It is no secret around here that I am not a kiddie Christmas type of guy. While other kids were listening to the Caroleers, Captain Kangaroo, and Peter Pan Christmas records, I was listening to a steady diet of easy listening Christmas music.
First, we have the jaw-droppingly inhumane cartoon cover that shows two cops hauling poor St. Nick off to the slammer. Directly above Santa, we can see two kids wailing in agony over the fact that Santa is about to get strip-searched and booked. Add an evil nemesis directly from the Snidley Whiplash School of Villains wringing his hands in delight off to the side and the stage is set.
As for the story, you can make up your own scenario judging by the cover. Obviously, the snake charmer has concocted a scheme that gets Santa arrested for his own personal agenda, only to be outwitted by a quick thinking kid or parent in front of a judge in a court of law, and Santa goes free just in time for his trip around the world.
Again, this is just guesswork. I merely dropped the needle on the record and ran. I didn't hear more than five seconds of this album during the transfer from vinyl to digital. And that five seconds was long enough for me.
How could anyone in their right minds buy this and play it for their kids at Christmas? Obviously someone did because I had to rebuy the album at a thrift store in Chicago for 50 cents.
Someone out there will find this album and say "WOW! I had this as a kid!" I'm interested in hearing from those people. To find out if this was a great album and listening experience for them or was it just the opposite. Don't be shy; we will have counselors on standby in case you need to talk to someone about this.
It is no secret around here that I am not a kiddie Christmas type of guy. While other kids were listening to the Caroleers, Captain Kangaroo, and Peter Pan Christmas records, I was listening to a steady diet of easy listening Christmas music.
First, we have the jaw-droppingly inhumane cartoon cover that shows two cops hauling poor St. Nick off to the slammer. Directly above Santa, we can see two kids wailing in agony over the fact that Santa is about to get strip-searched and booked. Add an evil nemesis directly from the Snidley Whiplash School of Villains wringing his hands in delight off to the side and the stage is set.
As for the story, you can make up your own scenario judging by the cover. Obviously, the snake charmer has concocted a scheme that gets Santa arrested for his own personal agenda, only to be outwitted by a quick thinking kid or parent in front of a judge in a court of law, and Santa goes free just in time for his trip around the world.
Again, this is just guesswork. I merely dropped the needle on the record and ran. I didn't hear more than five seconds of this album during the transfer from vinyl to digital. And that five seconds was long enough for me.
How could anyone in their right minds buy this and play it for their kids at Christmas? Obviously someone did because I had to rebuy the album at a thrift store in Chicago for 50 cents.
Someone out there will find this album and say "WOW! I had this as a kid!" I'm interested in hearing from those people. To find out if this was a great album and listening experience for them or was it just the opposite. Don't be shy; we will have counselors on standby in case you need to talk to someone about this.
Remember your elementary school Christmas pageant or play? You may or may not remember the name of the classmate who played Scrooge or the kid who threw up onstage.
But you probably remember the music that you sang. For many school kids, it was standard Christmas carols and standards. However, some schools went out and spent money from an educational service for a Christmas program, complete with scripts and songs.
This is one of those programs. Designed to enrich the musical experience of boys and girls in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades, this program came with an illustrated guidebook (lost for all eternity) for staging, costuming, and dramatizing the entire program to make the teacher's job all the more easier.
Side one is entirely vocal - one lone female voice singing eight different songs (or "windows") that comprise the entire show (and one of these tracks was used for the 2007 Yuleblog Sampler).
Side two is completely instrumental - so if you feel inspired to learn the lyrics and record your own karaoke version, please send us an MP3 at the P.O. Box.
Remember your elementary school Christmas pageant or play? You may or may not remember the name of the classmate who played Scrooge or the kid who threw up onstage.
But you probably remember the music that you sang. For many school kids, it was standard Christmas carols and standards. However, some schools went out and spent money from an educational service for a Christmas program, complete with scripts and songs.
