Christmas Gift Ideas: November 2008

Sunday 30 November 2008

2008 Yuleblog Checklist - Week One

We've reached the end of week one of our 2008 shares so we've updated our list and we're checking it twice. See which ones you find naughty or nice... I've listened to so much Christmas music already that I'm quoting Christmas lyrics and passing them off as my own.

And we're only at the end of week one... heaven help me.

1983 Air Force Public Service Spots - Disc V

The Alcoa Singers - An Olde-Fashioned Christmas

Around The Christmas Tree - A Special Christmas Day Program

Pat Boone - White Christmas

Bowen & Csehy - Christmas Steepletime

Owen Bradley & His Quintet - Joyous Bells Of Christmas

Al Caiola & Riz Ortolani - The Sound Of Christmas

Capitol Production Music

Christmas 1971 Veteran's Administration Hospital Program

CLM Industries - Christmas 1961 - SINGLE

A Country Christmas

Jimmy Dean - Jimmy Dean's Christmas Card

Bill Doggett - 12 Songs Of Christmas

Dragnet - The Christmas Story

Fogwell Flax & The Ankle Biters From From Freehold Junior School - Christmas 45 - SINGLE

Pete Fountain - Candy Clarinet: Merry Christmas From (STEREO)

DeWayne Fulton - Christmas Greetings From

Funky Christmas (Cotillion Records)

Will Glahe & His Orchestra - Christmas On The Rhine

Earl Grant - Winter Wonderland

Ken Griffin - Christmas Organ

Alex Houston & Elmer - Here Comes Peter CottonClaus

Irwin The Disco Duck - Christmas & New Year's Party

Jim & Tammy - Christmas With Love

KFUO Presents Christmas Hymns And Carols

The Klaudt Indian Family - Peace On Earth; Christmas Greetings

Carmen Le Nard - Jolly Snowman - SINGLE

Liberace - 1954 Christmas Greetings (w brother George) - FLEXI

L'il Wally & The Harmony Boys - A Polka Christmas

Vincent Lopez & His Orchestra - Christmas Music

Fred Lowery - A Family Christmas

Sy Mann & The Malvin Carolers - Let's All Sing Christmas Carols

The Manhattans - Christmas 45 - SINGLE

The Bob Mantzke Choralaires - Christmas Songs

The Mom & Dads - Merry Christmas With

The Murk Family - Christmas With

Pat O'Brien - A Quiet Christmas

O Tannenbaum - Christmas On The Rhine

The Pac-Man Christmas Album

The Piano Rolls & Voices - All Time Christmas Hits

A Pink Panther Christmas

Bob Ralston - Christmas Hymns & Carols

Bobby Roberts & His Orchestra - Holiday Music For Happy People

Mickey Rooney - Merry Merry Micklemas

Del Roper & The Mason Swiss Bell Ringers - I Heard The Bells

Marlin L. Ryan - York, PA Traditional Christmas Carols

Orion Samuelson - Christmas 45 - SINGLE

Shirley & Squirrely - Christmas With

Ethel Smith - Silent Night-Holy Night

The Soulful Strings - The Magic Of Christmas

The Three Suns - The Sounds of Christmas EP

Bobby Vinton - Christmas Promo EP

Justin Wilson - A Cajun Christmas With

Woody The Woodchuck - Christmas Sing Song (STEREO)

Happy listening...

Capt

2008 Yuleblog Checklist - Week One

It's a YouTube Christmas - Pt. 3

From time to time this upcoming Christmas season, I'll be posting some amazing videos that have been rescued by people like us and posted at the mecca of all things wonderful and obscure - YouTube.

I invite you to add a fun comment, witticism, clever remark, or observation in the comments section provided. Any comments deemed worthy of repeating will be included into this entry where all the world will see it.

Here are more videos of the York, PA steam whistle Christmas concert of 2006 as referred to in my previous post from Marlin L. Ryan.

"White Christmas"

"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"

"Silent Night"

"God Bless America"

Pity the person who moved into the house across the street...

What do you think?

Capt

It's a YouTube Christmas - Pt. 3

"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"

"Silent Night"

"God Bless America"

Pity the person who moved into the house across the street...

What do you think?

Capt

Saturday 29 November 2008

Marlin L. Ryan - York, PA Traditional Christmas Carols

Here's a record that I found at Amazon.com amongst its Christmas LPs for sale.

