Soaring into Tepidity

This is inoffensive drivel.  I was amazed that it kept playing on, and on, and on!  I felt it dragged on much longer than the playing time.

Interestingly, the Discogs page for this cassette shows different art than on the copy I bought at a thrift store.

Tom Barabas, Dean Evenson - Soaring

01. High Flying (4:44)

02. Heartland Flight (7:49)

03. Heather Breeze (8:41)

04. Vanilla Float (7:48)

05. Over the Beach (5:33)

06. Soaring (13:11)

07. Serene Sojourn (8:43)

08. Spiral (5:18)

09. Glide Path (3:07)

Go ahead, I dare you to stay awake!

See you on Thursday with the first post of the New Year!
 

The Revengers - Batman and Other Super Men

What?  Yes, one of the zillions of attempted cash-ins on the popularity of the 1960s TV show.  This 1966 album is competent.  In my opinion, "The Revengers" get extra credit for padding out the record with a struttin' arrangement of Jerry Goldsmith's "Meet Mr Solo" theme from The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

01. Batman (2:50)

02. Robin Part 1 (2:17)

03. Robin Part 2 (2:09)

04. Our Man Flint (2:24)

05. Blue Light (1:59)

06. Meet Mr. Solo (2:08)

07. High Wire (Theme from Danger Man) (2:04)

08. The Baron (2:16)

09. The Man from UNCLE (2:07)

10. Where the Spies Are (2:16)

11. The Man from THRUSH (2:44)

12. The Saint (2:17)

The Revengers' Revenge!

See you on Monday, cool cats and kittens!
 

Greensleeves - Carols for Keyboards

This not-too-shabby album is from Intersound.  And knowing their practice of multiple releases with the same title, or the same release under multiple titles, no wonder this critter has no Discogs listing!

These are the tracks:

01. Greensleeves - Ricky Keller and Oliver Wells (5:24)

02. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - Ricky Keller and Oliver Wells (5:17)

03. Carol of the Bells - Tim Carroll and Geary Yelton (Convergence) (3:06)

04. I Wonder as I Wander - Ricky Keller and Oliver Wells (5:03)

05. Angels We Have Heard on High - Ricky Keller and Oliver Wells (4:19)

06. Go Tell It on the Mountain - Robert Strickland (2:33)

07. The Holly and the Ivy - Tim Carroll and Geary Yelton (Convergence) (3:13)

08. Silent Night - Tim Carroll and Geary Yelton (Convergence) (6:40)

09. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Herb Avery (2:24)

10. The First Noel - Ricky Keller and Oliver Wells (5:16)

11. We Three Kings of Orient Are - Ricky Keller and Oliver Wells (4:59)

12. O Come All Ye Faithful/Away in a Manger - Ricky Keller and Oliver Wells (4:23)

13. Ave Maria - Ricky Keller and Oliver Wells (5:31)

Greensleeves - Carols for Keyboards

See you back here on Thursday.  I hope you've found something to enjoy in this month of Spocky Christmas!

Christmas Snooze

There's is Nothing “Festive” about this snoozefest.

How did the players stay awake while repeating the same droopy arrangements over repeated verses?

FUN FACTS:  The record company for this release, St Clair, was sued over ripping off Alvin and the Chipmunks! 

https://www.iptrademarkattorney.com/copyright-attorneys-trademark-bagdasarian-alvin-chipmunks-st-clair-cd-music/ 

They were sued over ripping off Willie Nelson!

https://web.archive.org/web/20100106152848/http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2008/5/13/nashville_at_law_12_may_2008

And only you can decide if The Festive Players are ripping YOU off!

A New Age Christmas (64:43)

01. The Little Drummer Boy (5:28)

02. Silver Bells (6:43)

03. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (6:29)

04. Silent Night (6:50)

05. Away In a Manger (5:29)

06. O Christmas Tree (5:20)

07. O Come All Ye Faithful (8:03)

08. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (7:55)

09. The First Noel (6:28)

10. Ave Maria (5:58)  

See you on Monday, Christmas Eve, for the last selection of this year's Spocky Christmas!

20 A Cappella Christmas Carols

This is a 1989 cassette from Benson music.  The above is my recreation of the cassette art.  Of course, scans of the original tape and insert are included in the file.  The songs are:

01. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent (1:55)
02. Silent Night (2:08)
03. Hark, the Herald Angels Sing (1:49)
04. We Three Kings (2:21)
05. Tell Me the Story of Jesus - Fairest Lord Jesus (2:47)
06. O Come, Little Children (1:46)
07. What Child Is This (2:29)
08. Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne (1:32)
09. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (1:53)
10. Angels We Have Heard on High (2:38)
11. Mary's Boy Child (2:20)
12. Away in a Manger (1:42)
13. O Come, All Ye Faithful (2:42)
14. O Little Town of Bethlehem (1:48)
15. The First Noel (2:01)
16. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (2:09)
17. That Beautiful Name (2:17)
18. Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head (2:09)
19. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (2:08)
20. Joy to the World (1:48)

You may find it here.

