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Abe Burrows Sings? (MP3s)

Here's a set of records I've known for as long as I've known what a record was. Abe Burrows was a writer, humorist, radio performer, and much more (including being the father of James Burrows). In 1950 or so, he released a set of four 78's (and, apparently, a 10" 33 RPM album, too) under the title "Abe Burrows Sings?". My parents bought it shortly thereafter, and it was the sort of thing that received frequent plays (and frequent references to it in conversation) in our house. 

If and when I come across this collection I will post a scan of the cover, but for now it's hidden somewhere amongst my parents' things in the basement. Some time ago, I made MP3 copies of all of these songs, though, and offer them here for your enjoyment.

I love all seven of these songs/skits (one being a two-parter) to varying degrees - "Boulder Dam" and "The Gypsy's Violin" are favorites. But there are great little jokes sprinkled throughout, really funny set pieces (particularly in the Boulder Dam record), and just a great, winning way with the whole presentation. I'd be surprised if these weren't a big influence on Tom Lehrer. (And at least a couple of these songs were reworked for use by the Muppets, a fact that I find fairly mind-boggling.)

Abe Burrows later released another 10" 33 RPM album, which featured a song called "The Girl with Three Blue Eyes", and which is also somewhere in that basement of mine. It's also got some fantastic material, which I'll share here when I come up with it.

Bob

1.) Abe Burrows - Brooklyn (MP3)

2.) Abe Burrows - The Gypsy’s Violin (MP3)

3.) Abe Burrows - Lopin’ Along (MP3)

4.) Abe Burrows - Sweet Memories (MP3)

5.) Abe Burrows - Boulder Dam, Part One (MP3)

6.) Abe Burrows - Boulder Dam, Part Two (MP3)

7.) Abe Burrows - Upper Peabody (MP3)

8.) Abe Burrows - Sea Shanty (MP3)

The Fairbanks, Morse Song (MP3)

 Here's a little red 45 which I've always gotten a kick out of, not only because, like so many other bits of advertising, it uses America as a way to sell the company name - in this case, Fairbanks Morse Engine, which is still in business today - but also because of the focus on the phrase "free enterprise" which is a particularly unmusical phrase to use in a song.

Bob

Jerry Coyle and the Nelsonics - America...Land of Free Enterprise - The Fairbanks, Morse Song (MP3)

45 Label (JPG)

Tobie Lurie: Word Music

Here's yet another all-time winner of an album found at the late great Skokie, Illinois fundraiser known as the ALS Mammoth Music Mart, which I've written about here. Tobie Lurie, who is not only still in the poetry business, but has gone into other artistic endeavors, reads his poetry, with a variety of accompaniments, as well as multiple vocals, at times. He now goes by Toby Lurie, although judging from his signature on this album, he did back then, too, leading to the question of why the album is credited to Tobie Lurie.

I'll mostly let the back cover text and the material itself do most of the talking here, but will point out that this album was one of many of my prized odd spoken word albums which were on a bottom shelf in my basement, and therefore bore the brunt of a recent flood, as you'll notice when viewing the front and back covers (the lower part of the back cover, featuring other albums on this label, was basically destroyed, so I haven't copied it here). Also, I particularly enjoy the second track, "Unawareness", but I have no doubt others will find just as much (or more) to enjoy in several of the other tracks.

Bob

1.) Tobie Lurie - Conversation (MP3)
2.) Tobie Lurie - Unawareness (MP3)
3.) Tobie Lurie - Love (MP3)
4.) Tobie Lurie - Fugue and Variations (MP3)
5.) Tobie Lurie - I (MP3)
6.) Tobie Lurie - Waltz (MP3)
7.) Tobie Lurie - Oh Lord (MP3)
8.) Tobie Lurie - Uptight (MP3)
9.) Tobie Lurie - One Boy Has Died in the War (MP3)
10.) Tobie Lurie - Simple Logic (MP3)
11.) Tobie Lurie - Climb On (MP3)
12.) Tobie Lurie - Revolution (MP3)
13.) Tobie Lurie - Nonsense (MP3)
14.) Tobie Lurie - Dow Chemical Jones (MP3)
15.) Tobie Lurie - Mantra (MP3)
16.) Tobie Lurie - Goodbye (MP3)