Who knew that you could make Christmas music from a factory steam whistle? Apparently, Marlin L. Ryan, the whistlemaster for the New York Wire Company in York, PA has did just that from 1955 to 1990.

The cylindrical, variable pitch whistle is 15 inches long and 5 1/8 inches in diameter. The exact age of the whistle is not known nor was it intended to be a musical instrument. The factory whistle was used to signal the start and end of the workers' shifts and breaks and was part of York's World War II civilian defense alert system.

In addition to being an unusual instrument, the Guinness Book of World Records issued a certificate in 2002 stating that the steam whistle produced a peak reading of 134.1dBA during a recording. This qualifies the whistle's songs as the world's loudest music without amplification from a non-musical instrument.

This is a recording of those carols that Ryan traditionally played at 12:15 AM on December 25th. In the cold morning air, the sound of the steam whistle could be heard within a five-mile radius and on clear Christmas morning, up to fifteen miles away.

I'm guessing this record was released some time in the early 1980s - no specific date is given. There are four carols on the steam whistle with an introduction by Steve Bentivegna.

Marlin L. Ryan - York, PA Traditional Christmas Carols

Marlin Ryan retired as whistlemaster in 1989 and his son Donald took his place. Only twice since 1955 has a concert ever been canceled due to problems with the whistle or the boiler (1986 and 2005). Today, Donald's children, Mark, Scott and Lisa, assist with concerts, making the third generation of Ryans to continue the concert tradition.

Those wishing to make donations for future Steam Whistle Concerts may send their tax deductible contributions to:

STEAM WHISTLE CONCERT FUND, c/o PeoplesBank
48 East Market Street
York, PA 17401

or call the Lancaster-York Heritage Region at 717-252-0229.

Happy whistling... err, listening...

Capt

Marlin L. Ryan - York, PA Traditional Christmas Carols

Christmas Traditions

Some Lessons Learned
by Lloyd and Karmel Newell

When our children were small, we learned a few key lessons from them about what makes for good Christmas traditions.

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Keep it Simple

Because our third child was born about a month before Christmas, we knew there would have to be less hustle and bustle that year. We spent more nights at home; we attended fewer events; we did less shopping—but we had one of our best Christmases ever. We gathered by the fire and read stories. We played together. We thought of the baby Jesus. In those quiet moments, early in the morning or late at night, holding a newborn, a fresh perspective on Christmas came into view. Christmas was a celebration of love: God’s love for us, our love for Him and for His Son, and our love for one another. Traditions strengthen bonds of love. They are to bless, not burden the people we love.

Focus on what matters; be flexible.

Worthwhile traditions have purpose. Whether the purpose is to serve, to teach, or just to have fun, watching for and being sensitive to changing needs of family members is a key to establishing good traditions. Late one December night, we were returning from yet another after-hours visit to the pediatrician. Our then three-year-old son was holding his ears trying to alleviate the pain form an ear infection. We asked him if he would like to drive by a home that we called the “Christmas house” because it had so many beautiful Christmas lights. We were surprised when he said, “No, I want to drive by the temple.” He was in pain, and he wanted some comfort. He wanted to feel close to Jesus. We were humbled as we drove past the temple, and we couldn’t help but think that sometimes we look for Christmas in all the wrong places.

What may have worked last time, what may have worked twenty years ago, may no longer be the best tradition for a dynamic family unit. Adjusting traditions and not just doing “what’s always been done” is good for families.

Be joyful

One Christmas night, our family was excited to hear carolers at our front door. The children raced to see who it was. Imagine their surprise when they saw their aunt, uncle, and cousins from across the country on our doorstep. Our children squealed with delight! They jumped up and down. They hugged each other and could hardly let go of their cousins throughout the stay-over. A couple of days into all of the fun, our then four-year-old son exclaimed, “We’ve never had carolers stay so long!”

Remembering is half the fun!

Even when traditions don’t go as well as hoped, even when traditions are met with some resistance, even when it seems that our best efforts failed, the meaning of the tradition may change over time. The perceived outcome is not as important as the effort. Stay committed. It took years of writing in our “Christmas Journal” before our children began to appreciate the idea of keeping a record. Now one of the first things they look for in the boxes of Christmas decorations is the little red journal that holds special Christmas memories. One entry reminds us of how our children used to slur a couple of holidays together. When talking about gifts the wise men brought, they’d say, “Gold, Frankenstein, and Myrrh.”

