The recordings are all from 1947 and 1948, then compiled into this LP in 1951, I believe.
Damone's version of "Silent Night" first came out on a 12-inch 78 in 1947, later cut down to 10-inch format for jukeboxes. His excellent version of "White Christmas" and the obscure "Christmas Morn" are from 1948. The latter has a difficult melody line, which gives Vic some trouble.
Eddy Howard may not be familiar to many of you; he is not nearly as well remembered as Laine or Damone. Howard started out as a band vocalist, then moved on to fronting his own band in the 1940s. The three items here were recorded for the small Majestic label in 1947, then swept up by Mercury when Majestic fell to pieces. Mercury reissued the sides in 1948.
Howard was a sensitive singer, but he tends to croon in a head voice, a mannerism I find annoying. Nonetheless his versions of the songs "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "The Christmas Song," then new, now standards, are well done, and nicely played by his band. "Dearest Santa" is a sentimental item in the vein of "The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot," only this time around the unfortunate orphan is a girl.
The sound on the items recorded by Majestic is very good, those originating with Mercury less so. Mercury's processing and pressings leave something to be desired, as usual, but the results still are reasonably good.
Have a fun holiday season, everyone!
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| 1948 trade ad featuring all these sides |
Link (Apple lossless):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mediafire.com/file/aizxefnx1ut58u3/Christmas_Favorites_%28Damone%2C_Laine%2C_Howard%29.zip
Thank you very much!
DeleteI very like this blog, because here i find very rare but excellent music!
Thanks Buster! Merry Christmas season to you! I've got a couple of other, later, Eddy Howard Christmas tracks, but I didn't know there was any earlier stuff.
ReplyDeleteZoltan and Ernie - Happy holidays!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Buster!
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know, Marty! As we all know, Eddy Howard is a big seller these days.
ReplyDeleteAlternative link:
http://www113.zippyshare.com/v/6jfcvKD9/file.html
I'm thinking it's a country-by-country thing. I can still get to the MF link and usually I'm the one who can't get to your shares for some reason. Weird...
ReplyDeleteThe whole thing mystifies me!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this. The original link seems to be working again, FWIW.
ReplyDeleteHooray for vintage Xmas pop! Thanks, Buster.
ReplyDeleteNIFTY stuff, as usual!!! Even if I don't download all that you so lovingly and painstakingly post, I ALWAYS appreciate the work involved and I love to learn something new!!! Thanks from the COLD Boston area!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHey Jim,
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's cold here in Ohio, too. And I have a cold, which is one of my Christmas traditions. In alternate years I develop pneumonia and throw my back out.