Front Cover (JPG)
Back Cover (JPG)

Adventures in Not Really Getting It (MP3's)

 I collect budget label collections of then-current hit songs from every era, on albums, 45's and 78. More than a few of them, particularly Beatles covers, have been shared here and on other sites. The HIT record label which ran from around 1962-68 or so was probably the most endearing, but the genre flourished from the early '50's until at least the early '70's. There was even another little flareup of cover records in the '90's, as labels started pushing radio-only hits, with no commercial singles.

Most of these are good mostly for a laugh, if that, but today I'd like to share three which I think cross over into the land of the deeply odd, with one of them having a lyrical error which is spectacularly weird. All three demonstrate the inability of those behind these labels to "get it" when it came to Rock and Roll.

First up, from the Hollywood Label, is a version of Little Richard's "Keep a Knockin'", the original of which I consider one of the most powerful records ever made. The hamfisted attempt at the opening drums here is a perfect introduction to the overall performance, in which the singer repeatedly sings a line wrong: "Too bad you love me, and you can't come in", then offers (at the 1:49 point) one of the weakest rock and roll screams imaginable.

The other two songs are from the Tops in Pops album pictured above. The real killer here is their version of "Jailhouse Rock", which features a singer who shouts his way through the thing, over a clunky band (I really like the guitarist sliding down to the note on the verses). But the amazing moment here is when the singer sings a few mistaken words in place of "I sure would be delighted with your company" (about the one minute mark), replacing "company" with something that wouldn't have been allowed on the radio in the '50's or the '60's, and possibly not the '70's.

I've also included the same album's version of "Wake Up Little Suzie", because I got a kick out of the fact that they apparently couldn't figure out the key guitar lick (which isn't hard to play at all).

Bob

1.) Unknown - Keep a Knockin' (MP3)

2.) Unknown - Jailhouse Rock (MP3)

3.) Unknown - Wake Up Little Suzie (MP3)

Album Cover (JPG)

George W. Husak (MP3's)

 My story begins well over 25 years ago, back to the day when I heard Dr. Demento play an excerpt of a 45 called "I'm Surfing" by George W. Husak. This was during an segment on some of the worst records in his collection. I was intrigued, and was quite glad when, several years later, the good doctor played the record in its entirety, prefacing it with the following (edited) comments:

"If you asked me, 'what is the worst musical performance that was ever actually released on a 45…a record that somebody actually expected somebody to go out and buy‘, this might well be my choice. It’s from some time in the early to mid ‘60’s, and it came out on a label based in San Francisco. The perpetrator of this truly incredible performance is one George W. Husak."

Here is that record, from that episode of the show. It unfortunately contains a couple of turkey sound effects, which were being employed that week, in honor of "Musical Turkeys". I do have a clean version of it somewhere, but have been unable to track it down.

1.) George W. Husak - I’m Surfing - 45 version (MP3)

For the last two decades, I've been looking for a copy of this record, a search that was helped, in recent years, by correspondence with Dr. Demento, to whom I am eternally grateful (not just for his help, but for 35 years of radio entertainment). Earlier this year, my searching paid off, to a degree I never would have hoped for. I found an ALBUM by George Husak, in which he shares billing with his brother Anton (curiously, despite the shared credit and shared cover pictures, it's titled "George's Album", anyway).

The album contains twelve songs, three written by George, four by Anton, and five covers, including songs by Hank Williams and Bob Wills. There's even a version of "I'm Surfing", different than the one on the 45 I'd been tracking down all these years. It's not as completely unhinged and radically bad as the 45, but it does feature - like most of the tracks on the album - a barely competent guitarist who is way too overly fond of descending scale riffs, and basically uninspired vocal and instrumental performances all around. 

