Swingin' Out This Christmas!

With this 1985 entry we swing on out of this year's SPOCKY CHRISTMAS!

01. Cotton-Eyed Jingle Bells (3:08)

02. I'll Be Home for Christmas (2:43)

03. Here Comes Santa Claus (2:31)

04. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (1:31)

05. Let It Snow (2:50)

06. Cowboy Christmas (2:56)

07. White Christmas (3:13)

08. Blue Christmas (2:58)

09. Swingin' Around the Christmas Tree (2:02)

10. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (2:16)

A Western Swing Christmas 

Enjoy this taste of the west, swingin' style!  See you Monday, in the New Year!

  

Merry Christmas -- A New Christmas Comp!

MA-184 - Xmas All Over the Map 

As its title suggests, this comp's songs are all over the place. Plenty of irreverence, some quiet thoughts, all kinds of different approaches to Christmas!

Christmas ain't gotta be like the above ...  It can be like the below!

Our lineup:

01 - Noel - Claymation Christmas Celebration - 1988  (3:30)

02 - Rock and Roll Christmas - Cordell Jackson - 1956  (2:48)

03 - Anniversary Sale Jingle - BC Clark - 1977  (0:32)

04 - My Little Dog Has Gone to the Moon for Christmas - Little Jeannie - 1959  (2:02)

05 - Throw the Yule Log on, Uncle John - Harmonium Choral Society - 2008  (2:11)

06 - The Christmas Wrong - The Evolution Control Committee - 2003  (1:30)

07 - Zat You, Santa Claus - Ingrid Lucia - 2006  (3:54)

08 - Is Santa Claus a Hippy? - Linda Cassady - 1971  (2:44)

09 - Weihnachtstraum Op.17 No.9 (Reger) - Eteri Andjaparidze - 1996  (1:25)

10 - The Christmas Boogie - The Davis Sisters - 1954  (2:11)

11 - Outer Space Santa - Lawrence Welk's Little Band - Janet, Brian, Cubby & the Lennon Sisters - 1958  (2:15)

12 - Boogie-Woogie Santa Claus - Mabel Scott with Les Welch & His Orchestra - 1954  (2:15)

13 - Santa Done Got Hip - The Marquees - 1959  (1:46)

14 - Reggae Christmas Eve in Transylvania - Count Floyd - 1982  (2:46)

15 - On This Holy Holy Night - BJ Thomas - 1997  (5:57)

16 - Breath of Heaven - Heart of Worship Classics - 1995  (4:45)

17 - I Want a Rocket Ship for Christmas - Richard Hitchner - 1958  (2:43)

18 - Silent Night / Prelude in C - Linda McKechnie and the Don Marsh Orchestra - 2004  (2:49)

19 - Be-Boppers Christmas - Cordell Jackson - 1956  (1:59)

20 - Santa Is a Dirty Old Man - The Wardettes - 1961  (1:49)

21 - Christmas Dinner - Peter, Paul and Mary - 1969  (2:58)

22 - The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) - Dave Seville and the Chipmunks - 1958  (2:19)

23 - Santa Claus Rocket Ship - Phyllis Hamilton - 1959  (1:44)

24 - Angels We Have Heard on High - Claymation Christmas Celebration - 1988  (3:22)

25 - Suddenly It's Christmas (live) - Loudon Wainwright III - 1993  (2:16)

26 - Santa to the Moon - Sonny Cole - 1957  (1:34)

27 - Mrs Claus Has Menopause - The Sterilles - 1987  (1:59)

28 - Transylvanian Xmas - Zombina and the Skeletones - 2003  (3:10)

29 - First Christmas Story - Holy Family Apostolate Corporation - 2002  (1:48)

30 - Ding Dong! Merrily on High - London Symphony Brass Ensemble - 1987  (2:28)

31 - Hey! Hey! Anybody Listening - Anne Campbell Singers - 2015  (1:50)

Surely you can find something (dare I wish someone?) to celebrate today!

MA-184 - Xmas All Over the Map

See you on Thursday with our last installment in this year's SPOCKY CHRISTMAS!

