In yesterday's post, I gave props to Buster over at Big 10-Inch Record for posting some darn good shares this downloading season. Late last month, I posted an entry that mentioned that two albums I originally had planned on sharing out were already posted to Buster's blog.
One of those two albums was this gem of a Christmas album. I was ready to file it away for the winter and move on to other shares when our friend Ernie (not Bert) pointed out in a comment that Buster had posted a high-fidelity copy of the album whilst mine read STEREO!
It's commonplace here for me to miss small things like that. Maybe it's the early stages of Alzheimer's... Thanks for bringing that to my attention Ern!
Backstory: Marjorie Chandler was born in 1926 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada - just across the river from Detroit, Michigan. She developed a love for music and began singing on radio stations on BOTH sides of the river in her teens. It was also during this time she adopted a new stage name: Dorothy Collins.
On a trip to Chicago in 1940, 14-yr. old Dorothy met bandleader/composer Raymond Scott and was quickly hired into his band. Throughout the 1940s, Scott mentored, tutored, and taught everything Collins needed to know about phrasing, breath control, etc., and became a popular vocalist of the day.
In 1949, CBS asked Scott to take over the bandleading duties for one of its popular shows, "Your Hit Parade". Just as they were getting their feet wet in radio, NBC decided to create the television version of "YHP". With her good looks and style, Dorothy quickly became a fan favorite and rose to stardom.
"Your Hit Parade" was a huge hit on television throughout the 1950s. People tuned in weekly to see and hear the popular songs of the day with male vocalists Snooky Lawson, Russell Arms, and another popular female Canadian vocalist named Gisele MacKenzie!
Then came rock-n-roll. With the advent of Elvis, Ricky, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and others climbing the charts, "Your Hit Parade" tried desperately to stay in touch with the times.
Needless to say, "Your Hit Parade" took a dive in the ratings. Before its run ended, Collins went into the recording studio to create the album you're looking at. With the backing of Nathan Van Cleve & His Orchestra, she recorded twelve straightforward rendtions of Christmas songs.
Nothing really jumps out at you, style wise. Except Collins' wonderful voice.
After the demise of "YHP" in 1959, Collins appeared on television shows and in musical theater. In 1971, she was one of the original cast members in the Stephen Sondheim landmark musical "Follies" and was nominated for a Tony Award for her role.
For five years (1974-1979), she was co-host of a syndicated version of "Candid Camera" with Allen Funt. One such stunt that I remember was Dorothy driving a Volkswagen bug into a gas station and asking the attendant to fill it up. They had replaced the gas tank with a 55-gallon drum inside the car! One guy stood there for 20 minutes in bewilderment!
After "Candid Camera" ended, Collins settled into semi-retirement and made occasional public appearances after that. She had suffered with asthma for most of her life and as she got older, the disease took its toll in 1994. She was 67.
In yesterday's post, I gave props to Buster over at Big 10-Inch Record for posting some darn good shares this downloading season. Late last month, I posted an entry that mentioned that two albums I originally had planned on sharing out were already posted to Buster's blog.
One of those two albums was this gem of a Christmas album. I was ready to file it away for the winter and move on to other shares when our friend Ernie (not Bert) pointed out in a comment that Buster had posted a high-fidelity copy of the album whilst mine read STEREO!
It's commonplace here for me to miss small things like that. Maybe it's the early stages of Alzheimer's... Thanks for bringing that to my attention Ern!
Backstory: Marjorie Chandler was born in 1926 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada - just across the river from Detroit, Michigan. She developed a love for music and began singing on radio stations on BOTH sides of the river in her teens. It was also during this time she adopted a new stage name: Dorothy Collins.
On a trip to Chicago in 1940, 14-yr. old Dorothy met bandleader/composer Raymond Scott and was quickly hired into his band. Throughout the 1940s, Scott mentored, tutored, and taught everything Collins needed to know about phrasing, breath control, etc., and became a popular vocalist of the day.
In 1949, CBS asked Scott to take over the bandleading duties for one of its popular shows, "Your Hit Parade". Just as they were getting their feet wet in radio, NBC decided to create the television version of "YHP". With her good looks and style, Dorothy quickly became a fan favorite and rose to stardom.
"Your Hit Parade" was a huge hit on television throughout the 1950s. People tuned in weekly to see and hear the popular songs of the day with male vocalists Snooky Lawson, Russell Arms, and another popular female Canadian vocalist named Gisele MacKenzie!
Then came rock-n-roll. With the advent of Elvis, Ricky, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and others climbing the charts, "Your Hit Parade" tried desperately to stay in touch with the times.
Needless to say, "Your Hit Parade" took a dive in the ratings. Before its run ended, Collins went into the recording studio to create the album you're looking at. With the backing of Nathan Van Cleve & His Orchestra, she recorded twelve straightforward rendtions of Christmas songs.
Nothing really jumps out at you, style wise. Except Collins' wonderful voice.
After the demise of "YHP" in 1959, Collins appeared on television shows and in musical theater. In 1971, she was one of the original cast members in the Stephen Sondheim landmark musical "Follies" and was nominated for a Tony Award for her role.
For five years (1974-1979), she was co-host of a syndicated version of "Candid Camera" with Allen Funt. One such stunt that I remember was Dorothy driving a Volkswagen bug into a gas station and asking the attendant to fill it up. They had replaced the gas tank with a 55-gallon drum inside the car! One guy stood there for 20 minutes in bewilderment!
After "Candid Camera" ended, Collins settled into semi-retirement and made occasional public appearances after that. She had suffered with asthma for most of her life and as she got older, the disease took its toll in 1994. She was 67.
The 2009 Christmas downloading season is under way. I'm saddened to learn that my friend Ernie (Not Bert) had a computer hard drive crash and burn (I feel your pain - same thing happened to me five years ago.) Don't fret - his collection is so huge that anything he posts is worth a first or second look. In my case, it's the 203rd look.
Two days in and there are new releases all over the place. If you haven't bookmarked it yet, Santas Working Overtime does just that - finding all these new releases and highlighting them faster than any RSS feed can ever hope to do.
