Music You (Possibly) Won't Hear Anyplace Else

Sunday morning gospel--Terry Pillow returns

2012-01-28T22:31:00.018-05:00

I've always wanted to type "Terry Pillow returns," and this will probably be my only chance. We heard four of these at the beginning of this very month--now we have six more, for a total of four plus six. Now, I know what you're asking: Were these, at the time of recording, the ten best known hymns? Answer: Who knows? Kind of ambiguous, really, since they may have simply been the ten best known to the compilers. No, I suspect they--"they" being the Varsity group of junk labels--had ten tracks to stick on a 10" LP and needed a title, whereupon these became the "ten best known hymns." Will the world ever know? Will the world ever ask?

Granted, Onward Christian Soldiers and Rock of Ages are definitely ten-best-known-hymns material, but How Beautiful Heaven Must Be? And what happened to Jesus Loves Me? The absence of Amazing Grace is no surprise, though, since it only relatively recently became an all-round standard.

Given that we don't even know who Terry Pillow is, I suppose the bigger questions can wait.

What about the sound? Well, Varsity's LPs, "vinyl filled" or no, were third-rate products, so... pretty bad. A less noisy pressing would have helped a lot. But the music--a cross between the Chuck Wagon Gang and the Sons of the Pioneers--is exceptional. So there are times when the noise of the pressing threatens to swallow the "full" fidelity--so what? I think it just adds to the crap-label ambience. Or maybe I just described the ambience. And how come Spell Check doesn't recognize "ambience"?

So many questions, so few search strategies. So, are you going to keep on reading this, or are you going to download this gem in its tacky entirety? To the music: Terry Pillow Singers--The Ten Best Known Hymns

ROCK OF AGES
ABIDE WITH ME
WHAT A FRIEND
NEARER MY GOD TO THEE
SOFTLY AND TENDERLY
ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
HOW BEAUTIFUL HEAVEN MUST BE
THE CHURCH IN THE WILDWOOD
IN THE SWEET BY AND BY
JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE

Terry Pillows Singers--The Ten Best Known Hymns (Varsity 6917)

Lee

Johnny Otis--he helped form the foundation of a style that would, in time, help provide the basis for the, etc.

2012-01-26T16:36:00.019-05:00

The major, major rock and roll pioneer Johnny Otis, who has passed away at the age of 90, wasn't black, but he's gotten the media treatment reserved for those black artists who dared to rock B.E. (Before Elvis). Namely, he's been dutifully shuffled into a Star Trek-style critical realm someplace between space and time, his long and powerhouse musical career condensed into such vacuities as, "Mr. Otis played an important role in creating a new sound for a new audience of young urban blacks. With a few years it would form the foundation of rock 'n' roll." That was the New York Times, whose pop music reviews and obits are a clearinghouse of received wisdom. The received wisdom, in this case, being the Elvis myth, wherein anything that rocked B.E. is an instance of almost-rock, or something-like-R&B, or "not quite there yet." You know the story--rock and roll was for many years on the verge of happening, but its Caucasian Savior had yet to glide into view.

And so we watch Johnny Otis, one of the inventors and promoters of rock and roll, memorialized in the standard "He helped lay the foundation for the structure that would grow, over time, into an influence for those forms which, once Elvis showed up, would play an important supporting role in influencing those artists and recordings and songs that would help play an often major role in the eventual development of...." treatment. You spend a long career fighting to stay popular, striving to keep producing hits, weathering the twists and turns of a cruel industry, but in the end the press gets ya.

Anyway, here are two of Otis' rockingest sides, both from the late 1940s, and both reminding us that, despite massive quantities of nonsense to the contrary, rock and roll/R&B started out as a type of jazz instrumental. More on that after these tracks.

Midnight in the Barrelhouse, 1947: MATB
Head Hunter, 1949: HH

On to others. Did I say jazz? As in, big band jazz? Yes. Though the pop press has the R&B genre maybe, sort of, more or less starting to begin, oh, about 1950-ish, the following, famous 1940 big band track by Erskine Hawkins is one of THE templates for same, and it's an earlier version of Midnight in the Barrelhouse, to boot (which, in turn, is an earlier version of Bill Doggett's Honky Tonk). Take away the jazz feel (and the band backing), and it's mainly classic piano boogie woogie:

After Hours--Erskine Hawkins and His Orch., w. Avery Parrish, 1940.

From the same period (late '30s/early '40s), two more vintage R&B/rock and roll numbers, the second by Lionel Hampton, whose sound was hugely like Otis', only earlier. Both demonstrate that hard-rocking blues sides were part of the popular jazz canon of the day, despite the common claim that such sides were a post-big band phenomenon and/or specifically fashioned for a later audience:

Back Beat Boogie--Harry James and His Orch., 1939. (When I first listened to this on a 45 reissue, I was sure it had to be a much later remake, that nothing could have sounded like this in 1939.)

Hamp's Boogie Woogie No. 1--Lionel Hampton and His Orch., 1944.

Hamp, again, with a smoother version of Johnny Otis. From 1949:

Beulah's Sister's Boogie--Lionel Hampton and His Orch., 1949.

Meanwhile, in the late 1940s, plenty of black popular discs rocked harder and less elegantly (and just as potently):

Fat Girl Boogie--Peppermint Harris, 1949.

Does any of this sound like music in search of an identity or in need of some special jumpstart to make it as chart "crossover" material? But such continues to be the insulting media narrative.

Lee

Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan! So there.

2012-01-22T12:42:00.002-05:00

As you can see, my Casio WK-3800 has grown considerably. Today, we hear your blogger playing the first portion of a Bach setting of Was Gott tut on two Casio WK-3800 organ voices. As I type this, I have yet to check out the C.'s virtual organ slides--instead, I've been sprucing up the sound with MAGIX. I are high tech.

Then, I quickly arranged Was Gott tut as Erik Satie might have harmonized it circa 1899. I'm amazed by how beautifully the melody sounds through the noise of all the wrong chord changes. It helps, of course, that the tune is in the top voice (i.e., that the other three parts are functioning as accompaniment).

I concocted the "Satie" arrangement in two-beat segments, so what you're hearing is a lot of spliced-together phrases. Thanks to digital editing, even I can't detect the seams, and I made them.

To Was Gott tut:

Was Gott tut (Bach)--Lee Hartsfeld, Casio WK-3800 (Church 1)

Was Gott tut (Bach)--Lee Hartsfeld, Casio WK-3800 (Chapel Organ)

Was Gott tut, As Possibly Arranged By Erik Satie (Arr: Lee Hartsfeld)

Lee

Sunday morning gospel--The Crossroads Quartet

2012-01-22T00:01:00.002-05:00

If you came here for country gospel, boy, are you in the exact right place--pull up a chair and sit a spell. (But, if it's winter when you're reading this, keep your shoes on.) This terrific gospel quartet was led by Arthur "Guitar" Smith (of Guitar Boogie fame), and these are some of their earliest recordings for MGM, as reissued in fake--i.e., "electronically enhanced"--stereo on MGM's Metro label. The LP is from 1965; the tracks date from 1954-1957.

And you won't have to endure the fake, pushed-to-one-channel effect produced by the Metro engineers--your blogger has restored these numbers to their original one-channel glory. Luckily, Metro's brand of fake stereo is easily undone.

It just occurred to me that fake stereo could just as easily be dubbed fake mono, which would linguistically work better with the concept of "restoring to...." That is, instead of claiming that I've restored fake stereo to mono, I could boast that I've returned fake mono to authentic mono. After all, "fake" stereo sounds like something yearning to become true stereo. Discuss amongst yourselves.

This is expertly done country gospel, and you're going to love it. It's hard to review tracks like these--better to put them up and let them work their considerable magic. I've always wanted to type "work their considerable magic." Is that a young Ed Schultz on the, er, far right?

Click here to hear: Crossroads Quartet--Inspirational Songs

TRACKLIST

I've Been with Jesus (1954)
The Old Hymns (1954)
Aren't You Glad You've Got Religion (1954)
The Sunshine of His Love (1954)
I Saw a Man (1954)
I've Heard About a City (1955)
The Fourth Man (1955)
Jacob's Ladder (1956)
You Are the Finger of God (1957)

(Metro MS-528; material from 1954-57)

Lee

31 Days of Oscar Registered Trademark!!

2012-01-21T11:47:00.009-05:00

Like me, do you find yourself saying (either aloud or in your head so people won't stare at you), "When is TCM going to get around to showing Gone With the Wind, From Here to Eternity, Casablanca, North By Northwest, Singin' in the Rain, Mister Roberts, and Giant? When, I ask you?? When??"

Well, we're in luck--it's nearly time for TCM's 31 Days of Oscar Registered Trademark (Oscar®)! For 31 days, TCM will air movies that have received "one or more Academy Awards Registered Trademark (Academy Awards®), and/or nominations." Which means TCM will finally, at long last, air flicks like On the Town, The Adventures of Robin Hood, and Grand Hotel. I daresay it won't even seem like TCM. I imagine the following dialogue taking place in homes across America®:

Husband: Honey, what cable channel is this? It says TCM, but I have my doubts.
Wife: Oh, that's TCM, all right. They just go a little crazy in February with a whole month of Oscar Registered Trademark (Oscar®) films.
Husband: Are you sure? Since when do they ever show North By Northwest?

Oh, well. Despite February, I love TCM. To my knowledge, it's the only major cable channel that does what it does. Once upon a time, showing old movies was called "TV." Now it seems like a revolutionary programming concept. Except in February.

Lee

Sunday morning gospel--Singing the Gospel (Modern Sound MS-805)

2012-01-14T22:51:00.020-05:00

Ever seen a front jacket that's 90 degrees out of sync? If not, you have now. And we know it's the front jacket that's off, since, unlike the back jacket, it doesn't properly line up with the opening. Pick up this LP with the front jacket rightside up, and the record falls out. Since the label is Modern Sound, specialists in sound-alike singles and fourth-rate compilations thereof, none of this surprises us. What should surprise us, however, are the first-rate tracks and original artists to be found here. (Original, as opposed to people mimicking name artists.) Budget labels usually followed the free-market principle of less for less, but here we have an actual bargain on, of all things, a bargain label.

Oh, and let's not forget all those cut-rate Modern Sound Christmas releases, lovingly cataloged at Ernie (Not Bert). That link should take you to a page of Ernie's Modern Sound posts, but links have a way of not linking, sometimes. (Hold on. It's working.)

By the way, I love cheap labels. Imagine the things I'd say if I didn't love them.

Today's playlist is a mix of first-rate country gospel and first-rate Southern quartet material, all by "name" groups. Musically, an 8.5 or 9. Pressing-wise, a 6, but the tracks are good and loud, so hiss issues are minimal. Meanwhile, in our 18-cat house, we're having more than our share of hiss issues, especially with the beasts snowed in like this. Gospel music to their rescue:

Singing the Gospel--Various Artists (Modern Sound MS 805)

HE SAVED MY SOUL--Sego Bros. and Naomi
WHEN I PRAY--The McCormick Singers
IN THAT GLAD TOMORROW--The Sunshine Girls
JESUS CAN SAVE--The Georgians Quartet
OUT OF THE WILDERNESS--Wall Fowler and the Oak Ridge Q.
NEVER GROW OLD--The Sons of Song
I'LL BE A FRIEND--The Florida Boys
RICHEST POOR MAN ON EARTH--The Dixie Echoes
BROTHER WILL MEET YOU THERE--The Foggy River Boys
SINGING ALL THE TIME--The Georgians Quartet

Lee

I hope to have...

2012-01-13T03:30:00.004-05:00

...some music up and running before too long. ("Before too long" is one ambiguous phrase, isn't it?)

In other news, I'm clearing my second hard drive of music files, which involves burning and labeling, so it's not a quick process. I've also made a giant leap in Operation Get Media Room Under Control. After making several minor dents in the mess over the past few months, I have, over the space of a couple days, restored nearly half the room to order. There's a walkway now. I can call Hoarders and tell them to cancel the film crew.

And, in case I've ever sounded like a conservative believer, don't believe it. Otherwise, why would I agree completely with this NYT op-ed? The Ministerial Exception.

They're right--the decision runs a truck over the whole government neutrality principle. Worse yet, the decision simply makes no sense. None. Zero. Not on any level of logic, anyway--on a legal level, yeah, probably. There's sense sense, and there's legal sense.

Lee

Sunday morning gospel: Terry Pillow Singers, Faith for Today TV Quartet

2012-01-07T22:59:00.009-05:00

Just a note that today's selections weren't meant to thematically fit in with Epiphany--they're simply the contents of two 7" gospel discs I'd set aside for this series. One is a Royale label 45 EP featuring the Terry Pillow(!) Singers, the other a 7" vinyl Faith for Today-connected 78 (see above). I've always wanted to type "a 7" vinyl Faith for Today-connected 78." At last, my lifelong wish realized.

The Terry Pillow material turns out to be excellent, almost cowboy-style, gospel, while the Faith for Today TV Quartet gives us the kind of note-perfect harmonizing we expect to hear from... well, look at the picture. You just know right away that these guys can sing! Violinist Virginia Fagal is also outstanding.

Though the sleeve claims, "This is a standard 78 rpm record," I used an LP needle and heard no reason to switch. Meanwhile, a Google check reveals that Faith for Today is still around on TV. Far out! Good tunes, good singing--that's my Giant Eagle advantage. (Wait--wrong commercial.)

Click here to hear: Sunday morning gospel--Terry Pillow, FFT Quartet

TERRY PILLOW SINGERS (Royale EP-112)

1. ROCK OF AGES
2. THE CHURCH IN THE WILDWOOD
3. ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
4. NEARER MY GOD TO THEE

FAITH FOR TODAY QUARTET

5. IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST I GLORY

PASTOR WILLIAM A. FAGAL

6. THE STORY OF "IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST I GLORY."

(No label or label # on disc!)

Lee

So long, Christmas 2011

2012-01-07T07:57:00.005-05:00

And so came the time to take down the lights, retire the tree, and store the Christmas kitsch. Thank you, Hong Kong creches and Santas and snowmen--Christmas isn't Christmas without you.

A photo tribute to these most important holiday players:

Great headlines of late: Fly discovered on Moon as robots grow careers.

2012-01-07T01:46:00.010-05:00

Wow! Life discovered on the Moon! At least, according to this msn.com headline:

Fly Inside Giant Moon Crater. Wow! I wonder if it's a giant fly?

And this gem, from our big city newspaper:

Mighty Careers from High-School Robots Grow

We still have many days to go, 2012-wise, but I doubt a more bizarre headline is coming our way than "Mighty Careers from High-School Robots Grow." At least it doesn't say, "as High-School Robots Grow."

Lee

Bright Portals of the Sky; March of the Three Kings

2012-01-06T23:28:00.004-05:00

Two selections from Hodie, ripped from the 1965 Angel recording of this great Ralph Vaughan Williams cantata. Texts and text credits have been scanned form the jacket (below).

Bright Portals of the Sky (Vaughan Williams)

March of the Three Kings

Epiphany and the 12th Day of Christmas

2012-01-06T03:17:00.009-05:00

I hope to put up some Three Wise Men selections (the theme, not the group) before this day is o'er--I mean, over. Right now, we have the magnificent 1964 EP, Songs of Faith and Doubt, featuring six religious songs by the late, brilliant Sydney (Lord of the Dance) Carter, sung and played by Donald Swann. My previous copy of this EP (a thrifted copy, of course) was pretty banged up, with only two playable selections. I recently got a new copy and have listened to the entire EP for the first time. The experience is best described as life-altering.

(The Rat Race, by the way, doesn't quite thematically fit with the rest, but I don't complain.)