This is one of those programs. Designed to enrich the musical experience of boys and girls in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades, this program came with an illustrated guidebook (lost for all eternity) for staging, costuming, and dramatizing the entire program to make the teacher's job all the more easier.
Side one is entirely vocal - one lone female voice singing eight different songs (or "windows") that comprise the entire show (and one of these tracks was used for the 2007 Yuleblog Sampler).
Side two is completely instrumental - so if you feel inspired to learn the lyrics and record your own karaoke version, please send us an MP3 at the P.O. Box.
Indiana's vinyl bins contain more religious Christmas albums than any other in the Union. If I purchased every one of these albums during my search and rescue missions over the past five years, I would probably have close to 1000 LPs.
This is one of those typical albums. Designed with a Sunday School or Bible camp in mind, we listen as "Uncle Earl" (red flag) and two kids named Kathy and Bill share special stories lifted right out of the Bible. Even now and then, Christmas is involved!
The Christmas music sandwiched inbetween the stories is mostly standard carols with a choir and organ and I shared a track from this album for the 2007 Yuleblog Sampler.
So this year, kids, you get the whole album! Can I get an "Amen"?
Indiana's vinyl bins contain more religious Christmas albums than any other in the Union. If I purchased every one of these albums during my search and rescue missions over the past five years, I would probably have close to 1000 LPs.
This is one of those typical albums. Designed with a Sunday School or Bible camp in mind, we listen as "Uncle Earl" (red flag) and two kids named Kathy and Bill share special stories lifted right out of the Bible. Even now and then, Christmas is involved!
The Christmas music sandwiched inbetween the stories is mostly standard carols with a choir and organ and I shared a track from this album for the 2007 Yuleblog Sampler.
So this year, kids, you get the whole album! Can I get an "Amen"?
This was a from a lot of Christmas records I purchased from a Canadian dealer off eBay earlier this year.
If you were a kid growing up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in the 1960s through the early 1980s, you might have spent some time in front of the television watching Uncle Bob Swarts and his ventriloquist friends - headed by Archie Wood.
This album from the mid-1960s brings all these characters into the recording studio to record this album. Shades of Alex Houston & Elmer!
However, this is a fun, witty, and throroughly enjoyable Christmas album for kids of all ages. Uncle Bob keeps the pace quick and has fun shuffling through his characters as well as himself to sing favorite Christmas songs.
Even though it's not credited on the album, Uncle Bob even manages to squeeze in a great version of "Silver Bells".
This was a from a lot of Christmas records I purchased from a Canadian dealer off eBay earlier this year.
If you were a kid growing up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in the 1960s through the early 1980s, you might have spent some time in front of the television watching Uncle Bob Swarts and his ventriloquist friends - headed by Archie Wood.
This album from the mid-1960s brings all these characters into the recording studio to record this album. Shades of Alex Houston & Elmer!
However, this is a fun, witty, and throroughly enjoyable Christmas album for kids of all ages. Uncle Bob keeps the pace quick and has fun shuffling through his characters as well as himself to sing favorite Christmas songs.
Even though it's not credited on the album, Uncle Bob even manages to squeeze in a great version of "Silver Bells".
This vintage Christmas single was given to me by my in-laws when they were cleaning out their closets. I'm told this was one of the records that got heavy rotation when they were kids back in the 1950s.
There's not much to tell with this one - I found a site online about Royale Records and the design of its logo and a partial discography that covers mostly their classical output.
Other than that, zilch. However, if you're looking for a version of Dickens' "Christmas Carol" under seven minutes in length or a version of "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" around three minutes, than this is for you!
Still having a hard time believing my in-laws listened to this... and that they were kids at one time!
This vintage Christmas single was given to me by my in-laws when they were cleaning out their closets. I'm told this was one of the records that got heavy rotation when they were kids back in the 1950s.
There's not much to tell with this one - I found a site online about Royale Records and the design of its logo and a partial discography that covers mostly their classical output.
