I have a request for the 1958 Fran Alexandre Christmas Everywhere, and this does seem to be one of my more popular posts. So I was surprised to discover that there was no working blog link for this number (thanks, Workupload!), so... here it is, along with its flip side, One Star. Neither number is terribly original, with the first an exercise in how many times the word "Christmas" can be inserted into a set of lyrics--but both are exceptionally well done, with Fran a more than capable vocalist (a contralto, according to my ears). The uncanny precision of the chorus suggests the multi-tracking of one or two singers (and there's an apparent generational loss as the tracks were "bounced."). In multi-tracking terms, Christmas Everywhere has a Beach Boys feel--not stylistically but technically. Back in 2020, there was a 29-comment discussion of the number at this very blog. Peruse it if you dare! (No, really, it's went very well.)
This time around, I hear "wow" in the recording--an effect caused by unstable speed. I had initially sensed (falsely, I think) an edit at each modulation, but I no longer hear anything like that. I think what we have is a double-tracked lead vocal (as suggested by Brad), and possibly multi-tracked background singers, with everyone very professionally managing the frequent key changes. Essentially, Christmas Everywhere is like an ultra-simple concept given a very careful and elaborate presentation. The sense of perpetuum mobile might be the key to the track's genius. The lyrics tell us that it's "Christmas everywhere," and the music evokes a fast trip across the holiday landscape. Or whatever I just typed. ("The holiday landscape"??)
One Star provides a wonderful contrast, since the track is static by comparison, despite a number of modulations (key changes). The notion of the Star of Bethlehem shining forever is a standard and ancient trope, just as the Nativity was once celebrated by Medieval churches as an event happening just up the hill behind the church, where the congregation could walk and peek in on the holy proceedings. Linear time is a recent cultural concept.
1952's Christmas Isn't Christmas might be the funniest incomplete-thought holiday title ever. A perfectly ordinary Xmas number, but unintentionally hilarious (to me, anyway).
Santa Claus is Flying Thru the Sky made the budget-label rounds for years (sometimes with incorrect titles) since coming out in 1950 on Lincoln Records, where it is credited to Loren Becker and Sally Sweetland, with (who else?) Enoch Light. The composer was Marion Rosette, who (says Discogs) "is best known for the compositions that were featured on the children's television show Captain Kangaroo, including Katie the Kangaroo, City Mouse and Country Mouse, and The Monkey Who Wanted to Fly." She died in 1991.
And we have a very nice-sounding All Around the Christmas Tree (w: Johnny Stuart, m: Johnny Klein), which first appeared in 1945 on the Sonora label and in a lovely picture envelope/sleeve. Dick Todd sings with the Mark Warnow and the Hit Parade Orchestra. Mark was the older brother of Raymond Scott, and he conducted the Your Hit Parade radio orchestra from 1939 to 1949 (the year of his death). My rip is from an uncredited Value Hit Parade Tunes 78rpm EP. This was also issued on Royale and Varsity, and who knows where else.
As for the two 1954 Cliff Martin and The Neighbor's Kids numbers, the label--Pic--had Don Costa, of all people, as the resident conductor. I'm assuming this is the same Don Costa who was the Director of Artists & Repertoire for ABC-Paramount, and who discovered Paul Anka and is known for his work with Frank Sinatra. Here, he's backing the Neighbor's Kids.
And three versions of Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride (words: Mitchell Parish): 1) A nice, big-band-ish rendition by Fontanna's Orchestra and Chorus on the ultra-cheap Palace label, 2) the all-time great 1949 Boston Pops rendition (from a 1965 45-rpm reissue), and 3) a gorgeous vocal version by the Crystal Studio Choir on the Audition (Waldorf) label, year unknown.
On a Christmas Morning, recorded on 9/11/1911, might be my favorite "descriptive" Christmas number ever, and it was composed by Lillian Currie, about whom I can find nothing.
Dorothy Collins' Mr. Santa is a take on Mr. Sandman, and it's ripped from a various-artists LP on Coral. Christmas Shopping, one of two stereo tracks in this list, is a fun 1967 number (which sounds very 1967) written by Bob Ashton and performed by Ralph Carmichael and His Singers. Bobby Roberts' Jingle Bells, The Best Things in Life Are Free, etc. track is a weird relic from 1958.
Nineteen tracks. I don't know what happened to number 6, though I hope it went to a happy place.
DOWNLOAD: Christmas Everywhere, more!--V.A.zip
SLEIGHLIST:
Christmas Everywhere--Fran Alexandre, 1958
One Star--Same
Christmas Isn't Christmas--Woody Wooddell and Bailey Sisters, 1952
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer--The Cadillacs, Orch. Dir. Jessie Powell, 1956
Santa Claus Is Flying Through the Sky--Uncredited (Loren Becker, Sally Sweetland With Enoch Light Orch., 1950)
Gee Whiz, It's Christmas--The Beginning of the End (Ray Munnings), 1970
Sleigh Ride--Fontanna, His Orchestra and Chorus
Santa Claus Is on His Way--Cliff Martin and the Neighbor's Kids, Orch. c. Don Costa, 1954
Three Little Dwarfs and Santa Claus--Same
Jingle Bells--The Music City Chorale With Bob Russell (Holiday Hits 902, 1963)
Sleigh Ride--Boston Pops Orchestra, Arthur Fiedler, Conductor, 1949
Sleigh Ride--The Crystal Studio Choir (Audition--Waldorf/Grand Award sublabel).
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas--Ruby Wright With Cliff Lash and His O., The Dick Noel Singers, 1957
On a Christmas Morning--Prince's Orchestra, 1911
All Around the Christmas Tree--Dick Todd, Mark Marnow and Orch., 1945
Mr. Santa--Dorothy Collins, Orch. Dir. Dick Jacobs, 1955
Jingle Bells--Jeanne Privette, RCA Victor Orch., c. Ardon Cornwell, 1951
Christmas Shopping--Ralph Carmichael Singers and Orch., 1967
Medley: Jingle Bells-Just in Time-The Best Things in Life Are Free--Bobby Roberts and His Orch., 1958
Lee