During these same two days, I discovered that two albums I was preparing to share... were already shared out! The first is this amazing chestnut:
Recorded in 1954, this 10" was the first full-length Christmas album for Messrs. Ferrante and Teicher. All of the eight songs on this album were later re-released on their "Adventures In Carols" album from 1956 (available to download @ FaLaLaLaLa.com).
Turns out Buster, who runs the great blog entitled Big Ten Inch Record, posted this album last Christmas and I just discovered it this Christmas. Disappointed? Yeah, a little. But his cover of this album looks way better than mine. And I'm sure his copy sounds better too.
But... I got him trumped. He didn't include a BACK cover. And I have one, yes I do! I sure do... well, I have SORTA a back cover... okay, I'll fess up. I have a damaged back cover... honest. You sure you want me to continue with this?
I found my copy at the bottom of an immense stack of vinyl at a flea market in northwest Indiana. It must have been down there for an eternity because anytime the stack shifted, was moved from a dusty shelf to a moldy carpet, the back cover bore the brunt of the friction.
You have been warned:
Well worth the $2.00 I paid for it, no?
As for the second album, I found this at Beverly Records in Chicago and thought I had won the lottery. Of all the nine or ten albums I'm planning on sharing out this Christmas, this was THE one that would wow the general public. That is until yesterday. A certain someone who's been mentioned here posted it to his blog.
Buster, you did it again! And Dorothy Collins asks that eternal question, "Won't you spend Christmas with me?":
This is a great album - easy on the ears as well as the eyes. For a great listen, go check out Buster's blog entry and get yourself a copy. You won't be disappointed. Hope this didn't cost you as much as it did for me (we're talking Andrew Jackson territory, folks!).
So this leaves me with about nine new Christmas releases that I'm hoping to start sharing just as soon as my schedule permits, including my 2009 edition of the Yuleblog Sampler.
There's plenty of Christmas music to be had... get out there and find it!
The 2009 Christmas downloading season is under way. I'm saddened to learn that my friend Ernie (Not Bert) had a computer hard drive crash and burn (I feel your pain - same thing happened to me five years ago.) Don't fret - his collection is so huge that anything he posts is worth a first or second look. In my case, it's the 203rd look.
Two days in and there are new releases all over the place. If you haven't bookmarked it yet, Santas Working Overtime does just that - finding all these new releases and highlighting them faster than any RSS feed can ever hope to do.
During these same two days, I discovered that two albums I was preparing to share... were already shared out! The first is this amazing chestnut:
Recorded in 1954, this 10" was the first full-length Christmas album for Messrs. Ferrante and Teicher. All of the eight songs on this album were later re-released on their "Adventures In Carols" album from 1956 (available to download @ FaLaLaLaLa.com).
Turns out Buster, who runs the great blog entitled Big Ten Inch Record, posted this album last Christmas and I just discovered it this Christmas. Disappointed? Yeah, a little. But his cover of this album looks way better than mine. And I'm sure his copy sounds better too.
But... I got him trumped. He didn't include a BACK cover. And I have one, yes I do! I sure do... well, I have SORTA a back cover... okay, I'll fess up. I have a damaged back cover... honest. You sure you want me to continue with this?
I found my copy at the bottom of an immense stack of vinyl at a flea market in northwest Indiana. It must have been down there for an eternity because anytime the stack shifted, was moved from a dusty shelf to a moldy carpet, the back cover bore the brunt of the friction.
You have been warned:
Well worth the $2.00 I paid for it, no?
As for the second album, I found this at Beverly Records in Chicago and thought I had won the lottery. Of all the nine or ten albums I'm planning on sharing out this Christmas, this was THE one that would wow the general public. That is until yesterday. A certain someone who's been mentioned here posted it to his blog.
Buster, you did it again! And Dorothy Collins asks that eternal question, "Won't you spend Christmas with me?":
This is a great album - easy on the ears as well as the eyes. For a great listen, go check out Buster's blog entry and get yourself a copy. You won't be disappointed. Hope this didn't cost you as much as it did for me (we're talking Andrew Jackson territory, folks!).
So this leaves me with about nine new Christmas releases that I'm hoping to start sharing just as soon as my schedule permits, including my 2009 edition of the Yuleblog Sampler.
There's plenty of Christmas music to be had... get out there and find it!
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).
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!
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).
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!
At first glance, this may seem to be "just another Christmas organ LP". However, if you know your Christmas organ music like our friend Ernie (not Bert), then you know how totally wrong that statement is.
First, let us travel back to an earlier time - December 9, 2005 to be precise. It was on this date that Ernie posted his first Dick Liebert Christmas LP - a great album entitled "The Happy Hits Of Christmas" showcasing Liebert's virtuoso on the organ he called home for many years at the Radio City Music Hall in NYC.
If Ernie never posted another Liebert album ever again, this would have been more than sufficient. But come onnnn... this is Ernie we're talking about! Back on December 3, 2006 (scroll down to the very bottom and work your way up), Ernie had himself a field day with Dick Liebert.
I probably lost about 50% of my readers who are clicking on all those links. Which is why I'm hesitant to post this next link. However, it's for the album I'm reviewing at this very moment so I'm forced to post the link (and watch more readers head for Ernie).
Want further proof that all roads lead to Ernie? Try a Google search on Dick Liebert and look at the second link provided.
There's not much out there on Dick Liebert which is a pity. This is a man who was hired by Radio City Music Hall to be one of its main organists shortly after they installed the famous WurliTzer organ - a job he held from the 1930s well into the 1960s.
What's left are these amazing albums - including the Westminster LP pictured above. What's different about this album from all the rest is Liebert wasn't playing with a home field advantage. This album was recorded behind the Mighty WurliTzer at the Byrd Theater in Richmond, VA.
Is everyone back from clicking all those links? Does everyone have this downloaded? Good...
TRACK REVIEWS:
1.) Sleigh Ride If there was ever a song made for the Mighty WurliTzer, it's this one... amazing sound!
2.) White Christmas Liebert plays this rather solemnly but the genius of Irving Berlin shines through.
3.) Winter Wonderland If you don't pick up on the theme from the get go, this one's a little rushed and muddled.