Carter was a Christian--as in, a very liberal one--and his songs are powerful stuff. Some are mind-blowing, like Every Star shall sing a Carol, which describes the birth and death of a cosmic savior--known by different names in different instances--occurring again and again across time and space. Others, especially Friday Morning, make John Lennon's Imagine sound as controversial as a thumping car jingle:

You can blame it on to Pilate,
You can blame it on the Jews,
You can blame it on the Devil, but it's God I accuse.
It's God they ought to crucify instead of you and me,
I said it to the carpenter a-hanging on the tree.

Christmas is about birth and rebirth, a theme which dominates these marvelous texts and tunes, so beautifully rendered by Donald Swann. This album is an absolute joy and honor to share.

To the faith and doubt: Songs of Faith and Doubt (Syney Carter)--Donald Swann, 1964.

LORD OF THE DANCE
THE DEVIL WORE A CRUCIFIX
THE RAT RACE
EVERY STAR SHALL SING A CAROL
THE MASK I WORE
FRIDAY MORNING

Songs of Faith and Doubt (by Sydney Carter)--Donald Swann (Argo ZFA-48; 1964)

Lee

Merry Christmas Songs (Varsity 6905)

2012-01-05T05:51:00.003-05:00

Varsity was a joke, even by cheap label standards. An Elliott Everett "Eli" Oberstein label (so that's where "Elliott Everett" comes from!), Varsity discs sounded like crap, basically. At least, I've yet to find one that doesn't, and I've had a lot of these critters. Varsity pressings are worse than Royale or Remington. I have a theory that any good pressings made by Varsity were an accident--and probably tossed out immediately by the quality control people.

But, of course, some of the music on Varsity was cool enough. And this collection is delightfully tacky and dime-store. I coaxed some decent sound out of it, though you'll hear surface issues, along with three jumps early on. I didn't want to alter the source document too much. We want to retain something of the full Varsity experience.

Three pop selections, with the rest choir, recorded God-knows-where by God-knows-who. You'll feel cheap after downloading this.

Merry Christmas Songs (Varsity 6905)--No artists credited!

WHITE CHRISTMAS
O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM; GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN
JOY TO THE WORLD; IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR; HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING
SILENT NIGHT
ADESTE FIDELES
SILENT NIGHT
HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS
THE FIRST NOEL; AWAY IN A MANGER

Merry Christmas Songs (Varsity 6905)

Lee

Real kids, followed by fake kids

2012-01-04T05:18:00.004-05:00

Both of today's 45s appear to have been victims of jukebox play, especially the first one (Lori Ann Wagner & Bill Boehm's Singing Angels), but my Stanton stylus is very forgiving, at least when coupled with MAGIX ingenuity. Both sides track much better than they ought to, and I do not gripe. Well, I do, actually, but not when my audio tricks work.

That last sentence was an up-too-late-at-the-blog classic.

Anyway, I got good sound out of two fairly hammered discs, and that's what I live for. See? I'm not high-maintenance in the happiness department.

The first side features real youth (and angels, to boot); the second features grown-up singers billed as "Kids." Very professional sounding "kids," too, though the arrangement seems too early-eighties for 1986. I hope you enjoyed this entertaining intro!

Santa Got Stuck in the Chimney--Lori Ann Wagner and Bill Boehm's Singing Angels

I'm Waiting for Santa--Showcase Kids (D-Track 61106X; 1986)

Lee

Have a Little Susie Christmas!

2012-01-04T04:47:00.005-05:00

I hate to be the bearer of bad grooves, but....

From 1956, a 2009 repeat. (Wait a minute....) I mean, from 2009, a 1956 repeat. Now, my Christmas-record tolerance is as high as anyone's, and much higher than most folks', but I still find these two sides god-awful in a way that's impossible to describe. So, enjoy!

I know nothing about "Little Susie," except that the voice actor was obviously an adult male. These two sides sound like they were coughed up in less time than it took to wax them.

So, enjoy! (I already said that, didn't I?)

Who Put the Gum... uses Ten Little Indians for its melody, and I just realized the following words can be sung to it: Stop, make it stop, please make it stop. Stop, make it stop, please make it stop. Stop, make it stop, please make it stop. I'll do anything. And so on.

I don't recognize the second melody. It probably doesn't recognize me, either. Enjoy!

Who Put the Gum in Santa's Whiskers? Little Susie, 1956.

Christmas Season--Same, um, person.

Lee

On the (10th? 11th?) day of Christmas....

2012-01-04T04:19:00.009-05:00

First of all, let me explain that wrist pain is the reason for the lack of posts on these twelve days of Christmas. It started about a week ago in my right wrist, and I had to lay off of playing the keyboard and making sound files--meanwhile, I've been using a heating pad on my wrist, which has almost done the trick. Mild pain remains, and of course I'm hoping it departs ASAP. Anyway, that's why I haven't been busier than an over-caffeinated elf on December 24.

Exactly what to call it, I don't know. It can't be tennis elbow, because 1) I don't play tennis, and 2) it's not my elbow.

Another problem: Is the twelfth day of Christmas tomorrow, or is it Friday? Wikipedia says that the twelve days of C. start on the 25th, but people seem to start them the day after. (As in, those people who celebrate them.) So, it must be the 26th, which would make today Day 10. And f it was good enough for Medieval Christians, then, by Merv, it's good enough for me.

Speaking of me--I mean, Merv--a Christmas without Merv's Christmas City would be way less of a Christmas. And so we have a new file of this terrific single, though I left the flip side alone. It's not a bad flip side, by any means, but anything's a letdown after this, the ultimate celebrity-sung, local-festival recording.

Merv is joined by Paddy Roberts, whose Merry Christmas You Suckers got many thank-yous when I first posted it back in, um... 2005? Anyway, it's standard holiday cynicism with an apocalyptic reference tossed in, and I've always wanted to type that. Very well done. I found it lying in a thrift-store box of records, hiding between the LPs. What I was doing lying in a thrift-store box of recordings, hiding between the LPs, I'll never remember.

So, on this tenth day of Christmas:

Christmas City--Merv Griffin, year unknown.

Merry Christmas You Suckers--Paddy Roberts, 1962.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

2011-12-31T23:48:00.002-05:00

Wish I had New Year's Eve music, but I do not. Not that I expect anyone is tuning in to this blog seeking sounds for Dec. 31/Jan. 1. No one is saying, "It's just not the old year turning into the new year without some music from Lee's blog."

At least, I hope no one is saying that.

With the arrival of 2012, let us all strive to, um.... I don't know.

I just removed a previous post, which in turn linked to a "text" blog piece about Chris Rodda and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation--a cynical piece, to be sure, and written without nearly enough background on the organization and its goals. I ran off half-cocked. (No, not literally, har, har.) Something I don't do very often, unless once a day is your definition of "very often."

Not all organizations standing up for religious freedom are using that phrase to shield frivolous litigation. Whatever I think of the MRFF's methods--and I don't know enough to judge--, they're responding to very real and serious matters. Which is more than I'm doing by questioning their sincerity.

Anyway, HAPPY NEW YEAR! And look for Sunday Morning Gospel to return, bright and early, on (let's see) the 8th of January! Meanwhile, the twelve days of Christmas are still happening.

Lee

"Jingle Bell Rock"-athon!

2011-12-31T03:22:00.003-05:00

All from discs in my collection. I'd meant to include the version by "The Mistletoe Singers and Members of the Mistletoe Orch.," but no matter--it was just the 1970 Bobby Helms recording, recredited. I used to think that the Jingle Bell Rock featured on Certron, Misteltoe, and related labels was Bobby Helms' 1967 Little Darlin' version, but no. Completely different. And three years later.

Speaking of the 1967 Little Darlin' label version, note that the country-rocking 1983 version on Black Rose was produced by the same person, Aubrey Mayhew. Now you know.

The Helms Power Pak version (1975) is not, as I had thought, the Misteltoe recording. Just all kinds of surprises in store when I put this playlist together. I didn't include the original 1957 hit, since it's all over Youtube.

To the Jingle Hop: Jingle Bell Rock-athon

TITLE/ARTIST/LABEL NAME/YEAR

JINGLE BELL ROCK--Bobby Helms (Certron/Mistletoe; 1970)
JINGLE BELL ROCK--Bobby Helms (Power Pak; 1975)
JINGLE BELL ROCK--Bobby Helms (Little Darlin', 1967)
JINGLE BELL ROCK--Bobby Helms (Kapp; 1965)
JINGLE BELL ROCK--Bobby, again (Black Rose; 1983)
I WANTA GO TO SANTA CLAUS LAND--Bobby Helms (Flip of Little Darlin' single above)
JINGLE BELL ROCK--Christmas Guitars (Power Pak)
JINGLE BELL ROCK--Mistletoe Singers and Members of the M. Orch. (a.k.a. Bobby Helms)

Lee

Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite in Dance Tempo (1942)

2011-12-31T00:23:00.005-05:00

On the seventh day of Christmas, I posted Tchai-kov-sky....

This Freddy Martin EP set first saw life on this blog in Christmas of 2008. And here it is again, with a new rip and a new scan. In fact, the previous image was a photo, so this baby is really stepping up in the blogosphere. I have no idea what I just typed.

Fabulous Ray Austin arrangements of Tchaikovsky's wonderful ballet suite--a suite which remains as masterful and imaginative as when we first heard it 80,000 times ago. And it really shines in this dance band treatment. Heck, it would sound musical played on a rubber-band-and-shoe-box banjo. Arena-rock treatments, however....

Download without delay: Nutcracker Suite in Dance Tempo--Freddy Martin and His Orch.

OVERTURE MINIATURE
MARCH
DANCE OF THE SUGAR PLUM FAIRY
RUSSIAN DANCE
ARAB DANCE
CHINESE DANCE
DANCE OF THE REED FLUTES
WALTZ OF THE FLOWERS

(RCA EP-3052; Orig. recorded in 1942.)

Lee

The fourth day of Christmas, Pt. 2: Gilbert Girard as Santa Claus (1918)

2011-12-28T20:01:00.005-05:00

From my 12" 78 rpm copy. Cool sound effects. Unlike later recordings of this type, these Gilbert Girard-narrated sides don't feature a traditional narration; instead, they're made to sound like real-time audio documents. An odd but charming approach. Now, in case you want these two files to sound more like the Internet norm, simply load them into audio software and max the noise filter until you've got the proper metallic, gurgly, sonar-return effect. I'm always thrilled when someone swipes my shellac rips and destroys them in that manner, and I'm perfectly okay with the lack of credit, since I wouldn't want my name anyplace near the results. Merry Christmas!

To the descriptive specialties with imitations:

Santa Claus Talks About His Toy Shop (Girard)--Gilbert Girard (Victor 35679; 1918)

Santa Claus Gives Away His Toys (Girard)--Same.

Lee

Christmas Medley, 2011

2011-12-28T07:07:00.005-05:00

On the fourth day of Christmas, I posted this for thee: Christmas Medley...

Me on the Casio WK-3800, using a variety of voices, with:

Good King Wenceslas
Carol of the Bells
The Holly the Ivy
I Saw Three Ships
O Come, Little Children
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Gather Around
Deck the Hall
Glad Christmas Bells
Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
The One Horse Open Sleigh

Click here to hear: Christmas Medley, 2011--Lee Hartsfeld on the Casio

Lee

Three Christmas bloggers get a write-up in the Guardian!

2011-12-23T13:07:00.003-05:00

The Christmas blogging of Ernie, Der Bingle , and Stubby has earned a write-up in the UK Guardian: Click to Download: Undiscovered Christmas Tunes. Congrats to all!

Of course, the piece just has to start with a quote about the general awfulness of Christmas music. Cliches, cliches. But they're called cliches for a reason, I suppose. Generally speaking, Christmas bloggers don't agree with that received idea. Would we be blogging Christmas music if we did? (Smile face)

Note: the Guardian's Merry and Bright link doesn't work. Someone pointed this out in the comments, but it remains as is.

Congrats again to the Guardian-featured bloggers. (I've always wanted to type that.)

(I must be on Google Chrome--my paragraphs are double-spacing. Yup, I am.)

Lee

Lord of the Dance, Every Star Shall Sing a Carol

2011-12-23T05:04:00.006-05:00

Two Sydney Carter songs for our Christmas, brilliantly performed by Donald Swann. Ripped from my thrifted 45 EP.

Click here to hear: Lord of the Dance, Every Star Shall Sing a Carol--Donald Swann

From Songs of Faith and Doubt (Argo EAF-48; 1964)

Lee

The War on Facts--another M(Y)PWHAE almost-rant

2011-12-22T16:54:00.014-05:00

Weary of hearing the media's version of Christmas history, which after all is mainly a rebuttal of the Tea Party, I wrote this essay: The War on Facts--Christmas 2011 edition. It's over at my text blog for those who don't want a long post interrupting the music shares. Hey, I'm flexible. Though much less so than my younger days....

Anyway, Christmas has become the season for ridiculing the conservative plaint that Christ is being taken out of Christmas. Never mind that the conservatives are absolutely correct. No, I'm nothing close to a conservative, but I draw the line at misrepresenting history to score a point. When the right is right, it's right. And I envy them for the "right/right" correlation just illustrated.

So, mosey on over to my text blog and, if nothing else, enjoy the vintage-songbook scans I included with the essay.

Lee

Gilmar Holiday Favorites: Vocals & Orchestra!

2011-12-22T04:14:00.005-05:00

"Vocals and Orchestra" (see label credit) was a pretty popular group back in the day. Seems they did a lot of work for the cheapo labels. I understand they often performed on stage with "Stars of Radio and Television" and "Popular Artists."

What we have on this 45-rpm Gilmar label EP are tracks previously released on Royale and Varsity. Some have been shortened to fit into the medley format--Jingle Bells, for instance, lasts all of about 12 seconds. Sound quality is fairly decent, despite some crackle from a bad pressing and jammed-together grooves. Each side clocks in at about seven minutes!

If this were a Christmas-only blog, I'd call it A Cheap Christmas. Download without delay:

Gilmar Holiday Favorites, Parts 1 and 2

Sixteen familiar carols, hymns, songs, and ballet selections which I don't feel like listing!

Lee

Charles Laughton: The Oldest Christmas Story, The Story of the Three Wise Men (1944)

2011-12-21T04:28:00.004-05:00

From 1944, it's Charles Laughton narrating The Oldest Christmas Story and The Story of the Three Wise Men. These would have made a great Line Material release for that year, but it was not to be. While my 78 looks downright mint, it has surface hiss to spare. Luckily, the hiss filter killed most of it, though the fidelity is pretty blah. In my collecting experience, Decca 78s from this period tend to be lo-fi. But these are well-done and fun, blah fidelity or no.

The Oldest Christmas Story--C. Laughton, 1944.
The Story of the Three Wise Men--Same.

The excellent background music was composed by Hanns Eisler, who studied under Schoenberg form 1919 to 1923, says Wikipedia.

Lee

Christmas with Paul Whiteman, 1928

2011-12-21T04:02:00.005-05:00

Two new rips from my beautiful Columbia label copy of Paul Whiteman's 12-inch Christmas 78 from 1928. I forgot to do a label scan, but that's the way it snows-- it's the music that counts, anyway. The arrangers are Ferde Grofe and Bill Challis.

Christmas Melodies (A: Ferde Grofe)--Paul Whiteman Orch., 1928.

Silent Night, Holy Night (A: Bill Challis)--Same.

Lee

The Trapp Family Choir, 1942

2011-12-21T03:42:00.004-05:00

It's been a while since I featured these two marvelous 1942 sides by the Trapp Family Choir. This is what the Sound of Music family actually sounded like, as opposed to their much less interesting Broadway/Hollywood version.

To the gorgeous sounds: God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen--Trapp Family Choir, 1942

Silent Night, Holy Night--Trapp Family Choir, 1942

Lee

Christmas Fantasy--Al Goodman and His Orch. (c. 1947)

2011-12-20T17:13:00.004-05:00

A new rip of this 12" 78, which I'm guesstimating to be from around 1947. I like the way this came out. As ever, I've edited the two sides together for one flowing suite, as opposed to two halves interrupted by the sound of run-off grooves and the shhh-shhh-shhh-shhh noise that goes with them. Of course, this makes the listening experience a little less authentic, but sacrifices must be made for art.