*Excerpted from A Christmas Treasury for Latter-day Saint Families; Deseret Book
I really liked this article, so I decided to share it! Enjoy your family traditions!

Vincent Lopez & His Orchestra - Christmas Music

Vincent Lopez was a band leader for most of his life, beginning in 1917! In 1921, he was one of the first bands to utilize the latest thing in technology called radio; his trademark opening for all broadcasts was "Lopez speaking!"

Throughout the 1920s, he had one of the top bands in America. It didn't hurt that he had talented musicians in his band like Artie Shaw, Xavier Cugat, Glenn Miller, and two brothers named Dorsey before they went out on their own. Lopez's piano stylings were flamboyant - influencing younger pianists such as Eddy Duchin and Liberace!

He also discovered talents such as the blind whistler himself Fred Lowery and a young girl who made her debut with Lopez right here in my hometown of Fort Wayne, IN - Betty Hutton. Both Fred and Betty were featured in this musical soundie from 1939:

In 1941, Lopez and his orchestra played an engagement at the Taft Hotel in New York City and didn't leave for twenty years. They were the house band and every Wednesday through Sunday, Lopez had the ballroom jumping. He helped the USO during World War II, made more soundies, and continued his appearances on radio.

As the 1950s began, Lopez found another young talent. Miss Gloria Parker helped write songs for Lopez, appeared with him on a radio show called "Shake The Maracas" from the Taft Hotel, and sang and played the musical glasses with Lopez and Co..

They even co-wrote a Christmas song entitled "My Dream Christmas" that Lopez recorded (but not on this album or on Parker's Christmas album) possibly as a single (?). When this album was recorded in 1957, Lopez was nearing the end of his career and decided to go out in a blaze of Christmas glory.

There are 21 songs total and the covers are excellent listens. But the original songs are the winners here - fun, festive, bouncy, and bright! "Whistling Otto", "Here Comes The Fattest Man In Town", "Christmas Rush", "I'd Like To Find You In My Stocking" and others just get better especially in repeat mode.

Lopez speaking:

Vincent Lopez & His Orchestra - Christmas Music

I found this on eBay in mid-2006. It was sent to me by a seller who had absolutely no clue how to ship an album - two pieces of cardboard taped around the album doesn't constitute a "package". What's worse is that when it arrived at my home, the mailman left it on the front porch in the middle of a rainstorm.

Thankfully, no major damage was done. I quickly got a P.O. Box and never again had to worry about the elements.

Happy listening...

Capt

Vincent Lopez & His Orchestra - Christmas Music

Fred Lowery - A Family Christmas

Fred Lowery was blinded by scarlet fever at the age of two and sent to the Texas School for the Blind at the age of seven. A music teacher at the school encouraged Lowery to develop his unique talent of whistling as a way of making a living in the sighted world.

Soon, his talents led him to the new audio medium of radio. He was soon signed onto WFAA in Dallas and became a star on one of its many variety shows, picking up the nickname "The Texas Redbird".

In the late 1930s, he decided to try his chances in New York. A blind whistler was more novelty than artistry in New York and the jobs were scarce. A bandleader by the name of Vincent Lopez came around, heard his act, and asked him to join his orchestra.

After four years with Lopez, Fred was lured away by Horace Heidt, who had a national audience and a bigger bankroll. He returned to Lopez briefly, until nightclub owner Billy Rose told Lopez that his patrons didn't want to see "a blind guy whistling when they're eating." Luckily, Heidt soon hired him back.

Lowery usually performed in one or two spots in Heidt's show as a featured soloist, and he can be seen and heard as part of the Musical Knights' appearance in the 1941 film, Pot of Gold. Fred decided to go single in the early 1940s, in partnership with singer Dorothy Rae, another Heidt vet. They soon had a busy schedule of appearances on national and local radio shows and at clubs and concert halls.

His single of "Indian Love Call," still popular from its association with the Nelson Eddy-Jeannette MacDonald film, "Rose Marie," was a one-hit wonder of the war period and the tune most people from that era remember him for. He also won spots on many of the variety shows that played in the first years of network television.

During the 1950s, Fred made some of the most memorable whistling records ever, forever cementing his status as possibly the greatest whistler of all time:

"Whistling For You" (Columbia CL-6091)

"Whistle A Happy Tune" with Anita Kerr (Decca DL-8995)

"Walking Along Kicking The Leaves" (Decca DL-8476)
(considered by some to be the greatest whistling record ever)

Lowery was a deeply religious man who moved away from popular music to focus almost exclusively on religious melodies in his later years. His venues changed from nightclubs to churches and recorded a number of albums for the Christian market. His first were on Gra-Low (as in Gra(cie), his wife, and Low(ery)), his own label, and these records were mostly sold at his church appearances.