4.) Jingle Bells Liebert starts this one on a trot, slows down the tempo at the 1/2 mile marker, then finishes fast and strong to the wire.
5.) I'll Be Home for Christmas I swear I heard a theremin in here - ghostly version that grows on me with repeated listenings!
6.) Parade of the Wooden Soldiers Whenever I hear orchestral versions of this song, I'm immediately turned off by it. Whenever I hear this song on the organ (especially the WurliTzer), it takes on a whole different quality I tune into. Wonderful stuff.
7.) The Skater's Waltz Images of roller rinks, ice ponds, Olympic figure skaters, several cartoons, and some bad TV variety magicians come to mind when I hear this song. I want this song played next as a "couples only" skate.
8.) Home for the Holidays Man, this one had me singing along... follow the bouncing ball, folks!
9.) Santa Claus is Coming to Town The song has all the feel of Santa's workshop as elves get ready for the big day.
10.) Christmas Fantasy - O Little Town of Bethlehem / Silent Night / Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Three standards linked together. The best part for me is the improvisation Liebert plays as he links "O Little Town" and "Silent Night" - virtuoso stuff!
This is a fine album by Liebert done very early on in his recording career. The Christmas albums he recorded for RCA Victor remain the absolute summit of his days with Nipper and the gang. I'm very partial to "The Happy Hits of Christmas" as Liebert's best work - although I haven't heard the album with all them Rockettes on it so I reserve judgement.
But you can't go wrong with this album. Lots of fresh sounds, wondrous arrangements, and with Liebert at the WurliTzer, you're in for one heck of a ride.
Thanks for keeping the memory of Dick Liebert alive Ernie!
At first glance, this may seem to be "just another Christmas organ LP". However, if you know your Christmas organ music like our friend Ernie (not Bert), then you know how totally wrong that statement is.
First, let us travel back to an earlier time - December 9, 2005 to be precise. It was on this date that Ernie posted his first Dick Liebert Christmas LP - a great album entitled "The Happy Hits Of Christmas" showcasing Liebert's virtuoso on the organ he called home for many years at the Radio City Music Hall in NYC.
If Ernie never posted another Liebert album ever again, this would have been more than sufficient. But come onnnn... this is Ernie we're talking about! Back on December 3, 2006 (scroll down to the very bottom and work your way up), Ernie had himself a field day with Dick Liebert.
I probably lost about 50% of my readers who are clicking on all those links. Which is why I'm hesitant to post this next link. However, it's for the album I'm reviewing at this very moment so I'm forced to post the link (and watch more readers head for Ernie).
Want further proof that all roads lead to Ernie? Try a Google search on Dick Liebert and look at the second link provided.
There's not much out there on Dick Liebert which is a pity. This is a man who was hired by Radio City Music Hall to be one of its main organists shortly after they installed the famous WurliTzer organ - a job he held from the 1930s well into the 1960s.
What's left are these amazing albums - including the Westminster LP pictured above. What's different about this album from all the rest is Liebert wasn't playing with a home field advantage. This album was recorded behind the Mighty WurliTzer at the Byrd Theater in Richmond, VA.
Is everyone back from clicking all those links? Does everyone have this downloaded? Good...
TRACK REVIEWS:
1.) Sleigh Ride If there was ever a song made for the Mighty WurliTzer, it's this one... amazing sound!
2.) White Christmas Liebert plays this rather solemnly but the genius of Irving Berlin shines through.
3.) Winter Wonderland If you don't pick up on the theme from the get go, this one's a little rushed and muddled.
4.) Jingle Bells Liebert starts this one on a trot, slows down the tempo at the 1/2 mile marker, then finishes fast and strong to the wire.
5.) I'll Be Home for Christmas I swear I heard a theremin in here - ghostly version that grows on me with repeated listenings!
6.) Parade of the Wooden Soldiers Whenever I hear orchestral versions of this song, I'm immediately turned off by it. Whenever I hear this song on the organ (especially the WurliTzer), it takes on a whole different quality I tune into. Wonderful stuff.
7.) The Skater's Waltz Images of roller rinks, ice ponds, Olympic figure skaters, several cartoons, and some bad TV variety magicians come to mind when I hear this song. I want this song played next as a "couples only" skate.
8.) Home for the Holidays Man, this one had me singing along... follow the bouncing ball, folks!
9.) Santa Claus is Coming to Town The song has all the feel of Santa's workshop as elves get ready for the big day.
10.) Christmas Fantasy - O Little Town of Bethlehem / Silent Night / Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Three standards linked together. The best part for me is the improvisation Liebert plays as he links "O Little Town" and "Silent Night" - virtuoso stuff!
This is a fine album by Liebert done very early on in his recording career. The Christmas albums he recorded for RCA Victor remain the absolute summit of his days with Nipper and the gang. I'm very partial to "The Happy Hits of Christmas" as Liebert's best work - although I haven't heard the album with all them Rockettes on it so I reserve judgement.
But you can't go wrong with this album. Lots of fresh sounds, wondrous arrangements, and with Liebert at the WurliTzer, you're in for one heck of a ride.
Thanks for keeping the memory of Dick Liebert alive Ernie!
Once again, here is another rescued piece of vinyl from the collection of Ernie (not Bert). This was part of three albums Ernie shared with a Latin feel (heck, just look at that title above!) and this was downloaded on November 30th, 2006 at 8:50 AM.
To quoteth Ernest:
"I guess I should try to squeeze one more Latin-tinged Christmas album here before I move on to something else. This little goody was recorded by a missionary in South America, and he fills it with local songs for the holidays, as well as some familiar Christmas tunes. There is some narration on there as well, my favorite bit being the introduction at the beginning of the LP. That part may make my Christmas CD this year."
Beyond that, good people, there's nothing on the Internet about Bruce Woodman.
However, the narrator Ernie alluded too has a massive presence online. His name is Luis Palau and has been an evangelist for more than 40 years. The author of nearly 50 books, Palau's radio broadcasts in both English and Spanish are heard by millions more on over 2,600 radio stations in 42 countries.
