Åke Jelving - Christmas In Sweden (UPDATE)

An error has been found thanks to a sharp listening listener... for more on this, click on this link to read about it.


Capt

Åke Jelving - Christmas In Sweden (UPDATE)

An error has been found thanks to a sharp listening listener... for more on this, click on this link to read about it.


Capt

A Night-Capitol - Odds and Ends

(Click on image to enlarge)

I've posted a bunch of stuff from Capitol Records today and thought I'd add a few odds and ends leftover. The first is this ad that I used with the "Christmas In Italy" entry.

At the very, very, very bottom of the ad you'll find a two line blurb that reads: Merry Christmas To You! Twelve popular favorites by top recording artists - T9030

While during one of my sweep and clear vinyl rescue missions, I came across this very album cover:

(Click on images to enlarge)

Okay, calm down... First, these songs are available EVERYWHERE on dozens of compilations scattered to the four winds which means I'm not posting any of these.

Second, when I found this at my local thrift store, the record itself was missing. I spent the good portion of an afternoon digging through every single scrap of vinyl trying to play matchmaker. I didn't find it but got a free cover for my troubles.

Consider this a do-it-yourself project.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hew's a few vintage images from the Capitol archives:

(Click on image to enlarge)

Both Danny Kaye and Nat King Cole were on the Capitol label in the late 1950s. We all know the Christmas output of Nat but Danny did have a few Christmas singles to boot - most of which were recorded when he was at Decca Records.

Thanks to Linda Haywood at Popular Nostalgia for posting this picture at her site.

(Click on image to enlarge)

This is the cover of the a Capitol Records Holiday Catalog. These were sent to record stores and businesses to help them discern what to order for their shelves come Christmas time, 1965 A.D.

Did you notice the words "Angel Records" atop the catalog? Angel Records was a classical label from EMI - the British conglomerate that purchased 96% of the Capitol stock in 1957. So when the Beatles signed to EMI Parlophone in the early days and made the move to America, Capitol got the job.

Thanks to Rick Rann who posted this image at his Beatlelist online.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyone up for a few YouTube videos? Here's a holiday commercial from 1995 from the boys on Hollywood & Vine (Bob Seger for Christmas? Are ya kiddin'?):



I'm not an Apple person. I've never used a Mac. I've tried three times in the past to download QuickTime to my PC, severely screwing it up every single time.

I've visited iTunes several time but never get past the page where it says "Download iTunes Now". I don't own an iPod. Then there's the iPhone. This status symbol has been flashed at me several times by friends and I even stopped for five minutes at a mall kiosk to get a closer look. I still don't own one.

Capitol Records has a nifty retro Christmas application for the iPhone:



After seeing this, I'm still not getting an iPhone.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One last item: a beautiful picture from Thomas Hawk of Flickr:

(Click on image to enlarge)

I would be remiss if I didn't mention my share of "Capitol Production Music" from last year. I was listening to this one several days ago and my entire family were digging the music as we decked a hall.

Happy Capitol Christmas!


Capt

A Night-Capitol - Odds and Ends

(Click on image to enlarge)

I've posted a bunch of stuff from Capitol Records today and thought I'd add a few odds and ends leftover. The first is this ad that I used with the "Christmas In Italy" entry.

At the very, very, very bottom of the ad you'll find a two line blurb that reads: Merry Christmas To You! Twelve popular favorites by top recording artists - T9030

While during one of my sweep and clear vinyl rescue missions, I came across this very album cover:

(Click on images to enlarge)

Okay, calm down... First, these songs are available EVERYWHERE on dozens of compilations scattered to the four winds which means I'm not posting any of these.

Second, when I found this at my local thrift store, the record itself was missing. I spent the good portion of an afternoon digging through every single scrap of vinyl trying to play matchmaker. I didn't find it but got a free cover for my troubles.

Consider this a do-it-yourself project.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hew's a few vintage images from the Capitol archives:

(Click on image to enlarge)

Both Danny Kaye and Nat King Cole were on the Capitol label in the late 1950s. We all know the Christmas output of Nat but Danny did have a few Christmas singles to boot - most of which were recorded when he was at Decca Records.

Thanks to Linda Haywood at Popular Nostalgia for posting this picture at her site.