  

A Charming Noël

It's a 1993 cassette which is pretty fun.

01. Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabella • Il Est Né, le Divin Enfant (3:14)
02. Infant Holy • I Saw Three Ships • The Builders (4:04)
03. At the Nativity • Bethlehem's Stall (3:50)
04. Fum Fum Fum • Patapan (2:22)
05. Christ Is Born in Bethlehem • We'll Speak Very Softly (4:56)
06. O Tannenbaum • Lippai (3:07)
07. Lovely Is the Dark Blue Sky • Come Hear the Wonderful Tidings (2:33)
08. In Dulce Jubilo • Shepherd's Cradle Song • Canzone d'i Zampognari (3:57)
09. Gabriel's Message Does Away • Adam and His Helpmate (3:30)
10. Masters in this Hall • Wherefore this Great Joy (4:31)
11. To Bethlehem • The Message (3:48)
12. As Lately We Watched (1:49)
13. Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabella (reprise) (1:22)

A Victorian Noël

Was it Victorious for you too? 

See you on Christmas Day!  Prepare your heart!

  

Rumania at the Inn

It's a peck o' not-familiar Christmas songs:

01. Buna dimineata la mos ajun (Friendly Greetings on Christmas Eve) (0:49)

02. Iata vin colindatori (Behold, the Singers Are Approaching) (0:57)

03. O ce veste minunata (O Wonderful Tidings) (2:48)

04. Plecarea magilor (The Magis' Farewell) (1:05)

05. Trei crai (Three Magi) (3:07)

06. Colo-n susu (Above There) (1:19)

07. Domnulet si Domn din cer (Lord in Heaven) (3:41)

08. Sus la poarta raiului (Above at Heaven's Gate) (1:46)

09. Colindata (Christmas Carol) (0:47)

10. Steaua sus rasare (A Star Is Raising) (2:00)

11. La vitleem colo-n jos (In Bethlehem, Far From the Town) (2:40)

12. La Nunta dun Cana Galileii (The Wedding at Cana) (2:00)

13. Colinda de Pacurar (The Shepherd's Carol) (1:08)

14. Steluta (The Little Star) (2:30)

15. Velrim si veler Doamne (Glory to God) (1:15)

16. Ziurel de Zina (Day of Days) (1:49)

17. Colinda de Florii (Pentecost Song) (2:45)

18. Noi umblam si Colindam (Bring Joy to Every House) (1:08)

19. Bruckner: Ave Maria (3:33)

20. Bruckner: Virga Jesse (5:03)

21. Bruckner: Tota Pulchra Es Matia (4:30)

22. Schutz: Jauchzet dem Herrn (Glory to God) (6:35)

Part of the music's charm or intrigue to us, of course, is the unfamiliar language.  But I'd call this worth a thank-you to Laserlight.

East European Christmas

What do YOU think about it?  See you Thursday, fellow Christmas-mongers!

  

The Flourishes of a Celtic Christmas

This is a 1980 release.   And there's nothing really bad about it, except sometimes Jackson seems too interested in zinging her hands up and down the scales.  It’s flourishy but seems kind of pointless, because if the melody is lost under the technique, what use is the melody?

01. The First Noel (3:05)

02. Pipers' Carol (2:10)

03. Sing We Now of Christmas (2:40)

04. Christ Child's Lullaby (2:16)

05. Beautiful Lamb of God (2:45)

06. What Child Is This (3:00)

07. Lord of the Dance (2:58)

08. I Saw Three Ships (2:16)

09. Silent Night (2:27)

10. Plainsong (2:29)

11. Air of the Isles (1:56)

12. What Wondrous Love (1:40)

13. The Gift of Love (2:43)

Celtic Christmas

Tell me what YOU think.  You gotta admit, that is one tall harp!  See you on Monday!

  

Won't Make You Generous

This is, I assume, a giveaway, perhaps for donors to Boys Town.