The notes on the back of the album are sort of vague about who is singing when, but I am sure that Anton is the performer on tracks seven and eight, based on the text on the front cover. I've identified George as the singer on the rest of the tracks, but could easily be wrong. I will say this: the most amazing moment - nothing short of astonishing, in my opinion, comes during a crucial spot in one of the two songs I've identified as featuring a vocal from Anton. I'll let you discover the song and the moment on your own - to describe it would be to ruin it.

But I also find this entire album amazing, and a very rewarding end to a search of more than 20 years.

Bob

2.) George Husak - Golden Gate Love (MP3)
3.) George Husak - Heartbreak and Teardrops (MP3)
4.) George Husak - Call Me On the Telephone (MP3)
5.) George Husak - The Last Letter (MP3)
6.) George Husak - San Antonio Rose (MP3)
7.) George Husak - Mother, The Queen of My Heart (MP3)
8.) Anton Husak - I Walk the Floor Each Night (MP3)
9.) Anton Husak - Let’s Have a Look at the Bottle (MP3)
10.) George Husak - I’m Surfing (MP3)
11.) George Husak - Cold, Cold Heart (MP3)
12.) George Husak - I’m Sorry If That’s the Way You Feel (MP3)
13.) George Husak - Indianola (MP3)
Front Cover (JPG)
Back Cover (JPG)

Too Much Information (MP3's)

 I've seen plenty of singles with labels which carry a plethora of information. I'm thinking here mainly of jazz 78's from the swing era, as well as reissues of the same type of records.

But I don't think I've ever seen nearly as much text regarding separate categories of information as is present on Paul Kosty's "Dad From Trinidad". As you can see, in addition to the label name, artist name, songwriter, speed publishing and label number, we're also treated to a number of unique bits of information.

Here's a list of the performers on the record, including what they played, in addition to the name of the group. There's the location of the recording session. Here are the names of not one, not two, but THREE different dramatic works which feature the song (including a book - not sure how that would work).

And then my two favorite's: The legend "The Hit that Put Clarity Records in Business", and Paul Kosty's own title, "Baltimore's Singing Taxidriver".

So, how does the record sound? As a guy who loves calypso a lot more than the next guy (it's probably my favorite genre of music), I'll say that although this one is not likely to make it onto one of my calypso compilations any time soon, it is nontheless a fascinating little record. Have a listen!

Bob

Paul Kosty - Dad From Trinidad (MP3)

Paul Kosty - Panama Mama (MP3)

45 Label

Marimba, Mambo Y Cha-Cha-Cha

  God help me, I love Marimbas! There are other singularly great instruments - trumpet and clarinet come to mind - and even among the percussion, I'm almost as big a fan of the vibraphone, but Marimbas are on another level altogether.

I've never owned one (it seems to me it would probably take up way too much space), but thanks to the wonders of modern keyboards, I've been able to work virtual marimbas into many of my own recordings. But that's a pale imitation of the sound of a bunch of marimbas playing together. So when a friend and I went to an estate sale not long ago, he knew, upon coming across this album, that he needed to pass it my way. I was not disappointed.

The '50's echo is a bit much in places, but the wonderfulness of the instruments, and of many of these songs, can't be missed. Personal favorites are Rico Mambo, Oye Negro and Guadalajara, but every track has its charms.

Bob

1.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Chivirico (MP3)
2.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Cherry Pink (MP3)
3.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Solamente Una Vez (MP3)
4.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Quien Sera (MP3)
5.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Carioca (MP3)
6.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Rico Mambo (MP3)
7.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Rico Vacilon (MP3)
8.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Oye Negra (MP3)
9.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Frenesi (MP3)
10.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Burundanga (MP3)
11.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Guadalajara (MP3)

Front Cover (JPG)
Back Cover (JPG)

A Thoroughly Unpleasant Record (MP3)

Here's one from the "difficult listening" file. I don't recall where I got this record, and at some point it went into the "stack of records to listen to when I get a chance". The first time I heard it has to have been about 20 years ago, if not more, but I've never forgotten it. I immediately had both the song title and the name of the artist seared into my memory.