(Click on image to enlarge)

This is the cover of the a Capitol Records Holiday Catalog. These were sent to record stores and businesses to help them discern what to order for their shelves come Christmas time, 1965 A.D.

Did you notice the words "Angel Records" atop the catalog? Angel Records was a classical label from EMI - the British conglomerate that purchased 96% of the Capitol stock in 1957. So when the Beatles signed to EMI Parlophone in the early days and made the move to America, Capitol got the job.

Thanks to Rick Rann who posted this image at his Beatlelist online.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyone up for a few YouTube videos? Here's a holiday commercial from 1995 from the boys on Hollywood & Vine (Bob Seger for Christmas? Are ya kiddin'?):



I'm not an Apple person. I've never used a Mac. I've tried three times in the past to download QuickTime to my PC, severely screwing it up every single time.

I've visited iTunes several time but never get past the page where it says "Download iTunes Now". I don't own an iPod. Then there's the iPhone. This status symbol has been flashed at me several times by friends and I even stopped for five minutes at a mall kiosk to get a closer look. I still don't own one.

Capitol Records has a nifty retro Christmas application for the iPhone:



After seeing this, I'm still not getting an iPhone.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One last item: a beautiful picture from Thomas Hawk of Flickr:

(Click on image to enlarge)

I would be remiss if I didn't mention my share of "Capitol Production Music" from last year. I was listening to this one several days ago and my entire family were digging the music as we decked a hall.

Happy Capitol Christmas!


Capt

Ingvar Wixell - Christmas Music of Sweden

I posted three of the Capitol "Christmas In" series today and wanted to an addendum - in later years, Capitol would take foreign artists like Wiener Sangerkanben (aka The Vienna Boys Choir) and add them to their "Christmas In" series, add "passport stamps", and make it real international.

The unofficial Capitol "Christmas In" checklist (if there are other countries I've left out, leave us a comment and I'll add it to the list):

• Christmas In England
• Christmas In Germany
• Christmas In Spain
• Christmas In Sweden
• Christmas In Mexico
• Christmas In France
• Christmas In Holland
• Christmas In Italy
• Christmas In Austria
• Christmas In Brazil (thanks, Dantalian)

Here's an album that wasn't a part of that series but could qualify as one. When I discovered the three Capitol "Christmas In" albums at my local thrift store, this album wasn't too far behind in the stacks.

Mexico has Placido Domingo, Spain has Jose Carreras, but Sweden has Ingvar Wixell. A baritone opera singer, Wixell began his career in 1955 with the Royal Swedish Opera, then moved to Germany to become a member of Deutsche Oper Berlin in 1967, where he stayed for 30 years until his retirement.

This album was released in 1965 and if you're looking for a Swedish Christmas opera album, look no further. Wixell sings his heart out on many of the Swedish songs on this album - this guy can belt.


Ingvar Wixell - Christmas Music Of Sweden


This isn't the first time I've typed about Wixell - earlier this year I reviewed a Swedish comp I received as a gift and whaddya know? Ingvar was on it!

Happy listening...


Capt

Ingvar Wixell - Christmas Music of Sweden

I posted three of the Capitol "Christmas In" series today and wanted to an addendum - in later years, Capitol would take foreign artists like Wiener Sangerkanben (aka The Vienna Boys Choir) and add them to their "Christmas In" series, add "passport stamps", and make it real international.

The unofficial Capitol "Christmas In" checklist (if there are other countries I've left out, leave us a comment and I'll add it to the list):

• Christmas In England
• Christmas In Germany
• Christmas In Spain
• Christmas In Sweden
• Christmas In Mexico
• Christmas In France
• Christmas In Holland
• Christmas In Italy
• Christmas In Austria
• Christmas In Brazil (thanks, Dantalian)

Here's an album that wasn't a part of that series but could qualify as one. When I discovered the three Capitol "Christmas In" albums at my local thrift store, this album wasn't too far behind in the stacks.

Mexico has Placido Domingo, Spain has Jose Carreras, but Sweden has Ingvar Wixell. A baritone opera singer, Wixell began his career in 1955 with the Royal Swedish Opera, then moved to Germany to become a member of Deutsche Oper Berlin in 1967, where he stayed for 30 years until his retirement.

This album was released in 1965 and if you're looking for a Swedish Christmas opera album, look no further. Wixell sings his heart out on many of the Swedish songs on this album - this guy can belt.