01. Silent Night (2:41)

02. What Child Is This? (3:42)

03. O Come all Ye Failthful (4:14)

04. O Tannenbaum (2:03)

05. Deck the Halls (1:16)

06. Jingle Bells (2:04)

07. We Three Kings (1:52)

08. The First Noel (3:26)

09. I Heard the Bells on Chistmas Day (2:15)

10. Auld Lang Syne (1:34)

11. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (1:19)

12. O Holy Night (2:22)

13. We Wish You a Merry Christmas (2:25)

These range all over the place from predictably cheesy (tracks 1 or 3) to the gloomy and creepy (track 2).  The disc came in a paper sleeve.

Boys Town - Instrumental Christmas Favorites

See you Thursday with somethin' less creepy!

  

Can You Hear the Color?

It's a 1968 LP of Christmas "background" music.  I guess the weirdos on the cover are supposed to be medieval-type musicians?

01. Medley: We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Carol of the Bells (2:29)

02. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (2:23)

03. The Twelve Days of Christmas (2:53)

04. Angels We Have Heard on High (2:26)

05. Good King Wenceslaus (2:03)

06. Coventry Carol (2:16)

07. Carol of the Drum ("Little Drummer Boy") (1:43)

08. Deck the Halls (2:07)

09. I'll Be Home for Christmas (2:31)

10. Medley: Shepherd's Carol - Patapan (2:27)

11. O Christmas Tree (2:15)

12. Here We Come a-Caroling (2:17)

13. The Christmas Waltz (2:22)

14. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (2:16)

This is pretty good stuff for being intentionally non-intrusive.

Sound and Color!

See you on Monday, colorful cats and kittens!

  

Welcome to SPOCKY CHRISTMAS 2023!

Yes, it's that time of year again ... Time for the best and the drekkiest of Yuletide Music!  We commence this year's Spocky Christmas with one of the gooder ones.

The Cambridge Singers is good ones, and John Rutter has written or arranged some fun and worshipful Christmas music, so I'll give this one a GOOD.

01 - I Saw Three Ships - [traditional]

02 - Riu, riu, chiu - [traditional]

03 - Mary's Lullaby - John Rutter

04 - Sans Day Carol - [traditional]

05 - Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle - [traditional]

06 - Star Carol - John Rutter

07 - What Is This Lovely Fragrance - [traditional]

08 - Wexford Carol - [traditional]

09 - Balulalow - Peter Warlock

10 - I Saw a Fair Maiden - Peter Warlock

11 - Jesus Child - John Rutter

12 - Quittez, pasteurs - [traditional]

13 - The Lamb - John Tavener

14 - Fantasia on Christmas Carols - Ralph Vaughan Williams

15 - Blessed Be That Maid Mary - [traditional]

16 - Donkey Carol - John Rutter

17 - Wild Wood Carol - John Rutter

18 - Go, Tell It on the Mountain - [traditional]

19 - The Very Best Time of Year - John Rutter

20 - Deck the Hall - [traditional]

21 - Shepherd's Pipe Carol - John Rutter

22 - Christmas Lullaby - John Rutter

23 - We Wish You a Merry Christmas - [traditional]

It's a 1993 release.

Christmas Day in the Morning

See you on Thursday, fellow carollers!

  

It May Be Gleeful for You

It wasn't for me, particularly. Cheesy but not necessarily fun. It’s dreary. I’m puzzled by the apparent popularity of such drowsy fare.

DISC ONE:

01. Melancholy Serenade (3:16)

02. The Best Is Yet to Come (3:20)

03. I Can't Get Started (3:28)

04. When Your Lover Has Gone (2:26)

05. Out of Nowhere (2:33)

06. But Beautiful (3:14)

07. I'm in the Mood for Love (3:31)

08. From Russia with Love (2:55)

09. Mystery Street (2:41)

10. If I Should Lose You / Tenderly (5:14)

11. If He Walked into My Life (3:53)

12. Ruby (3:24)

13. Glamour (2:32)

14. Days of Wine and Roses (3:26)

15. Misty (2:54)

16. You and the Night and the Music (4:26)

17. Moonglow (2:36)

18. Mad About the Boy (3:21)

19. For all We Know (2:34)

20. Lover Man / Smile (6:37)

DISC TWO:

01. Melancholy Serenade / Yesterdays (4:24)

02. That Certain Party (2:07)

03. The Moonlight (3:09)

04. Midnight Sun (3:41)

05. Laura (3:28)

06. A Taste of Honey (3:42)

07. Brazil / I Love Paris / 'Allo, 'Allo, 'Allo (7:08)

08. The Last Dance (3:19)

09. Darn That Dream (2:41)

10. You Oughta Be in Pictures (2:35)

11. But Not for Me (2:04)

12. The Shadow of Your Smile (2:39)

13. Willow Weep for Me (2:33)

14. It All Depends on You (3:12)

15. Lawrence of Arabia [Remastered] (2:51)

16. A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody (3:20)

17. Deep Purple / Blue Velvet (5:55)

18. That's All (2:35)

19. The Girl from Ipanema (2:56)

20. Moon River (3:01)

You may feel it's the cat's pajamas!  It's all in one big file.

The Romantic Moods of Jackie Gleason

See you on Monday to commence this year's SPOCKY CHRISTMAS!!!

  

Thought I'd Share a New Comp

 I got such a backlog of comps I haven't yet shared with you ...

Do you ever get a sizzle of fun hearing some songs?  That's what I'm inflicting on you guys again.  And if you lived through the era so winningly illustrated by our cover image, then you've got a range of experience to make younger folks blush in shame!

01 - 20th Century - Minor Detail   1983  (3:00)

02 - Breath to Breath - Defectors   1984  (2:55)

03 - ...On the Telephone - Ania   1984  (4:17)

04 - Chains and Polymers - Bound & Gagged   1980  (4:03)

05 - Tough Guys Don't Dance - Kongress   1981  (3:19)

06 - Technology (album version) - The Group   1983  (5:26)

07 - Don't Close Your Eyes to Me - Modern English   1985  (4:16)

08 - Synthesizer Man - Invisible Zoo   1983  (3:15)

09 - Out of Control - Animotion   1986  (3:29)

10 - The Amazon Archer - The Vyllies   1987  (3:35)

11 - Independence Day - The Comsat Angels   1980  (3:50)

12 - Metaphor - People in Stores   1981  (2:00)

13 - Masquerade - Berlin   1982  (4:03)

14 - The House Is Burning (But There's No One Home) - Vivabeat   1983  (4:13)

15 - Black on White - One to One   1985  (4:28)

16 - Singing in the 80's - The Monitors   1980  (3:17)

17 - Metropolitan Life - BB Gabor   1980  (2:42)

18 - Signals - Shöx Lumania   1981  (3:02)

19 - Nothing New - The Happy Cadavers   1982  (2:21)

20 - Unfamiliar Room - Testcard F   1983  (2:46)

21 - Indecision - Martha and the Muffins - 1980  (4:46)

22 - Pee Wee Private Eye - Captain Crunch and Let's Do Lunch   1989  (2:38)

                  
Just take a listen!

MA-122 - It Was Encoded in the 1980s

Now, let me know what we'll be singing in the 80s?  See you Thursday!

    

You Make Me Mellow ...

And no Elton John in sight!

A fun 1988 compilation which was one of my first Compact Disc purchases.  At a pawn shop, natch.

01. Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl (3:09)

02. The Hollies - Carrie Ann (2:58)

03. Stone Poneys - A Different Drum (2:38)

04. The Lovin' Spoonful - Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind (2:00)

05. Association - Never My Love (3:12)

06. Joe Cocker - With a Little Help from My Friends (4:41)

07. The Mamas and the Papas - California Dreamin' (2:41)

08. The Rascals - A Beautiful Morning (2:35)

09. Oliver - Good Morning, Starshine (3:38)

10. The Turtles - She'd Rather Be with Me (2:17)

11. Arlo Guthrie - Coming into Los Angeles (3:07)

12. The Fifth Dimension - Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) (4:48)

Mellow Sixties

See you Monday.  Be thankful!

