And quite a pleasant sound it was, with RCA's biggest stars in mostly familiar fare, which actually had been released as singles and on other LPs in earlier years.
One highlight is Perry Como's fine version of "White Christmas," which he manages to make personal, even though as a vocalist he is descended from the immortal Bing, the song's originator.
Tony Martin is excellent in "Silent Night" - one of his best records. And Eddy Arnold's country hit "C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S" is appealing even though it is a corny alphabet song. Blog favorite Ralph Flanagan adds a Miller-styled "Winter Wonderland" that I much enjoyed.
The low point is the Three Suns' four-square rendition of "Silver Skates," which evokes the roller rink more than the ice house. Also, I could live without Eartha Kitt's overplayed "Santa Baby" (and the Madonna clone version, for that matter).
All in all, though, a fine record. The sound is very good, as usual with RCA Victor products.
Links (Apple lossless):
ReplyDeletehttp://www51.zippyshare.com/v/93224537/file.html
https://mega.co.nz/#!rdFVTIII!LIZgyWUdvEM6Y-cdxzSvE0ZoPukCW-ELEKbOhYsSlLQ
http://rapidshare.com/share/0E663A434B14EC95B4FDD5379C259F27
Thank you
ReplyDeleteThanks! And the original Rodgers and Hammerstein II contribution comes quite as a surprise!
ReplyDeleteLooks like another old but delightful vintage Christmas treat. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis record and I have a bit of a history. I'd never seen it before, until I stumbled across a 3x7" version at an expensive record store. Having never seen it, I figured it was worth what the guy wanted and paid it. He assured me it never came out as an LP and was fairly rare as a set of small records. I ripped it and enjoyed it, then found a really beat up 12" version the next year. I was a little ticked off about that... :( I think the Walter Schumann track on here is also exclusive to this and the original single. I always felt it should have been added to their excellent Christmas LP from RCA, but it's been lost to the ages.
ReplyDeleteHi everyone, and Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteMarty - I don't think I have heard the follow-up to Eartha's record.
Ernie - Thanks for the info about Walter Schumann. I tried to trace the provenance of these tracks, but it's not that easy to do.
Very cool! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat share, Buster. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you for a great Lp
ReplyDeleteThere's a reason why the Rodgers and Hammerstein Christmas song has not entered the standard repertoire: NO DOGS ALLOWED. Otherwise, the LP was enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm always in for a good vintage compilation. Any originals make it a true bonus for me.
ReplyDeleteFavorite track by far, "Happy Christmas, Little Friend." I'd not heard this before, and it was beautiful! The Walter Schumann track was great. Oh, and I'm a big fan of "Santa Baby," no matter how overplayed it is. Constant airplay does not make for a bad song. If that was true, we'd all be haters of Bing's "White Christmas."
ReplyDeleteKwork - Well, thanks for your comments! Eartha is too coy for me, and the ersatz Madonna version sends me reeling into Scrooge territory. However, I do love Bing!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThank you Buster, for this upload!
The last Tony Martin was 2013? I hope this doesn't mean we've seen the last of this great singer.
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing us what you have so far, Buster.