I hope this was a vanity pressing, because if someone actually released this as a money-making venture on a "real" record label, they were probably better off in another buisness. The annoying qualities of Mr. Marlowe's performance are matched by the wretchedness both of the lyrics and of the person those lyrics describe. To whoever drew the big "X" on the record label: it was richly deserved.

Ick. On the other hand, as I said, I've never quite forgotten this record either, and now, perhaps, it can infect you, too.

Bob

Jamie Marlowe: I Ain't Changin' (MP3)

Record Label (JPG)

Les Paul with a Violin (MP3s)

Here's an album that I was inspired to search for after hearing one track on a compilation I received from my friend Citizen Kafka. (In fact, it was that compilation which led to our friendship.) The track was called "Mosquito Festival", and it featured a man named Danny Guglielmi playing what appeared to be dozens of parts, primarily on violin, with a little bit of guitar, piano and perhaps bass thrown in. The inspiration was clearly Les Paul, but Guglielmi certainly had his own spin on things.

Well, here is the entire album. Taking the Les Paul inspiration to its logical conclusion, Danny Guglielmi also included his wife, Dena, on several tracks, often in multiple tracked performances herself. The album came out on the "Tops" budget label, and my copy is about as beat up as any other album that I own on that label.

The liner notes, which you can read yourself in the link below, are a masterwork of hyperbole, including tributes paid to Guglielmi by the Eisenhower family, as well as a comparison to the Quintette du Hot Club de France. Curiously, though hardly surprisingly, there is no mention of Les Paul or Mary Ford.

I mostly prefer Danny's six instrumentals to the eight tracks featuring Dena. "Mosquito Festival" remains far and away my favorite - and indeed, it was shared on this blog quite some time ago, as part of a various artists posting - but "Cherokee", "Jealous" and "Hot Schottish" are pretty good, too, as is the final track, a vocal of "The Sheik of Araby".

And now, I'm off to search for some of the albums advertised on the back of this Tops album jacket. Mostly, I'm on the lookout for the "Rock and Roll with 'Scat Man' Crothers" album, but "Mr. Bongo Plays Hi-Fi Cha Cha Cha" is looking good, too.

Enjoy!

- Bob

1.) Danny Guglielmi and Dena - It’s So Peaceful In The Country (MP3)
2.) Danny Guglielmi - Cherokee (MP3)
3.) Danny Guglielmi and Dena - I Don‘t Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You (MP3)
4.) Danny Guglielmi - Jealous (MP3)
5.) Danny Guglielmi and Dena - A-E-I-O-U (MP3)
6.) Danny Guglielmi - Georgia On My Mind (MP3)
7.) Danny Guglielmi and Dena - Na-Wa-Da-Ha (MP3)
8.) Danny Guglielmi and Dena - I’ll Remember April (MP3)
9.) Danny Guglielmi - Mosquito Festival (MP3)
10.) Danny Guglielmi and Dena - Out of Nowhere (MP3)
11.) Danny Guglielmi - Bullfrog (MP3)
12.) Danny Guglielmi and Dena - Firelight Reverie (MP3)
13.) Danny Guglielmi - Hot Schottish (MP3)
14.) Danny Guglielmi and Dena - The Sheik of Araby (MP3)

Front Cover (JPG)

Back Cover (JPG)

Keep On Smiling! Pay Your Taxes!

It's getting to be that time! Are you almost done? Are you feeling good about paying your taxes? If not, Phil Celia and his chirping back-up singers are ready to administer a painless attitude adjustment, as offered by a Mr. or Ms. Busio, on this vintage song-poem 45.

While some song-poem outfits could be counted on to produce records which always had a certain, limited sound or format, Tin Pan Alley's releases were all over the map, and many of their early releases were legitimate, or at the very least borderline.

