Welcome to SPOCKY CHRISTMAS 2025!

As with every other year, we'll have some fine Christmas music, a few stinkers, and a lot of mediocrity.  Every selection might not be YOUR cup o' cheer, but people are different ... someone else might be charmed.

This 2002 release is interesting because the track listing on the CD rear is wrong.  “God Rest Ye” does not appear at all.

The track listing on the disc itself is wrong too.  Track 4 does not contain “God Rest Ye,” either.

CORRECT TRACK LISTING:

MTL - Christmas Classics (27:43)

01. Jingle Bells (2:40)  – Perfectly cheesy Muzaklike, upbeat arrangement

02. Good King Wenceslas (2:19) – Churchlike choir and soloists with organ and orchestral background

03. I'll Be Home for Christmas (2:10)  – Earnest ensemble vocals with swaying background

04. We Wish You a Merry Christmas (1:54) – Instrumental that sounds like the Tijuana Brass 

05. The Twelve Days of Christmas (3:46)  – Hep women-vs-men arrangement

06. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow (2:05)  – Hep vocal arrangement

07. Winter Wonderland (2:36)

08. White Christmas (2:12)

09. Silver Bells (2:07)

10. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (2:46)

11. Tavern in the Town / For He's a Jolly Good Fellow / Auld Lang Syne (2:16) –  strung together - vocals

12. For He's a Jolly Good Fellow (0:51) – sounds like a circus organ but played by orchestra

THIS LINK GOOD FOR SEVEN DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

You don't have to let this commercial dog spoil your Christmas.  You can be one of those youngsters who takes everything ironically.

Come back Thursday for something sardonic!  See you then.

  

It's Fantastique!

Thanks to a table of marked down and cut out records in the OCU bookstore in the mid-Seventies, I got a great introduction to all kinds of music.

And this wonderful concoction is one of them!

Recently I was able to buy the same performance on CD.

01. Rêveries, Passions (14:48)

02. Un Bal (6:27)

03. Scène Aux Champs (19:05)

04. Marche Au Supplice (4:50)

05. Songe D'une Nuit Du Sabbat (10:22)

As you can see from the LP labels (included in the file), movement 3 was cut in two for the album.  The place they selected is OK for an artificial break.  It’s PRECISELY AT 7:22 IN TRACK 3.

Have fun making your own translation of the CD inserts!

There are more thunderous or sinuous performances, but this one was my introduction to this MAD work!

THIS LINK GOOD FOR SEVEN DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you on Monday, when we'll commence this year's SPOCKY CHRISTMAS!  Until Then, stay thankful!

  

Please Come Back

You can vanish for awhile, but don't stay too long!

01. Disappearing Into You (8:49)

02. In Paradiso (5:07)

03. Resurrection (8:10)

04. In Paradiso (3:17)

05. Primitive Silence (2:10)

06. Serpent (8:43)

07. I Say Rock and Roll Prayers to a Dancing God (7:00)

08. Spirit Guides (7:02)

09. [silence] (3:40)

Raphael, known for his cosmic thoughts and pretensions, provides more fine noodling in this 1988 release.  A bit solipsistic, but that’s what happens when you’re on the road to self-disappearance?

THIS LINK GOOD FOR SEVEN DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

(It's up to you to plumb the "silence" of Track 9!)  See you on Thursday, if you haven't disappeared!

  

Please Pronounce It

I like what I've heard from KJ-52. This is a 2003 release.

01. KJ-52 - Welcome to Five Two's (1:48)

02. KJ-52 - KJ Five Two (4:02)

03. KJ-52 - Whoop Whoop (2:53)

04. KJ-52 - Dear Slim, Part 2 (4:36)

05. KJ-52 - So in Love with You (3:14)

06. KJ-52 - Cartoon Network (3:57)

07. KJ-52 feat. Rob Beckley - Rock On (2:57)

08. KJ-52 - Back in the Day (3:47)

09. KJ-52 - Can I Speak With a Manager? (interlude) / Ya Bref Stank (4:05)

10. KJ-52 - 47 Pop Stars (3:27)

11. KJ-52 feat. Donnie - Pick Yourself Up (3:30)

12. KJ-52 - Don't Go (4:42)

13. KJ-52 - Check Yourself (3:20)

14. KJ-52 - Infomercial (interlude) (0:48)

15. KJ-52 feat. Jubilee - #1 Fan (5:31)

16. KJ-52 - I Feel So Good (3:43)

17. KJ-52 - I'm Guilty (3:52)

18. KJ-52 - Outro / Gimme Dat (3:12)

However, I found I could enjoy this better in smaller doses than all at once.  It’s fun, and it’s great that KJ has both a sense of humor and a dedication to the Lord.

