"Merry Christmas from Line Material!" Here's some history on Line Material itself, courtesy of Cooper Power Systems. All we need to know (for the purposes of this post) is that LM annually produced cool Christmas give-away 45s from 1957-1962. Whether they produced any prior to, or later than, this period, I do not know. If you know, please let me know. Know that I'll appreciate it on this Noel. Ernie has, for a year or so, been sitting on a LM 78. And sitting on 78s is not advised, at least if you want to play them in one piece.
If you're wondering why the music sounds so spectacular on these street-lamp-company holiday affairs (I've always wanted to type that), consider the talent involved: choral arranging by John McCarthy (of Ambrosia/John McCarthy Singers fame) and instrumental arranging by David Carroll (of Mercury). I know for sure they were behind Santa's Factoree, and I'm guessing they're the architects of/on the others. Line Material was apparently able to hire the best, though I'm guessing that John McCarthy's services were cheaper prior to his 1961-66 stint as choral director for the London Symphony Orchestra. (What do you mean, I guess too much?)
And my guess is that, if you haven't heard these before, you'll love them. And that you'll love them even if you have.
I've added a bonus track--the REMC (Rural Electric Membership Company) self-advertising classic of 1966 called A Delightful Story of a Boy and Girl on Christmas Eve, narrated by Jack Underwood. The REMC in question is very likely in Indianapolis (Clue: the Cranfill Advertising Agency is credited on the label. This I know because of an anonymous comment from 2005).
And Randy Meyer (not the Randy portrayed on this record) informed me that narrator Jack Underwood "did the midday show on WOWO (Fort Wayne, IN) from the early 1960s to the mid 80s. He passed away a little more than ten years ago." Many thanks to Randy for those details.
The REMC holiday side was produced for a tiny fraction of the Line Material budget, sounds like. But it's just as charming in its own way, and the REMC jingle at the end is priceless.
Hopefully, this essay made sense--I wrote it in a rush, so I can't be sure. And YOU should rush to the seven-of-a-kind Christmas classics featured here: Have a Line Material (and REMC) Christmas!
SLEIGHLIST
Santa's North Pole Band--Line Material, 1957.
The Sounds of Christmas--Line Material, 1958.
The Kinds of Christmas--Line Material, 1959.
Santa's Factoree--Line Material, 1960.
The Day That Santa Was Sick--Line Material, 1961.
Let's Trim the Christmas Tree--Line Material, 1962.
A Delightful Story of a Boy and Girl on Christmas Eve--Jack Underwood (for REMC), 1966.
Merry Christmas, from Line Material! Merry Christmas, etc.--
Lee
15 comments:
I don't know what you're talking about sometimes, Lee.
Wait, what's this pile of shellac under my chair???
I have a LM Mp3 for 1962 called "Let's Trim the Christmas Tree". I got it from one of the sharity sites. Not sure which but its definitely out there.
Thanks for all the great Christmas shares. Fabulous stuff!!
....in fact it may have come from your site! Anyway its my favorite of the lot.
Ernie,
I knew it.
Anon.,
Thanks for mentioning that one--I have it but forgot to put it up! Good grief. I will correct that immediately. Many thanks.
Yes, it may well have been here that you found it....
Lee
Oh no! Christmas. Again! Ah well, you folks enjoy and I'll see you in january.
What a great Christmas record! Sort of an industrial musical for Christmas. Can anyone confirm for me who the narrator is on song #3, The Kinds of Christmas? It sounds suspiciously like Ken Nordine. If so, this is quite a find, indeed.
Hi, Lee,
To, perhaps, answer the question of whether there were any Line Material singles beyond 1962, I came across a listing on eBay recently for a 1964 record "The Story Of Santa" and noted the "CLM McGraw-Edison" on the label. Naturally, I snapped it up (no one else placed a bid). And it arrived yesterday.
To say it lacks the charm and production values of the records you have posted would be a gross understatement. So much so that, lacking any real knowledge of these records I have to wonder if it is part of the series at all. Afterall, it doesn't say Line Material--just CLM McGraw-Edison.
The record features a rather lifeless woman reading or telling the story of Saint Nicolas over a barely audible music bed that sounds vaguely Middle Eastern. Being from Canada, the flip side is the same story in French.
Because it's such a dull record, and since my set up at home is far from ideal, I'm reluctant to waste people's time with it over at FaLaLaLaLa. But if you feel there would be any genuine interest in it, it is possible for me to do so.
Just passing that along.
Tim,
It sure sounds like Ken, but the label tells me nothing. Possibly, the booklet that came with it gave an I.D., but my sole LM booklet is for "Underground Factoree"--this is where I learned that John McCarthy and David Carroll were the guys behind the music.
It also sounds like Ken on "Let's Trim the Christmas Tree"--to my ears, at least. Wish I could find out for sure.
Stubbysfears,
Actually, I'd love to hear those. And with all the folks who remember the LM sides, you might be bringing back more memories by putting the sides up. (Not necessarily good ones, if the sides are as bad as you desribe!) A few posts back, I speculated that John McCarthy's services as choral arranger may have become too expensive for LM starting in 1961, when McCarthy became the choral director for the London Symphony Orch. (!). Suppose the 1962 LM Christmas side represented the fulfillment of McCarthy's contract--after which, we'd expect the musical quality to tank (or at least be inferior). Just a barely-educated guess on my part.
At any rate, we're documenting some significant history here, even if the '64 side is nicht so gut. If you'd be willing to rip them, I'd love to hear the sides, and I suspect many others would be, too. Thanks for the offer!
Oh, and your disc is definitely connected to/with the LM sides, at least company-wise. CLM had earlier released slightly different versions of "The Sounds of Christmas" and "Santa's Factoree." See http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/clm-industries-christmas-1961-single.html
OK, Lee, the sides are posted at FLLLL.
http://falalalala.com/smf/index.php?topic=1580.0
Don't say I didn't warn you. ;-)
You didn't warn me. (Oops--you told me not to tell you that.)
Hey, thanks! I'll check them out, and if I still have any faith in humankind left, I'll write my review.
Besides, I'm sure they're not that bad. Er, are they?
(Gulp!)
Lee
(cross-posted at FaLaLaLaLa)
Here's the link for the "Unfiltered" and unedited Line Material, Lee (and anyone else who can't want to wait for Lee to lovingly restore them).
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BJZ52O0B
There's no cover scans (or text files) in this zip.
Stubbysfears,
Thanks! I'll get on those (so to speak).
Get ready for another LM-athon, and soon, thanks to the kind contributions of yourself and Ernie.
Lee
Merry Christmas - From Line Material
Merry Christmas - From Line Material
Merry Christmas - From Line Material
Where can I get this???
I had this as a child and LOVED IT!!!
Rod
RTL777@aol.com
I had a neighbor (as a kid growing up just outside of Milwaukee) who worked for Line Material! Every Christmas he would send my sisters and i the record from LM! Still at 59 yrs. old, at Christmas the words go thru my mind. I was so EXCITED to find these here online, just in time for Christmas. Wait til I share them with my sisters. What memories!
Lynn Nowak Medrano
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