Strangely enough, there is nothing at his website or in his bio that even mentions Bruce Woodman. Therefore, the only info (and mug shot) we have on Woodman is the back cover:
TRACK REVIEWS:
1.) Luis Palau - Introduction 1 "Yes, that's right. It's Christmas time... We would like to take a few minutes out of your busy schedule to transport you to the many lands south of the border." - Sounds like something you'd find on one of Eddie G's comps.
2.) Bruce Woodman - Come All, Ye Shepherds A standard carol with a hint of Latin lilt... Bruce's fine baritone voice shines.
3.) Bruce Woodman - Silent Night Take one tuba, organ, piano, and blend together in equal parts. Still not very Latin.
4.) Luis Palau - Introduction 2 Palau recites the same story Linus used to tell Charlie Brown what Christmas is all about.
5.) Bruce Woodman - En La Noche Los PastoresVelan (The Night Watch Of The Shepherds) Using authentic Latin instruments and singing in Spanish, this song pumps up the Latin content by about 200%.
6.) Lois Hat Vasconez - There's A Song In The Air More like a song in the organ... Vasconez plays beautifully but is it Latin? Judging by my Mexican ears, no.
7.) Luis Palau - Introduction 3 Fifteen seconds of Luis introducing Bruce and his baritone horn.
8.) Bruce Woodman - Salvador Admirable (Wonderful Savior) Just adding the Spanish title to a standard carol doesn't make it Latin. This is getting depressing.
9.) Luis Palau - Introduction 4 Luis announces the arrival of the Three Wise Men and the next song by Bruce.
10.) Bruce Woodman - Blessed Palestine A song about Israel done in a light Latin lilt. This could either be classified as Latin or Israeli music.
11.) Bill Fasig - What Child Is This? Organ and chimes version - I'm still waiting for the maracas and marimba...
12.) Bruce Woodman - It Came Upon A Midnight Clear Bruce is back with his baritone horn... and I'm looking for some Tito Puente or Celia Cruz to pep me up.
13.) Luis Palau - Introduction 5 "The next Christmas song is a hymn with a message for our time..." Uh-oh.
14.) Delores Baklenko - It's Christmas Time The first 1:30 of this song is wonderful - not heavy on the Latin or message but the images it conjures is magical. It then switches gears and becomes a song about the manger, baby Jesus, the arrival of the savior - never capturing the magic of the first 90 seconds.
15.) Bill Fasig - The First Noel Bill plays us out on the organ... please pick up your church bulletins and drive safely.
Of the three Latin flavored albums Ernie shared, this album is the worst of the lot. Woodman must have used a Toledo scale on this album - if it got too heavy with Latin lilt, he stripped some of that distinctive sound away, leaving a shell of "Latin" music.
Ernie shared out two other Latin albums of note. The first is CancionesdeNavidad (Spanish Christmas Carols) by a fellow named William Clauson. During the 1950s, Clauson made a name for himself importing music from around the world and presenting it to the nuclear families of the Eisenhower era. This one's just a step above the Woodman album... but not that much.
The second album is Natal No Brasil - an authentic Christmas album from South America. Pick any song from this one and it contains more Latin lilt than Woodman's album altogether. This is the one I would choose from the three - it holds up after several listens.
Checking my notes, I discovered in early 2007, I downloaded several other Latin albums:
Once again, here is another rescued piece of vinyl from the collection of Ernie (not Bert). This was part of three albums Ernie shared with a Latin feel (heck, just look at that title above!) and this was downloaded on November 30th, 2006 at 8:50 AM.
To quoteth Ernest:
"I guess I should try to squeeze one more Latin-tinged Christmas album here before I move on to something else. This little goody was recorded by a missionary in South America, and he fills it with local songs for the holidays, as well as some familiar Christmas tunes. There is some narration on there as well, my favorite bit being the introduction at the beginning of the LP. That part may make my Christmas CD this year."
Beyond that, good people, there's nothing on the Internet about Bruce Woodman.
However, the narrator Ernie alluded too has a massive presence online. His name is Luis Palau and has been an evangelist for more than 40 years. The author of nearly 50 books, Palau's radio broadcasts in both English and Spanish are heard by millions more on over 2,600 radio stations in 42 countries.
Strangely enough, there is nothing at his website or in his bio that even mentions Bruce Woodman. Therefore, the only info (and mug shot) we have on Woodman is the back cover:
TRACK REVIEWS:
1.) Luis Palau - Introduction 1 "Yes, that's right. It's Christmas time... We would like to take a few minutes out of your busy schedule to transport you to the many lands south of the border." - Sounds like something you'd find on one of Eddie G's comps.
2.) Bruce Woodman - Come All, Ye Shepherds A standard carol with a hint of Latin lilt... Bruce's fine baritone voice shines.
3.) Bruce Woodman - Silent Night Take one tuba, organ, piano, and blend together in equal parts. Still not very Latin.
4.) Luis Palau - Introduction 2 Palau recites the same story Linus used to tell Charlie Brown what Christmas is all about.
5.) Bruce Woodman - En La Noche Los PastoresVelan (The Night Watch Of The Shepherds) Using authentic Latin instruments and singing in Spanish, this song pumps up the Latin content by about 200%.
6.) Lois Hat Vasconez - There's A Song In The Air More like a song in the organ... Vasconez plays beautifully but is it Latin? Judging by my Mexican ears, no.
7.) Luis Palau - Introduction 3 Fifteen seconds of Luis introducing Bruce and his baritone horn.
8.) Bruce Woodman - Salvador Admirable (Wonderful Savior) Just adding the Spanish title to a standard carol doesn't make it Latin. This is getting depressing.
9.) Luis Palau - Introduction 4 Luis announces the arrival of the Three Wise Men and the next song by Bruce.
10.) Bruce Woodman - Blessed Palestine A song about Israel done in a light Latin lilt. This could either be classified as Latin or Israeli music.
11.) Bill Fasig - What Child Is This? Organ and chimes version - I'm still waiting for the maracas and marimba...
12.) Bruce Woodman - It Came Upon A Midnight Clear Bruce is back with his baritone horn... and I'm looking for some Tito Puente or Celia Cruz to pep me up.
13.) Luis Palau - Introduction 5 "The next Christmas song is a hymn with a message for our time..." Uh-oh.