See you on Thursday!

A Festival of Carols in Brass

A fine, fun album.

01. Deck the Hall with Boughs of Holly (1:04)

02. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming (2:17)

03. Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella (0:47)

04. The First Nowell (2:18)

05. Angels We Have Heard on High (1:38)

06. We Three Kings of Orient Are (1:21)

07. O Come All, Ye Faithful (1:34)

08. O Sanctissima (1:58)

09. O Tannenbaum (1:17)

10. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (1:41)

11. Good King Wenceslas (1:14)

12. Silent Night, Holy Night (2:27)

13. Joy to the World (1:11)

14. The Twelve Days of Christmas (3:51)

15. Coventry Carol (1:23)

16. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (1:09)

17. Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (1:38)

18. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (1:26)

19. Good Christian Men Rejoice (0:41)

20. O Holy Night (2:39)

21. What Child Is This? (1:49)

22. Wassail Song (1:08)

23. O Little Town of Bethlehem (1:44)

24. Away in a Manger (2:33)

25. We Wish You a Merry Christmas (1:02)

Festival of Carols in Brass

See you on Monday.

The Bells of Bethlehem, 3-LP set, 1973

This is an interesting mashup from Columbia Special Products.

The three LPs fit into two discs.  The "Christmas in the Holy Land" is a Christmas service recorded in a Bethlehem church.

Then you have "Christmas in Europe," with some fine performances of some old stuff.

"Christmas in America" is a mixed bag of goodies and absolutely embarrassing cheese.  The aforementioned dairy byproduct is all courtesy of the Norman Luboff choir, which takes several Christmas songs and processes them into finely milled pap.

The Bells of Bethlehem

Disc 1 (70:45)

Christmas in the Holy Land, St Catherine's Latin Church

01. Matins - The Invitatory - Jesu, Redemptor omnium - Introit and Psalm - Te Deum laudamus (5:47)

02. Silet Nox (1:24)

03. Opening Prayers - Kyrie (4:18)

04. Kyrie (concluded) (2:54)

05. Gloria (9:08)

06. Alleluia-  Announcement of  the Gospel - Et incarnatus est - Amen (3:59)

07. Puer natus est in Bethlehem -  Prayers and Announcement of the Preface (3:59)

08. Sanctus (4:45)

09. Consecration - Pater noster - Exchange of the Signs of Peace - Agnus Dei - Communion (6:51)

10. Adeste fideles - Final Prayers and Blessing - Procession to the Grotto of the Nativity - Bells of Bethlehem (6:02)

Christmas in Europe

The Deller Consort:

11. The Holly and the Ivy (2:40)

12. I Saw Three Ships (2:01)

13. Nesciens Mater (Byttering) (1:57)

Vienna State Opera Orchestra:

14. O Tannenbaum  (1:43)

15. Josef lieber, Josef mein  (3:21)

16. Es wird scho glei dumpa  (2:41)

17. Stille Nacht  (2:38)

18. Zion Hears the Watchmen (Bach)  (4:37)

The Bells of Bethlehem

Disc 2 (64:02)

Christmas in Europe, continued

01. Noël!  Il Est Né, Le Divin Enfant - Ensemble Vocal de Beauvais (2:50)

02. Un Flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle - Martha Schlamme (1:58)

03. Et in terra pax (Ciconia) - Musica Antiqua of Vienna (2:45)

04. Pujdem spolu do Betlema - Nastal nam den vesely - Children’s Chorus of Radio Prague (2:11)

05. Przybiezeli do Betlejem - Bog sie rodzi - Children’s Chorus of Radio Prague (6:35)

06. Gymel of Guilelmus Monachus - Musica Antiqua of Vienna (1:06)

07. In die nativitas (Smert) - The Deller Consort (3:31)

08. Hodie Christus natus est (Palestrina) - The Deller Consort (1:29)

Christmas in America

09. Joy to the World - Philadelphia Brass Ensemble (1:10)

10. What Child Is This? - E Power Biggs, Gregg Smith Singers (3:09)

11. Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains - Mormon Tabernacle Choir (1:38)

12. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Philadelphia Brass Ensemble (1:34)

13. The Twelve Days of Christmas - Norman Luboff Choir (3:34)

14. Oh Come, All Ye Faithful - Norman Luboff Choir (1:47)

15. Silent Night - E Power Biggs, Gregg Smith Singers, Texas Boys Chorus (2:54)

16. Good King Wenceslas - E Power Biggs, Gregg Smith Singers, Texas Boys Chorus (2:55)

17. Silver Bells - Ray Coniff Singers  (2:26)

18. Go Tell It on the Mountain - Mahalia Jackson (2:44)

19. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Philadelphia Brass Ensemble (1:23)