I was going to offer this up on my song-poem of the week project, but thought its all around weirdness was more suited for this venue. Phil Celia made a few of my favorite song-poem records, rarely in the same style from one to the next, a few of which can be heard here and here (although I may have to replace the sound file on that secibd link). This one, not only because of its unique lyrics, but also because of the presence of those insane backing vocalists, has been a favorite since the first time I gave it a spin, late last year.

'Phil Celia and the Silver Tones - Keep on Smiling! Pay Your Taxes! (MP3)

Record Label (JPG)

Pinky Pinkston - An Update (MP3's)

Almost exactly one year ago, in what I believe was my first regularly scheduled post here (after being part of the 365 days project), I wrote about a beloved 45 RPM from my collection, "Beggar or a Clown" b/w "I Am a Loser" by Pinky Pinkston and the Dixie Drifters. This post resulted in a reply from Don Juan Blanco, who wrote of owning another Pinky Pinkston record, and I excitedly e-mailed him.

Several months later (due to my lazy e-mailing habits), I had, thanks to Don Juan, a collection of five further Pinky Pinkston songs, each of them a masterpiece in its own way, and with his permission, I am sharing all seven of the Pinkston tracks w everyone here.

First off is a re-posting of both sides of the single from my collection, which is also pictured above. I've already written about this record during my previous posting about this artist.

Next up is both sides of a single on the Air Records label, on which the artist is identified as Jos. L. Pinkston and Orchestra. Air was generally speaking a song-poem outfit, but clearly branched off into vanity work from time to time, based on this record's existence. Listeners might be able to discern some...let's call them subtle similarities... between the songs on either side of this single: "I Lost My Baby" and "My  Antique Girl".

The next song, "The Fisherman", is quite a bit more energetic, and it comes from a long out-of-print vinyl compilation album, with no further information regarding its source.

Finally, both sides of a single on the American Label, out of Nashville, 'Don't Lock Me Out of Your Heart" and "Why Do You Pass Me By?", the second of which features some particularly questionable musicianship.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do. Many thanks to Don Juan Blanco for sharing them with me, and for allowing me to post them here.

Bob

1.) Pinky Pinkston and the Dixie Drifters - Beggar or a Clown (MP3)

2.) Pinky Pinkston and the Dixie Drifters - I Am a Loser (MP3)

3.) Jos. L. Pinkston and Orchestra - I Lost My Baby (MP3)

4.) Jos. L. Pinkston and Orchestra - My Antique Girl (MP3)

5.) Pinky Pinkston - The Fisherman (MP3)

6.) Pinky Pinkston - Don't Lock Me Out of Your Heart (MP3)

7.) Pinky Pinkston - Why Do You Pass Me By? (MP3)

Sing Along with the Henrys (MP3)

I recently had a listen to a reel to reel tape that was one of a stack of tapes I bought a few months ago. The only writing on the box was the words "Junk Recording" on the back of the box. Largely, I would agree with this summary: the tape contained some brief home recordings apparently made on or around Christmas, a few professionally recorded Christmas carols, and, for the last 2/3rds of the reel, a remarkably badly recorded children's birthday party (much of which appears to have been recorded by microphones placed in a different room than the one where the party was being held).

I was, however, glad to have taken the time to listen, because buried between all of the above was a segment of just a few minutes, in which three siblings (dominated by one), and egged on by their father, sing a camp song most kids knew (in those days), followed by a few recent hit songs (entirely Beatles' songs) and tunes from Hollywood musicals with which they were familiar.

Unfortunately, for the first portion of this recording, the child who is taking the lead is either too close to the microphone, or the record level is too high, because there is quite a bit of distortion, especially during the camp song. If nothing else, this recording is worth it to hear (about halfway through) the misheard lyrics to "Norwegian Wood", and the replacing of the edgy lyric (well, edgy for pop radio in early 1966, anyway) "It's Time For Bed", all of which are sung by our lead performer.

For top 40 radio fans, there are two brief bursts of WLS heard near the end of this segment, including one of the longer jingles which used to be common.