THIS LINK GOOD FOR SEVEN DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you Monday!

  

How Suite It Is!

I hope you feel the same!

This is the last of the three CDs of Cousin Frank Mantooth's music.

I'll be honest with you, I don't know who any of the "jazz giants" are.  But the music's pretty cool.

01. If the Shew Fits (5:20)

02. For the Sake of Art (7:51)

03. If I Were a Bellson (7:51)

04. Scam and Eggs (6:49)

05. I Only Have Eyes for You (4:16)

06. Lauralisa (5:31)

07. Squash (6:52)

http://www.frankmantooth.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Mantooth

THIS LINK GOOD FOR SEVEN DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

And here's a family photo from 2001 that includes Frank.

Track 3, carved into pieces, would make great chase music for Jonny Quest, don't you think?

See you Thursday.

Not Frankenstein

It's RUBIN-stein!

Or, in other words, the good ole Musical Heritage Society to the rescue again!

DISC ONE:

01. Polonaise in C-sharp minor, Op. 26 No. 1 (7:46)

02. Polonaise in E-flat minor, Op. 26 No. 2 (7:16)

03. Polonaise in A major, Op. 40 No. 1 "Military" (4:11)

04. Polonaise in C minor, Op. 40 No. 2 (8:42)

05. Polonaise in F-sharp minor, Op. 44 (11:17)

06. Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 "Heroic" (7:12)

07. Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, Op. 61 (12:58)

DISC TWO:

01. Piano Sonata #2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 35, B 128, "Funeral March" - 1. Grave, Doppio Movimento (5:42)

02. Piano Sonata #2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 35, B 128, "Funeral March" - 2. Scherzo (6:41)

03. Piano Sonata #2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 35, B 128, "Funeral March" - 3. Marche Funèbre (8:59)

04. Piano Sonata #2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 35, B 128, "Funeral March" - 4. Finale: Presto (1:34)

05. Fantasie In F Minor, Op. 49, B 137 (12:05)

06. Piano Sonata #3 In B Minor, Op. 58, B 155 - 1. Allegro (9:00)

07. Piano Sonata #3 In B Minor, Op. 58, B 155 - 2. Scherzo (2:37)

08. Piano Sonata #3 In B Minor, Op. 58, B 155 - 3. Largo (9:08)

09. Piano Sonata #3 In B Minor, Op. 58, B 155 - 4. Finale: Presto Ma Non Tanto (5:06)

It's all in one big file.

THIS LINK GOOD FOR SEVEN DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

Mr Sho-PAHHHHN would be proud.  See you Monday!

  

Givin' Ya the Works Baby!

Well, some of them.

It's a 1988 release.

01. Georg Philipp Telemann - Overture in D Major: Lentement. Vite. Lentement (6:56)

02. Georg Philipp Telemann - Overture in D Major:Air (Tempo guisto) (6:11)

03. Georg Philipp Telemann - Overture in D Major:Air (Vivace) (2:40)

04. Georg Philipp Telemann - Overture in D Major:Air (Presto) (5:39)

05. Georg Philipp Telemann - Overture in D Major:Air (Allegro) (3:42)

06. Giuseppe Torelli - Concerto I in D Major for Trumpet: Allegro, Adagio, Presto. Adagio. Allegro (7:17)

07. Torelli, Giuseppe - Concerto II in D Major for Trumpet: Allegro. Adagio. Allegro. (2:52)

08. Torelli, Giuseppe - Concerto II in D Major for Trumpet:Grave. Allegro. Adagio (2:23)

09. Torelli, Giuseppe - Concerto II in D Major for Trumpet:Allegro (1:50)

10. Georg Philipp Telemann - Conclusion in D Major fr. Tafelmusik: Allegro.  Adagio.  Allegro (6:30)

The first track of the Overture in D, is so majestic that it would fit right in with Handel’s Music for Fireworks at a majestic function.

Lotsa fun and not just all trumpetizing!

PS isn’t it cute that most of the accents above the last name of Maurice André appear to hand-drawn?!?

THIS LINK GOOD FOR SEVEN DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you Thursday!

  

Good for Their Age

This here is a 1996 release whose title promises a lot.

The Best New Age (Vol 2) (58:13)

01. John Tesh - April Song (5:35)

02. Paul Winter - Bright Angel (2:39)

03. Raphael - Silence (3:44)

04. Jonn Serrie - Ixlandia (5:16)

05. Patrick O'Hearn - Upon the Wings of Night (3:35)

06. Tangerine Dream - Melrose (5:48)

07. Suzanne Ciani - Simple Song (3:19)

08. Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra - Bombay Night of Dreams (4:20)

09. Bill Moore - Shadowgraph (4:17)

10. Steven Halpern - Cyber Space (3:11)

11. Robert Bonfiglio - Riverside (4:27)

12. Lorie Line - The Harvest (3:41)

13. Hilary Stagg - Simple and Sweet (8:21)

While some of the artists produced some of the best “New Age” music, it cannot be said that this album contains it.