When I came across this seven day auction on eBay with one day left and no bidders, I could scarcely believe my eyes. I thought for sure it would sell but, as any good collector would, I kept a watch on it. On the final hour of the final day, not one bid. I kept watching, knowing this would sell for around $30 to $45. Into the final minute, nothing. With 20 seconds to go, I liked my chances and readied a bid.

Sure, I got a copy of this years ago from Basic Hip (no back cover) but this was too good to let go. At the end of the auction, I had a genuine Fred Lowery Christmas album!

There was a small scribble in permanent marker atop the front cover so with my fair to good skills with a PhotoShop program, I managed to get a majority of this airbrushed out - a trace remains.

Fred Lowery - A Family Christmas

Happy listening...

Capt

Fred Lowery - A Family Christmas

Friday 28 November 2008

Holiday Chocolate Chip Cookies

Hand made cookie bags for home made cookies!

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe!
The real, the original, the authentic Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks, 1/2 pound) butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated [white] sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 cups (12-ounce package) NESTLE TOLL HOUSE Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

1 cup chopped nuts

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large mixer bowl. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE in preheated 375-degree [Fahrenheit] oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

PAN COOKIE VARIATION: PREPARE dough as above. Spread into greased 15"x10" jelly-roll pan. Bake in preheated 375-degree [Fahrenheit] oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack.

FOR HIGH ALTITUDE BAKING (>5,200 feet): INCREASE flour to 2 1/2 cups; add 2 teaspoonfuls water with flour; reduce both granulated sugar and brown sugar to 2/3 cup each. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, drop cookies for 8 to 10 minutes and pan cookies for 17 to 19 minutes.

Bill Doggett - 12 Songs Of Christmas

William Ballard Doggett was born February 16, 1916 in Philadelphia. At age nine, Doggett wanted to play the trumpet but since his family could not afford one, his mother introduced him to the organ. Four years later, Bill was being hailed as a child prodigy.

When he was fifteen, Bill formed his first combo called "The Five Majors". While attending high school, he found work playing in the pit orchestra at the Nixon Grand theater with the Jimmy Gorman Band. He eventually inherited Gorman's fifteen-piece orchestra at the height of the Big Band Era

After he sold the band to Lucky Millender, he stayed in contact with Millender - writing arrangements and playing piano. Then in late 1942, Doggett joined the Ink Spots and became the group's arranger and pianist. He recorded five singles with them during a two year period before heading out on his own again.

Bill toured and recorded with several of the nation's top singer and bands. Among these were Johnny Otis, Wynonie Harris, Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton, and Louis Jordan, who became a mentor to Doggett.

In 1949, Bill was a featured performer on piano and many of Jordan's classic Decca recordings including "Saturday Night Fish Fry" and "Blue Light Boogie." Doggett credited his time with Jordan for educating him to the finer points of pleasing an audience.

When Doggett decided to form another combo on his own, he made the most crucial decision of his life. Most musicians of the time felt that the sound of the organ was sacred and should be reserved for a church setting. Bill decided that he needed a fresh sound to set him apart from other piano combos.

This decision led to a recording contract with Cincinnati's King Records. During his first years at King, he released over a dozen singles - most moderate successes not only on the R&B charts but the jazz charts as well.

In 1955, he decided to record a 10" Christmas album called "All-Time Christmas Favorites" (King 295-89). Many people consider this to be the very first R&B Christmas album (anyone got a copy?). Three years later, King expanded to 12" albums and its very first release was a repackage of Doggett's 10" Christmas album - the very album you're looking at.

There are some of the best Christmas tracks anywhere on this album. Doggett alternates between instrumentals and even sings on a few of the songs, adding to its charm.

Judge for yourself:

Bill Doggett - 12 Songs Of Christmas

Doggett remained with King Records until 1960, scoring HUGE hits with "Honky Tonk Pt. 1 & 2" and "Ram-Bunk-Shush" in 1956 and 1957 respectively. He later recorded for Warner Brothers, Columbia, ABC-Paramount and Sue Records throughout the 1960s and 1970s on sporadic singles and albums.

Bill settled into retirement on Long Island, New York in the 1980s and died of a heart attack in 1996.