The names of these children, and even their home address (on the Northwest Side of Chicago) is present on the original tape, but I've edited those moments (as well as a few moments of tedium) out of this version of the tape.

The Henry Kids on 2-3-66 (MP3)

After the death of Dr. King.... (MP3's)

I wish I had discovered this tape in time to post it last week, but I only listened to it for the first time within the past three or four days. I know nothing about it, except that it is from a reel to reel tape which I bought at least a year ago (it can take me awhile to get through things....), and that all of the tapes from this purchase that I've listened to so far - maybe 12 or 14 of them - have some connection to the  University of Notre Dame in the 1960's. Most were recorded there, or at events clearly sponsored by the University.

There have been lectures to seminary students about various subjects, in-service type lectures and question and answer sessions for newly married couples and new parents, even a couple of tapes featuring a symposium on Vatican II. Each tape was marked fairly accurately, often in some detail. I was looking forward to tape featuring a lecture on the teaching of sex education, given by someone named Susan Dick, but that one turned out to be so poorly recorded as to be unlistenable. 

The tape featured today was actually mislabeled. The box reads "Father Putz: Laity Comes of Age". I was not particularly looking forward to Father Putz' lecture, and I'm glad to say that's not what was on the tape.

Instead of that lecture, what this tape held was quite a bit more interesting, and to me at least, quite stunning. Here we have a priest discussing his experiences on the day of, and days after, the death of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., experiences which quickly led him to the decision to go to the funeral, an event which he also discusses. I can't quite put a handle on this man's accent (sometimes he sounds Swedish to me, at other times German), and I have no idea what his name might be, but I found this recording remarkable and completely irresistable. 

In particular, I'm taken with the speaker's recall of the reaction in middle America - or at least some of those who he came in contact with - within a day of Dr. King's death, which included everything from absolute lack of interest to what sounds like almost a feeling of "good riddance", but mostly a profound lack of understanding of what had just happened, on the part of the white people (including some clergy) whom he came in contact with, and the speaker's inability to and frustration with finding a way to point out the problems in their attitudes.

But rather than bring up more of the things that make this so special to me, I'll just provide the link and let you find your own meaning in it. I have provided the speaker's introduction as a short file (five minutes), in which he makes mention of some of the other events going on that day (including a lecture by Mayor Lindsey of New York). This track really doesn't add much to the story, but it might be interesting for some of you. The main track is the second one, and it runs about thirty minutes. There was a discussion on the tape, after this speech, but I found it to be not nearly as interesting as the story itself.

Please enjoy this, offered as my tribute to Dr. King, one week late:

Bob

1.) Unknown Speaker - Introduction (MP3)

2.) Unknown Speaker - After the Death of Martin Luther King (MP3)

OCTO-PIPERS 1959 (MP3's)

Here's a recent eBay find, brought to my attention by my great pal Stu. It's labeled "Octo-Pipers 1959", and a little bit of digging based on the text on the back cover reveals that it came from a school in Oxford, CT., whose most famous alum appears to be Katharine Hepburn.

The Octo-Pipers are a tradition at the Oxford School, which has in more recent years merged with the Kingswood boys school to form the Kingswood/Oxford School. It's not clear to me when the Octo-Pipers began, but in more recent years, they appear to have become quite the select organization, "world renowned" in the words of someone who edited a Wikipedia page. The Octopipers, as they now appear to be known, are made up of 8th Grade girls, and give many concerts each year. 

This album dates to simpler times, when a few ukeleles, washboards and other instruments, along with nice voices, could entertain classmates, parents and friends, and be released on a 20 minute, 10 inch album. While not as good as the Phi Mu Washboard Band, I still find this record quite enjoyable, and hope you will, too.