Ingvar Wixell - Christmas Music Of Sweden


This isn't the first time I've typed about Wixell - earlier this year I reviewed a Swedish comp I received as a gift and whaddya know? Ingvar was on it!

Happy listening...


Capt

Åke Jelving - Christmas In Sweden

This is the third of the Capitol "Christmas In" series that I'm posting for 2008. The other two include "Christmas In Germany" and "Christmas In Italy". This is the Swedish version from the same series.

"Christmas In Sweden" is as authentic as you can get when it comes to Swedish Christmas.

I tried to find some background on Jelving and found two sites. The first was this Swedish Wikipedia entry (anyone other than Anna-Lena Lodenius know how to speak Swedish here?) and the other was a site offering Jelving ringtones (yeah, right!). If anyone has extra info on Åke, please let us know.

Side one contains four tracks but yumpin' yiminy! These tracks just swing with Swedish folk and Christmas. Try not tapping your toes to this side. Side two is mode sedate, more solemn. "Sankta Lucia" isn't exactly a Christmas song but somehow it fits here.

THIS JUST IN: A comment from AbleApe prompted us to re-listen to track eight. We've discovered that due to an error in the restoration of this track (aka I screwed up), 1/2 of this track was deleted. I have re-recorded it and uploaded it as a separate track - thanks Able for bringing this to my attention.

Åke Jelving - Christmas In Sweden

08 - Var Hälsad Sköna Morgonstund (CORRECTED)


Happy listening...


Capt

Åke Jelving - Christmas In Sweden

This is the third of the Capitol "Christmas In" series that I'm posting for 2008. The other two include "Christmas In Germany" and "Christmas In Italy". This is the Swedish version from the same series.

"Christmas In Sweden" is as authentic as you can get when it comes to Swedish Christmas.

I tried to find some background on Jelving and found two sites. The first was this Swedish Wikipedia entry (anyone other than Anna-Lena Lodenius know how to speak Swedish here?) and the other was a site offering Jelving ringtones (yeah, right!). If anyone has extra info on Åke, please let us know.

Side one contains four tracks but yumpin' yiminy! These tracks just swing with Swedish folk and Christmas. Try not tapping your toes to this side. Side two is mode sedate, more solemn. "Sankta Lucia" isn't exactly a Christmas song but somehow it fits here.

THIS JUST IN: A comment from AbleApe prompted us to re-listen to track eight. We've discovered that due to an error in the restoration of this track (aka I screwed up), 1/2 of this track was deleted. I have re-recorded it and uploaded it as a separate track - thanks Able for bringing this to my attention.

Åke Jelving - Christmas In Sweden

08 - Var Hälsad Sköna Morgonstund (CORRECTED)


Happy listening...


Capt

Bielefelder Kinderchor - Christmas In Germany

Earlier today, I posted the "Christmas In Italy" album from Capitol's "Christmas In" series - the first of three "Christmas In" albums I'm posting today. This is the second post today, taken from the initial set of eight that Capitol released in 1957.

If you're thinking "Christmas In Germany" is your standard Christmas oompah album, you're wrong. It is actually a cut-above-the-rest foreign children's choir Christmas album.

Bielefelder Kinderchor, the only choir listed, has some definite help from other uncredited choruses and soloists - "White Christmas" features a bass singer that would give George Beverly Shea a run for his money!

Side two contains a Christmas medley / full opera - 14 minutes long!

The cover is amazingly striking - I only wish we could get snow to look that beautiful here in Fort Wayne. The greenhouse effect, global warming, climate change, whatever dries it all up in a matter of hours now.


Bielefelder Kinderchor - Christmas In Germany


Happy listening...


Capt

Bielefelder Kinderchor - Christmas In Germany

Earlier today, I posted the "Christmas In Italy" album from Capitol's "Christmas In" series - the first of three "Christmas In" albums I'm posting today. This is the second post today, taken from the initial set of eight that Capitol released in 1957.

If you're thinking "Christmas In Germany" is your standard Christmas oompah album, you're wrong. It is actually a cut-above-the-rest foreign children's choir Christmas album.

Bielefelder Kinderchor, the only choir listed, has some definite help from other uncredited choruses and soloists - "White Christmas" features a bass singer that would give George Beverly Shea a run for his money!