  

Get Buzzed

                              
It's a 1982 New Agey classic of the hypnotic sort.

Deuter - Cicada (46:31)

01. From Here to Here (3:15)

02. Light (9:05)

03. Cicada (6:37)

04. Sun on My Face (4:05)

05. From Here to Here (reprise) (3:31)

06. Sky Beyond Clouds (5:25)

07. Haiku (3:39)

08. Alchemy (7:37)

09. Between Two Breaths (3:18)

Cicada

See you Thursday, fellow buzzers!

  

Your Mission ...

This two-disc set is an aggregation of two LPs from the original series, and music from the 1988-90 revival.

Mission: Impossible

Disc 1 (54:52)

 Music from Mission: Impossible (1967)

(Lalo Schifrin)

01. Mission: Impossible (0:49)

02. Jim on the Move (3:15)

03. Operation Charm (2:55)

04. The Sniper (3:20)

05. Rollin Hand (2:52)

06. The Plot (2:27)

07. Wide Willy (2:04)

08. Cinnamon (Jack Urbont and Bruce Geller( (2:36)

09. Barney Does It All (2:30)

10. Danger (2:42)

11. Mission: Accomplished (2:42)

 

More Mission: Impossible (1968)

(Lalo Schifrin)

12. Mission Blues (2:48)

13. Self-Destruct (2:37)

14. Affair in Madrid (2:34)

15. Midnight Courier (3:28)

16. The Chelsea Memorandum (Shorty Rogers) (3:04)

17. More Mission (2:48)

18. Intrigue (2:33)

19. Danube Incident (1:55)

20. Foul Play (Richard Hazard) (2:29)

21. The Getaway (2:22)

 

 

Mission: Impossible

Disc 2 (56:27)

 

Mission: Impossible Then and Now (1992)

(Lalo Schifrin)

01. Mission: Impossible Main Title  (aired version) (0:49)

02. The Contender, Part 1: The Plot (0:52)

03. The Contender, Part 1: Ready (3:13)

04. The Contender, Part 1: Rollin (0:45)

05. The Contender, Part 1: Time (0:47)

06. The Contender, Part 1: Sleeping Phelps (1:11)

07. Submarine: More Plot (2:40)

08. Submarine: Mission: Impossible Theme (1:10)

09. The Killer: Bower Hotel (1:57)

10. The Killer: Checkout Time (2:47)

11. The Killer: The Trick (2:16)

12. Takeover: Signal Light (0:43)

13. Takeover: Kate Thomas (1:29)

14. Underground: Tape Machine (3:18)

15. Underground: Good Job (0:49)

16. Underground: End Title  (aired version) (0:30)

 

 Mission: Impossible ’88

 17. Mission: Impossible ’88 Main Title (1:04)

 

(John E Davis)

18. The Plague: Tricky Ears (0:39)

19. The Plague:  This Is the Chase (2:41)

20. The Bayou: Croc Bait (1:47)

21. The Bayou: Not Worth It (3:38)

22. The Cattle King: Nice Boat (0:59)

23. The Cattle King: Bait the Hook (1:43)

24. The Cattle King: Hot Time (0:47)

25. The Cattle King: I Guess It Is (1:17)

26. The Cattle King: Freak Time (1:36)

27. The Cattle King: Whacko Time (1:41)

28. Deadly Harvest: Melt Down (2:00)

29. Deadly Harvest: Framed (2:06)

30. Church Bells in Bogota: Coffee (1:17)

31. Church Bells in Bogota: Ring Around the Finger (1:19)

32. Mission: Impossible ’88 End Credit (Lalo Schifrin) (0:35)

33. Lalo Schifrin and the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra - Mission: Impossible Theme  (concert version) (Lalo Schifrin) (6:05)

The last track on Disc Two is the weakest! The “concert” track is pretty lame when compared to the professionalism of the TV soundtracks.

Mission: Impossible

It's all in one file.  See ya Monday!