Bob

1. Octo-Pipers - Sloop John B (MP3)

2. Octo-Pipers - An Affair to Remember (MP3)

3. Octo-Pipers - I Don't Wanna (MP3)

4. Octo-Pipers - Anywhere I Wander (MP3)

5. Octo-Pipers - Tom Dooley (MP3)

6. Octo-Pipers - Roaring Twenties Medley (MP3)

7. Octo-Pipers - It's Almost Like Being in Love (MP3)

8. Octo-Pipers - All I Have to Do is Dream (MP3)

9. Octo-Pipers - I Understand (MP3)

10. Octo-Pipers - Saro Jane (MP3)

Octo-Pipers Front Cover (JPG)

Octo-Pipers Back Cover (JPG)

New Song-Poem Project (MP3's)

The last few times I have posted Song-Poems, either here or to my own blog, I've received comments or e-mails from people requesting that I post more, or asking where to find more on-line song-poems, now that the American Song-Poem Music Archives site is no longer being updated (and now that it's MP3's are no longer available).

As a result, I've decided to start my own project, "Song-Poem of the Week", at my own blog. This began on New Year's Day, and I hope to continue it indefinitely. Primarily, I intend to use tracks from the many song-poem albums, 45's and 78's I personally own, but will probably move into those which I've received as files or tapes from other collectors, and perhaps those which used to be at the AS/PMA site. Feel free to make requests, either here or at my blog.

As a preview, here's a handful of song-poems I like a lot:

First up, a song which I did submit to the former MP3 page of AS/PMA, and an all time favorite of mine, a rave-up of a tune which, unlike most song-poems, deserved to be a hit:

1.) Jim Hall and the Radio Pals - Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Potassium (MP3)

Oddly enough, I've recently found another version of the above song, by a female singer, on another label, in a sedate, "adult contemporary" setting - a version which appears to predate this one! I'll get to that one at my site, one of these weeks.

Next, two songs by the sadly under-appreciated Cara Stewart, including one which would have been ideal a few days ago:

2.) Cara Stewart - New Year Song (MP3)

3.) Cara Stewart - Any Dance, Any Dance (MP3)

Finally, two songs sung by the ubiquitous (and frequently incognito) Sammy Marshall. "You Insulted Me", in particular, features some fairly tortured turns of phrase:

4.) Chuck Jones and the Links - Sputnik Hit the Moon (MP3)

5.) Ben Tate - You Insulted Me (MP3)

Enjoy!

What Did You Get For Christmas? (MP3)

Perhaps, like many others, you hoped to get a ring for Christmas. Perhaps, like the girl in today's song, you'd even been promised a ring. If so, I hope things turned out better for you than they did for the forlorn girl in Jimmie James' rather horrid Film City label song-poem 45.

Bob

Jimmie James - He Promised Her a Ring For Christmas (MP3)

45 Label (JPG)

Wonderful and Obscure Christmas Stuff, Part Three (MP3)

Today, I'm offering up a uniquely odd translation of "A Visit From St. Nicholas", aka "'Twas the Night Before Christmas", as read by yours truly, at a party a few years ago.

For the last several years, I have been amusing myself, and certain friends and acquaintances, by taking the lyrics of songs, and running them through my favorite internet translation website. The results can be hilarious, mystifying, touching or downright strange. The path I use is English to German to French to Italian to Spanish to Italian to French to German to English. Sometimes words get "stuck" in another language, and often I have to choose between a choice of translated words - usually between "he/she/it" or "they/them", which I do at random, without looking at the surrounding text.

Song lyrics often work well, but story songs and poetry work the best, and one of the best translations I've come up with was for "A Visit From St. Nicholas". How to explain the following translations:

"He was dressed all in fur" becomes "He will attract everything in skin"

"The stump of a pipe" becomes "The stump of a management"

"On Donner and Blitzen!" becomes "Since above Ton and Lance of the Lightnings!"

As mentioned above, this recording is of me, at one of the musical parties my friends and I hold once or twice a year. I would have done better to read my text out loud beforehand to avoid some of the laughing breakdowns, but hopefully, that will not get in the way of your enjoyment, if you are the type for whom this sort of wordplay is appealing.