Other than that, zilch. However, if you're looking for a version of Dickens' "Christmas Carol" under seven minutes in length or a version of "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" around three minutes, than this is for you!
Still having a hard time believing my in-laws listened to this... and that they were kids at one time!
Back on October 1st, I wrote two reviews of Christmas disco albums that our friend Ernie shared out. In those reviews, I reiterated my guilty pleasure for Christmas disco and hinted:
"And if you think Holiday Disco is bad, just wait until Christmas. For I have obtained what could be the WORST Christmas disco album of all time and I intend to unleash it to the world."
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls... here it is.
The folks at Peter Pan Records decided to combine their special brand of kiddie Christmas with Christmas disco to disastrous results. Leeching off the success of Rick Dees' novelty hit "Disco Duck", they decided to create the lovable duck on the cover named Irwin!
Irwin is your host and narrator and after about 30 seconds into the first track (a remake of "Disco Duck" renamed "Disco Duck II" to avoid paying royalties), you're gonna be looking for a 12-gauge shotgun for some duck hunting.
After two competent disco versions of "Sleigh Ride" and "Winter Wonderland", the duck unleashes "Donde Esta Santa Claus?". This is worst than Charo's epic single of the same name.
This track was the pact they made with the devil to make this album and thereby guaranteeing this album will be played in Hell at Christmas time.
This album wouldn't be so bad if they hadn't made Irwin introduce EVERY SINGLE track! And if you want further proof that this is the worst Christmas disco album ever, look at the artist's name on the cover. I rest my case.
This yuleblog cannot be responsible for any damage caused by this record to your computer, hard drives, CD players, speakers, headphones, MP3 players, iPods, car stereos, boomboxes, radios, televisions, DVD players, VCRs, 8-tracks, or to your own physical being after you play this for someone.
My lawyer says I'm covered. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Back on October 1st, I wrote two reviews of Christmas disco albums that our friend Ernie shared out. In those reviews, I reiterated my guilty pleasure for Christmas disco and hinted:
"And if you think Holiday Disco is bad, just wait until Christmas. For I have obtained what could be the WORST Christmas disco album of all time and I intend to unleash it to the world."
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls... here it is.
The folks at Peter Pan Records decided to combine their special brand of kiddie Christmas with Christmas disco to disastrous results. Leeching off the success of Rick Dees' novelty hit "Disco Duck", they decided to create the lovable duck on the cover named Irwin!
Irwin is your host and narrator and after about 30 seconds into the first track (a remake of "Disco Duck" renamed "Disco Duck II" to avoid paying royalties), you're gonna be looking for a 12-gauge shotgun for some duck hunting.
After two competent disco versions of "Sleigh Ride" and "Winter Wonderland", the duck unleashes "Donde Esta Santa Claus?". This is worst than Charo's epic single of the same name.
This track was the pact they made with the devil to make this album and thereby guaranteeing this album will be played in Hell at Christmas time.
This album wouldn't be so bad if they hadn't made Irwin introduce EVERY SINGLE track! And if you want further proof that this is the worst Christmas disco album ever, look at the artist's name on the cover. I rest my case.
This yuleblog cannot be responsible for any damage caused by this record to your computer, hard drives, CD players, speakers, headphones, MP3 players, iPods, car stereos, boomboxes, radios, televisions, DVD players, VCRs, 8-tracks, or to your own physical being after you play this for someone.
My lawyer says I'm covered. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Today starts a look back at the 125+ Christmas albums (yes, 125 plus!) that I downloaded during the 2006 holiday downloading season. Some will get serious looks. Others will get thumbnail sketches. Will I get to them all? Only time will tell.
This was the first full album I clicked. Even wrote down the date, the place, the time, and from who - November 18, 2006 at 9:03 AM from FaLaLaLaLa community member Inkydog.
If you look closely at the bottom right hand corner of the album, you'll notice that this is from Design Records, a budget budget division of the budget label Pickwick International.
