Joyous and Merry

Tonight I have something a little different to share out.  As you may have noticed here on Merry and Bright, as well as on other Christmas Music sites, there seems to be increased scrutiny of the files we are posting to share.  Mediafire has tagged a few of my files as containing copyrighted material and blocked them from being downloaded.  While it's a little disappointing, I really don't have a problem with that method of copyright protection by the host.  My files are still there, they just aren't publicly downloadable.  As Doris Day sang, Que Sera Sera.  We move on.

So, what I have for you tonight is a share combined up from two compilation albums, and I've removed the songs that are readily available in digital format.  So, Perry Como, Chet Atkins, Robert Goulet, Mitch Miller & the Gang, Johnny Mathis, Steve and Eydie, and the great (and already quoted) Doris Day do not grace this share.

However, what is left is a great collection of music from the Norman Luboff Choir, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and (a personal favorite), the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra and Chorus, plus many more.

Two albums contributed to this share.  First, "Joyous Christmas",  a "Limited Edition Collectors Item" from Columbia Special Products produced for the Beneficial Finance System.  The second is "Merry Christmas", an excellent 1964 collection from RCA.

These albums are both excellent collections in the tradition of the best 1960s records - a terrific set of performances with great music that hearkens back to those simpler times before the internet, cell phones, and technology saturation.  Just a good ol' stereo record player and a couple of great Christmas records.

Please enjoy a special compilation "Joyous and Merry"

Quick update:  Reader Zepp pointed out a skip and repeat on one of the songs.  I hope to get that fixed tonight (12/6).  I'll re-post the entire share for those who have not downloaded it yet, and also a separate link to the single fixed song, for those who just need the one.

Update II:  Well, the replacement ZIP file was tagged as non-downloadable, but the old one isn't, and neither is the single "Rudolph".  So, please download both files in the following links, and replace the "Rudolph" in the ZIP file with the single MP3 in the second link.  Go figure...

New ZIP files:
Joyous ZIP (updated)
Merry ZIP

Christmas in NYC

As promised in an earlier post, here are a few pictures from my trip to New York City earlier in December.  I hope you enjoy them.

Near Radio City Music Hall/Rockefeller Center

Inside Tiffany & Co.

Lady Gaga's Workshop, in Barney's Department Store

Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center.  Note the other camera phones :-)

Flatiron Building.  I'm sure I'm one of the first tourists to take this picture...  ;-)

Da Nico, in Little Italy.  Had a fantastic dinner here.

A few scenes from Santaland

Windows at Tiffany & Co.

Radio City at night

Christmas Tree in Bryant Park, NY Public Library in the background.

The Origami Tree at the Museum of Natural History

Windows at Lord & Taylor - spectacular!

And, lastly, me and my wife with a Rockette.  The Rockette is the one in the middle :-)

A & P and Organ and Chimes

Two more for you today on the 22nd.

First up is "Christmas Greetings" from A&P (volume 3).  A&P was (is?) a grocery chain that, like so many grocery and department stores back in the day, released Christmas record collections featuring various artists.  Volume 3 is a 1972 release featuring some really great songs.  Per Tim Neely's book, there were 4 A&P records from 1970-1973.  A&P was not around in my part of the country, so in these parts this record is a rather unusual find.  I'm sure that in other parts of the country it's pretty common.

What caught my attention with this record is the closing song "Here's To You" by Cary Grant.  "Here's To You" was the B-side of "Christmas Lullaby", Cary Grant's 1967 single, and only Chrismas music performance.  "Here's To You", again per Tim Neely, has appeared only on the single and in this A&P collection.

Also catching my attention was "The Christmas Song" performed by Carol Burnett.  It has also appeared on two other collections, but is not something you see or hear every day.

Other great performances round out the record, including tracks by Tony Bennett, Johnny Cash, and Lynn Anderson.  Also included is a track by Barbra Streisand.  Barbra doesn't do a thing for me, Christmas music-wise or otherwise, but she has her fans out there.  Der Bingle just isn't one of them. 

A note on the cover art - the repeating Santa motif threw my image stitch application for a loop, so I had to do some manual cutting and pasting to get a workable cover image.  Apologies for poor color blends and other sub-par details in the artwork.

So, please enjoy the terrific collection A&P Christmas Greetings Vol 3.  download link

Next up is "Merry Christmas Carols with Organ and Chimes", performed on the Original Grand Wurlitzer Pipe Organ of Radio City Music Hall.  Now, Der Bingle loves Radio City Music Hall and all Christmassy things related.  So, I like this record a lot.  Generally, I hit a limit on organ/chime carols pretty quick before needing a break.  But this is a pretty good set of 17 songs.  No info on the performer.  Maybe the organ and chimes played themselves at night, ala "Night at the Museum".

Your Radio City fix for the day:  download link

Christmas in July

Here we are, past June 25, closer to Christmas 2011 than Christmas 2010.  At nearly 100 degrees outside in Kansas City, it doesn't feel too Christmassy right now.  But, in the Christmas in July spirit that is present on so many places on the Internet, I have a share or two for you.

First up is an album of Organ and Chimes Music, starring the Original Wurlitzer from Radio City Music Hall.  There's not much information about the album - no artists credited, no orchestras.  Just organ and chimes music from the Radio City Music Hall organ.

There is a lot of organ Christmas music out there, and when it's just the organ, I'm kind of so-so about it.  However, the chimes on these arrangements add a lot to the music, as well as the song selections.  One of my favorite Christmas songs is "The Cherry Tree Carol", so I was glad to see it on this album.  The medley of carols that closes the record is very nice too.

So, please enjoy the unknown musicians on chimes and organ on "Merry Christmas Carols with Organ and Chimes".

download link

Christmas Holidays at Radio City Music Hall

Best album cover ever.

For Sunday, December the 19th, I am pleased to share the 1958 record "Christmas Holidays at Radio City Music Hall". 

I am a big fan of the Radio City Christmas program.  I've been fortunate enough to see their touring group twice here in Kansas City, and I have a couple CDs, one the music from the show, the other featuring the Rockettes singing Christmas songs.  One item on my bucket list is to see the show in NYC (hopefully just a year away...). 

I was able to obtain this record a few weeks ago, as an addition to my (very small) RCMH collection.  It's a  beauty of a record, and the music is outstanding.  This album was recorded in March, 1958 at Radio City Music Hall, under the direction of Raymond Paige.  It features Dick Leibert on the Grand Organ, and, of course, the Rockettes!

There are only 7 tracks on the album (a track list image is included in the zip file).

Included in the album is a 10-page booklet with stories and information about the program, and many wonderful pictures.  Unfortunately, at this time I can't share them out.  My home scanner won't quite manage it without risking damage, because the booklet is attached to the fold-out album sleeve.  I'll work on it, and will repost here if I can successfully get the booklet scanned too.  But I wanted to get the music shared out before the 2010 season ends.

So for now, enjoy the music and album cover from Christmas at Radio City, 1958.

download link

A Mighty Good Album

Tonight's album is Ashley Miller's "Holiday Music", played on the Mighty Organ of The Radio City Music Hall. According to the notes on the back cover, Ashley Miller was the organist at Radio City Music Hall for many years. This record is a very nice recording of tradional Christmas carols, including a few medleys. A very enjoyable record, and the first of at least two (maybe more) shares related to Radio City Music Hall.

Great cover art, too - Christmas decor at Rockefeller Center, circa Nineteen something something.

For your listening pleasure, Ashley Miller at the Mighty Organ of the Radio City Music Hall.

download link