To the file: Christmas Fantasy (Arr: Goodman)--Al Goodman and His Orch., 1947-ish.

Lee

Carol of the Bells, played by your blogger

2011-12-20T04:19:00.004-05:00

Yes, our tree is up and shining (above). I took this shot with the "night" flash, and then I removed the flash reflection from the window. I love the glowing effect. We bought this tree not too far from our house; Bev picked it and I sawed it down. So far, the cats aren't messing with it too much. Some of our previous herds would have had the ornaments on the floor already.

So... this is me on my Casio WK-3800's very convincing "Vibes" patch, playing Carol of the Bells (also known as "Da-da-da-dun...") from the SATB arrangement, as in, straight off the carol book page. If that sounds easy, you haven't tried it! After working this up to a decent tempo, I'm wishing I'd found a special arrangement of it instead. Sometimes as-written is the hard way to go.

I added some MAGIX Acoustical Simulation, getting a big sound as a result.

To the file: Carol of the Bells, played by Lee

Lee

The Singing Angels--finally, it's Christmas (1977)

2011-12-17T04:46:00.005-05:00

1977's finally it's Christmas is, in the opinion of this blogger, one of the very best collections of its type, Just delightful stuff, and what a group of talented kids. Read all about The Singing Angels here. A little too much Broadway in the mix, maybe, but it sure beats the mall-background-music horrors of today.

The LP jacket essay mentions TV appearances with Bob Hope and Wayne Newton, and on Today--that sounds about right.

The record was produced by founding director Bill Boehm, and the orchestral arrangements are by D. Wooley. I think I got a nice file out of my slightly worn copy.

Click here to hear: The Singing Angels--finally, it's Christmas

PLAYLIST

SLEIGH RIDE
COVENTRY CAROL--Kathy Wolfe, soloist
WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS--Soloists: Mary Beth Marquard, Charles Brown, Jeanne Marquard, Bill Boehm
MERRY CHRISTMAS, DARLING--Bill Boehm, soloist
WHITE CHRISTMAS
LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH
CHRISTMAS WAS MEANT FOR CHILDREN--Kathy Wolfe, soloist
WINTER WONDERLAND
STILL, STILL, STILL--Robert Crawford, soloist
CAROLEER MEDLEY
WE WISH YOU THE MERRIEST

The Florists Association of Greater Cleveland Presents... (SRS 1000)

Lee

Christmas Songs and Stories (Childcraft 1213)

2011-12-14T22:10:00.012-05:00

Today's LP rip comes without a jacket (and, hence, no jacket scan), so I swiped this image from eBay--it's one of the Childcraft releases reissued for this various-artists collection. My copy of the LP has been played a lot, but I got a very clean rip, thanks to the de-clicking expertise of (This is not a plug) MAGIX's Audio Cleaning Lab 14.

At one point, I misplaced this rip and thought I'd accidentally deleted it. I was going crazy trying to figure out how I could have done so, but then I discovered that I hadn't. Which answered my question, I guess. Nothing solves a mystery like discovering it isn't one.

Too much time at the PC? You think? Anyway, to the extremely enjoyable sounds on today's zip. Oh, and, regarding the first four tracks, "Raines" is a typo. Only one e in his name ("Rains"): Christmas Songs and Stories

SLEIGHLIST FOR CHRISTMAS SONGS & STORIES (Childcraft/Wing CLP-1213)

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, PART 1--Probably Claude Raines, w. Hugo Peretti O., Cho.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL, PART 2--Same.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE, Part 1--Claude Raines, w. Hugo Peretti O. and Cho.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE, Part 2--Same
ADESTE FIDELIS--O, LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM--Hugo Peretti O., w. The Caroleers
HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING--SILENT NIGHT--Same.
JINGLE BELLS--WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS--Same.
CAROL OF THE BELLS--THE FIRST NOEL--Same.
GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN--GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO--Same.
JOLLY OLD ST. NICHOLAS--DECK THE HALLS--Same.
TWINKLETOES--The Crew-Cuts, 1954.
DANCE MR. SNOWMAN DANCE--The Crew-Cuts, 1954.
UNCLE MISTLETOE--Eddy Howard and His Orch., 1949
RUDOLPH THE RED NOSE (sic) REINDEER--Eddy Howard and His Orch., 1950.

Lee

Christmas Chorales--The Adam Carey Chorale (Colortone 4942)

2011-12-14T03:47:00.005-05:00

Daughter: It sure looks fake out there. Mother: That's because we're in a photo shoot, honey.

A cooler-than-usual Colortone jacket--Colortone being an Enoch Light budget label ($1.57, says the sticker on the back) which made its debut in late 1957. This turns out to be a cheaper version of the Grand Award Christmas Chorale LP, featured at Ernie's last year. Which one was released first, I know not. Colortone promised to release "all new material," which would, at the very least, suggest material unique to the label. But that would have violated Enoch's marketing strategy of packaging the same stuff as often as he could get away with it.

The Grand Award is credited to one Edward Carrington; this cheaper Colortone edition is credited to one Adam Carey. Maybe they both worked on it and split the credit. Doubtful, but remotely possible, I reckon.

Good performances and arrangements, anyway, though nothing can compete with that fabulously "period" cover.

Don't miss today's holiday helping: Christmas Chorales--The Somebody or Another Chorale.

CHRISTMAS CHORALES

JOY TO THE WORLD
THE FIRST NOEL
DECK THE HALLS
AWAY IN A MANGER
GOD GIVE YE MERRY CHRISTMASTIDE
LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW!
SILENT NIGHT
OH HOLY NIGHT
O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL
WHITE CHRISTMAS
O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
JINGLE BELLS

(The Adam Carey Chorale, Colortone 4942)

Lee

Don't forget to check Diane Werts' Yule Tube listings...

2011-12-14T02:19:00.005-05:00

...at TV Worth Watching.

Holiday movies on TV

TV specials, episodes, animation

Christmas Will Be a Little Late This Year

2011-12-12T19:34:00.012-05:00

Written by Bill Indelli and sung by Bob Stamper, Christmas Will Be a Little Late This Year is a single I've been seeking for several years--finally, it's part of my over-flowering collection. Er, I mean, overflowing. Just in time to share with you. Lots of fun sides in this playlist, including the entire 45 rpm side from which the Singing Dogs' Jingle Bells was extracted, and a holiday side by the Four Voices (Stay With Me, fitted with Christmas lyrics). The Voices, of course, gave us the rock'n'roll classics Honest Darling and Lovely One during Mitch Miller's allegedly no-rock-allowed tenure as A&R man at Columbia. Also, a pre-Grand Award Enoch Light accompanying Davey Piper on the Prom label (where Light was A&R man), on a cut-rate cover of I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. And how often do I get to type that? Great picture sleeve for that one.

What can I say? It's a MY(P)WHAE playlist (er, sleighlist). To the sounds: Christmas Will Be a Little Late This Year

SLEIGHLIST

CHRISTMAS WILL BE A LITTLE LATE THIS YEAR (W. Indelli-Sal Rainone)--Bob Stamper, 1992.
IT'S GONNA BE A MIXED UP CHRISTMAS--Dallas Corey, Nashville Hillview Baptist Children's Choir (Corey 001; 1972)
PAT-A-CAKE; THREE BLIND MICE; JINGLE BELLS--The Singing Dogs, 1955.
ONE SOLITARY LIFE--Frank La Spina , 1983.
CHRISTMAS DREAMS--Same.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS--The Four Voices (Columbia 4-41524; 1959)
I JUST WROTE TO SANTA--Martin Walker w. Sammy Spear Orch. (Camm 132; 1953)
FROSTY THE SNOWMAN--Eddie Williams (Big 4 Hits 110; 1954)
HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS--Billy Williams, same.
I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS--Davey Piper, Enoch Light O. (Prom 1060)
WINTER WONDERLAND--Frank Roberts (Big 4 Hits 110; 1954)
BLUE CHRISTMAS--Preston Ward (Big 4 Hits 110; 1954)

Lee

Muzak we have heard on high

2011-12-11T22:42:00.009-05:00

A fun album, even if it was produced by an outfit given to penning utter gibberish to market its over-equalized mood music. For instance, "Specifically designed to enhance the Christmas mood and spirit, each carol also serves a functional purpose within the MUZAK programming concept." The latter having something to do with an "exclusive ascending sequence." It's fun to compare the verbose advertising scams of yesteryear with the one-word-or-less approach of today. A modern MUZAK promo would likely go something like this: (Plain white background; announcer: "MUZAK!;" drums thudding; URL; fade out.)

See? What did I tell you? Muzak.com. Short slogans, big images, lots of white backgrounds. My guess wasn't that far off. So, how come I'm not in advertising?

Anyway, download without delay, and listen for the exclusive ascending sequence, which I believe occurs near the label on Side 2, played by a xylophone in half-steps reaching 25,000 Hz. I forgot in which track.

Stimulus Progression Number Three: Christmas

O, Holy Night
O Little Town of Bethlehem
O Come, O Come, Emanuel
As with Gladness, Men of Old--It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Hark--The Herald Angels Sing
Joy to the World
O, Come, All Ye Faithful
Silent Night
We Three Kings of Orient
Once in Royal David's City--Watchman, Tell Us of the Night
The First Noel
Angels We Have Heard on High--Good Christian Men, Rejoice!

(Stimulus Progression Number Three: Christmas. Muzak S-2563)

Lee

Merry Christmas To All--The Audition Studio Orch. and Chorus (Audition 5945)

2011-12-11T21:44:00.009-05:00

This Audition label LP features eleven of the twelve tracks to be found on this Grand Award label LP, featured at Ernie's: Songs to Sing at Christmas Time. That LP, in turn, was an expansion on a Waldorf Music Hall LP called When Christmas Comes to Our House, also featured at Ernie's. All three labels were owned by Enoch Light, who played the standard cheap-label trick of re-re-repackaging the same material for maximum profits. This is a marketing tactic known as deception.

For this tip, I made more use of the auto-declicking function of my MAGIX program than I usually do, and the results are acceptable. Saved me a lot of time. Which seems fitting, since these are re-runs.

To the Audition Studio Orch. and Chorus: Merry Christmas to All

SLEIGHLIST

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN
FROSTY THE SNOWMAN
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
WINTER WONDERLAND
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER
JOLLY OLD ST. NICHOLAS
WHITE CHRISTMAS
LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW!
WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES TO OUR HOUSE
JINGLE BELLS
CHRISTMAS HAS COME AGAIN

Merry Christmas to All--Audition Studio Orch. and Chorus (Audition 5945)

Lee

A happy sleighlist--Bobby Helms, Linn Sheldon, Sandpipers!

2011-12-10T03:55:00.007-05:00

Not merely reasonably content, but happy is this sleighlist! (I have no idea what I just typed.) You'd be happy, too, if you contained Bobby Helm's 1965 re-do of Jingle Bell Rock, plus the greatest of all cheap-label holiday classics, My First Christmas Tree, plus Linn Sheldon's Boofo Goes Where Santa Goes. Well, wouldn't you?

And... three by George Beverly Shea, a trio of dance-class renditions of Winter Wonderland (at three different tempos, er, tempi), and what I believe to be a contemporary (that is, 1958) cheap label knock-off of The Little Drummer Boy, though in a later issue.

I can feel it--you're hooked. You can't not download. So, download already! To the music: A happy sleighlist!

MY FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE--Treasure Records 824.
JINGLE BELLS--Treasure Records 824.
LITTLE DRUMMER BOY--(Christmas Party for Children, Yulesong 0222).
THE BELL THAT COULDN'T JINGLE (Bacharach--Kusik)--Bobby Helms, 1965.
JINGLE BELL ROCK--Same.
THOU DIDST LEAVE THY THRONE--George Beverly Shea.
C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S--Same.
PUT CHRIST BACK INTO CHRISTMAS--Same, 1954.
WINTER WONDERLAND (Three renditions, three tempos)--Velmo 677
RABBITS HAVE A CHRISTMAS--Linn Sheldon (Barnaby), 1960.
BOOFO GOES WHERE SANTA GOES--Same, 1960.
MASSACHUSETTS MIXTURE (JINGLE BELLS)--Lawrence Joy, Wilbur Waite, 1951.
PARADE OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS--Sandpipers, Ann Lloyd, Mitch Miller, 1951.
SANTA'S TOY SHOP--Voco VX-630.

Lee

Trinity Choir, 1926.

2011-12-10T03:08:00.005-05:00

Trinity Choir--Christmas Hymns and Carols, 1926.

Cool electrical-era recording of the Trinity Choir singing (you'll never guess) Christmas numbers! Some surface hiss, but I guess we can cut the disc some slack. It's 85 years old, after all.

Includes the once-standard Christians, Awake! (which I plan to use as the organ prelude on Christmas Eve), and the still-popular A Joyful Christmas Song. Here's an extremely good (and much newer) performance of the latter by the Roseville Area High School Choir: Chanson Joyeuse de Noel.

Lee

Christmas Favorites--Tops Orchestra and Choristers (1957)

2011-12-08T04:58:00.022-05:00

1957 is the release year for this LP, but Tops only knows when the tracks themselves were recorded. Frosty, in particular, sounds much earlier. In fact, I just checked, and it's Bud Roman's version, from Tops 309 (c. 1950), which I have on 78. Good job, ears. (Ah, I also have it on a 7" Tops for Tots single.)

Another pre-1957 track is the gloriously tacky Santa Claus Is Riding Through the Sky , which came out on a number of different labels in addition to Tops, including Wonderland, Crown, and Treasure, though the title is usually Santa Claus is Flying Through the Sky. Tops is just keeping us on our toes.

My rip sounds great, if you ask me, and the tracklist just flows along, despite the cobbled-together nature of the collection. Of all the bargain-basement labels of its day, Tops probably had the most conventional looking covers--i.e., covers that resemble those put out by "real" outfits. The snowy-white jacket border, by the way, is my doing, and with Paint software, no less. I enlarged the image as much as the program permitted, and then I cut out the browned edges, leaving a white area.

Wow, I just noticed that Tops sprung for two commas in the jacket playlist--impressive! I hope no one got fired over that....

To the music: Christmas Favorites--Tops O. and Cho.

WHITE CHRISTMAS
SILENT NIGHT
DECK THE HALLS
RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REINDEER
JOY TO THE WORLD
IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
FROSTY THE SNOWMAN
'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN
WINTER WONDERLAND
O, COME ALL YE FAITHFUL
HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING
JINGLE BELLS
SANTA CLAUS IS RIDING THROUGH THE SKY
THE FIRST NOEL
O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
AWAY IN A MANGER
GOOD KING WENCESLAUS

Christmas Favorites--Tops Orchestra and Choristers (Tops L-1525; 1957)

Lee

Christmas Music for the Winter Season (Ultraphonic/Golden Tone/Rondo-lette/Royale 51500)

2011-12-07T05:29:00.009-05:00

What a deal--four labels to choose from! I settled on Rondo-lette, though you might prefer Ultraphonic or Golden Tone, whose logos also show up on this. The Royale label is present by implication, since the tracks are credited to the Royale Concert Orch.

Three of these four el-cheapo labels were owned by Eli Oberstein, while Golden Tone belonged to Tops. Therefore, this LP might have been put out by Pickwick, which in 1963 had bought Tops, which itself had earlier bought the whole Oberstein stable of labels. Or it could be a Tops release. Or it could be a very clever fake designed by a forger with way too much time on his hands and no nose for profit.