Not much info is out there on the Cricketones. But the music is festive, fun, and very light - perfect fare for kiddies, Christmas, or both. I'm very much reminded by the Caroleers when listening to this for the first time. With such song titles like "The Little Christmas Stocking With The Hole In The Toe" and "I've Got 18 Cents To Spend On Christmas", it falls into that Caroleers category for the first five tracks.
The rest of the album is very different. The Cricketones sing some Christmas standards - their telling of "The Night Before Christmas" is quite nice, "Rudolph" has a radio orchestra feel to it (lovely), and a six minute condensation of Scrooge's "Christmas Carol" is quite strange.
This takes us up to the midway point of side two (or track 9 for those playing at home). Suddenly, and without warning, we get simple renditions of "Joy To The World", "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear", et al not sung by the Cricketones. This is a choir, orchestra, and they're playing it at full blast. As if they ran out of original material and stuck on whatever they wanted on the end of the album. Lame.
But that's the world of budget labels: get it out fast, cheap, make a buck. Inkydog slips in a bonus track by the Cricketones entitled "Mixie Pixie" that wasn't on this album and it's about 1 minute in length. There's more in this one minute that the last half of side two combined. Thanks Inky for sharing this "album" out with us!
UP NEXT: What I downloaded on November 20, 2006 at 8:46 AM
Today starts a look back at the 125+ Christmas albums (yes, 125 plus!) that I downloaded during the 2006 holiday downloading season. Some will get serious looks. Others will get thumbnail sketches. Will I get to them all? Only time will tell.
This was the first full album I clicked. Even wrote down the date, the place, the time, and from who - November 18, 2006 at 9:03 AM from FaLaLaLaLa community member Inkydog.
If you look closely at the bottom right hand corner of the album, you'll notice that this is from Design Records, a budget budget division of the budget label Pickwick International.
Not much info is out there on the Cricketones. But the music is festive, fun, and very light - perfect fare for kiddies, Christmas, or both. I'm very much reminded by the Caroleers when listening to this for the first time. With such song titles like "The Little Christmas Stocking With The Hole In The Toe" and "I've Got 18 Cents To Spend On Christmas", it falls into that Caroleers category for the first five tracks.
The rest of the album is very different. The Cricketones sing some Christmas standards - their telling of "The Night Before Christmas" is quite nice, "Rudolph" has a radio orchestra feel to it (lovely), and a six minute condensation of Scrooge's "Christmas Carol" is quite strange.
This takes us up to the midway point of side two (or track 9 for those playing at home). Suddenly, and without warning, we get simple renditions of "Joy To The World", "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear", et al not sung by the Cricketones. This is a choir, orchestra, and they're playing it at full blast. As if they ran out of original material and stuck on whatever they wanted on the end of the album. Lame.
But that's the world of budget labels: get it out fast, cheap, make a buck. Inkydog slips in a bonus track by the Cricketones entitled "Mixie Pixie" that wasn't on this album and it's about 1 minute in length. There's more in this one minute that the last half of side two combined. Thanks Inky for sharing this "album" out with us!
UP NEXT: What I downloaded on November 20, 2006 at 8:46 AM
I was first alerted to the existence of this album by my good friend Jeff at Jeffco Productions (psst... Jeff's posted a NEW Christmas album to download at his site!).
Thankfully, I was able to beat Jeff to the punch this time and this was one of the CDs I sent him for Christmas.
This was one of the first Christmas CDs that I reviewed at FaLaLaLaLa.com last year. To quote:
"All the usual suspects are back for their first Christmas CD since 1992's soundtrack to 'The Muppet Christmas Carol'. Featuring five original Christmas songs, this one has something for everyone.
"Who better to record 'Zat You, Santa Claus?' than the Electric Mayhem Band? The title track belongs to Kermit and Miss Piggy and is quite charming. And every time I hear Animal in the background on 'The Man With The Bag' ("JINGLE! JINGLE!"), I break out in laughter!
"Want more? How about 'North Pole Comedy Club' with Fozzie Bear, Statler & Waldorf? Miss Piggy singing the song the song she was born to sing - 'Santa Baby'?