14.) Delores Baklenko - It's Christmas Time The first 1:30 of this song is wonderful - not heavy on the Latin or message but the images it conjures is magical. It then switches gears and becomes a song about the manger, baby Jesus, the arrival of the savior - never capturing the magic of the first 90 seconds.
15.) Bill Fasig - The First Noel Bill plays us out on the organ... please pick up your church bulletins and drive safely.
Of the three Latin flavored albums Ernie shared, this album is the worst of the lot. Woodman must have used a Toledo scale on this album - if it got too heavy with Latin lilt, he stripped some of that distinctive sound away, leaving a shell of "Latin" music.
Ernie shared out two other Latin albums of note. The first is CancionesdeNavidad (Spanish Christmas Carols) by a fellow named William Clauson. During the 1950s, Clauson made a name for himself importing music from around the world and presenting it to the nuclear families of the Eisenhower era. This one's just a step above the Woodman album... but not that much.
The second album is Natal No Brasil - an authentic Christmas album from South America. Pick any song from this one and it contains more Latin lilt than Woodman's album altogether. This is the one I would choose from the three - it holds up after several listens.
Checking my notes, I discovered in early 2007, I downloaded several other Latin albums:
Yesterday I was scrounging around in a Goodwill store and found this album - which freaked me out because I was due to write about it today - talk about coincidence!
This was yet another album brought to us by our pal Ernie (downloaded at his blog on November 29th, 2006 at 11:57 PM). Ernie was going through a Latin phase at the time - the other Christmas albums he shared around this time were from Menudo and Charo!
If you're still wondering "who is Jose Melis?", then take a trip with me to a time when there were only five channels on your B&W television.
Jose Melis was born in Havana, Cuba on February 27, 1920. He aspired to be a classical pianist and this took him to the Havana Conservatory of Music. When he was 16, he arrived in the United States and attended the Longy School of Music at first, then the Juilliard School of Music in New York. While he attended Juilliard, Melis began appearing in clubs around New York as a lounge pianist.
World War II broke out and the draft claimed Jose in 1943. His musical abilities were put to good use as the musical director for the USO's New York City branch. This gave Melis his first taste of show business and he played for many of the major stars who volunteered at the Stage Door Canteen.
It was at this club where Melis met a young comic fresh out of the Special Services named Jack Paar. The two hit it off well and they remained in touch over the next several years. When Paar got a shot on radio, he asked Melis to be the musical director. It wouldn't be the last time Paar asked Melis that question.
Paar was the host of two TV game shows - Up With Paar (1952) and Bank On The Stars (1953) and Melis was along for the ride. Their TV career looked bleak when CBS called and asked if they would be interested in a "Today" type of show in the morning. Entitled "The Morning Show", it went on the air in 1954 - their newsreader was Walter Cronkite!
After a failed radio show for ABC in 1956, Paar and Melis were ready to call it quits. They had been together for ten years and weren't getting any big breaks either in radio or TV. That changed when Paar appeared on several episodes of Jack Benny's TV show and made an impression on NBC.
NBC offered Paar "The Tonight Show" in 1957 - which had been floundering since Steve Allen's departure as host. Paar again asked Melis to be the musical director. They grabbed a desk, a few chairs, and set up a format that has been copied on nearly every talk show since.
The show became a phenomenon - the first water-cooler show in TV history. People were staying up late to watch and Paar made sure Melis played a vital part. Paar put Melis' orchestra on the stage - rather than in the pit - and he included Jose in the on-camera patter that became one of the trademarks of the show.
This new exposure brought Jose a recording contract through Seeco Records, a label devoted to Latin music. Melis recorded several albums for Seeco ("The Many Moods of Jose Melis", "Tonight - Jose Melis", "The Jack Paar Show - And Other TV Themes"), including the album you are looking at.
Throughout his career, many people mistook Melis for that other famous Latin musical genius / wizard Esquivel. Whereas Esquivel's music was gigantic, bold, and overwhelming, Melis' music was more sedate, structured, and soothing.
This album is just that - there are accents and flourishes but nothing that goes overboard. Melis plays it cool and calm on such songs as "Winter Wonderland", "Silent Night", and "Adeste Fideles" but doesn't forget to have fun on songs like "Sleigh Ride" (titled "Sleigh Bells"), "Jingle Bells", and "Toy Piano" - yes, a real toy piano was used!
However, the most endearing songs are the two on which Jose talk-sings. "The Story Of Christmas" was first performed on "The Morning Show" four years prior to this recording. Every Christmas since, Melis got mailbags full of requests to repeat the song - this being in the days when everything went out live (no reruns, no TiVo).
The other song is "Merry Christmas Music" - written with his guitar player especially for this album. Melis reminds us that Christmas would be nothing without the music. Amen.
Each one of these are touching - Melis' accent adds to the charm and he holds you spellbound with its simple melody. These will find a home down the road on my annual Christmas CDs.
Several years after the release of this album, Melis switched to Mercury Records and released several other albums while moonlighting as Paar's musical director. It was around this time that the emotional Paar was feuding with Walter Winchell and famously walked off his program over the term "water-closet".
Melis stayed with Paar until the end of their tenure on "The Tonight Show" in 1962. Melis went out on his own, appearing in nightclubs and concert halls alike. He eventually went on tour with Mel Torme, then Frank Sinatra on several occasions. His popularity began to wane and Melis settled into retirement.
In the mid-1970s, he suffered a serious vision loss followed by his hearing a decade later. In 2003, he moved from Bronxville, New York - the very same house he'd lived in since the "Tonight Show" days - to Sun City, Arizona where his son Michael cared for him. On April 7, 2005, Melis died from a respiratory infection.
Melis was the original Paul Shaffer - thanks for sharing this with us Ernie!
Yesterday I was scrounging around in a Goodwill store and found this album - which freaked me out because I was due to write about it today - talk about coincidence!
This was yet another album brought to us by our pal Ernie (downloaded at his blog on November 29th, 2006 at 11:57 PM). Ernie was going through a Latin phase at the time - the other Christmas albums he shared around this time were from Menudo and Charo!
If you're still wondering "who is Jose Melis?", then take a trip with me to a time when there were only five channels on your B&W television.