20. The Little Drummer Boy - Ray Coniff Singers (3:22)

21. Away in a Manger - Mormon Tabernacle Choir (3:15)

22. The First Noël - Norman Luboff Choir (1:47)

23. We Three Kings of Orient Are - E Power Biggs, Columbia Chamber Orchestra (3:00)

24. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - E Power Biggs, Gregg Smith Singers, Texas Boys Chorus (2:04)

25. Here We Come A-Wassailing - Norman Luboff Choir (1:16)

26. O Little Town of Bethlehem - Norman Luboff Choir (1:40)

But judge for yourself!  Be advised that this is a fat file of the music and scans of the insert booklet.

The Bells of Bethlehem

 See you on Thursday with more Christmas music!

Don't Ask Me Where This Came From

I assume this is one of those compilations handed out by department stores or radio stations.

01. Sean Grissom - What Child Is This? (1:39)

02. The Swingle Singers - Gabriel's Message (1:44)

03. The Nashville Mandolin Ensemble - Christmas Is Coming (Around) (2:48)

04. Marilyn Horne & Mormon Tabernacle Choir & Columbia Symphony Orchestra - Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella (1:14)

05. Liona Boyd - A Canon for Christmas (2:43)

06. André Previn - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (2:04)

07. The Vienna Boys Choir - O Christmas Tree (2:19)

08. Ayako & Kazuko Shinozaki - Joy to the World (2:43)

09. Ed Sweeney - Silver and Gold (1:42)

10. Earl Rose - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (3:50)

It is certainly a mixed bag!

OCD

See you on Monday for some Christmas music which is more to my tastes.  Although surely you like this one, yes, dear reader?
 

Christmas Is a-Coming! MA-140 - Wondrous Christmas Time

For Christmas 2018, here's a new compilation of songs recent and not-so-new.  Some are reverent and some are more frisky.

01 - Joy to the World - Philadelphia Brass Ensemble - 1973  (1:10)

02 - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Kate Rusby - 2008  (4:26)

03 - Baloo Lammy - The Robert DeCormier Singers and Ensemble - 1986  (2:29)

04 - The Holly and the Ivy - The Mistletoe Orchestra & Singers - 1999  (2:26)

05 - Silent Night / Away in a Manger - Dallas Brass - 1994  (2:20)

06 - I Wonder as I Wander - Robert Shaw - 1957  (2:38)

07 - Christmas Time Again - Cartoon - 1981  (3:16)

08 - Sleigh Ride - Kenny Ball - 2002  (3:09)

09 - Blue Suede Santa - Hillbilly Casino - 2008  (3:13)

10 - Christmas All Over the World - Dana Countryman - 2015  (3:18)

11 - Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - The Fab Four with Ovation School for the Performing Arts Choir - 2014  (3:43)

12 - Away in a Manger - The Galliard Brass Ensemble - 1982  (2:12)

13 - Un Flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle - Martha Schlamme - 1973  (1:59)

14 - Improvisations on Christmas Carols - #2, Andante non troppo - Bryan Kelly - 1969  (2:46)

15 - Joy to the World - The Taverner Consort - 1993  (2:42)

16 - Lullay, lullow - I saw a sweete seemly sight - The St Margaret's All Boys Choir - 1976  (3:01)

17 - In the Manger - John Doan - 2011  (4:40)

18 - Silent Night - E Power Biggs, Gregg Smith Singers, Texas Boys Chorus - 1973  (2:54)

19 - Candlelight Carol - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Arts Educational School Chamber Choir - 1995  (4:01)

20 - I Saw Three Ships - The Deller Consort - 1973  (2:01)

21 - Merry Christmas - Judy Garland - 1949  (2:46)

22 - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - André Previn (arr Mendelssohn) - 1964  (2:03)

23 - Glory to God - Alexander St Charles / One Experience Choir - 1972  (2:25)

24 - Coventry Carol - Colorado State University Chamber Singers - 1980  (2:52)

25 - Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child - arr Mark Hayes - 1999  (3:20)

26 - The First Noel - The Fab Four - 2008  (4:08)

27 - Deck the Hall / What Child Is This - The Swingles - 2015  (3:07)

The attentive listener will note that the traditional Scottish melody of Track 3, "Baloo Lammy," provided some of the melody of Greg Lake's "I Believe in Father Christmas."

MA-140 - UPDATED 2021 LINK

I hope this comp re-acquaints you with the wonderful truth of God-made-human.

See you on Thursday with our next installment of Spocky Christmas!