"If that doesn't convince you, here's the coup de grace: 'Christmas Smorgasbord' by the Swedish Chef! Enough said!"
There probably isn't a person alive on the planet Earth under the age of 45 who doesn't know what a Muppet is. A whole generation grew up watching them on Sesame Street, then The Muppet Show, then all the Muppet movies.
What's your favorite Muppet memory? "Mahna-Mahna"? A classic Ernie & Bert segment from "Sesame Street"? "Pigs In Space"? Who was your favorite guest star on "The Muppet Show"?
Post them in the comments section and I'll post them here in the yuleblog entry.
Jeff - John Denver and The Muppets - A Christmas Together is one of my all-time favourite Christmas albums. Every few years we get teased that a DVD reissue of the Christmas special is coming, but nothing yet. (We did get Rocky Mountain Holiday which is great too, but nothing to do with Christmas). A lesser known hidden treasure from the muppets at Christmas is Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas, for those who might not know. Look it up, it's quite charming really.
Stephen - I used to love watching the Muppet Show. I realize now that it was not specifically targeted towards the same audience as "Sesame Street", but I didn't care. It was great to see actors I knew appearing in goofy skits with the characters. My favorite, of course, was when Mark Hamill in Luke Skywalker garb showed up with R2-D2. They don't make them like that anymore.
Capt - Statler & Waldorf always cracked me up, then and now. Some of my favorite hosts were Victor Borge, John Cleese, Steve Martin, and the Star Wars gang (with Gonzo as Darth Vader).
However, the episode/segment that sticks out in my mind was when Peter Sellers hosted. Link Hogthrob goes to a sanitarium for rest & rehab. Enter Sellers wearing John Lennon glasses, a John Waters mustache, and speaking reminiscently like Dr. Strangelove to help poor Link through stretching exercises!
The King of Jingaling (via e-mail) - I have to say that I listened to this album via Yahoo Music Unlimited and it made me entirely depressed. It is completely devoid of the unique magic that typified the Muppets under the genius (and I mean that word in all that it implies) of Jim Henson. I would avoid it like the plague.
As for Muppet memories I have two vivid ones.
The very first Muppet Show (which was a special before they had a regular series) included what I believe was the first appearance of The Swedish Chef. He did his usual schtick but they were kind enough to provide subtitles--in Japanese! I remember laughing uncontrollably at the time.
The guest on the Muppet Show was the great jazz trumpeter, Dizzie Gillespie (what a great guest!!!). He was talking with Kermit and said something like, "What I love about you frogs is that you can do this" and he puffed out his cheeks like only he can. And Kermit replied "I can't do that!"
I was first alerted to the existence of this album by my good friend Jeff at Jeffco Productions (psst... Jeff's posted a NEW Christmas album to download at his site!).
Thankfully, I was able to beat Jeff to the punch this time and this was one of the CDs I sent him for Christmas.
This was one of the first Christmas CDs that I reviewed at FaLaLaLaLa.com last year. To quote:
"All the usual suspects are back for their first Christmas CD since 1992's soundtrack to 'The Muppet Christmas Carol'. Featuring five original Christmas songs, this one has something for everyone.
"Who better to record 'Zat You, Santa Claus?' than the Electric Mayhem Band? The title track belongs to Kermit and Miss Piggy and is quite charming. And every time I hear Animal in the background on 'The Man With The Bag' ("JINGLE! JINGLE!"), I break out in laughter!
"Want more? How about 'North Pole Comedy Club' with Fozzie Bear, Statler & Waldorf? Miss Piggy singing the song the song she was born to sing - 'Santa Baby'?
"If that doesn't convince you, here's the coup de grace: 'Christmas Smorgasbord' by the Swedish Chef! Enough said!"
There probably isn't a person alive on the planet Earth under the age of 45 who doesn't know what a Muppet is. A whole generation grew up watching them on Sesame Street, then The Muppet Show, then all the Muppet movies.