Jose Melis was born in Havana, Cuba on February 27, 1920. He aspired to be a classical pianist and this took him to the Havana Conservatory of Music. When he was 16, he arrived in the United States and attended the Longy School of Music at first, then the Juilliard School of Music in New York. While he attended Juilliard, Melis began appearing in clubs around New York as a lounge pianist.
World War II broke out and the draft claimed Jose in 1943. His musical abilities were put to good use as the musical director for the USO's New York City branch. This gave Melis his first taste of show business and he played for many of the major stars who volunteered at the Stage Door Canteen.
It was at this club where Melis met a young comic fresh out of the Special Services named Jack Paar. The two hit it off well and they remained in touch over the next several years. When Paar got a shot on radio, he asked Melis to be the musical director. It wouldn't be the last time Paar asked Melis that question.
Paar was the host of two TV game shows - Up With Paar (1952) and Bank On The Stars (1953) and Melis was along for the ride. Their TV career looked bleak when CBS called and asked if they would be interested in a "Today" type of show in the morning. Entitled "The Morning Show", it went on the air in 1954 - their newsreader was Walter Cronkite!
After a failed radio show for ABC in 1956, Paar and Melis were ready to call it quits. They had been together for ten years and weren't getting any big breaks either in radio or TV. That changed when Paar appeared on several episodes of Jack Benny's TV show and made an impression on NBC.
NBC offered Paar "The Tonight Show" in 1957 - which had been floundering since Steve Allen's departure as host. Paar again asked Melis to be the musical director. They grabbed a desk, a few chairs, and set up a format that has been copied on nearly every talk show since.
The show became a phenomenon - the first water-cooler show in TV history. People were staying up late to watch and Paar made sure Melis played a vital part. Paar put Melis' orchestra on the stage - rather than in the pit - and he included Jose in the on-camera patter that became one of the trademarks of the show.
This new exposure brought Jose a recording contract through Seeco Records, a label devoted to Latin music. Melis recorded several albums for Seeco ("The Many Moods of Jose Melis", "Tonight - Jose Melis", "The Jack Paar Show - And Other TV Themes"), including the album you are looking at.
Throughout his career, many people mistook Melis for that other famous Latin musical genius / wizard Esquivel. Whereas Esquivel's music was gigantic, bold, and overwhelming, Melis' music was more sedate, structured, and soothing.
This album is just that - there are accents and flourishes but nothing that goes overboard. Melis plays it cool and calm on such songs as "Winter Wonderland", "Silent Night", and "Adeste Fideles" but doesn't forget to have fun on songs like "Sleigh Ride" (titled "Sleigh Bells"), "Jingle Bells", and "Toy Piano" - yes, a real toy piano was used!
However, the most endearing songs are the two on which Jose talk-sings. "The Story Of Christmas" was first performed on "The Morning Show" four years prior to this recording. Every Christmas since, Melis got mailbags full of requests to repeat the song - this being in the days when everything went out live (no reruns, no TiVo).
The other song is "Merry Christmas Music" - written with his guitar player especially for this album. Melis reminds us that Christmas would be nothing without the music. Amen.
Each one of these are touching - Melis' accent adds to the charm and he holds you spellbound with its simple melody. These will find a home down the road on my annual Christmas CDs.
Several years after the release of this album, Melis switched to Mercury Records and released several other albums while moonlighting as Paar's musical director. It was around this time that the emotional Paar was feuding with Walter Winchell and famously walked off his program over the term "water-closet".
Melis stayed with Paar until the end of their tenure on "The Tonight Show" in 1962. Melis went out on his own, appearing in nightclubs and concert halls alike. He eventually went on tour with Mel Torme, then Frank Sinatra on several occasions. His popularity began to wane and Melis settled into retirement.
In the mid-1970s, he suffered a serious vision loss followed by his hearing a decade later. In 2003, he moved from Bronxville, New York - the very same house he'd lived in since the "Tonight Show" days - to Sun City, Arizona where his son Michael cared for him. On April 7, 2005, Melis died from a respiratory infection.
Melis was the original Paul Shaffer - thanks for sharing this with us Ernie!
If you take a blood sample from our friend Ernie (Not Bert), you'll find 80% red blood cells, 10% white blood cells, and 10% vinyl. This was downloaded on November 29, 2006 at 1:54 PM from his blog and nearly two years later, I'm getting around to reviewing it - sheesh!
Back in the late 1940s, MGM - the movie studio with the roaring lion - created their own record label. For a time, they were the only movie studio with its own record label. By the mid-1950s, television had so badly eroded the box office that other movie studios needed new streams of revenue.
In 1957, Paramount began its record label and Warner Bros. were undecided as to start its own label. That changed when Dot Records signed then-WB star Tab Hunter to its label. Even though Hunter had an iron-clad exclusive movie contract with WB, without a record label, Tab was free to sign with Dot.
Sure enough, plans for Warner Bros. Records went into high gear and in March, 1958 - the first record on the new label came out. WB had reclaimed Tab hunter and his new single "Jealous Heart" (ironic, huh?) was released - the only charting record for the entire year!
Another mistake from the get go was ignoring rock n' roll. WB decided to go with pop, jazz, classical, spoken word, folk and gospel (see Clint Walker below).
Christmas releases for Warner Bros. in 1959 included George Greeley's "22 Best Loved Christmas Piano Concertos", the Guitar's Inc. "Guitars At Christmas", Ira Ironstring's "Ira Ironstrings Orchestra Plays Santa Claus", and the album you're looking at now.
To quote Ernie:
"This LP came out in 1959, and features the stars from then-current TV shows produced by Warner Brothers. The Warner Bros. record label was brand new at the time, and they were putting out all sorts of interesting stuff. (After you've downloaded it, look closely at the back label. They had so little product out at the time, they were recommending other companies records on their jackets!)"
BIO LINKS / TRACK REVIEWS:
1.) Efrem Zimbalist Jr. - Adeste Fideles Zimbalist's voice is astoundingly good (that led to other non-Christmas recordings). Majestic.
2.) Warner Bros. Stars - Deck The Halls All the assembled stars on the cover merge as one to sing a few choruses.