Side two contains a Christmas medley / full opera - 14 minutes long!

The cover is amazingly striking - I only wish we could get snow to look that beautiful here in Fort Wayne. The greenhouse effect, global warming, climate change, whatever dries it all up in a matter of hours now.


Bielefelder Kinderchor - Christmas In Germany


Happy listening...


Capt

Christmas In Italy (Capitol Records)

It's Capitol Saturday today! This is the first of four and 1/2 albums I'm posting today from the famous (or infamous) "Christmas In" series that Capitol issued back in the day.

When I found three of these LPs in the middle of last year, I asked "Just how many of these "Christmas In" albums are out there? Which ones was I missing and when were they released?"

The Goldmine Christmas Record Price Guide had several listed but couldn't pin down the date. So I featured one track from each of the albums last year for the 2007 Yuleblog Sampler and transferred each of the albums figuring there will be something for everybody.

"Christmas In Italy" was a logistical nightmare. It took me nearly an hour to transfer the vinyl and digitally restore it, no problems. However, it took me nearly an entire day to encode the MP3s! Study the back cover carefully to see what I mean.

This album probably has the penultimate version of "White Christmas" sung in Italian - this one's has the intro and damn if it doesn't sound great!

I had to abbreviate the titles of most of the songs - for some strange reason, RapidShare has a problem playing MP3s with more than 72 characters in its title.

After completing the transfer of all three albums, I was doing some research at my local library for my appreciation of Stan Freberg's "Green Chri$tma$" (another Capitol product - coincidence?) when I came across an advertisement in the December 9th, 1957 edition of TIME magazine for Capitol Records:

(Click on image to enlarge)

The ad showcased many of their 1957 Christmas releases (Sinatra's "Jolly Christmas From", Jackie Gleason's "Merry Christmas" to name two). At the bottom was a listing of EIGHT "Christmas Around The World" albums:

Christmas In England
Christmas In Germany
Christmas In Spain
Christmas In Sweden
Christmas In Mexico
Christmas In France
Christmas In Holland
Christmas In Italy

To double check, I Googled label numbers (Capitol T10091, 92, 93, etc) to see if I would get a hit on something and I got lucky. Another Capitol foreign release entitled "Modern Motion Picture Music of India" (Capitol T-10090) was released in 1957.

So I had the answer to my questions - eight albums total initially, all released in 1957.


Christmas In Italy


Happy listening paisans...


Capt

Christmas In Italy (Capitol Records)

It's Capitol Saturday today! This is the first of four and 1/2 albums I'm posting today from the famous (or infamous) "Christmas In" series that Capitol issued back in the day.

When I found three of these LPs in the middle of last year, I asked "Just how many of these "Christmas In" albums are out there? Which ones was I missing and when were they released?"

The Goldmine Christmas Record Price Guide had several listed but couldn't pin down the date. So I featured one track from each of the albums last year for the 2007 Yuleblog Sampler and transferred each of the albums figuring there will be something for everybody.

"Christmas In Italy" was a logistical nightmare. It took me nearly an hour to transfer the vinyl and digitally restore it, no problems. However, it took me nearly an entire day to encode the MP3s! Study the back cover carefully to see what I mean.

This album probably has the penultimate version of "White Christmas" sung in Italian - this one's has the intro and damn if it doesn't sound great!

I had to abbreviate the titles of most of the songs - for some strange reason, RapidShare has a problem playing MP3s with more than 72 characters in its title.

After completing the transfer of all three albums, I was doing some research at my local library for my appreciation of Stan Freberg's "Green Chri$tma$" (another Capitol product - coincidence?) when I came across an advertisement in the December 9th, 1957 edition of TIME magazine for Capitol Records:

(Click on image to enlarge)

The ad showcased many of their 1957 Christmas releases (Sinatra's "Jolly Christmas From", Jackie Gleason's "Merry Christmas" to name two). At the bottom was a listing of EIGHT "Christmas Around The World" albums:

Christmas In England
Christmas In Germany
Christmas In Spain
Christmas In Sweden
Christmas In Mexico
Christmas In France
Christmas In Holland
Christmas In Italy

To double check, I Googled label numbers (Capitol T10091, 92, 93, etc) to see if I would get a hit on something and I got lucky. Another Capitol foreign release entitled "Modern Motion Picture Music of India" (Capitol T-10090) was released in 1957.