So, how's the music on this Golden Tone/Ultraphonic/Royale/Rondo-lette/possibly Pickwick/Tops release, you ask? Quite good, surprisingly. While the hymn selections on side A are kind of so-so, the pop stuff on side B is lively, colorful, and skillfully arranged, even if two of the numbers show up twice. They're in different arrangements, mind you, but they're the same numbers (I refer to March of the Toys and Jingle Bells). Being clever, Golden Tone/Tops/Royale, etc. titled the second instance of March of the Toys as March of Toys, leaving out the "the." Meanwhile, they simply omitted any mention of the second Jingle Bells (having no "the" to leave off).

Yup--the ol' six-tracks-listed-but-seven-tracks-on-the-side trick. Very clever, Ultraphonic/Royale/Tops/Golden Tone/possibly Pickwick.

Since Side B is so much better (I think, anyway) than Side A, I flipped the order. That, plus I wasn't paying complete attention when I ripped these. I was too busy trying to figure out what label I was dealing with. I'm open to suggestions.

I forgot to mention that the jacket and label titles don't even match. Jacket says, Christmas Music for the Winter Season, whereas the label promises An Hour of Christmas Orchestral Music--an hour which clocks in at 36 minutes and 17 seconds. And you thought you were disorganized.

To the music: Christmas Music at Winter Time (Or, An Hour of C. Orchestral Music)

TRACKLIST

Jingle Bells
White Christmas
March of the Toys
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Toyland
March of Toys
Jingle Bells (2)
Silent Night, Holy Night
The First Noel
Adeste Fidelis
O Little Town of Bethlehem
We Three Kings of Orient Are
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Angels We Have Heard on High

The Royale Concert Orch. (Rondo-lette 51500)

Lee

Music at Christmas Time (For Elementary Grades)--RCA WE-88

2011-12-06T03:51:00.007-05:00

From the RCA Victor Record Library for Elementary Schools series, a 45 rpm, four-EP set from around 1950. (I'm guesstimating from the label color.) Superb concert-style, vocal-and-orchestra Christmas renditions of the type that almost make up for the piped-in stuff Bev and I were subjected to at Meijer today. Don't get me wrong--Meijer's a great store. But that contemporary pop holiday stuff... aieeeeee!!!!

It doesn't help that I can't stand 99+ percent of modern pop music of any type. It's not as if Meijer can help that. Anyway, to the vastly superior holiday readings of decades past:

Music at Christmas Time

Tracks:

1) UNDER THE STARS--I SAW THREE SHIPS--ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID'S CITY
2) JINGLE BELLS--AWAY IN A MANGER--I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY
3) WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHT--JOY TO THE WORLD
4) IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR--THE FIRST NOEL--DECK THE HALLS
5) O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL--O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
6) SILENT NIGHT--HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING
7) WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE--BIRTHDAY OF THE KING
8) O HOLY NIGHT--NAZARETH (Gounod)

Performers:

1) Jeanne Privette, Soprano, w. RCA Victor Orch., cond. by Ardon Cornwell
2) Same.
3) Joseph Laderoute, Tenor; Leo Bernache, Tenor; RCA Victor Orch.
4) Joseph Laderoute, Tenor; RCA Victor Orch.
5) Same.
6) Jeanne Privette, Soprano; Leo Bernache, Tenor; RCA Victor Orch.
7) Joseph Laderoute, Tenor; Jeanne Privette, Soprano; RCA Victor Orch.
8) Jeanne Privette, Soprano; Leo Bernache, Tenor; Elsie MacFarlane, Contralto; RCA Victor O.

Lee

Have a Line Material Christmas!!

2011-12-04T01:17:00.007-05:00

(I'm not above repeating my own essays):

This blog is your source for Line Material Christmas recordings. Accept no imitations. Get your LM groove on here.

We'll start with an explanation of Line Material. Here are two great links for that purpose: Cooper Power Systems and The Line Material Co.

Seems that Line Material annually produced cool Christmas give-away records from (at least as early as) 1949 to (at least as late as) 1964. If you find yourself wondering why the 1957-1962 sides sound so spectacular, consider the talent involved during that particular period: 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 from 1957-1962. 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.

The LM (and CLM of Canada) sides which date from before and after the 1957-62 period have proven--so far, at least--to be considerably less spectacular, especially 1964's The Story of Santa Claus, which pulled double duty as a Turkish Information Office issue! All the sides are entertaining, but the McCarthy/Carroll efforts raised the company-holiday-record bar to the stratosphere. To the thermosphere, even. Well, maybe not the thermosphere--too hot.

The Magic of Christmas is courtesy of holiday maniac Ernie (who snail-mailed me the small, vinyl 78-rpm disc in 2007), and the 1964 file (replaced here by a cleaner copy) was kindly provided by Stubbysfears.

You'll love these, even if you've heard them before. If you haven't, prepare to be spending the next several weeks singing "Merry Christmas, from Line Material. (Repeat X3, fade)." We start with the 1957-1962 McCarthy/Carroll classics. The two Canadian (CLM) editions are courtesy of Captain OT of A Christmas Yuleblog:

Click here to hear: Have a Line Material Christmas!

LINE MATERIAL CHRISTMAS LIST:

KEEPING CHRISTMAS--Jim Ameche, 1949.
THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS--1956.
SANTA'S NORTH POLE BAND--1957.
THE KINDS OF CHRISTMAS--1958.
THE SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS--1959.
SANTA'S FACTOREE--1960.
THE DAY THAT SANTA WAS SICK--1961.
LET'S TRIM THE CHRISTMAS TREE--1962.
THE SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS--CLM version, 1959.
SANTA'S FACTOREE--CLM version, 1960.

Lee

Merry Shellacmas 2011!

2011-12-03T19:34:00.007-05:00

Shellac holiday sides from my overflowing 78 collection, save for the last title, which is from a 7-inch vinyl 78 rpm disc. Three Nutcracker selections, a Jingle Bells Galop, and two Prince's Orch. titles, plus four more, make for a happy, scratchy Christmas. Sing it, Burl!

Burl: "Have a happy, scratchy Christma.... (Click) Christma.... (Click) Christma.... (Click)...."

Click here to hear: Merry Shellacmas 2011!

PLAYLIST

OVERTURE MINIATURE (Tchaikovsky)--Arthur Pryor's Band, 1912.
NUT CRACKER BALLET (DANCE CHARACTERISTIQUE)--A. Pryor's Band, 1911.
AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE (Chas. A. Prince)--Prince's Orch., 1913.
CHRISTMAS CHIMES--Salon Orch., w. Vocal Refrain, c. 1931.
MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS (Bowers)--Prince's O. w. Contralto solo and Male Qt., 1918.
CHRISTMAS TIME IN MERRIE ENGLAND--Regimental Band of H.M. Grenadier Guards, 1922.
DECORATING THE CHRISTMAS TREE--Bowmar Records 1554.
MARCH FROM NUTCRACKER SUITE--Victor Orch., 1925.
JINGLE BELLS GALOP--Bowmar Records 1554.
SLEIGH RIDE--Laura Leslie w. Peter Pan Orch. (Peter Pan X-10)

Lee

Carol of the Drum-athon

2011-12-03T03:30:00.015-05:00

Carol of the Drum/The Little Drummer Boy. One song, two titles. Here's my 2006 post which explains it all, or at least tries to: Carol of the Little Drummer Boy.

Basically, before it was semi-stolen by Harry Simeone, The Little Drummer Boy was Carol of the Drum. The earliest Drum recording I know of is the Trapp Family Singers' marvelous 1952 performance. (Yes, the Sound of Music people, in real life.) The next-earliest version I'm aware of is the Moody Chorale's on the Word label, which is probably a 1956 recording. I say "probably," because the Moody LP is mentioned in the Jan. 12, 1957 Billboard as a new release, making late 1956 the likely studio date. It appears to predate the 1957 Testor Chorus, Jack Halloran, and St. Patrick's Cathedral Choir sides.

These sides are in today's zip file. Also included is the surprisingly outstanding Peter Pan label knock-off, which we have in both mono (its original 45 rpm issue) and stereo (an LP reissue on the Tiara label). Two more versions complete the playlist.

Notice the three-part harmony on the Trapp Family side, along with the very brisk tempo. Second-fastest is the Peter Pan/Tiara version. The Harry Simeone 1958 recording (not included here) proceeds pretty quickly, too--the Halloran, less so. Finding a pattern here? I'm not!

I believe I have a Tops label knock-off, as well, but the question is where. And the answer is, somewhere in the vastness of the Media Room....

To the drum-athon: Carol of the Drum-athon

CAROL OF THE DRUM (Katherine K. Davis)--Trapp Family Singers, 1952.
CAROL OF THE DRUM--Jack Halloran Singers, 1957.
CAROL OF THE DRUM--St. Patrick's Cathedral Choir, 1957.
CAROL OF THE DRUM--The Testor Chorus, 1957.
CAROL OF THE DRUM--The Moody Chorale, Dir. by Don Hustad, prob. 1956.
THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY--Peter Pan Caroleers, prob. 1958.
THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY--Same, in stereo.
CAROL OF THE DRUM--Seeburg Background Music Systems, year unknown.
CAROL OF THE DRUM--Capital Chapel Choir, 1968. (Capital Univ., Bexley OH)

Lee

The One Horse Open Sleigh (J. Pierpont)

2011-12-01T04:02:00.002-05:00

Greetings. I'm repeating this Jan. 23 post for Christmas 2011. To date, my file has been downloaded 1,081 times! Look at me, Ma, I'm a star.

So, I received my eBay copy of the William B. Bradbury tunebook, The Victory (1872 edition), and there on page 74 is James Pierpont's The One Horse Open Sleigh, a.k.a. Jingle Bells. Only with its original melody, which is different in spots from the one we know.

So I put together a recording, with me at the Casio WK-3800 (Patch 071). This is tricky to play, because the tenor part is up top on its own line (and notated an octave up in the treble clef), which makes putting all four voices together a royal pain, since the tenor has to be added to the bass, alto, and soprano, and played an octave lower than written. Therefore, I recorded this four bars at a time and joined the results together. Which is actually less of a hassle than renotating the thing for easier reading.

Except for a couple rushed measures, this came out nicely, I think.

The One Horse Open Sleigh (James Pierpont)

Now you say you've heard Jingle Bells in its original form. Unless you've heard it before, in which case you can say you've heard it again.

Lee

A new Beginning

2011-11-30T01:14:00.005-05:00

In a new rip, here is my copy of Gee Whiz, It's Christmas by the fabulous Bahamian band, The Beginning of the End. Recorded in 1970, it was the flip side of the original issue of Funky Nassau. It was left off the U.S. version of the single.

As I wrote last year, "Happiness is: 1) Discovering that the Beginning of the End recorded a Christmas side, then 2) winning that side. Sometimes Santa works through eBay."

Gee Whiz, It's Christmas--Beginning of the End, 1970.

Lee

Jack Owens and Sam Cowling: The Mistletoe Song (1947)

2011-11-30T00:13:00.008-05:00

The Mistletoe Song--Jack Owens, Sam Cowling w. Eddie Ballantine O. (Tower 1261, 1947)
White Christmas--Jack Owens w. Eddie Ballantine O. (Same)

Spike Jones meets Freddy Martin in this strange Christmas novelty from 1947. More interesting than funny, but at least I wasn't bored. The flip side is an exceptionally good version of White Christmas. This Chicago record label is not related to the Capitol subsidiary which featured the Sunrays, Standells, and Ian Whitcomb.

Lee

Not THE "Little Drummer Boy"

2011-11-29T16:49:00.004-05:00

Little Drummer Boy, a number written in 1938 by Art Noel and Don Pelosi, in a recording made the same year. This is not the famous Katherine K. Davis Christmas song.

This, however, is MY(P)WHAE.

Click here to hear: Little Drummer Boy--Horace Heidt and His Brigadiers; voc: Larry Cotton, 1938.

Lee

Sunday morning gospel: Christ Back into Christmas

2011-11-27T01:35:00.005-05:00

Three Christ-back-in-Christmas songs, one Mom-at-Christmas title, and four country gospel numbers. You'll be glad you stopped by. All but one were ripped from 78s.

Click here to hear: Christ Back Into Christmas.zip

I'M GONNA LIVE IN A BRAND NEW MANSION--J.C. Hollie (Gospel Record 307)
WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS-Same.
PUT CHRIST BACK INTO CHRISTMAS (Eddie Unger)--Organta Trio (Unger Music E1-KB-2381)
PUT CHRIST BACK INTO CHRISTMAS--Red Foley, Anita Kerr Singers (Decca 28940; 1953)
I WANT CHRIST BACK IN CHRISTMAS--Sister Cecilia w. Ursuline Sisters, 1962.
I'D LIKE TO SEE MY MOM FOR CHRISTMAS (E. Unger)--Bob Jones w. the Williams Sextette (Unger Music)
I BELIEVE IN THE GOOD OLD BIBLE--Armond, Caroll, and Robert Forseth (Favorite Gospel Recording H-21)
I'M LONGING FOR JESUS TO COME BACK--Same.

Lee

The Christmas Tree Story House: "Christmas Yodel;" "Christmas in Our Town"

2011-11-26T14:58:00.007-05:00

Courtesy of The Museum of Classic Chicago Television website, a marvelous 1980 PM Magazine Chicago piece on Bonnie and Ed Gulan's Christmas Tree Story House Museum (above). It helps explain today's 45 rpm offering (below) by the Do-Gooders, released on the "Sounds of the Christmas Tree Story House" label in 1980, and featuring two songs penned by Bonnie Gulan herself, the funnest of which is Christmas Yodel. The video and the two songs have me in pop culture overload mode, but you don't hear me complaining.

Sad to say, Bonnie passed away on Dec. 14, 2003 at the age of 81. Here is her obit. Thanks, Bonnie, for making our 2011 Christmas an infinitely cooler experience.

Click here to hear:

Christmas Tree Story House.zip

CHRISTMAS YODEL (Bonnie M. Gulan)--The Do-Gooders, 1980.
CHRISTMAS IN OUR TOWN (Bonnie M. Gulan)--Same, 1980.

(Sounds of the Christmas Tree Story House 100; 1980)

Lee

At Home with Santa--An ACCE Presentation

2011-11-26T00:15:00.000-05:00

To make things even more confusing, I've titled the zip file, "A Mutual Radio Networks Program." Anyway, whenever we see a busy, credit-packed label like this one, we just know the recording itself is quite cheap. And it is. But, first, let me explain this disc.

Ummmm....

Well, something to do with a 21-day radio series called At Home with Santa, for which this disc is a "demonstration" (i.e., ad for). At Home with Santa, as awkwardly described on this disc, is a kind of public service for needy children and shut-ins who otherwise wouldn't have the chance to travel to the North Pole and meet the Big Elf and his staff. For buying (renting?) this series, ACCE members would receive customized promos for their business from the inebriated-sounding Santa, along with the daily adventures of "Reporter Rick," whose voice sounds nearly exactly like Santa's. I hope that explains everything.

You're invited to come up with your own interpretation....

Click here to experience:

ACCE Presents: At Home with Santa, Side A

ACCE Presents: At Home with Santa, Side B

Lee

Christmas 2011, Part 1

2011-11-25T05:31:00.009-05:00

Fifteen 45 and 78 rpm singles from my collection, ripped and restored by me. Getting a listenable file from my copy of the Robinettes' Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town was the biggest challenge of the bunch--this 7" Robin Hood 78 had been played half to death, if not 3/4. But darned if I didn't get a C- file out of an F+ copy.

