Many thanks to Ron Sauer, who sent me this 78 to clean up. It was fun finding the right response curve--this is more like pleasure than work. Two tries, and I think my second one sounds pretty good. Had to lower the bass turnover slightly, as well as the treble rolloff (compared to my first try). Slight adjustments can do a world of good, as they did here. Hope you like it.
Every source tells me this is from 1948. Anyone with more precise info, please chime in. I'm thinking 1948 may have been the release date, and late 1947 the recording date. Just a hunch. (I'm in Joe Friday mode, here.) As you can see, Ruth Lyons is, of course, the person behind the words and music for Let's Light..., and she's on piano here.
Enjoy! Btw, the color differences between the A and B labels aren't a scanner error--they're mismatched. Maybe Radio Artist Records ran out of the green labels, and had to go to aqua....
DOWNLOAD: Let's Light the Christmas Tree
Let's Light the Christmas Tree (Ruth Lyons)--Jack Brown and the Three Jills; Ruth Lyons-piano, Chic Gatwood-guitar, Ish Drain-vibs, Cy Carey-bass
Jingle Bells--Jimmy Wilber and the Little Band, v: the Three Jills
Radio Artist Records 214 (78 rpm; 1948)
Lee
3 comments:
Hi Lee,
It may have been 1943. I just ran across some notes from waaaay back in the day when Christmas Yuleblog featured it:
Ruth Lyons was (and still is) an institution in Cincinnati. She had a four-decade career in broadcasting: first in radio, then television, and "accidentally" invented the daytime TV talk show. An estimated 7 million viewers in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia tuned in (including some who credited her as an influence – Phil Donahue, Jane Pauley, and David Letterman).
Back in 1939, a visit to Children's Hospital left her depressed over the thought of young children being hospitalized over Christmas. The Ruth Lyons Children's Christmas Fund has raised more than $21 million over the past six decades. Ensuring that no sick child fails to receive a visit from Santa remains its primary purpose, the money also is used for TVs, books, and crafts for playrooms at 20 hospitals.
Several years later, Ruth was preparing for the 1943 Christmas Fund campaign when she composed a Christmas tune while driving through downtown Cincinnati. "Let's Light The Christmas Tree" was recorded on the Radio Artist label with a standard dance tempo (not ideal for its melody). Ruth didn't mind—she played the organ on the record and it was released to help the Christmas fund.
RL,
Thanks! That's very interesting. That does seem to set the date back five years, doesn't it?
Thank you for your comments. I was a mere child at the end of Ruth Lyons' career... Leaving a FOREVER IMPRESSION in my heart. I was one of those hospitalized children reviving one of those Gifts. This still makes me feel comforted. Also, I looked forward to watching her Christmas programs during school Christmas break.
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