Happy listening...

Capt

Bill Doggett - 12 Songs Of Christmas

Gratitude Magnets

Together, Grateful, and Blessed! Thank you Lynna, I'm grateful for you!

Vintage Christmas Ads Pt. 10 - Saturday Evening Post, 1962

In addition to collecting Christmas music, I have collected nearly 1000 vintage Christmas ads over the years. Many of these include celebrities, radio, television, cigarettes, liquor, modern appliances, and the like.

Every Friday from here until I run out, I will feature an ad from my collection.

I invite you to add a fun comment, witticism, clever remark, or observation in the comments section provided. Any comments deemed worthy of repeating will be included into this entry where all the world will see it.

It's been 24 hours since my family and I sat down for our annual Thanksgiving Day meal. And about 24 minutes ago, I polished off a plate of Thanksgiving leftovers (which will be the norm for several days to come).

I looked high and low for something appropriate for this day after Thanksgiving. Something topical, something to spur on comments, something to reflect upon, something to fill up space (just kidding... maybe). As I thumbed through my scans online, I came across a cover that fit the bill and then some:

(Click on image to enlarge)

This cover could be looked at two ways: it's the days prior to Thanksgiving and all of these poultry prisoners just got a stay of execution. Or it's the day after Thanksgiving, the reprieve from the governor came through, but the truck has a flat.

Either way, this image lends itself to many interpretations and possible comments.

What do you think?

Stubbyfears says: It's so... sad.

Hitparade posted a turkey joke in the comments - click on it to read!

Any other opinions?

Capt

Vintage Christmas Ads Pt. 10 - Saturday Evening Post, 1962

(Click on image to enlarge)

Christmas Countdown to Kisses!

A sweet countdown to Christmas from Grandma!
How many days till Christmas?
It's mighty hard to count
so in the bag there's kisses
to show the exact amount!
each evening when goodnights are said
enjoy a sweet kiss and hop into bed
when you unwrap the final kiss
tomorrow will be Christmas!

The Three Suns - The Sounds of Christmas EP

This EP was given to me by my in-laws when they were cleaning out their closets. It was a popular record in their house at Christmas time and knew I might enjoy this. ARE YA KIDDIN'?

Okay... if this looks familiar, you can thank our friend Ernie for that - his devotion to finding most of The Three Suns Christmas catalog and sharing it at his blog is legendary. He could very well be the Fourth Sun!

I originally thought Ernie had offered this EP at one time or another but it seems that this EP was never offered. So to complete his collection (and the other Three Suns Christmas completists out there), I'm offering it in honor of the hardest working man in Christmas sharity show business - the one and only Ernie (Not Bert).

The Three Suns - The Sound of Christmas EP

By the way, Ernie has started sharing out all new stuff at his blog - you'd better insure your clicking finger first and head over there. Best of luck with the 2008 downloading season!

Capt

The Three Suns - The Sounds of Christmas EP

Thursday 27 November 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

Even in space, they celebrate Thanksgiving. So you should do the same...

As you bow your heads in prayer today before the big meal, ask for blessings to be bestowed on the Detroit Lions. With their record at 0-11, and facing the 10-1 Tennessee Titans, they need all the help they can get today.

Have fun eating, visiting with your loved ones, and traveling safely wherever you are.

Capt

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday 26 November 2008

Bobby Roberts & His Orchestra - Holiday Music For Happy People

Grab a coffee and sit a spell... have I got a story to tell you!

I bought this album (mono) at a thrift store in early 2006 and attempted to transfer it over throughout that year. As the 2006 Christmas downloading season was set to begin, I had completed side one with no problems, but side two was a mess.

I figured it would be ready to go for 2007 but the LP had other plans. The needle would not stay on the last two tracks of side two. As much as I tried to get it recorded, I couldn't get clean copies of the song to edit together!

I continued to work on this, off and on, for the better part of 1 1/2 years. I had finally gotten the first of the two final tracks recorded and I kept plugging away on track ten - I would apply pressure onto the tone arm just enough for the needle to go through the scratch to get the precious one second segment I needed to piece the track together.

By the middle of this year, I was down to the last 30 seconds of the final song and despite all my efforts, the needle would not cooperate. It was frustrating because this is a fantastic sounding album and I've wanted to share it for so long.

I looked on eBay in desperation and they had a clean STEREO copy available!