Christmas 2011, Part 1--Singles

SLEIGHLIST

MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS (Ruth Lyons)--Ruby Wright, 1957.
JINGLE BELLS--Dick Byron, Sandpipers.
JUNGLE BELLS (DINGO, DONGO, DAY)--Les Paul and Mary Ford, 1953.
SLEIGH RIDE--Merv Griffin w. Freddy Martin Orch., 1950.
CHRISTMAS TIME--Same.
DING-A-LONG-DONG--THE SLEIGH BELL SONG--The Cricketones.
OLD TIMEY CHRISTMAS--Ambrose Halley, 1947.
LITTLE LOST SAX--Little Toy Band
LITTLE LOST SAX (Narration)--Same.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING--Bob Gleason (Borken 1002)
CHRISTMAS WISH--Same.
WINTER WONDERLAND--Fran McKenna, Mulcays (Cardinal 1005)
MOTHER'S CHRISTMAS TREE--Same.
BUZZY, THE CHRISTMAS TREE--Sue and Jeff Mitchell (It's a Click 728)
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN--Robinettes (Robin Hood 701; 7" 78)

Lee

San Francisco Suite (Grofe, 1960)--Arr. by Kevin R. Tam

2011-11-24T14:05:00.040-05:00

It's Thanksgiving, and this blog gives thanks to Kevin R. Tam for the Internet premiere we're about to hear. In four files (one per movement), we have Kevin's expert band arrangement (well, the MIDI files thereof) of Ferde Grofe's 1960 San Francisco Suite, an interesting and ingenious work from late in the composer's career.

Following are Kevin's notes and the file links for today's music you (definitely) won't hear anyplace else. Happy Thanksgiving!

(FOLLOWING NOTES BY KEVN R. TAM)

San Francisco Suite – 1 – The “Gold Rush”

The San Francisco Suite by Ferde Grofe was a commission work and premiered in SF on April 25, 1960 under the direction of then Orchestra director Enrique Jorda. It was never published and remains unheard to modern audiences. The first movement is entitled "Gold Rush" and represents the lawless frontier that was then San Francisco. The movement starts out with a play on "pop goes the weasel" and then settles into a lively layered depiction of frontier life, eventually resulting in "The Altercation" between two camp rivals, we hear gunshots, and the killer gallops away. Next, the "pop goes the weasel" theme returns and we visit a square dance at a nearby camp. Suddenly the tempo increases...the news of a "Gold Strike!" moves though camp and all hell breaks loose.

Gold Rush

San Francisco Suite – 2 – “Bohemian Nights”

The second, "Bohemian Nights" is subtitled "The Theme of Romance" This movement is a woodwind feature and begins with an Alto Saxophone Solo, moves into a moody section, there is a nice horn and woodwind bit, and culminates with a tutti horn and woodwinds recap of the theme with a very Grofe textured layered and fading ending.

Bohemian Nights

San Francisco Suite – 3 – The “Mauve Decade”

Movement #3 would be the wild ride, if we didn't know there was an earthquake about to happen. In this movement we take a trip on a cable car - perhaps the Powell-Hyde line? We make a stop in Chinatown, and up and down those hills! A Piano Solo tells us that we've arrived at "The Barbary Coast" district (a red-light district comprised of nine blocks bounded by Montgomery Street, Washington Street, Stockton Street, and Broadway). Next, we take a few more ups and downs on the Cable Car and we reach "The Opera".

The Mauve Decade

San Francisco Suite – 4 – “1906 - 1960”

The fourth movement "1906 - 1906" begins with an ethereal fog, which slowly helps to thicken the tension and buildup as instruments are added and foghorns are sounded and echoed. We feel the first tremors and then the real thing. To create a catastrophic "Boom" sound, Grofe scored three timpani players and a Bass drum to simulate the explosion of dynamite as buildings were intentionally leveled to create firebreaks. Hard to hear in this recording but these are followed up by another percussionist shaking a large box of broken glass and a fire engine's bell. Grofe uses his uncanny ability for musical narrative to recreate a major happening in the history and lore of San Francisco. This representation of the City's major catastrophe comes across as apt, able, and serious. Note the multiple iterations and finale fanfare of "Hail to California" - an old University of California song, which Grofe weaved into the work.

1906 to 1960

(END OF KEVIN R. TAM'S NOTES)

Lee

This is awesome....

2011-11-21T15:40:00.001-05:00

Hallelujah Chorus--Quinhagak, Alaska

In case you haven't seen this. Or want to see it again.

Lee

Sunday morning gospel: The Musical Biolans--Biola Golden Jubilee

2011-11-20T00:32:00.005-05:00

BIOLA=The Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Inc. A very nice collection of "old time" gospel, with Ralph Carmichael as arranger. I thrifted this years ago, mostly because the lineup includes Charles H. Gabriel's O That Will Be Glory. Glory, however, turns out to be the least interesting track, to my ear--great song, but mediocre treatment. However, the arranging and performing on other numbers, especially Wonderful Grace of Jesus and The King's Business, more than compensate for a blah Glory. And, yes, for years I've wanted to type "a blah Glory."

Besides, a blah version of Glory is way better than none.

To the music: Musical Biolans--Biola Golden Jubilee

PLAYLIST

WE'VE A STORY TO TELL TO THE NATIONS
UNDER HIS WINGS
WONDERFUL GRACE OF JESUS
DAY BY DAY
THE SOLID ROCK
THE KING'S BUSINESS
O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES
IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL
WILL JESUS FIND US WATCHING
O THAT WILL BE GLORY (Gabriel)
GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS
I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY

Lee

Round House Boogie (1952)

2011-11-16T04:28:00.003-05:00

Ripped from my 78 rpm copy. If these 1952 sides don't rock your day, nothing can or will. In my opinion, that is. (I always like to qualify my testimonials.)

Round House Boogie

Lee

Sunday morning gospel: Popular Gospel Aires by the Keller-York Quartet

2011-11-12T22:57:00.006-05:00

I'm almost positive that this one was found for me by Diane Werts. And you should be checking out her Christmas TV listings--apparently, holiday fare is already on the air, so don't beware; be of good chair! I mean, cheer. Yes, sir, the holiday comes earlier every year (said the blogger with the "Merry Christmas" image at his site). Of course, we say that every year.

So... very, very good gospel by the Keller-York Quartet. From the LP essay: "Charles York and Norman Keller formed a gospel duet team shortly after World War II. In their travels they met the members of the Rushing family who were also working in the field of evangelism. Soon after, two of the Rushing sisters became Mrs. Keller and Mrs. York in a double wedding ceremony. They formed the present Keller-York quartet and traveled many thousands of miles presenting the Gospel in music." Now you know.

Though attributed on the label to "Le Feure" (did they mean Le Fevre?),the gospel standard Keep on the Firing Line was written by Bessie F. Hatcher in 1915. I had to do a little Google-hopping (Google-hopping?) to discover this, but what's a PC for? Like many a standard hymn, Firing Line shows up on line under the names of the performers who recorded it--Ralph Stanley, Jerry Lee Lewis, et al. (et al.'s version is kind of alt rock.) And it's mentioned at the blog Songs Fundies Like, where it receives little love in the comment section. But this mainline Protestant agrees with the "fundies"--this is one fine song.

And this is one fine playlist. Click here to hear: Keller-York Quartet--Popular Gospel Aires

POPULAR GOSPEL AIRES--THE KELLER-YORK QUARTET

LET ME BE WORTHY
IF YOU DESIRE
CLIMB THOSE GOLDEN STAIRS
HE KNOWS JUST WHAT I NEED
JUST KEEP ON PRAYING
JESUS, SAVIOR, PILOT ME
KEEP ON THE FIRING LINE
HE WASHED MY EYES WITH TEARS
THE HEALING TOUCH
SINGING
JESUS SIGNED MY PARDON
WHERE NO ONE STANDS ALONE

(Zondervan Victory 524)

Lee

Me, in my younger, Navy days.

2011-11-11T17:12:00.002-05:00

At this post from last year, you can see me in my younger, leaner Navy days.

I even have a moderate amount of hair atop my head in the last one.

Lee

The Trumpeter (1929)

2011-11-11T17:00:00.002-05:00

(Text borrowed from this excellent site)

THE TRUMPETER (Text: J. Francis Barron; music: J. Airlie Dix, 1904)

Trumpeter, what are you sounding now?
(Is it the call I'm seeking?)
"You'll know the call," said the Trumpeter tall,
"When my trumpet goes a-speakin'.
I'm rousin' 'em up;
I'm wakin' 'em up,
The tents are astir in the valley,
And there's no more sleep with the sun's first peep,
For I'm soundin' the old 'Reveille!'"

Trumpeter, what are you sounding now?
(Is it the call I'm seeking?)
"Can't mistake the call," said the Trumpeter tall,
"When my trumpet goes a-speakin'.
I'm urgin' 'em on,
They're scamperin' on,
There's a drummin' of hoofs like thunder.
There's a madd'nin' shout as the sabres flash out,
For I'm sounding the 'Charge' no wonder."

Trumpeter, what are you sounding now?
(Is it the call I'm seeking?)
"Lucky for you if you hear it at all
For my trumpet's but faint in speakin',
I'm callin' 'em home! Come home! Come home!
Tread light o'er the dead in the valley,
Who are lyin' around face down to the ground,
And they can't hear me sound the 'Rally'.
But they'll hear it again in a grand refrain,
When Gabriel sounds the last 'Rally'.

The closing hymn is O God of Love, O King of Peace (1861) to the tune of Rockingham.

Click here to hear: The Trumpeter (Barron-Dix)--Raymond Newell (1929)

Lee

Salute to the original American warriors

2011-11-11T14:03:00.007-05:00

For this Vets Day, two pieces by the "Indianist" composer Charles Sanford Skilton (1868-1941). These are from a 78 rpm reissue (or, rather, later issue) of a 1929 Victor release, and it's in way better shape than my previous, original issue copy. Incredible performances, incredible pieces--the Victor Concert Orch., directed by Rosario Bourdon, with War Dance (Cheyenne) (from Suite Primeval) and Shawnee Indian Hunting Dance. Here's to the original American warriors:

War Dance; Shawnee Indian Hunting Dance

Victor Concert Orchestra, directed by Rosario Bourdon, 1929. From Victor 22144.

Lee

Sunday morning gospel: Echoes from the Albums

2011-11-05T22:01:00.007-04:00

More excellent performances and selections from a sampler LP--last time, it was the Christian Faith label; this time it's Zondervan Victory. Yes, this is middle of the road gospel, and yes, the album's a thrift store staple, but so what? It's great stuff.

True memory: years ago, in a campus record shop, I asked about Chad Mitchell Trio LPs. The clerk looked troubled, and he asked me, "Weren't they popular?" Well, yeah. So were the Beatles and Stones, but I suspect he had no issue with them. I didn't ask, however.

An inspiring true-life tale from the annals of actual events. To the music. And isn't that a great cover?:

Click here to hear: Zondervan Sampler: Echoes from the Albums

PLAYLIST

THE HOLY CITY--Ronnie Avalone, Dramatic Tenor
SAVED BY GRACE--Hermon Voss, Organist
THE LORD'S PRAYER--King's Choraliers Male Chorus
CALVARY LOVE--Pauyl McNtt
HE CARES--Keller-York Quartet
TELL ME THE STORY OF JESUS--Johnny Ambrose, Tenor
O SPEAK TO ME--Gary Moore, Baritone
OUT FROM HIS WOUNDED SIDE--Jeanette York, Contralto
STAND UP FOR JESUS--Gene Jordan, Marimba
JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE--Kyle Wilson and the Vocal Trio
ACCORDING TO THY LOVING KINDNESS--HCJB Vocal Trio
LORD, I ADORE THEE (HOW GREAT THOU ART)--Virgil Hale, Lyric Tenor

Lee

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

2011-10-31T14:45:00.005-04:00

Just to let you know that all of this month's slaylists are up and running at 4Shared. That is to say, I moved them from Box.net, where the downloading bandwidth has run out due to (logically enough) lots of downloads. It doesn't help that my recent files have been larger.... Anyway, everything Halloween 2011 is available through 4Shared as we shriek. I mean, speak. (Arf! Arf!)

So, check back over this month's posts for any 2011 slaylists you may have missed and/or weren't able to download. And remember: A killer tree's bark IS its bite!

Lee

Sunday morning gospel: Christian Faith Anthology, No. 1

2011-10-30T01:00:00.006-04:00

The jacket may be drab (though arty), but there's not a dull track in the bunch. I was expecting the playlist to maybe drag a little, but every performance is first-rate, and every number an inspired choice. It's nice enough to have a version of the 1866 classic, Ring the Bells of Heaven, but to have one by the Old Fashioned Revival Hour Quartet... priceless. Well, 99 cents, but that was for everything. And it's always a treat to hear good, solid renditions of I Will Sing to My Redeemer (here titled My Redeemer), Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary, and Lord, I'm Coming Home--titles which put the "good ol'" in "good ol' gospel."

Sorry--I couldn't resist typing "titles which put the 'good ol'' in 'good ol' gospel.'"

To sum up, great selections, highly enjoyable performances, and a fine diversity of styles, including the gospel equivalent of mood music. I figured this LP would be worth ripping, but I wasn't figuring on such a gem. But I do not complain.

To the music: Christian Faith Anthology No. 1

PLAYLIST

RING THE BELLS OF HEAVEN (Cushing-Root)--Old Fashioned Revival Hour Q.
JESUS I COME--Roy Atwood, Piano w. String Quartet
HOW GREAT THOU ART--Vere Raley, with the Lundberg Singers
LORD, I'M COMING HOME--Phil Carson, Pipe Organ with Vibraphone and Guitar
IS YOUR ALL ON THE ALTAR--John Gustafson, w. Ralph Carmichael Orch.
WHEN THE REDEEMED ARE GATHERING IN--Haven of Rest Quartet
WHISPERING HOPE--Charles Turner, w. Ralph Carmichael Orch.
MY REDEEMER (Bliss-McGranahan)--Ralph Carmichael, Harp with Orch.
WHAT A FRIEND--Earle Anderson, Baritone
BURDENS ARE LIFTED AT CALVARY--Christchurch Festival Male Voice Choir

Christian Faith Anthology No. 1 (Christian Faith 2001)

Lee

"Halloween Keeps Groaning Along" slaylist moved to 4Shared

2011-10-29T20:54:00.011-04:00

Image: The late Jeane Dixon, auditioning for an Excedrin commercial.

My Box.net downloading bandwidth limit has been reached and won't reset until Nov. 1.

However, I've moved "Halloween Keeps Groaning Along" to 4Shared. Here's the link to that post, which includes the 4Shared link. A link to a link--how cool is that?

Lee

Ghoultide 2011--Suite (Lee Hartsfeld)

2011-10-29T02:21:00.010-04:00

A four-movement piece (aren't I fancy?) by your blogger, all of it multi-tracked with the freeware program KRISTAL Audio Engine. You'll be hearing up to ten Casio WK-3800 tracks at a time, i.e. ten of me doing our best to play in sync with me. I had two more sections planned, but time ran out. Time can be the enemy of music composition. Newsweek, too.

I wasn't going for anything that sounded morbid or scary--in fact, I tried to maintain a happy vibe. Halloween, after all, is a fun and happy time. Unless, of course, you're attacked by a monster and torn to shreds. Then it's not so fun. Or so I've been told by certain denizens of the Beyond.

All played in real time, i.e. without step-time/sequencing. Exception: one of the effects in #3.

Click here to hear: Ghoultide 2011--Suite (Lee Hartsfeld)

1. The Haunted Clock
2. Godzilla vs. the Flying Saucers
3. Ghosts in the PC
4. Beggars' Night Rag

Lee

A Halloween classic: "Television Moon"

2011-10-28T02:35:00.005-04:00

"Television Moon??" you ask. My reaction, exactly. Written by Albert H. Monday and sung by Diane Richards w. the Red Reese Orch. on the Avis label, Television Moon is, well, a little loony. I mean, even by MY(P)WAHE playlist standards. (Cue the shrieking violins.)

I can't possibly explain this number, so I've typed out the lyrics for you. Notice how the words of the first verse are addressed to "My Ma," and then, come the second verse, to "A charming, blushing bride." Maybe "Ma" is the Korean War pilot's nickname for his charming, blushing bride, but I'm thinking not. The words:

"Just cruising the sky in Korea, longing for the daylight to pass, I'm thinking of you, my Ma, and the day I kissed you last. It's tough over here, my Ma, in all this mud, ice, and gloom. 'Til it's over over here in Korea, I'll see you in Television Moon. I'll see you in Television Moon, flying up there in the blue. I'll see you in Television Moon, and I'll throw a kiss to you."

