on the turntable sends me back to rural Kansas in the late 60s and early 70s.  Thanks to Linus, we all know what Christmas is all about, but running a close second for me is Bing and Songs of Christmas.

I'm sharing the music from this record, although it's all available for you to purchase or stream through every media possible.  If you want to listen to how well ol' El Bingo sounds on this one-owner 1960 vinyl, download and give a listen.  If you're the rare reader here who doesn't already have their own selections of Bing Crosby, and you like what you hear, please consider making a purchase and supporting those who continue to make this great Christmas music available.

Bing Crosby Songs of Christmas