3.) Connie Stevens - Away In A Manger Breathy rendition from cutie Connie. She and Edd Byrnes had a HUGE hit the same year with "Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb"!
4.) Edward Byrnes - Yulesville This song still has enough charm to give me a smile. That charm is almost used up. Next...
5.) Peter Brown - Winter Wonderland Great voice and a snappy version of this song! He later starred with Pam Grier in "Foxy Brown"!
6.) Ray Danton - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen This guy could give Thurl Ravenscroft a run for his money. Another majestic song!
7.) Poncie Ponce - Mele Kalikimaka Kazuo Kim sings again! Poncie got his start on "77 Sunset Strip", then moved over to "Hawaiian Eye".
8.) Eddie Cole - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town The older brother of Nat (listen and feel the similarities), this was recorded near the end of Eddie's career - it swings, baby!
9.) Bob Conrad - White Christmas I dare you to knock the battery off his shoulder... Robert Conrad sings marvelously - too bad we didn't get to hear more of that in "Wild Wild West" or "Baa Baa Black Sheep"!
10.) Dorothy Provine - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow! From 1958 to 1968, Dorothy starred in many films and a great singing voice to match - then she got married and retired. This is a gem - she sounds a little like Dusty Towne from "SCTV"!
11.) Clint Walker - Silver Bells A bonafide member of "The Dirty Dozen" singing a Bob Hope Christmas song! Remarkable! This was after Clint's walkout from Warner Bros. (see Ty Harden below) and his first album for WB - a gospel album entitled "Inspiration".
12.) Roger Moore - Once In Royal David's City With his lordly British voice, Sir Roger narrates this song to great effect. The name is Templar... Simon Templar.
13.) Warner Bros. Male Chorus - Star Carol I'm not sure if Clint, Roger, Bob Conrad, or Edd Byrnes sung on this - but whoever did does a nice job.
14.) Ty Hardin - It Came Upon A Midnight Clear This guy's Wiki entry is a trip - as for his singing... you gotta read this guy's Wiki entry. It's a trip!
15.) Warner Bros. Stars - We Wish You A Merry Christmas Several choruses of this ol' favorite from everyone on the cover and presto! End of album!
Ernie said in his initial review "If you don't find something in here to love, you may as well quit looking." I agree. I especially liked hearing 007 recite his story, Dorothy Provine, and Eddie Cole.
Most of the artists on this album sing well and the arrangements don't subtract or detract from their singing. And then there's Ty Hardin...
It's hard to imagine from these beginnings came the colossus known as Warner Music Group. As for MGM and Paramount record labels, they're long gone but the WB survived.
If you take a blood sample from our friend Ernie (Not Bert), you'll find 80% red blood cells, 10% white blood cells, and 10% vinyl. This was downloaded on November 29, 2006 at 1:54 PM from his blog and nearly two years later, I'm getting around to reviewing it - sheesh!
Back in the late 1940s, MGM - the movie studio with the roaring lion - created their own record label. For a time, they were the only movie studio with its own record label. By the mid-1950s, television had so badly eroded the box office that other movie studios needed new streams of revenue.
In 1957, Paramount began its record label and Warner Bros. were undecided as to start its own label. That changed when Dot Records signed then-WB star Tab Hunter to its label. Even though Hunter had an iron-clad exclusive movie contract with WB, without a record label, Tab was free to sign with Dot.
Sure enough, plans for Warner Bros. Records went into high gear and in March, 1958 - the first record on the new label came out. WB had reclaimed Tab hunter and his new single "Jealous Heart" (ironic, huh?) was released - the only charting record for the entire year!
Another mistake from the get go was ignoring rock n' roll. WB decided to go with pop, jazz, classical, spoken word, folk and gospel (see Clint Walker below).
Christmas releases for Warner Bros. in 1959 included George Greeley's "22 Best Loved Christmas Piano Concertos", the Guitar's Inc. "Guitars At Christmas", Ira Ironstring's "Ira Ironstrings Orchestra Plays Santa Claus", and the album you're looking at now.
To quote Ernie:
"This LP came out in 1959, and features the stars from then-current TV shows produced by Warner Brothers. The Warner Bros. record label was brand new at the time, and they were putting out all sorts of interesting stuff. (After you've downloaded it, look closely at the back label. They had so little product out at the time, they were recommending other companies records on their jackets!)"
BIO LINKS / TRACK REVIEWS:
1.) Efrem Zimbalist Jr. - Adeste Fideles Zimbalist's voice is astoundingly good (that led to other non-Christmas recordings). Majestic.
2.) Warner Bros. Stars - Deck The Halls All the assembled stars on the cover merge as one to sing a few choruses.
3.) Connie Stevens - Away In A Manger Breathy rendition from cutie Connie. She and Edd Byrnes had a HUGE hit the same year with "Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb"!
4.) Edward Byrnes - Yulesville This song still has enough charm to give me a smile. That charm is almost used up. Next...
5.) Peter Brown - Winter Wonderland Great voice and a snappy version of this song! He later starred with Pam Grier in "Foxy Brown"!
6.) Ray Danton - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen This guy could give Thurl Ravenscroft a run for his money. Another majestic song!
7.) Poncie Ponce - Mele Kalikimaka Kazuo Kim sings again! Poncie got his start on "77 Sunset Strip", then moved over to "Hawaiian Eye".
8.) Eddie Cole - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town The older brother of Nat (listen and feel the similarities), this was recorded near the end of Eddie's career - it swings, baby!
9.) Bob Conrad - White Christmas I dare you to knock the battery off his shoulder... Robert Conrad sings marvelously - too bad we didn't get to hear more of that in "Wild Wild West" or "Baa Baa Black Sheep"!
10.) Dorothy Provine - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow! From 1958 to 1968, Dorothy starred in many films and a great singing voice to match - then she got married and retired. This is a gem - she sounds a little like Dusty Towne from "SCTV"!
11.) Clint Walker - Silver Bells A bonafide member of "The Dirty Dozen" singing a Bob Hope Christmas song! Remarkable! This was after Clint's walkout from Warner Bros. (see Ty Harden below) and his first album for WB - a gospel album entitled "Inspiration".