"The Mister Moon seems to say you will be mine some day. When you go out nights, my love, out beneath Television Moon. I'll see your picture, my love, over here in my Television Moon. I'll dream that you're by my side--a charming, blushing bride. So make your plans, my love, for a wedding some day in June. We'll be happy then, my love, underneath our Television Moon."

Possibly, we're to assume that the singer, Diane Richards, is reading a letter from her beau, or maybe two letters--the first written to the pilot's Ma, and the second to her, his charming, blushing bride. Thinking about it just gets me more confused. In time, I'll begin to doubt I even have a record called Television Moon. It's a 78, by the way, moderately worn but far from hopeless--my rip is a solid B.

Maybe I'm dreaming this entire thing. (Pinch, pinch) Hmm. Still here.

Click here to hear: Television Moon--Diane Richards (Avis 113).

Lee

Sunday morning gospel--The Harmony Singers: Exalt His Hame

2011-10-23T00:04:00.005-04:00

And here is the group as pictured on the back jacket, complete with a personnel list: The Harmony Singers.

From the liner notes: "The Harmony Singers originated in the spring of 1971, as a volunteer group of ladies varying in age from grandmothers to high school age. Their goal is to witness for Christ through their singing ministry. The group represents seven Mennonite churches in the Michiana area."

As much as I love these tracks, I wish Charles Gabriel's Awakening Chorus had been sung in complete four-part harmony, as written. That particular anthem is a miracle of pop-musical minimalism--nobody did more with less than Gabriel. At any rate, terrific line-up, with numbers like Hallelujah Square, I'll Meet You in the Morning, I'm Bound for the Kingdom, and a curious selection called Absent from the Body. Anyone know anything about this title? The tune is credited to Thersa Hostetler, an American Mennonite who composed other Mennonite melodies.

To the Harmony Singers: Harmony Singers--Exalt His Name.zip

AWAKENING CHORUS (Charles H. Gabriel)
EXALT HIS NAME
EARLY IN THE MORNING
FROM EVERY STORMY WIND
THE OLD ROAD (B.B. McKinney)
SEEKING FOR ME
MY LOVE SONG
THOU WILT KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE
HALLELUJAH SQUARE (Ray Overholt)
ABSENT FROM THE BODY (Thersa Hostetler)
I'LL TELL THE WORLD THAT I'M A CHRISTIAN
I'M BOUND FOR THE KINGDOM (Mosie Lister)
I'LL MEET YOU IN THE MORNING (Brumley)

The Harmony Singers--Exalt His Name (Precision Audio, INc. 1363)

Lee

Strange creatures on the bedroom mantel....

2011-10-20T03:04:00.012-04:00

That guy in the middle really spooks me out....

So, we have big band versions of Thirteen Women and Witch Doctor, we have Jim Nesbitt's The Friendly Undertaker, we have Ferrante and Teicher playing Ritual Fire Dance, we have Guy Lombardo doing Willie Nelson's Crazy, we have a jazzy instrumental by Bobby Gimby called Ghostin', and we have a better-sounding rip of Beatrice Kay's 1947 Hooray, Hooray, I'm Goin' Away, taken from a Harmony label LP issue. You can't go wrong with these tracks--that is, unless you take them with you while you're robbing a bank. Oh, and another Thing--this time, by Rolf Harris. I forgot I had this Thing. Don't know the year on it, though it's the Sixties for sure. And octet leader Dominic Frontiere (Magician) gave us the fabulous music score for the original Outer Limits TV series. Oh, and The Invaders. Frontiere reused some of his Limits music for the John Wayne western, Chisum (1970). Leave it to me to notice that.

Fresh rips, all, and everything is from my strange collection.

Click here to hear: Halloween 2011 Keeps Groaning Along

GHOSTIN' (STROLLIN' SPOOKS)--Bobby Gimby, 1958. (Coral 9-62001)
BOOGA DA WOOG--Milt Herth and His Trio, 1955.
THE THING--Rolf Harris
THE FRIENDLY UNDERTAKER--Jim Nesbitt, 1965.
HUSH... HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE--Sammy Kaye O., 1965.
THIRTEEN WOMEN--Tommy Oliver and His O., 1958.
WITCH DOCTOR--Same.
MAGICIAN--Dominic Frontiere Octet, 1956.
FIVE WEEKS IN A BALLOON--The Keymen, 1962.
THE DESERTED BALLROOM (Gould)--Mantovani Orch., 1955.
CRAZY (W. Nelson)--Guy Lombardo; vocal: Cliff Grass, 1962.
RITUAL FIRE DANCE--Ferrante and Teicher, 1963.
THE MUMMY (Rod McKuen)--Bob McFadden and Dor, 1959.
HUSH... HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE--Lawrence Welk O., 1966.
ELECTRIFIED DONKEY--Ferlin Husky.

Lee

Space--The Final Budget Cut, Part 2!

2011-10-17T18:13:00.001-04:00

Was I hoping "we'd" go to Mars? (Actually, astronauts go, and the rest of us stay here, but you know what I mean.) The answer is, yes, I was very much hoping we would. Nothing makes more sense than space exploration. However, NASA has become--like everything else--an impediment to handing buckets of money to corporations, Wall St., and corrupt military contractors. So, our space adventures have to end. That it happened under a Democratic president gives me no cause for pride.

But, moving on to lighter subjects, we have today's ~~play~~slaylist of goofy space-related numbers, with a number of these numbers having "Moon" (or "Looner") in their title, though none of these songs are about the Halloween tradition of mooning. Just so you know.

Moon Winks goes back to the early 1900s--Googling gives me two or three conflicting exact dates. It's a pleasant and bland "three step" whose sheet music cover has the coolest man-in-the-moon illustration ever printed. Our recording comes from 1938. Dickie Goodman's delightfully stupid Luna Trip (1969) is the best kind of period piece, with its Walter Cronkite references and the lunar E.T. who constantly interrupts the broadcast. As someone who was "there" (i.e. watching the landing on TV), I remember the creatures-on-the-moon rumors going around at the time. Despite all the media hype to the contrary, 1969 was a very unhip time.

And, of course, you needed another recording of the Star Trek theme.

To the Looner Toons:
Space--The Final Budget Cut, Pt. 2

SLAYLIST

ROCKET TO THE MOON--Tony Perkins, 1957.
THE LOONER FLUTER--Jon Kenny (Astro 711)
THE SCREEMIN' MEEMIES FROM PLANET "X"--Merv Griffin
THEME FROM STAR TREK--Ferrante and Teicher, 1978.
MOON WINKS--Byron Wolfe's Orch., 1938.
THE MOON HAS HIS EYES ON YOU--The Quartones.
OMICRON VISITS EARTH--Rege Cordic and Co., 1960.
LUNA TRIP--Dickie Goodman, 1969.
THERE'S NO LIFE ON THE MOON--The Mills Brothers, 1972.
MOONFLIGHT--Vik Venus, Your Main Moon Man, 1969.
SATELLITE--Teresa Brewer, 1958.
TAKE ME TO YOUR LADDER (Bacharach-Hilliard)--Buddy Clinton, 1960.
MAN FROM MARS--Ferrante and Teicher, 1955.
THE 'LECTRONIC BRAIN--The Moonbillies, 1960.
FALL OF THE PLANET EARTH--The Moonbillies, 1960.

Lee

Ghosts, and other Halloween characters!

2011-10-17T05:00:00.001-04:00

What ghosts, crazies, mutations, wolves, "gools," snake-oil salesmen, mannequins, famous literary characters, and teens in jeans are waiting to meet you in this slaylist! Buwa-ha-ha-ha-haa-haaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

(Echo, echo, fade....)

The Purple People Eater, Glendora, and The Old Philosopher are budget-label covers of hits by, respectively, Sheb Wooley, Perry Como, and Eddie Lawrence. Download without delay. My friends are waiting for you!!!!

Click here to hear: Ghosts and other Halloween characters

SLAYLIST

MY FRIEND THE GHOST--Jill Whitney, 1954.
THE H-MAN--Columbia Pictures Theatre Lobby Spot, 1958.
THE PURPLE PEOPLE EATER--From "Pops for Tots," Audition 5932.
MY FRIEND THE GHOST--Tommy Dorsey O. feat. Jimmy Dorsey, 1954.
ELEMENTARY, MY DEAR WATSON! (Indelli)
BLUE GHOST--Tommy Roe, Jordanaires, 1962.
GLENDORA--Bud Roman w. The Toppers
BIG BAD WOLF--Don Cherry w. Ray Conniff O., 1958.
THE NAUGHTY GHOST--Jan August, 1955.
SITTIN' BY SITTIN' BULL (J. Driftwood)--Eddy Arnold, 1959.
TORERO--Julius La Rosa, 1958.
THE TEENS IN JEANS FROM NEW ORLEANS--Lillian Briggs, 1956.
RIP VAN WINKLE (Grofe)--Andre Kostelanetz O., 1955.
THE OLD PHILOSOPHER--Peter Marshall, Tommy Farrell, 1956 (Bell 6).
THE COOL GOOL--Sharkey Todd and His Monsters, 1959.

Lee

Sunday morning gospel: Jerome Hines Sings Gospel Songs of the Salvation Army

2011-10-16T01:20:00.004-04:00

Metropolitan Opera bass Jerome Albert Link Heinz (Hines; 1921-2003) recorded sacred music for RCA, Word, and London, and recorded it beautifully. A man whose heart was as enormous as his voice, Hines devoted much of his time to the Salvation Army, giving Skid Row concerts and singing carols for New York shoppers at Christmas time.

And what do you call a 1957 LP of gospel gems performed by a great opera singer? I don't know about you, but I call it magnificent.

This copy has suffered some needle wear, but I've rendered it almost "invisible" by way of two layers of EQ, the first being what I call a spot EQ, followed by a general EQ. Think laser surgery. I don't know how I got along in life in the days before MAGIX. Or, for that matter, how I got along before I found (and was blown away by) my first Jerome Hines sacred LP.

To the great gospel: Jerome Hines Sings Salvation Army Hymns.zip

PLAYLIST

ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
COMING HOME
AT CALVARY
JUST AS I AM
ARE YOU WASHED IN THE BLOOD?
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
HAVE THINE OWN WAY
TRUST AND OBEY
BLESSED ASSURANCE
POWER IN THE BLOOD
GOD BE WITH YOU

Jermone Hines, w. Capt. Eva Allen, organ. (London 5391; 1957)

Lee

Hospital horrors for Halloween 2011!

2011-10-15T05:00:00.006-04:00

Click here to hear: Hospital Horrors for Halloween 2011

SLAYLIST

CALLIN' DR. CASEY (Loudermilk)--John D. Loudermilk, 1962.
BEN CRAZY--Dickie Goodman, 1962.
DR. BEN BASEY--Mickey Shorr and the Cutups, 1962.
WITCH DOCTOR--Frank Thomas (Big 4 Hits 233, 1958).
THAT HYPNOTIZING MAN--Dolly Connolly, 1912.
HOORAY, HOORAY, I'M GOIN' AWAY--Dolly Kaye w. Mitchell Ayres O., 1947.
HYPNOTIZED--Ted Fio Rito Orch,; vocal: Muzzy Marcellino, 1936.
THE DISORDERLY ORDERLY--Sammy Davis, Jr., 1964.

Lee

Three "Thing"'s for Halloween 2011!

2011-10-15T04:44:00.005-04:00

Today, three Things definitely worth listening to.

Click here to hear: Three Things

SLAYLIST

THE THING (Grean)--Cliff Holland w. Les Morgan Orch. (Tops 267)
THE THING--The Sundowners Band (Windsor 7106)
THE THING--Danny Kaye w. Ken Darby Orch. and Cho. (Decca 27350; 1950)

Lee

Fidel presents: Meow-loween at MY(P)WHAE!

2011-10-14T23:21:00.012-04:00

I thought "Meow-loween" was pretty clever of me... until I Googled it and got 900 matches. I hate it when people steal my ideas before I can come up with them.

In the photo above, you're seeing Fidel and his brother, Raul. Twins, of course, and with a talent for making the exact same poses. I swear that no Photoshopping was involved, unless you're using "Photoshopping" as a generic term, in which case, yes, it was. Originally, I was simply going to move Fidel closer to the pumpkins, but then I thought, Why not have two Fidels? Days later, I invented the already-in-use term "Meow-loween." And I suppose someone's already pre-stolen "cat-o'lantern." (Yup--44,700 results.)

All ripped from records in my collection and restored with MAGIX Audio Cleaning Lab 14: Meow-loween!

SLAYLIST

LUCKY BLACK CAT--The Lancers, 1955.
I TAUT I TAW A PUDDY TAT--Benny Lee and Mary w. Nat Temple Orch., 1950.
KITTEN ON THE KEYS (Confrey)--Frank Banta and Jack Austin, piano duet, 1922.
DINGBAT, THE SINGING CAT--Freddy Martin O.; vocal: Stuart Wade, 1946.
ME-OW (Kaufman)--Joseph C. Smith's Orch., 1918.
TABBY THE CAT--Pied Pipers, Paul Weston Orch., 1944.
THAT CAT STEP--Sanford's Famous Dance Orch., 1920.
LEAVE MY KITTEN ALONE--Johnny Preston, 1960.
I WANT A GOOD HOME FOR MY CAT--Betty Johnson w. Charles Grean, 1958.
ONE PART DOG, NINE PARTS CAT (Bacharach-Hilliard)--Dick Van Dyke, 1961.
A CAT-ASTROPHE--Prince's Orch., 1919.
PUSS 'N BOOTS--Paul DeWitt, Maxine Adams, and the Cricketones.
DOG AND CAT POLKA--Wasyl Gula w. I Jego Nowa Modan Ork., 1937.
KITTEN ON THE KEYS--John Scott Trotter Orch., 1941.

Lee (and Fidel)

Getting hairy over Halloween!

2011-10-11T17:58:00.013-04:00

Today's slaylist includes Ichabod Crane, from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949), and both a mono and stereo version of Witch Doctor, as released on cheapo labels Promenade and Crown. They're the same recording, except that only the mono mix features a sped-up vocal, and then only in the first chorus. I refer to the "oo-ee-oo-ah-ah..." portion, which is sung in falsetto, and over which they obviously intended to dub the sped-up part, but didn't (except that one time). Now, I find it amazing enough to have both a mono and stereo mix of this cut-rate cover version, let alone slightly different mixes, but I speak as someone who has been collecting records for way, way too long. Please keep that in mind.

The two other cheap covers in our list--Little Blue Man and Dinner with Drac--are also Promenade covers, with the first a stereo Crown label release (like Witch Doctor). (I hope you're taking notes.) And there are three re-runs, including Durward Kirby's Crime Doesn't Pay!, and three shellac titles, including Georgie Price's 1923 version of Barney Google. The horse-race portion of the latter is revelatory, being basically the same routine used by Doodles Weaver 25 years later on the Spike Jones recording of William Tell Overture, only minus the Feetlebaum character/punchline. Never know what you'll find when you plop the needle down on an old 78 (old 78s being the most common type).

I'm Normal, of course, was an "answer" to They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! and is nearly as hilarious. "The Emperor" was Bob Hudson, of Hudson and Landry fame. You'll want to dive without delay into this tub of tingling titles:

Click here to hear: Getting Hairy Over Halloween!