Bob Purse: A Visit of Sacred Nicolàs (MP3)

The full text I read will be in the continuation of the post, below:

Wonderful and Obscure Christmas Stuff, Part Two (MP3)

Today's offering is a rarely heard Hawaiian 45, featuring a locally flavored Twelve Days of Christmas. This was taped off the air in Chicago more than 40 years ago. Other than subsequent broadcasts on this same local show, I've never heard this record broadcast anywhere. I'm not generally very fond of this song, but this version is wonderful.

Lucky Luck - The Twelve Days of Christmas (MP3)

Wonderful and Obscure Christmas Stuff, Part One (MP3)

For the next four days, I'm going to post one rare Christmas track each day. In two of the four cases, including today, this will a unique recording. I will also continue to post some interesting Christmas material to my own blog.

Today's track comes from a home recorded reel of tape, probably from about 1966, featuring a family identified on the box as "The Krebs". There is quite a lot of family/Christmas recording on this reel, including some other songs, but the high point for me was this off-the-cuff version of the best song ever written, "Silent Night".

Although the harmonies and the degree to which they are in tune can be ragged at times, I really enjoy the way the family can immediately jump into four part harmony, as well as the at-times-almost Stride Piano accompaniment. There's something I find irresistible about this piece of homemade magic.

The Krebs - Silent Night (MP3)

(Beware of some nasty feedback at about the one minute mark...)

Christmas, 1952 (MP3s)

In late 1952, my father ordered one of the first reel to reel tape recorders to be offered for home sale, a Berlant Concertone. The first time he used it to record things at their new home was on Christmas of that year. These "Christmas, 1952" recordings have been much beloved by my family over the 56 years that have followed, and I thought that many people who enjoy this blog might find them enjoyable, too.

The main point of the recording was to capture my sister (their first child), who was just short of 2 1/2 years old at the time, singing Christmas carols. The first minute or so is mostly set up, then the fun begins. The tape starts with mom and dad testing out the machine, before Marcia enters the room. She is VERY interested in this new piece of equipment, which she's clearly never seen before. Rather than answer her repeated question ("what is it?"), she is requested to sing "Away in a Manger", which she does, with mom playing.

After having a listen, it's time for more three more songs. Dad briefly takes over the piano for the second tune, but since Marcia wants to look at him while singing, he turns it back over to mom for the rest of the songs, including the final one of this set, "Silent Night" (or "Silent Nigh-Ight", as my mom used to call this version - she also liked the line "Round Yon Purpelin...").

Later in the day, after a visit from the grandparents, five more carols are tackled, including some which had already been sung. By the second version of "Deck the Halls", Marcia is starting to interrupt the song to comment on gifts just received, and mom and dad are both suddenly doing a bit of "directing", at which point Marcia announces that she's done.

Although we're clearly listening to a very young child singing throughout, I've always gotten a kick out of this 2 1/2 year old's knowledge of the words to these songs, and her ability to find the pitch of these songs and to stay closer to "in key" than out.

The fourth track is from another Christmas recording, undated but I'm guessing (based on Marcia's voice) to be from perhaps two years later. This one features our dad, again playing piano for "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". I really enjoy "Hey, nobody's playin' the piano", as well as the moment when the piano playing does start, and she swings up to the correct note, which in this case is the more challanging (for a small child, anyway) fifth on the scale.

(Some of you may also remember my posting, to the original 365 days project, of another recording featuring my sister, "Marcia and Robin".)

I hope you enjoy these recordings. I hope to upload a number of other favorite (non-family) Christmas recordings to my blog, in the next week or so.

1.) Mom, Dad & Marcia - Away in a Manger (MP3)

2.) Mom, Dad & Marcia - Deck the Halls, Santa Claus is Coming, Silent Night (MP3)

3.) Mom, Dad & Marcia - The First Noel, Silent Night, Away in a Manger, O Come All Ye Faithful, Deck the Halls (MP3)

4.) Dad, Mom & Marcia - Santa Claus is Coming to Town (MP3)

(Note: My brother and sister agreed to the sharing of these tracks as long as I include a statement that our family owns the rights to these recordings.)