12.) Roger Moore - Once In Royal David's City With his lordly British voice, Sir Roger narrates this song to great effect. The name is Templar... Simon Templar.
13.) Warner Bros. Male Chorus - Star Carol I'm not sure if Clint, Roger, Bob Conrad, or Edd Byrnes sung on this - but whoever did does a nice job.
14.) Ty Hardin - It Came Upon A Midnight Clear This guy's Wiki entry is a trip - as for his singing... you gotta read this guy's Wiki entry. It's a trip!
15.) Warner Bros. Stars - We Wish You A Merry Christmas Several choruses of this ol' favorite from everyone on the cover and presto! End of album!
Ernie said in his initial review "If you don't find something in here to love, you may as well quit looking." I agree. I especially liked hearing 007 recite his story, Dorothy Provine, and Eddie Cole.
Most of the artists on this album sing well and the arrangements don't subtract or detract from their singing. And then there's Ty Hardin...
It's hard to imagine from these beginnings came the colossus known as Warner Music Group. As for MGM and Paramount record labels, they're long gone but the WB survived.
It seems on November 26, 2006 at 1:11 AM and again on November 26, 2006 at 1:13 AM, our good friend Ernie was in a Christmas disco kind of mood. Which is fine by me because on several occasions here, I've openly admitted that I have a guilty pleasure for all forms of Christmas disco.
Shortly after I began this blog in January, 2006, I reviewed my first Christmas disco album - The Salsoul Orchestra's "Christmas Jollies II". Several months later, I did another review for The Mistletoe Disco Band's "Christmas Disco" with a bonus - this was the very FIRST album I ever shared here at the yuleblog (does that tell you how I feel about this genre?).
With the addition of these two beauties (thank you Ernie), I now own nine Christmas disco albums. Not counting the disco album I intend to share at Christmas (more on that later). Turning on the disco ball...
This is what Ernie wrote about the first album:
"Today you get some disco Christmas! First up is Holiday People-Holiday Disco (Universal Spectaculars USL 101, 1979), from the height of the disco exploitation era. There is very little about this LP that's redeeming. It's because of cheap knock-off albums like this that the whole disco backlash began.
"Everybody may like a little Saturday Night Fever or Disco Inferno, but when they started to crack out nameless tune after nameless tune using nameless bands and beats that came stock with your Casio keyboard, it all went south.
"Not that I remember any of that, I was too young to know what was going on at the time. But as I got older, I figured it all out. Or at least I thought I did. Anyhow, enjoy these nameless musicians performing these public domain Christmas songs as best you can."
Despite my love for Christmas disco (good and bad), this one is riding the fence. Any song is an adventure. It could start off with disco strings, then the wha-wha guitars will take over and ride it for a while. Add some disco singers singing partial lyrics - "You'll go down in hissssss - tooorrrrrrrr - rreeeeeeeeeeee".
WHOAA... as I'm typing these words, the album is playing the background and son-of-a-gun! Can it be? Is it really? I wouldn't put it past it... Checking...
After much comparison, I've just discovered that "We Wish You A Merry Christmas", "White Christmas", "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", and "Auld Lang Syne" are completely original Christmas disco songs on this album by Holiday People.
The remaining tracks are recycled instrumentals that were also used on Mirror Image's Disco Noel and The Mistletoe Disco Band's Christmas Disco:
So this is the THIRD Christmas disco album in my collection using the same tracks... groovy. The Mistletoe Disco Band has another album entitled "More Christmas Disco" that I don't own (yet) and it probably uses these other tracks from the Holiday People album. But who knows?
Okay, I'm more bummed than finding out that the roller boogie night at my local rink were cancelled.
I need some good Christmas disco (that's the very definition of an oxymoron, no?). I'm talking Salsoul Orchestra style disco, not Charo style. Can the second album featured here be what I am looking for? I've got a bad case of "Saturday Night Fever" and it needs to be quenched!
Ernie, can you help? From his original notes on "Christmas Disco Party":
"Did I hear you say you wanted more Christmas disco, only better this time? Well, how's about some original tunes, and some semblance of originality? Sound good? Here's a group with no name performing Christmas Disco Party (Classic Christmas CCR 1941, 1979).
"I stuck the name Max Fagen on these tracks, since he seems to show up the most in the credits, but there really is no group name listed anywhere on the LP. I don't know why I like this album better than the other. Something just strikes me as a lot better. At least they tried to write some original music. Some of the titles are familiar, but they aren't really the songs they pretend to be."
TRACK REVIEWS:
1.) Santa Claus Is Disco'n To Town How can you argue with a song with such wisdom like "He's got the moves that will loosen your blues"?
2.) All I Want For Christmas Is A Disco Beat Doesn't everyone want a disco beat for Christmas? Anyone? "Gotta have a little drums!"
3.) Jingle Bell Disco Rock Is it "Jingle Bells" or "Jingle Bell Rock"? About fifteen seconds in, you'll hear a great disco version of "Jingle Bells". Man, this is fantastic!
4.) Dancin' In A Winter Wonderland Expecting a disco version of "Winter Wonderland". Instead, you get a smooth, contemporary original Christmas song - WOW!
5.) What I Want For Christmas (Is Just To Have You Here) This is the song they would play at the rink, lower the lights, and announce "couples only". Another great original!
6.) Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Nope. Nothing like the version heard on the trio of albums above. About to break into Travolta-like dance steps!
7.) The Beat Moves On Not Christmas, but it's a good disco instrumental.
8.) Rock Around The Christmas Tree (With Me) Another Christmas title - but you get another original Christmas disco song!
9.) (Gonna Have A) Disco Christmas Party This one's my favorite - you can expect this one to be played at my next Christmas gathering!
I'll put Christmas Disco Party up against anything the Salsoul Orchestra ever did. This is one great Christmas disco album - oxymoron's be damned! I would love to see this album get re-released with more on Max Fagen, the song composers, etc. This album has a lot going for it.
But because it's Christmas disco, no one's gonna re-release it. Which is a shame. So thanks Ernie for rescuing this one. You are hereby awarded the B.G.E's Award for the prolongation and preservation of Christmas disco.
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.