Some of the stuff is pretty dreamy, though.   

THIS LINK GOOD FOR SEVEN DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you Monday!

  

A Night with Elizabeth

Here's a 1985 cassette of a 1963 LP.

01 - Monsiers Almaine - William Byrd (2:15)

02 - Pavin - William Byrd   (2:50)

03 - My Lord of Oxenfords Maske - William Byrd   (0:54)

04 - The Flatt Pavin - John Johnson   (2:15)

05 - The Batchelars Delight - Richard Allison   (3:25)

06 - Kemp Jig - Anonymous   (1:08)

07 - Phillips Pavin - Peter Phillips   (3:37)

08 - O Mistresse Mine - Thomas Morley   (2:54)

09 - Fantasie La Rondinella - Thomas Morley   (1:30)

10 - Joyne Hands - Thomas Morley   (1:21)

11 - Lachrimae Pavin - John Dowland   (5:54)

12 - Fantasie - John Dowland   (3:57)

13 - De la Tromba Pavin - Richard Allison   (2:53)

14 - It Fell on a Summers Day - Thomas Campian   (2:31)

15 - Dowlands Adew - John Dowland   (3:09)

16 - The Frog Galliard - Thomas Morley   (1:34)

17 - La Rosignoll - William Byrd   (1:47)

18 - Tarletons Resurrection - John Dowland   (1:42)

19 - Galliard Can She Excuse - John Dowland   (1:13)

Them Elizabethans had some good music, huh?

PERMANENT LINK.

THIS LINK GOOD FOR SEVEN DAYS.

See you Thursday, fellow musickers!

  

Halloween Is Here, and It's Retro

Yup, my friends, this is the wonderful day at last!

To celebrate, here's a bunch of songs in an old-fashioned vein.

01 - A Haunting We Will Go - The McGuire Sisters - 1956  (1:56)

02 - Zombie - The Salmas Brothers - 1959  (2:20)

03 - Gravedigger's Rock - Clyde Scott with the Zanyopolis - 1959  (1:57)

04 - Danse Macabre - Georges Mantalba - 1959  (6:12)

05 - Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde - The Versatones - 1963  (2:41)

06 - (Oooh I'm Scared) of the Horrors of the Black Museum - Nightmares - 1959  (1:51)

07 - Mystery - Harry A Yerkes Dance Orchestra - 1920  (2:46)

08 - Beware of the 4-D Witch - Joe Bisko - 1973  (2:42)

09 - Lost Ride - The Phantom - 1953  (2:28)

10 - Halloween Party - Jack Starr - 1959  (1:33)

11 - What Can It Be - The Alvans - 1961  (2:31)

12 - This Way Frankie - Lord Chatterley & the Transylvania Septet - 1959  (2:21)

13 - Shock Party - Amery Lynn - 1959  (2:20)

14 - Movin' Outa This Haunted House - Bill “Butterbean” Flippo - 1961  (1:37)

15 - Spooky - Sal and the Watchers - 1962  (2:16)

16 - Celery Stalks at Midnight - Doris Day with Les Brown - 1941  (2:59)

17 - Monster Gonzales - Tommy Bruce - 1966  (2:53)

18 - Rock-a-Boogie - Andy Quinn - 1957  (1:53)

19 - The Walls Keep Talking - Anita O'Day - 1941  (3:10)

20 - Albino Bat - The Regents - 1964  (1:46)

21 - Terrorvision Time - Brian & Garry and the Chain Rattlers - 1965  (2:39)

22 - Shiverin' and Shakin' - Edwin & Alvin - 1959  (2:20)

23 - The Little Man Who Wasn't There - The Glenn Miller Orchestra - 1939  (3:03)

24 - The House in the Alley - The Brassett's - 1959  (2:11)

25 - Monster in Love - The Von Vons - 1961  (2:34)

26 - Monsters of the World Unite - Homer and Jethro - 1964  (2:54)

27 - Chiller Limbo - The Vic Plati Quintet - 1965  (3:14)

28 - King Kong Song - ABBA - 1974  (3:28)

THIS LINK GOOD FOR SEVEN DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

Note that these songs are sourced from vinyl, tape, acetate, and the interwebs. A few are less pristine than others. None newer than 50 years!

Have a joyous evening of spooks and silliness, of frights and fun. See ya Monday, my fiends!