So I had the answer to my questions - eight albums total initially, all released in 1957.


Christmas In Italy


Happy listening paisans...


Capt

Capitol Production Music

Capitol Records was founded in 1942 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, Hollywood music store owner Glenn Wallichs, and movie producer Buddy DeSylva.

Capitol provided a competitive alternative to the three major record companies of the day - Victor, Columbia and Decca - all established in New York.

It quickly flourished with artists like Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, three guys named Les (Baxter, Brown, and Paul), and Margaret Whiting.

An overlooked facet of the Capitol Records story is their extraordinary output of production music over the years. This music was recorded for TV and radio stations, advertising agencies, and movie studios to use mainly in the background of their own projects.

One perfect example is the legendary "Capitol Hi-Q" series of music. Recorded back in the late 1950s-early 1960s, this music has found its way into movies such as the original "Night Of The Living Dead" and Michael Moore's first film "Roger & Me".

Not sure yet? The first two seasons of "Ren & Stimpy" episodes used the Hi-Q music to great effect. Yep, that music!

I first found this online earlier this year at eBay and watched it carefully. After several failed auctions, the owner of the album moved it to his online web site and posted it there for sale.

I originally thought that I had acquired a Christmas Hi-Q album - what a dream! However, it's safe to say that this album devoted to Christmas is not from that era.

The music is heavily flavored in the style of Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass (possibly a late 1960s-early 1970s release?). This isn't like listening to the Mexicali Brass or The Tijuana Voices or some other knockoff Alpert soundalike. This is a small notch above those. And a small notch below Alpert.

O Capitol, O Capitol:


Capitol Production Music


Happy listening...


Capt

Capitol Production Music

Capitol Records was founded in 1942 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, Hollywood music store owner Glenn Wallichs, and movie producer Buddy DeSylva.

Capitol provided a competitive alternative to the three major record companies of the day - Victor, Columbia and Decca - all established in New York.

It quickly flourished with artists like Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, three guys named Les (Baxter, Brown, and Paul), and Margaret Whiting.

An overlooked facet of the Capitol Records story is their extraordinary output of production music over the years. This music was recorded for TV and radio stations, advertising agencies, and movie studios to use mainly in the background of their own projects.

One perfect example is the legendary "Capitol Hi-Q" series of music. Recorded back in the late 1950s-early 1960s, this music has found its way into movies such as the original "Night Of The Living Dead" and Michael Moore's first film "Roger & Me".

Not sure yet? The first two seasons of "Ren & Stimpy" episodes used the Hi-Q music to great effect. Yep, that music!

I first found this online earlier this year at eBay and watched it carefully. After several failed auctions, the owner of the album moved it to his online web site and posted it there for sale.

I originally thought that I had acquired a Christmas Hi-Q album - what a dream! However, it's safe to say that this album devoted to Christmas is not from that era.

The music is heavily flavored in the style of Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass (possibly a late 1960s-early 1970s release?). This isn't like listening to the Mexicali Brass or The Tijuana Voices or some other knockoff Alpert soundalike. This is a small notch above those. And a small notch below Alpert.

O Capitol, O Capitol:


Capitol Production Music


Happy listening...


Capt

Eddie Dunstedter, We Hardly Knew Ye...

Three years ago, The King of Jingaling at FaLaLaLaLa.com offered one of the greatest Christmas albums of all time. Two years ago, I downloaded not one but two fantastic albums from our friend Ernie (not Bert) (which were re-offered last year). These three albums were recorded by the late, great Eddie Dunstedter and I never reviewed these albums at the yuleblog.

I promised Ernie that these albums would be the first ones to get the yuleblog treatment after my return from acting. However... the almighty Google keeps referring to Ernie's posts when you enter the name of Eddie Dunstedter and there is surprisingly little about the man online for research.

The few online facts that I found? Dunstedter discovered the vocal group The Merry Macs back in 1926, was the musical director of several radio shows back in the late 1940s and early 1950s, and has one movie credit to his name - the music score for the 1953 schlock horror movie "Donovan's Brain" (with future First Lady Nancy Davis nee Reagan in the cast).

