"I still could have gone ahead with my plans and shared this album out. But if it's available elsewhere on CD, I won't. It's not fair to the artists involved and my conscious remains clear. End of story."
With that in mind, I now present some albums in my collection that I was all set to transfer, clean up, and present as gifts for the 2006 downloading season but won't:
Al Goodman & His Orchestra - 1000 Strings At Christmas
This one comes to us from the good folks at Premier Albums (356 W 40th St, NY, NY). Premier also bought us the fabulous Woody The Woodchuck album that's been bandied about through cyberspace.
As you can see, the cover is festive, gay, and bright - in excellent shape. The record is a totally different story. A football team must have used this album to clean their cleats. The scratches were deep (some were canyonesque) and after spending two days to record one 45 second segment of track number one, I threw in the towel.
If anyone has a clean copy, let us know!
Tennessee Ernie Ford - The Star Carol
You've probably seen this one at your local Goodwill store many times over. This was released on CD back in 1990 and isn't available anymore, anywhere. So technically, it's a borderline call.
However, Bongo at BongoBells released this at his blog a few weeks ago. That solves that.
Dean Martin - Holiday Cheer
It seems like every year, there's a new Christmas album from Drunky. This year's entry is "Christmas With Dino".
This 1965 album was definitely a repackage job from Capitol - only six Christmas songs (all found on the CD linked above) rounded out by five non holiday songs. Not a real festive cover either (no offense Dean).
The Lennon Sisters - Christmas With
I nearly cried when I found this one - I thought for sure this was a lock to share. Bought at a Goodwill store for 28 cents (gotta love those 50% off days!), the album is in fair condition (the back cover would have needed a long time in the photo shop).
One click of the mouse pointed me to the official store of the Lennon Sisters where you can purchase this very album on CD. Adding this one to my wish list!
Boots Randolph - Boots And Stockings
This came to me from one of my wife's relatives. She knew I was a Christmas album nut and she had a large stack of albums in her cellar she wanted gone. This one's in near mint condition also.
CDs were available for a time on Amazon.com but it seems they all vanished. Hmmmm... what to do, what to do...
The Ames Brothers - There'll Always Be A Christmas
There's a boatload of Ames Brothers Christmas music available everywhere. So when I found this sandwiched between Dean Martin and a German Christmas album (more on that later), I assumed this one was a few mouse clicks away.
Turns out I was right. And they even have the "Living Stereo" cover as well!
The Kingston Trio - The Last Month Of The Year
Seems I owe an older brother an apology for all the times I slugged him at Christmas when he gave me a wet willie. This album cover proves his theory that wet willies in the ear was (is) a holiday tradition.
I knew this one was available for purchase online the minute I saw it.
Lawrence Welk - Merry Christmas From
If I had a nickel every time this one was played in my childhood home during Christmas... my mother kept real good care of her records - the shrink wrap on this is the original. So is the S.S. Kresge sale sticker of $3.89!
If I had a nickel for every Lawrence Welk CD I've seen in the past several years... Anyone have an exact count of Christmas CDs Welk has released? Chances are you can find all of these songs on other compilations.
Eddy Arnold - Christmas With
Another one of my mother's albums. She didn't play this one too much but I wish she did. The constant exposure to Welk and company had a weird effect on my tastes in music - go figure!
Watch out for this one on eBay... prices tend to go a little high. Your best bet is to get a good used copy from Amazon.
Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra - Christmas Carols
I think this was offered at one time by someone over at FaLaLaLaLa. When I picked this up for 25 cents, it struck me as awfully familiar. My friend Jeff sent me a copy of this Canadian import so I thought this one was readily available.
But I can't seem to find a CD for purchase anywhere. Hmmm...
THIS JUST IN: a copy of "White Christmas" by the Mike Sammes Singers in near mint condition! Revisited my local Salvation Army and found it sitting in a vintage 1960s wire display rack. Total cost: $1.06.
This I already had thanks to the King Of Jingaling over at FaLaLaLaLa. It was one of his featured albums a year or two ago (and it's his all-time favorite Christmas album!).
So that's all the albums in my "CD Available" pile. Will I transfer these over one day? Maybe.
But I won't be offering them if they're just a mouse click away...
Capt
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