What's your favorite Muppet memory? "Mahna-Mahna"? A classic Ernie & Bert segment from "Sesame Street"? "Pigs In Space"? Who was your favorite guest star on "The Muppet Show"?
Post them in the comments section and I'll post them here in the yuleblog entry.
Jeff - John Denver and The Muppets - A Christmas Together is one of my all-time favourite Christmas albums. Every few years we get teased that a DVD reissue of the Christmas special is coming, but nothing yet. (We did get Rocky Mountain Holiday which is great too, but nothing to do with Christmas). A lesser known hidden treasure from the muppets at Christmas is Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas, for those who might not know. Look it up, it's quite charming really.
Stephen - I used to love watching the Muppet Show. I realize now that it was not specifically targeted towards the same audience as "Sesame Street", but I didn't care. It was great to see actors I knew appearing in goofy skits with the characters. My favorite, of course, was when Mark Hamill in Luke Skywalker garb showed up with R2-D2. They don't make them like that anymore.
Capt - Statler & Waldorf always cracked me up, then and now. Some of my favorite hosts were Victor Borge, John Cleese, Steve Martin, and the Star Wars gang (with Gonzo as Darth Vader).
However, the episode/segment that sticks out in my mind was when Peter Sellers hosted. Link Hogthrob goes to a sanitarium for rest & rehab. Enter Sellers wearing John Lennon glasses, a John Waters mustache, and speaking reminiscently like Dr. Strangelove to help poor Link through stretching exercises!
The King of Jingaling (via e-mail) - I have to say that I listened to this album via Yahoo Music Unlimited and it made me entirely depressed. It is completely devoid of the unique magic that typified the Muppets under the genius (and I mean that word in all that it implies) of Jim Henson. I would avoid it like the plague.
As for Muppet memories I have two vivid ones.
The very first Muppet Show (which was a special before they had a regular series) included what I believe was the first appearance of The Swedish Chef. He did his usual schtick but they were kind enough to provide subtitles--in Japanese! I remember laughing uncontrollably at the time.
The guest on the Muppet Show was the great jazz trumpeter, Dizzie Gillespie (what a great guest!!!). He was talking with Kermit and said something like, "What I love about you frogs is that you can do this" and he puffed out his cheeks like only he can. And Kermit replied "I can't do that!"
Last December, I was making the rounds online and came across Lee Hartfield's incredible blog Music You (Possibly) Won't Hear Anyplace. His entry of December 3rd of last year had a picture of the album cover that stayed with me for a long time (thanks Lee!).
That image came in handy when I found a copy of this album among a stack of kiddie records at a antique store in Valparaiso, Indiana. I'm not sure which purchase made me giddier; this album or the copy of "Sesame Street Disco"?
From the age of five, Alex Houston wanted to be a ventriloquist. He found his future partner in High Point, North Carolina and bought his dummy Elmer from a local sheriff for $50. Their career spanned 50 years!
They got their first break in 1954 on Jimmy Dean's first TV show, stayed there for five years, moved to Nashville and worked as an opening act to country stars like Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Dolly Parton, and a newcomer named Charley Pride.
Pride and Houston worked together for three and a half years. It was during this partnership that this album was recorded and Charley graciously wrote the liner notes for the back cover.
This album was recorded in 1972 on Willex Records and they really, REALLY tried to push the title track of this album down your throat: the first track on each side of the album is "Here Comes Peter Cotton Claus"!
As for the rest of the album, it sounds like Houston had Elmer at his side, doing both voices all in one take. I think it would have sounded better (if such a thing is possible) if he recorded them separately - the ventriloquist's tight-lippedness voice of the dummy would have been less present.
This album (and the dummy) should have stayed in the box:
P.S. A Miss Renee Durham (who claims to be one of the lead kiddie voices on this album) left a comment concerning this album. But not here. Click on the link...
Last December, I was making the rounds online and came across Lee Hartfield's incredible blog Music You (Possibly) Won't Hear Anyplace. His entry of December 3rd of last year had a picture of the album cover that stayed with me for a long time (thanks Lee!).