He had a very long recording career either as a featured organ player or with albums of his own (spanning from the 1930s to the 1960s). In the late 1950s, Dunstedter was signed by Capitol Records and recorded several pipe organ albums ("Pipes And Power", "Where Dreams Come True", "Pipe Organ Favorites").

Throughout the summer of 1959, Dunstedter was entrenched in the famous Capitol Studios building in Hollywood to record his first Christmas album - "The Bells Of Christmas".

(Click on image to enlarge)

We've had our fair share of Christmas organ and chime albums here at the yuleblog - some really great, some really awful. Most of the Christmas standards are covered on this album in a quiet, reverent way. At times Dunstedter's organ playing is so subtle, you hardly know it's there as the chimes take center stage.

Standout tracks include two medleys ("It Came Upon The Midnight Clear - O Little Town Of Bethlehem - Away In A Manger" and "Deck The Halls - Joy To The World"), a stand alone version of "Greensleeves", and "The March Of The Three Kings" takes on such a magnificence when heard on the mighty cathedral organ.

Released in both mono and "Full Dimensional Stereo" at Christmas, 1959, Dunstedter could have been content knowing his first Christmas album was a success. After several years of other releases, Capitol and Dunstedter thought the time was right for yet another Christmas album.

Throughout the summer of 1963, Dunstedter was yet again at the famous Capitol Studios building in Hollywood, busy arranging and recording his second Christmas album "The Bells Of Christmas Chime Again"

(Click on image to enlarge)

For this album, Eddie chose several standards and a few contemporary songs and gave it the same subtle approach as in the first "Bells Of Christmas" album. At times, it sounds like Dunstedter is playing a synthesizer rather than a huge cathedral organ.

Tracks of note on this album include "Angels We Have Heard On High", "Winter Wonderland", "Ring Christmas Bells" aka "Carol Of The Bells", "The Christmas Song", and "Happy Holiday" - all of which sound amazing on the cathedral organ. However, the standout track on this album is "In The Clock Store", a fabulously fun trip complete with clock noises that conjures up images of Santa's workshop.

Dunstedter had outdone the first album - a rare feat, especially in music. Capitol thought so too and was all set to push the album at Christmas, 1963. A month earlier, in Dallas, Texas, three shots rang out. The country's mood was so somber over the loss of President Kennedy that Christmas music was looked on as trivial.

Capitol went ahead and released the album. It sat on shelves untouched. Two months later (February, 1964), four lads from Liverpool came to America and the whole music landscape changed again. Dunstedter wanted one more chance at a Christmas album and spent the summer of 1965 recording "Christmas Candy".

(Click on image to enlarge)

If you read the liners on "Christmas Candy", it tells you that Dunstedter wanted to record jolly fare with this album. From the first track to the last, he gives you a sumptuous bossa nova feast of sounds that are indeed light but plenty filling to the ears.

If you've heard the "Christmas Cocktails" albums at all, you'll have heard several of these tracks before ("I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Jingle Bells Bossa Nova" and "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer").



Seek out the non-cocktails tracks like "Silver Bells", the title track "Christmas Candy", "I'll Be Home For Christmas", and "Winter Wonderland" for some real good sound!

This album is a must in any Christmas music enthusiasts collection.

Some time after the release of this album at Christmas, 1965, Eddie Dunstedter said goodbye to Hollywood and took a teaching position at The MacPhail Center of Music in Minneapolis. Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, he taught many a new organ player his special bag of tricks and sent them on their merry way before his death in 1974.

This yuleblog entry took some time because I wanted to hopefully do justice to Dunstedter's career. I tried to track down several books through my public library that had info on Eddie (which turned out to be very little) and even called the MacPhail Center of Music (it's called summer for a reason).

In any case, if anyone has additional info on the life and career of Dunstedter, please feel free to leave a comment and I'll be happy to post updates.


Capt

Eddie Dunstedter, We Hardly Knew Ye...

Three years ago, The King of Jingaling at FaLaLaLaLa.com offered one of the greatest Christmas albums of all time. Two years ago, I downloaded not one but two fantastic albums from our friend Ernie (not Bert) (which were re-offered last year). These three albums were recorded by the late, great Eddie Dunstedter and I never reviewed these albums at the yuleblog.

