Here's a sweet album I picked up years ago. It's called "Musical Memories of Chalk Hills Camp", and the insert that came with it dates it to 1961, and places its recording in the Appleton vicinity, although the camp itself was just over the border into Upper Michigan.
Having long been in love with the "Musical Memories of Camp Bryn Afon" album, I looked at this cover and wondered if lightning had struck twice in northern Wisconsin during the 1960's. The first listen showed that, while I wouldn't put this record quite on a par with the Bryn Afon collection, it has its own charms. I love the sound of kids singing together, there's a lot of nice harmony (if a bit tentative in places), and plenty of great old songs. The album contains 37 tracks (the same number as the Camp Bryn Afon album!), ranging from under 30 seconds to upwards of 2 1/2 minutes, over the course of about 40 minutes.
I'm particularly fond of track 22 (Living in Tents and Cabins), which for my money is the standout track, and track 23 (Swinging Along), a counterpoint piece which was heard in our car during every vacation we took during my childhood. I do cringe during "Christopher Robin" (track 7), as this is a song which was in my mother's repetoire, and the girls on this album had been taught a glaring error in the melody at one point (coincidentally, the album was recorded at my mother's Alma Mater, Lawrence). But this is an exception, as most of the album is a joy to experience.
Chalk Hills Camp was closed by the Girl Scouts after the 2001 season, but there is a nice website about and for former campers and staff, here.
The files before are listed by number, to save time and space. The names of the tracks are attached to the files themselves, and they are tagged with the names as well. These song titles can also be viewed on the record labels and the insert.
Track 1 - Track 2 - Track 3 - Track 4 - Track 5 - Track 6 - Track 7 - Track 8 - Track 9 - Track 10 - Track 11 - Track 12 - Track 13 - Track 14 - Track 15 - Track 16 - Track 17 - Track 18 - Track 19 - Track 20 - Track 21 - Track 22 - Track 23 - Track 24 - Track 25 - Track 26 - Track 27 - Track 28 - Track 29 - Track 30 - Track 31 - Track 32 - Track 33 - Track 34 - Track 35 - Track 36 - Track 37
Album Cover (JPG) - Record Label Side A (JPG) - Record Label Side B (JPG) - Insert (JPG)
Sorry, I'm unable to dl track n.32 (Each Campfire Lights Anew).
Great Stuff! Love it. Thx very much to share.
Posted by: ED | November 30, 2009 at 06:53 PM
Thanks for letting me know about track 32, and for the nice words. It is now fixed.
Bob
Posted by: Bob Purse | November 30, 2009 at 07:47 PM
This was my camp. Thanks for the memories!
Posted by: Joan | December 12, 2009 at 09:53 AM
The camp was actually in Wisconsin, right on the Menom. River, near Amberg. Thanks for the kind words about the music - we still sing the songs whenever we gather. What were the words your mother sang for Christopher Robin?
Posted by: Rochelle "Tigger" | June 29, 2010 at 02:18 PM
I was on staff at Chalk Hills for many years. There is a second album called "Chalk Hills Sings Again" which we recorded at camp during a thunderstorm! It's amazing that someone besides the camp alumni would like this music. Jane "flow"
Posted by: Jane | June 30, 2010 at 06:45 AM
I spent my college summers as a camp counselor and still love these songs. I sang them to my children and they to theirs. I am about to become a great grandmother and have written them in a book for the new little girl. thank you so much.
Posted by: Nancy Fay | June 30, 2010 at 01:52 PM
Love it...thank you! I can verify that the camp was indeed located squarely in Wisconsin though we could have spit to Michigan if we'd wanted to. Also, for the record, I'm pretty sure that it was all adult women singing...no "kids" and/or "girls".
Posted by: Paula "Cicada" Anderson | July 02, 2010 at 10:19 PM