1949 sleeve (above) and disc (below)
So, since workupload decided my LM posts should be banned, that must mean that... workupload is run by idiots? Or that the Ambrosian Singers collectively complained? Hm. Which proposition is the more probable one? Anyway, my 2019 post, with all the sides in a single zip file.
Here's info on Line Material, if you want to read about the company. (Or maybe not, since the site seems to have changed.) I'm sure there's more material (no pun intended) out there regarding LM, but for our purposes, what matters are the marvelous Christmas sides they produced as giveaways for their employees, starting in 1957 and ending in 1962. I'm also including a giveaway from 1949, with narration by Jim Ameche, though it's a very standard affair and nothing remotely like the elaborate, joyous productions to come. Also, their 1956 The Magic of Christmas (kindly donated by Ernie), which isn't all that bad, and which ends this playlist. I didn't want to place it first, since it hardly compares to the 1957-1962 efforts, which were arranged by London-born John McCarthy (1919-2009), best known for his Ambrosian Singers Christmas sides. I wonder if the superbly professional singers on these 45s are those same folks. From 1961 to 1966, the Ambrosian Singers were known as the London Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and it's possible their services exceeded the holiday give-away record budget of LM at this point, since the last McCarthy LM side is the 1962 Let's Trim the Christmas Tree. It could have been recorded the year before. It's interesting that the Singers' increased status corresponds with the end of McCarthy's services to LM. I feel bad for all the kids who, after six years of enjoying Christmas giveaway sides of a major-label quality, had to go without. That must have been a bummer.
These are new rips (note: as of 2019). I had been reposting my c. 2007 rips, but these should be an improvement, as I used my 1.0 mil mono stylus and VinylStudio declicking. I've also acquired clean copies of every side but the 1962 title, which isn't all that nicked up--just moderately. Nearly all its surface noise is no more.
If you haven't heard these before, you'll very possibly be surprised by the stunningly good quality of performance and production. I consider it highly improbable that any other company's holiday sides came anyplace near these. Oh, and, "Merry Christmas... from Line Material. Merry Christmas... from Line Material. (Repeat till fade)."
UPDATE: And the King of Jingaling has the 1956-1962 LM accompanying-book scans here (save for 1957): LM books. Many thanks to Brad!
DOWNLOAD: Line Material Christmas singles, 1949-1962.
Santa's North Pole Band, 1957
The Sounds of Christmas, 1958
The Kinds of Christmas, 1959
Santa's Factoree, 1960
The Day That Santa Was Sick, 1961
Let's Trim the Christmas Tree, 1962
Keeping Christmas--Don Amache, 1949.
The Magic of Christmas, 1956
Lee
The Magic of Christmas, 1956
Lee
9 comments:
These sides are just about the best things going! Thanks for keeping the flame alive.
However, can you refresh my memory about the Season's Greetings from Turkey record? I'm resharing that at my blog soon, and I recall you saying it was also issued as a Line Material record at one point. My copies show no info about Line Material and I don't remember the details of what you said at one point.
Thanks!
Ernie,
Hi. I just know that the Santa Claus side was issued as a LM giveaway in 1964. That's all I remember. My copy is not LM-related: It was an item for tourists. LM must have licensed it for Xmas use. Wish I could remember more!
Because of my fuzzy memory of the release, I didn't include it with this set. It's not exactly classic LM, anyway!
Hmmm, you think it's this one from Canada? Seems familiar, if you didn't share it then maybe it was Rob...
https://www.discogs.com/release/14045627-Unknown-Artist-Christmas-1964
Ernie,
Yes, that's it!
Ah, found it. Stubby shared it over at the 'Fa in 2007. Just one side is taken from the Turkey record, the other side is in French for the Quebecois, I guess.
Here's the link to my scans of the books from 1956-62 (except 57).
https://www.mediafire.com/folder/5g7qzxn58eixk/Line_Material
Brad R-M,
Thanks, Brad! I tried to find your blog (to include a plug) but my browser timed out...
Thanks for documenting those wonderful books. I've only personally come across two or three (including the 1949 edition).
Yeah, there were DNS issues that I didn't want to fix mid season because it would probably mess up the forums, which are the main traffic anyway.
And I've decided to ditch the blog since I haven't really done much with it in ages and it costs too much for hosting.
After the holidays I'll fix the DNS issues and then put something new at the main address. Probably some simple pages with links to my shares from throughout the years. Stay tuned.
Brad,
Glad to hear you're going to carry on! DNS issues are a bit beyond my tech knowledge, but I DO know the fun of periodic hosting catastrophes. And music blogging sure took a hit from social media and YouTube.
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