That image came in handy when I found a copy of this album among a stack of kiddie records at a antique store in Valparaiso, Indiana. I'm not sure which purchase made me giddier; this album or the copy of "Sesame Street Disco"?
From the age of five, Alex Houston wanted to be a ventriloquist. He found his future partner in High Point, North Carolina and bought his dummy Elmer from a local sheriff for $50. Their career spanned 50 years!
They got their first break in 1954 on Jimmy Dean's first TV show, stayed there for five years, moved to Nashville and worked as an opening act to country stars like Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Dolly Parton, and a newcomer named Charley Pride.
Pride and Houston worked together for three and a half years. It was during this partnership that this album was recorded and Charley graciously wrote the liner notes for the back cover.
This album was recorded in 1972 on Willex Records and they really, REALLY tried to push the title track of this album down your throat: the first track on each side of the album is "Here Comes Peter Cotton Claus"!
As for the rest of the album, it sounds like Houston had Elmer at his side, doing both voices all in one take. I think it would have sounded better (if such a thing is possible) if he recorded them separately - the ventriloquist's tight-lippedness voice of the dummy would have been less present.
This album (and the dummy) should have stayed in the box:
P.S. A Miss Renee Durham (who claims to be one of the lead kiddie voices on this album) left a comment concerning this album. But not here. Click on the link...
You're stunned, right? This cover does have that effect!
Here's another album that I posted last year at FaLaLaLaLa - the home of preserved Christmas vinyl memories! Here's what I wrote at the time:
The only thing I could find about Kid Stuff Records is that it was active between 1982-1984 and put out about a dozen or so of these albums based on popular video games of the day (Asteroids / Yars’ Revenge / Missle Command / Donkey Kong).
I originally bought this album on eBay so I could include the cover in my annual Christmas CD compilation [in 2004] when I saluted the 1980s.
I’ve never completely listened to this album but it follows the standard kiddie record formula: tell a story, interrupt it with a song, repeat.
I must admit I’m not a huge fan of kiddie records…
Maybe it’s because I never had them as a child. I was too busy listening to my mom’s records – Rat Pack, Lawrence Welk, early Elvis & other 50s rock-n-roll albums. Sometimes I would raid my older brother’s record collection – Beatles, obscure movie soundtracks, Cheech & Chong, K-Tel Records.
There’s been much talk on [FaLaLaLaLa] about kiddie records – Peter Pan Records, the Caroleer Singers, even Basic Hip has devoted two [now THREE] FULL years to the subject.
People do remember what they listen to as a kid… and someone MUST have heard this when they were a tyke. Now you can too…
You're stunned, right? This cover does have that effect!
Here's another album that I posted last year at FaLaLaLaLa - the home of preserved Christmas vinyl memories! Here's what I wrote at the time:
The only thing I could find about Kid Stuff Records is that it was active between 1982-1984 and put out about a dozen or so of these albums based on popular video games of the day (Asteroids / Yars’ Revenge / Missle Command / Donkey Kong).
I originally bought this album on eBay so I could include the cover in my annual Christmas CD compilation [in 2004] when I saluted the 1980s.
I’ve never completely listened to this album but it follows the standard kiddie record formula: tell a story, interrupt it with a song, repeat.
I must admit I’m not a huge fan of kiddie records…
Maybe it’s because I never had them as a child. I was too busy listening to my mom’s records – Rat Pack, Lawrence Welk, early Elvis & other 50s rock-n-roll albums. Sometimes I would raid my older brother’s record collection – Beatles, obscure movie soundtracks, Cheech & Chong, K-Tel Records.
There’s been much talk on [FaLaLaLaLa] about kiddie records – Peter Pan Records, the Caroleer Singers, even Basic Hip has devoted two [now THREE] FULL years to the subject.
People do remember what they listen to as a kid… and someone MUST have heard this when they were a tyke. Now you can too…