I decided to post the mono because of all the work invested into it and it cleaned up amazingly well after I washed it through my Sound Forge software. The stereo version is good as well. The choice is yours.

I've tried Googling Bobby Roberts but can't find little else than what's on the back cover - he was a popular Philadelphia band leader who recorded this for Decca in 1959.

Which is a shame because despite all my troubles with the mono copy, I've grown to love this album. It's a great mix of Christmas, Big Band, popular music (set at breakneck speeds at times), and some great Latin music thrown in for flavor.

Of all the albums I'm offering for 2008, this is my favorite. Hope you like it too.

Bobby Roberts & His Orchestra - Holiday Music For Happy People - MONO

Bobby Roberts & His Orchestra - Holiday Music For Happy People - STEREO

Happy listening...

Capt

Bobby Roberts & His Orchestra - Holiday Music For Happy People

Tuesday 25 November 2008

Irwin The Disco Duck - Christmas & New Year's Party

Back on October 1st, I wrote two reviews of Christmas disco albums that our friend Ernie shared out. In those reviews, I reiterated my guilty pleasure for Christmas disco and hinted:

"And if you think Holiday Disco is bad, just wait until Christmas. For I have obtained what could be the WORST Christmas disco album of all time and I intend to unleash it to the world."

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls... here it is.

The folks at Peter Pan Records decided to combine their special brand of kiddie Christmas with Christmas disco to disastrous results. Leeching off the success of Rick Dees' novelty hit "Disco Duck", they decided to create the lovable duck on the cover named Irwin!

Irwin is your host and narrator and after about 30 seconds into the first track (a remake of "Disco Duck" renamed "Disco Duck II" to avoid paying royalties), you're gonna be looking for a 12-gauge shotgun for some duck hunting.

After two competent disco versions of "Sleigh Ride" and "Winter Wonderland", the duck unleashes "Donde Esta Santa Claus?". This is worst than Charo's epic single of the same name.

This track was the pact they made with the devil to make this album and thereby guaranteeing this album will be played in Hell at Christmas time.

This album wouldn't be so bad if they hadn't made Irwin introduce EVERY SINGLE track! And if you want further proof that this is the worst Christmas disco album ever, look at the artist's name on the cover. I rest my case.

Listen if you dare...

Irwin The Disco Duck - Christmas & New Year's Party

This yuleblog cannot be responsible for any damage caused by this record to your computer, hard drives, CD players, speakers, headphones, MP3 players, iPods, car stereos, boomboxes, radios, televisions, DVD players, VCRs, 8-tracks, or to your own physical being after you play this for someone.

My lawyer says I'm covered. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Capt

Irwin The Disco Duck - Christmas & New Year's Party

The Klaudt Indian Family - Peace On Earth; Christmas Greetings

The Klaudt Indian Family was a southern gospel group whose origins began in the badlands of North Dakota. As the family grew, the parents (Lillian (Little Soldier) and Vernon Klaudt) wanted their children to get a proper Christian
education.

So they headed south to Cleveland, Tennesse where the pentecostal Church of God had its headquarters and biblical school named Lee College (noted for its regarded musical program). As the kids grew and got their education, they joined the family on the road and established scholarships at Lee College in their name.

From 1929 to 1982, the Klaudt Indian Family toured across the United States and around the world - playing nearly 400 dates a year! It has been said that the Klaudts were the first nationally known gospel music group, due to their engagements throughout the country.

In addition to gospel concerts and church venues, they played engagements in Las Vegas, state fairs, professional sports games, and theme parks.

This album was recorded at the height of their popularity in 1964. Their first song, "Indian Christmas Carol" is the only song that has an Indian flavor. The rest is a nice mix of Christmas, organ, and perfectly blended voices.

The Klaudt Indian Family - Peace On Earth; Christmas Greetings

Postscript - my eldest brother Rafael attended and graduated from Lee College (now University) and resides in Cleveland, TN to this day with his wife Joy Lynn (the very definition of a Southern belle).

Happy listening...

Capt

The Klaudt Indian Family - Peace On Earth; Christmas Greetings

Monday 24 November 2008

Christmas Treasures from a Loving Grandmother!

Every year my children will receive a hand-made ornament tied on top of their Christmas present from their Grandmother. I am always excited to see what their ornament will be each year, as well as what's inside, because it's usually hand made also! These are a sampling of some of the adorable ornaments that my children have received over the years! I have decorated many trees with these cute ornaments! Thank you Grandma, we love and appreciate you!