I promised Ernie that these albums would be the first ones to get the yuleblog treatment after my return from acting. However... the almighty Google keeps referring to Ernie's posts when you enter the name of Eddie Dunstedter and there is surprisingly little about the man online for research.

The few online facts that I found? Dunstedter discovered the vocal group The Merry Macs back in 1926, was the musical director of several radio shows back in the late 1940s and early 1950s, and has one movie credit to his name - the music score for the 1953 schlock horror movie "Donovan's Brain" (with future First Lady Nancy Davis nee Reagan in the cast).

He had a very long recording career either as a featured organ player or with albums of his own (spanning from the 1930s to the 1960s). In the late 1950s, Dunstedter was signed by Capitol Records and recorded several pipe organ albums ("Pipes And Power", "Where Dreams Come True", "Pipe Organ Favorites").

Throughout the summer of 1959, Dunstedter was entrenched in the famous Capitol Studios building in Hollywood to record his first Christmas album - "The Bells Of Christmas".

(Click on image to enlarge)

We've had our fair share of Christmas organ and chime albums here at the yuleblog - some really great, some really awful. Most of the Christmas standards are covered on this album in a quiet, reverent way. At times Dunstedter's organ playing is so subtle, you hardly know it's there as the chimes take center stage.

Standout tracks include two medleys ("It Came Upon The Midnight Clear - O Little Town Of Bethlehem - Away In A Manger" and "Deck The Halls - Joy To The World"), a stand alone version of "Greensleeves", and "The March Of The Three Kings" takes on such a magnificence when heard on the mighty cathedral organ.

Released in both mono and "Full Dimensional Stereo" at Christmas, 1959, Dunstedter could have been content knowing his first Christmas album was a success. After several years of other releases, Capitol and Dunstedter thought the time was right for yet another Christmas album.

Throughout the summer of 1963, Dunstedter was yet again at the famous Capitol Studios building in Hollywood, busy arranging and recording his second Christmas album "The Bells Of Christmas Chime Again"

(Click on image to enlarge)

For this album, Eddie chose several standards and a few contemporary songs and gave it the same subtle approach as in the first "Bells Of Christmas" album. At times, it sounds like Dunstedter is playing a synthesizer rather than a huge cathedral organ.

Tracks of note on this album include "Angels We Have Heard On High", "Winter Wonderland", "Ring Christmas Bells" aka "Carol Of The Bells", "The Christmas Song", and "Happy Holiday" - all of which sound amazing on the cathedral organ. However, the standout track on this album is "In The Clock Store", a fabulously fun trip complete with clock noises that conjures up images of Santa's workshop.

Dunstedter had outdone the first album - a rare feat, especially in music. Capitol thought so too and was all set to push the album at Christmas, 1963. A month earlier, in Dallas, Texas, three shots rang out. The country's mood was so somber over the loss of President Kennedy that Christmas music was looked on as trivial.

Capitol went ahead and released the album. It sat on shelves untouched. Two months later (February, 1964), four lads from Liverpool came to America and the whole music landscape changed again. Dunstedter wanted one more chance at a Christmas album and spent the summer of 1965 recording "Christmas Candy".

(Click on image to enlarge)

If you read the liners on "Christmas Candy", it tells you that Dunstedter wanted to record jolly fare with this album. From the first track to the last, he gives you a sumptuous bossa nova feast of sounds that are indeed light but plenty filling to the ears.

If you've heard the "Christmas Cocktails" albums at all, you'll have heard several of these tracks before ("I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Jingle Bells Bossa Nova" and "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer").



Seek out the non-cocktails tracks like "Silver Bells", the title track "Christmas Candy", "I'll Be Home For Christmas", and "Winter Wonderland" for some real good sound!

This album is a must in any Christmas music enthusiasts collection.

Some time after the release of this album at Christmas, 1965, Eddie Dunstedter said goodbye to Hollywood and took a teaching position at The MacPhail Center of Music in Minneapolis. Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, he taught many a new organ player his special bag of tricks and sent them on their merry way before his death in 1974.

This yuleblog entry took some time because I wanted to hopefully do justice to Dunstedter's career. I tried to track down several books through my public library that had info on Eddie (which turned out to be very little) and even called the MacPhail Center of Music (it's called summer for a reason).

In any case, if anyone has additional info on the life and career of Dunstedter, please feel free to leave a comment and I'll be happy to post updates.


Capt