SLAYLIST

SATAN AND THE POLAR BEAR--David Rose Orch., 1957.
LITTLE MONSTER--Baker Sisters, w. Hugo Peretti Orch., 1956.
ICHABOD CRANE--Lawrence Welk Orch.; vocal: Dick Hill, 1949.
WITCH DOCTOR (Stereo)--12 Top Hits (Crown CST-114)
WITCH DOCTOR (Mono)--John Logan (Promenade A-41 4)
DINNER WITH DRAC--John Logan (Promenade A-41 4)
I'M NORMAL--The Emperor (Bob Hudson), 1966.
CINDER FELLER--The Five Fellows (Melloclass 1002)
CRIME DOESN'T PAY!--Durward Kirby w. The Patriots (Davis 999)
BARNEY GOOGLE--Georgie Price (Victor 19066; 1923)
THE LITTLE BLUE MAN--12 Top Hits (Crown CST-114)
IN THE YEAR 2525--The New World
I LOVE ME--Billy Murray (Victor 19066; 1923)
MAGIC EYES--Oriole Orch. (Brunswick 2437; 1923)
WHAT A LOVELY PARTY (Greenfield-Keller)--Buchanan and Greenfield, 1964.

Lee

The media left vs. the left

2011-10-09T12:20:00.005-04:00

Given the lukewarm comment and download rate this Halloween, I've decided to adopt a casual posting pace, if for no other reason than the chance to use the cool phrase, "casual posting pace." I always feel like I'm on some deadline, but this is obviously some trick of perception caused by the essential Internet/user dynamic.

Speaking of tricks, illusionist Penn Jillette seems to be....

(Essay continues at MY(P)WAHE Text.)

Lee

Sunday morning gospel--Don't You Hear Jerusalem Moan

2011-10-09T01:35:00.003-04:00

A short post today, whipped together at the last moment. I'm just recovering from oral surgery--extraction went fine, but the general anesthesia has had me doped for the past two days (just as the post-op instructions indicated it would!). So I'm someplace in last week, or possibly the start of this one. Kind of like same-location jet lag. Hence, a last-minute SMG.

We'll be hearing four sacred selections ripped from two recently-bought 78s. Well, three sacred selections, anyway--Alabama Jubilee (written in 1915) isn't exactly a gospel number, though the lyrics seem to be describing a camp meeting.

Click here to hear: Don't You Hear Jerusalem Moan

DON'T YOU HEAR JERUSALEM MOAN--Gid Tanner & His Skillet Lickers w. Riley Puckett, 1926.
ALABAMA JUBILEE--Same.
JESUS IS MY LIGHT AND SONG (Kirkpatrick)--Gypsy Smith (Columbia A-5158; 1910)
WHEN THE MISTS HAVE ROLLED AWAY--Harrison and Anthony, 1910. (Same disc)

Lee

Rosie Presents: Shivery Shellac, Part 2!!

2011-10-06T22:57:00.008-04:00

The shellac shivers continue with tracks ripped from 78s in my scattered collection. All but The Sneak were recently restored. Rosie commands you to listen.

Click here to hear: Shivery Shellac, Part 2!!

SLAYLIST

THE SNEAK--Club Royal Orch., 1922.
WITH HER HEAD TUCKED UNDERNEATH HER ARM--Cyril Scott (Castle 1259)
THE OLD SOW SONG--Cyril Scott (Castle 1259)
I DIED ALL OVER YOU--Bud Messner and His Sky Line Boys; voc: Bill Franklin (Abbey 15004; 1950)
PRELUDE IN C SHARP MINOR (Rachmaninoff)--Eight Piano Ensemble, 1934.
DANCE OF THE POTTED PUPPET--Ambrose and His Orch., 1947.
INNER SANCTUM--Charlie Spivak and His O.; vocal: Irene Daye, 1947.
WITCHES' DANCE (MacDowell)--Leopold Godowsky, piano, 1921.
CHOPIN'S FUNERAL MARCH--Prince's Orch., 1909.
SPOOKY SPOOKS (Claypoole)--Prince's Orch., 1916.

Lee

Space--The Final Budget Cut!

2011-10-05T04:01:00.010-04:00

Next stop, Mars! Then the moons of.... Oops. Never mind. I was dreaming of days gone by. I do that more often the older I get.

Songs about space, however, are just what the blog budget called for. As nearly always, all of these were ripped by me from my strange collection. Today's Halloween helping is mostly from vinyl, with two sides (The Coronet Orch. and Holst) from 78s. In space, no one can hear you practice the violin.

Click here to hear: Space--The Final Budget Cut

SLAYLIST

JOURNEY INTO SPACE (Phillips)--Frank Weir's Saxophone and Orch., 1955.
THE SCREAMIN' MEEMIES FROM PLANET "X"--Merv Griffin, 1961.
VENUS AND BACK--The Coronet Orch., 1954.
COUNTDOWN; LAUNCH; INTO ORBIT (Rocketship X-M; 1950) (Grofe)
THE FACE FROM OUTER SPACE--Jeff Barry w. Billy Mure Orch., 1960.
THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN--Ray Anthony Orch., 1957.
MERCURY (THE WINGED MESSENGER) (Holst)--Gustav Holst c. London Symphony O., 1926.
HELP ME TELSTAR--The Gee Sisters, 1962.
IT'S ABOUT TIME--Wade Denning, Port Washingtons, 1966.
WILL THERE BE SPACE IN A SPACE SHIP--McGuire Sisters, 1961.
ROCKET RIDE--Harry King Orch., 1956.
JOURNEY INTO SPACE--Antoine de Treville.

Lee

Coming soon: Halloween 2011, Part 3

2011-10-04T03:06:00.003-04:00

Lee

Shivery Shellac!!

2011-10-03T04:41:00.015-04:00

"Shivery Shellac" is pretty bad, yeah, but "Chilling Shellac" is too much of a tongue twister, so "Shivery Shellac" it ish. I mean, is.

And I could have done a clutching-hand pose with my Giant Eagle monster hand (the store, not the hand type), but I wasn't feeling very Soupy Sales--hence, this more conventional shot. Note the brilliant combination of black furry hand and black shirt in the composition.

Fresh 78 rips, all, with half of them new to the blog. You may wonder what The Milton Berle Polka has to do with Halloween, and I probably would, too, if I thought about it too long. I reckon it's weird in just the right way. Eccentric, Swingin' the Jinx Away, and Eccentric Rag have perfect Halloween titles, while Pharaoh Land and The Man from the South have the perfect Halloween sound. 1922's Dance of the Demon, played by Victor Arden and Phil Ohman, has both, while Dance of the Paper Dolls has neither. It does, however, allow us to hear duo-pianists Arden and Ohman in an electrical recording. Demon was composed in 1888 by Denmark's Eduard Holst (not to be confused with England's Gustav).

Click here to hear: Shivery Shellac!

SLAYLIST

ECCENTRIC RAG (Robinson)--Oriole Orchestra, 1924.
ECCENTRIC--Red Nichols and His Five Pennies, 1927.
THE MAN FROM THE SOUTH (Bloom)--Ted Weems O., vocal by Arthur Jarrett, 1929.
PHARAOH LAND--The Original Six, Dir. by George Kelly, 1922.
DANCE OF THE DEMON--Victor Arden-Phil Ohman, piano duet, 1922.
SWINGIN' THE JINX AWAY (Porter)--Frances Langford w. Jimmy Dorsey, 1936.
DANCE OF THE PAPER DOLLS--Arden and Ohman, piano duet, 1929.
THE MILTON BERLE POLKA--The Marlin Sisters, Carroll Lucas Orch., 1949.

Lee

Sunday morning gospel: Doris Akers--Glad Tidings

2011-10-02T00:01:00.005-04:00

This is the fourth MY(P)WHAE go-round for this wonderful album. Since first posting Glad Tidings in 2007, I've heard from a number of people who sang on this recording--in fact, it was on the last such occasion that I discovered none of the previous links were active (due to the demise of Savefile.com). So, four live links later, this lucky thrift find is back, just as potent and inspiring as ever.

And we recycle part of my 2007 essay: Doris ("Miss Gospel Music") Akers (1923-1995) was a songwriter and performer possibly best known for her appearances with The Gaithers and for her songs Lead Me, Guide Me and Sweet, Sweet Spirit, both featured in the 1972 music documentary, Elvis on Tour. Here, she directs (from the piano) the Glad Tidings Temple's Harvest Time Choir of Vancouver, B.C. The organist is Doug Moody.

Click here to hear:

Doris Akers Directs Temple's Harvest Time Choir: Glad Tidings.

TRACKS

1. Introduction by Paster Reg Layzell
2. Standing on the Promises
3. We've Come This Far By Faith
4. Praise God, Hallelujah
5. My Expectation
6. Sweet Jesus (D. Akers)
7. Every Time I Feel the Spirit
8. I Felt the Spirit
9. I'll Be There
10. Joy, Great Joy, To My Soul

Lee

16 Old Ladies Locked in a Lavatory--Herbi Hardt and the Jesters

2011-10-01T16:01:00.010-04:00

Herbi Hardt (lower r.) with Herr Louie, the Weasel, and the Original Hungry Five--Chicago, 1930s (image swiped from eBay)

We start Halloween 2011 with 16 Old Ladies Locked in a Lavatory, which is better known (by those who know it) in the version called 7 Old Ladies Locked in a Lavatory. Some identify it as an old Irish drinking song, and that sounds about right. Oscar Brand is often cited as the author, though he isn't. The lyrics have a turn-of-the-century feel, though I'm not sure pay-bathrooms go back that far, not being an authority on that topic.

An on line "blue" discography gives 1951 as the year for the version we're about to hear, based on the matrix numbers--again, that sounds about right. My copy cost me $5.00, which is probably a good buy, and it yielded a fine rip. Best of all, we have tons of information on the artist, Herbi Hardt, courtesy of this 2010 piece by Patty Williamson, Ph.D: Part 1, Part 2. An amazing life, which began in Stuttgart, Germany in 1912.

16 Old Ladies (Google for some of the many versions thereof) is a "bawdy" number by pre-SNL standards, but of course it's way tamer than most of today's family-movie moments. From a 78 just added to my collection, and the perfect start to a MY(P)WHAE Halloween.

16 Old Ladies Locked in a Lavatory

Herbi Hardt and the Jesters (Herbi Hardt U.B. 9913/14) (c. 1951)

Rex-ellent thrift find

2011-09-25T11:54:00.007-04:00

The China Patent No.? Why, 93304833.5.

Lee

Sunday morning gospel: The Jordan Family--Thank You for the Valley

2011-09-24T21:59:00.007-04:00

That makes a nice bookmark, no? Actually, it's my attempt at cover art in the absence of the actual cover. Or, for that matter, the record itself--yes, this is another cassette rescue. I have no information on the group save the label, number, and location--Shield 491N5, Columbus OH. Humble, small-budget, family-group gospel (yes, you can quote me) at its very best.

I taped this in 1994, so we know the material is at least that old. I'm guessing late '70s, early '80s. I recall I found this in still-sealed condition at a Columbus, Ohio flea market. I haven't been to that market for years, so I don't know if it's even still there. Last I saw, it had changed its name but kept its flea-market format.

To the Jordans: Jordan Family--Thank You for the Valley.zip

Oops.... I used Google Chrome to write this. Hence, the double spaces.

Lee

The 78s keep spinning!!

2011-09-24T00:24:00.010-04:00

78s from my too-large collection, and in my own restorations. I'm too tired at the moment to write much about them, so I'll let them spin for themselves. I mean, speak for themselves.

Some of my long-time favorites here, combined with some new friends. Wish I knew the arranger for the 1933 Lover by Paul Whiteman--I figure it was either Ferde Grofe or Adolph Deutsch in Grofe mode. Probably Deutsch in Grofe mode (always wanted to type that). Whoever scored it did a magnificent job.

Bluin' the Blues is my favorite example of early jazz, bar none. To the 78s....

Click here to hear: The 78s Keep Spinning

RINGTAIL BLUES--Wilbur Sweatman's Orig. Jazz Band (Columbia A-2682; 1918)
BLUIN' THE BLUES--Same
WHEREVER YOU GO...--Nat Shilkret O.; vocal: Lewis James (Victor 20646; 1927)
SOMEBODY LIED ABOUT ME--Colonial Club O. (Brunswick 3700; 1927)
KITTEN ON THE KEYS--John Scott Trotter Orch. (Decca 2594; 1941)
SAPPHIRE (R. Bloom)--Same.
AWAY DOWN SOUTH IN HEAVEN--Virginians (Nat Shilkret) (Victor 21228; 1928)
WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE--Lew White, organ solo w. piano and xylophone (Brunswick 4752; 1930)
LOVER--Paul Whiteman O.; vocal: Jack Fulton, piano: Ramona (Victor 24283; 1933)
RATTLE AND ROLL (Basie, Goodman, Clayton)--Benny Goodman O., 1945 (Columbia 36988)
HAPPY DAYS AND LONELY NIGHTS--Knickerbockers (Ben Selvin) (Columbia 1596-D; 1928)
DOIN' THE RACCOON--Same.

Lee

Polka with Bohm and Spindler!

2011-09-23T15:03:00.010-04:00

This was actually the best label scan I could manage. And it's actually easier to see than the original. Brighter, certainly.

And, thanks to this source, I can tell you that today's disc is from a series of 78s recorded between 1924 and 1926 for the publishers Ginn and Company to accompany their Music Appreciation in the Schoolroom series. Oddly enough, though this is only the second in the series, it's clearly an electrical recording. The sound (courtesy of Columbia) is pretty awesome for the time. It features members of the New York Philharmonic Orch., under the direction of Henry Hadley.

In 2009, I posted a Christmas track from this very disc and guesstimated it to hail from the 1930s, but Buster correctly concluded, based on Hadley's time with the NYP, that it's older.

The selections are 19th-century polkas, with Fritz Spindler's Fairy Polka at least as old as 1867, and Carl Bohm's Harlequin Polka dating from about 1889. I doubled both tracks to make their playing times seem more like playing times. Note how much the melodies and rhythms of these concert (salon?) polkas are like those of the current kind. All they need is some lively, pronounced "oom-pah."

Now, let's concert polka!!

Fairy Polka (Fritz Spindler)

Polka Harlequin (Carl Bohm)

Members of the New York Philharmonic Orch., 1925 or 1926.

Lee

Our newest: Calvin

2011-09-22T02:26:00.004-04:00

Calvin is an adorable cream Manx, about 17 months old. Smart, incredibly sweet, extremely social, and addictively cuddly are only four phrases that describe him.

Here he is, exploring our yard and tagging after Daddy.

Spanish and Latin American 78s (1913-1948)

2011-09-19T21:34:00.002-04:00

Not quite sure how to proceed, I said to Bev, "I'm featuring some Latin American 78s--that is, 78s featuring Latin American music, and not necessarily 78s recorded in Latin America--but I'm also featuring a few Spanish sides. Of course, Spain isn't in Latin America. What should I call the set?" Bev thought for a moment and offered, "Spanish and Latin American 78s." "Oh," I responded.

That's the story behind this post title. Repeat it without permission and I'll... I'll.... um.... Well, nothing, I guess.

Now that we've cleared that up, let's talk about the music. Lots of notes here. And chords. Just what you'd expect. Selections range from acoustical (starting in 1913) to "electrical" (concluding in/with 1948, though of course electrical recordings continue to this day, wherever microphones are employed to that end). Most of the dates are for sure, save for two--Dolores and La Nueva Higuerita--which I'm guesstimating at 1926. Though they sport a label design that's only as old as 1927, they could have been later pressings. That's why it's risky to date any recording by label design, patent dates, etc. Plus, something could be a reissue, in which case the catalog number only tells us the date of issue, not of the track itself. This hobby is more complicated than you may think. Greater wills than mine have snapped and fled.

Siboney is the hit 1931 recording of same, though there's no vocal, despite what's reported nearly everywhere in cybersville. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Alfredo Brito appears to have been a bandleader vice singer. No biggee, except I was waiting for a vocal which never came. (Wah!) Is there a vocal version of this from the same year by the same guy? (Oh, and listen for the Bo Diddley beat, which is right out in front.) Elsewhere, the Castillians, led by the great Louis Katzman (and very possibly arranged by him, too), give their usual great--and, in this case, horn-recorded--performances, and the Victor Military Band is its usual awesome on 1913's Argentine Tango.

My favorite of the bunch, Plus Ultra, is making it second appearance here, only in an improved rip. Note that the bandleader and composer of Plus is Amapola composer Joseph LaCalle. And, wouldn't you know it, we have Nat Shilkret's fabulous 1927 version of Amapola right here on our shoe. There's a time for laughter, a time for tears. And a time to say, "There's a time..."

All from my 78 collection and ripped by your favorite blogger.

Click here to hear: Spanish and Latin American 78s

SIBONEY (Morse-Lecuona)--Afredo Brito and His Siboney Orch., 1931. (Victor 22685)
MARIA, MY OWN--Rumba--Same.
DOLORES--Waltz (Waldteufel)--Banda Espanola, c. 1926. (Columbia 2418-X)
LA NUEVA HIGUERITA--Banda Columbia--same.
AMAPOLA (Lacalle)--International Novelty O. (Nat Shilkret), 1926. (Victor 20510)
PLUS ULTRA (Lacalle)--Lacalle Spanish Band, 1926. (Columbia 702-D)
LA PALOMA (The Dove)--The Castillians (Louis Katzman), 1923. (Vocalion A 14543)
LA GOLONDRINA (The Swallow)--Same.
ARGENTINE TANGO (Roberto)--Victor Military Band, 1913. (Victor 17276)
BARCELONA--International Novelty O. (Nat Shilkret), vocal: Billy Murray, 1926. (Victor)
LA BAMBA DE VERA CRUZ--Macklin Marrow, MGM Orch., 1948.
MARIANNA (Lou Singer)--Columbia Concert Band (Morton Gould), 1953.

Olé!

Lee

Have you...

2011-09-19T20:35:00.001-04:00

Have you ever been doing something, and you forgot what you were doing?

I had a reason for bringing that up, but I can't remember what it was.

Lee

Sunday morning gospel--The Coffey Family: What's In Store for Me

2011-09-18T00:01:00.001-04:00

(This is a rerun of a 2008 post, only with a new file. The previous one vanished along with Savefile.com):

I'm afraid that today's LP came into my collection without a jacket, meaning that I have no photos or biographical info to share. (Wait a minute... wait a minute....)

eBay to the rescue! Looks like this was part of a three-record set called The Family Who Prays. The family consists of James, Claudia, Claude, and Arthona Coffey. Give me a moment to swipe the eBay photo....

Looks very Seventies, doesn't it? A very professional-sounding group of singers here, with the sort of crisp, expert accompaniment we've come to expect from these little gospel labels. Moral: never mistake lack of budget for absence of quality.

Country gospel in the Sego Bros. and Naomi mode, with an especially lively version of Charles H. Gabriel's Higher Ground. That 1898 song just might be the staple of popular gospel songbooks of the early 20th century, if my collection is any indication. Like so many Gabriel tunes, it's simple as can be, and yet it makes a strong and memorable musical statement. And, more than a century later, it sounds like it was written last week.

But not to take attention away from the very fine Coffey Family quartet--these performances will make your Sunday. Trust me.

Click here to reach zip file: Coffey Family--What's in Store for Me.zip

2011 note: I've upped the bit rate, and these files have a variable bit rate which averages around 170 kbps. Let me know if that presents any file-size issues when downloading, because I can always bring it down a bit (pun accidental).

PLAYLIST

WHAT'S IN STORE FOR ME (Coffey)
OH, WHAT A HAPPY DAY (Campbell)
HIGHER GROUND (Gabriel-Oatman, Jr.)
I'M GOING TO LEAVE HERE SHOUTING (Rambo-Davis)
DOWN BY THE RIVER SIDE
SWING DOWN SWEET CHARIOT
LONG LONG JOURNEY (Davis-Rambo)
LONESOME VALLEY
THERE IS A LIGHT GUIDING ME
YOUR CHILD AND MINE

(Mission Records SF-286)

Lee

Sunday morning gospel--Joyful E's: Someone Will Love Me in Heaven

2011-09-11T00:20:00.008-04:00

Okay, maybe not the most exciting back cover in LP history, but the playlist is quite another matter--Don Reno, Ira Louvin, Claude Ely (Ain't No Grave), George Jones, and George (Old Rugged Cross) Bennard are five of the songwriters represented here. Today's group, the Joyful E's--Mr. and Mrs. Beatenbo and sons Charlie and Virgil--brings us country gospel from Georgia, courtesy of kind reader and contributor Martin D. from (coincidence?) Georgia, who also provided us with two of our recent Loopers/Looper Trio albums.

Today's vinyl was slightly beat up, but... well, you know the drill. MAGIX and multiple instances of file splicing saved the day (and the sound), making history of the snaps, crackles, and pops (plus a few bams). The damage was mostly a lot of small cross-cuts--the most common record-wear issue of all. Less than a match for MAGIX.

Great stuff, on the Perfection label of Smyrna, Georgia, and of course we don't have a year. I'm guessing (just a guess) early 1970s. This was the Joyful E's's (E's's?) second album. Maybe that was their first that I just spotted on eBay, and after the auction had closed.

To the music: Joyful E's--Someone Will Love Me in Heaven

Click here for track list and group photo. Note that Tell Me His Name Again is by George Bennard and Ain't No Grave by Claude Ely.

Update: And here is the front cover:

Lee

It's Polka Time, Part 6!!

2011-09-04T22:00:00.001-04:00

Polkas for Labor Day? Why not! I mean, why not?!

I've gotten ahead of myself on the polka ripping, so I just made a database of titles featured here--lists for lists, a PC-age phenomenon. Computers, after all, are primarily data-storing devices. The more advanced they become in that regard, the trickier it becomes to organize and access that data. If computers ever become thinking, intelligent things, the first thing they'll do is hide all of our data and charge us to see it. Dough for data. And what could we do?

Today's polka recordings date back to 1927. Or, rather, "probably 1927." "Whoopee John" Wilfahrt's Aunt Ella's Polka of 1930 is the essence of what I call the TV polka sound. I had no idea that sound existed all the way back in 1930, two decades before Lawrence Welk's television debut. What other polka-history secrets are we en route to discovering here on the Polka Time! series? Is it the destiny of this feature to polka hole in standard ethnic-pop history? Tuba continued.

Click here to hear: Polka Time! Part 6

PLAYLIST

SLOPPY JOE--POLKA--Golden Bells O. (Continental 1143)
MOTHER GOOSE--POLKA--Same.
CARNIVAL POLKA--Joseph Snihur (Sonart M-584; 1943-ish)
DOMINO POLKA--Same.
BABKA--POLKA--Veterans Band (Victor V-701; Late 1930s)
CATARINA--POLKA--Same.
KUJAWIAK OD ZYCHLINA--Orkiestra Ulenskiego (Victor 18-81336; 1928)
KRAKOWIANKA POLKA--Same.
HAPPY GIRL--OBEREK--Fr. Dukli Wiejska Band (Victor 18-80719; Prob. 1927)
MAZUR DWORSKI--Same.
AUNT ELLA'S POLKA--"Whoopee John" Wilfahrt (Vocalion 15902; 1930)
EDNA--POLKA--"Whoopee John" Wilfahrt (Vocalion 15906; 1934)

Lee

Sunday morning gospel: The Weatherford Quartet--In the Garden (1959)

2011-09-03T23:53:00.000-04:00

This turned up fairly recently at one of the local Goodwills, and it's superb in every way, from the world-class haromizing to the brilliant "Living Stereo" fidelity. Produced in 1959 by the gifted, much-maligned-by-NPR Chet Atkins. I love this to death, even if, instead of Lily of the Valley, they give us He's the Lily of the Valley (different tune and words). Who's complaining? Not me.

After listening to two efforts by these guys, I'm convinced they were incapable of waxing a bad track. The members on these tracks, according to the back jacket, are Lily Fern Weatherford, Earl Weatherford, Armond Morales, and Glen Payne. Accompanist is Henry Slaughter, who composed the opening number, What a Precious Friend Is He.

Here's a scan of the credits: Credits. My Epson made the back jacket look mildewed, but it isn't--those are just age marks, darkened considerably. I've even touched them up a bit. My scanner has added new meaning to the phrase "detail I never imagined." Or, in some cases, never wanted!

To the gospel: The Weatherford Quartet--In the Garden (RCA Victor LSP-2034; 1959).

Lee

Every fourth commercial on TV stars Margaret Easley

2011-09-01T19:16:00.004-04:00

Okay, I exaggerate--one in every seven. Which is great, since she's terrific. A few years (at this very blog), I panned her "How cool is that?" HughesNet commercial, which showed up constantly on (I think) MSNBC, and she left a friendly, funny note here. Of course, I felt a little bad about the pan, since my annoyance with the ad was with the ad, not her--she was quite good. I was just projecting my ad-spot fatigue. And who hasn't done that from time to time?

And she's been quite good in a number of other TV spots, too--I swear I've counted five new ones recently. By now, when I say to Bev, "There's Margaret Easley!" she doesn't ask, "Who?"

Wow--Rent-a-Center, Eggo, Fidelity, Travelocity, and something else I thought I saw her in. She must be making a good living. She's on Facebook and, of course, has a website: Margaret Easley News & Stuff.

I'd "Like" her Facebook page (i.e., press the "Like" button), but I left Facebook, so I reckon I can't. Anyway, I will continue to grant her spots the highest honor I have to give in my capacity as a viewer--by keeping them on the "no-mute" list.

Oh, and she's an animal person! How cool is that?

Lee

The older things are, the farther back they date

2011-08-30T17:29:00.000-04:00

"In attempting to reconcile scientific truth with the oldest traditions of humanity, there is but one serious danger, the loss of intellectual integrity."

"But if science said one thing and authoritative tradition said another, no perfectly ingenuous person could rest contented until he had either reconciled the two or decidedly rejected one of them."

Familiar science-vs.-religion cliches of our day, both. Who wrote them?

A. Richard Dawkins, 2007.

B. Sam Harris, 2005.

C. Carl Sagan, 1991.

D. Daniel Dennet, 2009.

E. Philip Gilbert Hamerton, 1885.

E? Philip Gilbert Hamerton, 1885? Yes! How did you guess?

Amazing, isn't it, that a popular collection of essays from 126 years ago (and still in print, oddly enough) would contains staples of modern, best-selling atheism and secularism? Or maybe it only goes to show that some pop myths are old as the hills, especially the ones we label new and daring.

The book is Intellectual Life, and my thrifted copy is the 1885 edition, as noted above. It's hilarious reading, partly because of the pompous and occasionally incomprehensible prose, but mostly because its take on religion is identical to the modern "case" against faith. For instance, just as Daniel Dennett feels that religion "has the power to overwhelm our best judgment and cloud our critical faculties," Hamerton, 100-plus years ago, warned that "If once we admit disingenuousness into the mind, the intellectual life is no longer serene and pure." The modern superstition of reason polluted and ruined by "authority," superstition, fantasy, etc. isn't modern, after all.

This 19th century text borders on self-help/self-improvement, which is why I bought it--mainly, I was hoping to find older examples of positive-thinking and use-every-portion-of-your-brain folklore. Instead, I ended up with a kinder and gentler blueprint for the anti-faith movement of our day, wherein religion is reduced to the belief in things that defy science; factual/demonstrable truth is treated as the only kind; religious dogma is portrayed as the enemy of progress; and so on. In our era, such mass-declared sentiments are viewed as controversial, but how can they be if they're all over a best-selling 1887 volume? Is it rational to treat ideas as novel and controversial which predate our great grandparents?

Oh, and author Hamerton also treats morality as something consistent with intellect--as in, smarter=more moral. Apparently, The Skeptical Inquirer didn't invent that idea.

Lee

Previous administration flashback

2011-08-30T17:08:00.006-04:00

I've been having disturbing flashbacks to those days, not too long ago, when our White House virtually existed to cozy up to Big Oil, among other rich and powerful lobbies. I see images of peaceful protesters being hauled off by police. I watch an administration deaf to the voices of the people. I see....

Oh, wait. That's today's news. Never mind.

"Nope--don't want to hear it."

Lee

The Happy Six, Vess Ossman, Prince's Orch., Columbia Saxophone Sextette

2011-08-30T03:26:00.009-04:00

In other words, seventy-eights. Eleven of them, from ragtime banjo to a saxophone sextette to a racist barbershop classic. Not, mind you, a classic written in a racist barbershop, but a close-harmony standard which happens to be racist, like so many numbers (say, 30 percent) of the ragtime, barbershop, and early jazz periods. For a while, I avoided putting up stuff like this, but such lyrics are so common to the period, I've had to relax my policy. The past is what it is. (Or was, anyway.) The number in question--a 1917 version of 1901's Way Down Yonder in the Cornfield--is musically amazing, and its race-insult factor is par for the period, whether we're talking 1917 or 1901. File under: What "Good Old" Days?

And sorry about the surface noise--the disc is pretty beat up, though you're not hearing the worst of the crackle and hiss. I have, and it's not pretty. (My therapist ordered me to listen to "clean" discs for five weeks by way of recovery.) In other news, Limehouse Nights, an early Gershwin number, is an absolute gem, and I love the sound of the saxophone sextette, a sound which took me a good while to properly balance. I think it took three overlays of parametric EQing to get right. It might help if my MAGIX program had a "de-mud" setting.

One title is totally out of place, period-wise--1951's Beyond the Blue Horizon, as recorded by Hugo Winterhalter's orchestra and chorus. But it happened to be in the bunch, and you, my listeners, are no strangers to quirky track lists. Or you'd have fled the premises long ago....

To the shellac: Happy Six, more!

TRACKLIST

SNAKE HIPS--Original Memphis Five (Victor 19052; 1923)
BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON--Hugo Winterhalter's O. and Cho. (RCA Victor 20-4288; 1951)
WAY DOWN YONDER IN THE CORNFIELD--Columbia Stellar Q. (Columbia A-2427; 1917)
SUDAN--The Happy Six (Columbia A-2934; 1920)
MY SAHARA ROSE--Same.
CHICKEN CHOWDER--Ossman-Dudley Trio (Banjo, Mandolin, Harp-Guitar) (Columbia A-220; 1907)
POLICY KING MARCH--Vess L. Ossman, banjo solo w. orch. (Same 78).
DOLLY I LOVE YOU--The Happy Six (Columbia A-3330; 1920)
YOU'RE JUST LIKE A ROSE--Prince's Dance Orch. (Same 78)
LIMEHOUSE NIGHTS--One-Step (Gershwin)--Columbia Saxophone Sextette (Columbia A-2876; 1920)
BUDDHA--DARDANELLA--Same.

Lee

Sunday morning gospel--Gospel Quartette

2011-08-28T00:01:00.001-04:00

Check out the label: "Gospel Quartette." Check. "QC 127." Check. Lastly, a track listing. Check. Now you know as much about this record as I do!

This gem showed up at the thrift store in the wrong jacket, so all I know is what we see. This disc might set some kind of record for lack of information. Luckily, the music is excellent--very old-fashioned Southern quartet singing, with a superior group of tunes. In spots, "Gospel Quartette" reminds me of Smith's Sacred Singers, though these tracks are obviously 40 to 50 years younger. Thank you, Gospel Quartette, for one of my funnest and most interesting finds.

To the gospel: Gospel Quartette.zip

TRACK LIST

THE LOVE OF GOD
PASS ME NOT
IT'S DIFFERENT NOW
OH LORD OF MERCY
OH HOW I LOVE JESUS
HE'LL PILOT ME
WAY DOWN
JUST A LITTLE TALK WITH JESUS
DEAR JESUS, ABIDE WITH ME
A BEAUTIFUL LIFE
HALLELUJAH
UNTIL THEN

(Gospel Quartette, QC 127)

Lee