Might Make You Gigue-le

It's a 1994 release.

01. Rage Over O Come All Ye Faithfull (3:38)

02. Gigue on What Child Is This? (3:06)

03. Bouree on Hark the Herald Angels Sing (3:01)

04. Three-Part Sinfonia on Away in a Manger (2:46)

05. Prelude on Angels We Have Heard on High (2:46)

06. Two-Part Invention on O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (4:28)

07. Nocturne on O Little Town of Bethlehem (3:12)

08. three-Part Invention on Joy to the World (2:18)

09. Bouree on While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (3:28)

10. Sonata on It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (2:25)

11. Three-Part Invention on We Three Kings (3:07)

12. Barouque Impressions on Slient Night, Holy Night (5:12)

It's a whole lotta fun.  Don't cry foul about the title -- these Christmas arrangements are not solely Bach-based.  For example, Track 1 emulates Beethoven's "Rage Over a Lost Penny."

THIS LINK GOOD FOR THREE DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you on Thursday.  Until then, don;t forget to rejoice!

  

Go State!

This is a fine 1980 cassette from Musical Heritage Society.

01 - Fantasia - Adriano Banchieri  (1:07)

02 - Magnificat - Dietrich Buxtehude  (9:58)

03 - Meine Seele erhebet den Herrn - JS Bach  (3:22)

04 - Make We Joy Now in This Fest - William Walton  (2:29)

05 - Dance of the Ishmaelites - Hector Berlioz  (4:13)

06 - When Christ Was Born – Reginald Jacques  (1:21)

07 - Noël de Saintonge - Jean-François Dandrieu  (2:06)

08 - Joy to the World - GF Handel  (0:57

09 - Coventry Carol - Traditional  (2:52)

10 - In Dulce Jubilo - JS Bach  (1:33)

11 - Ideo Gloria – Gerhard M Cartford  (3:04)

12 - Magnificat - Jean-François Dandrieu  (7:18)

13 - How unto Bethlehem – Traditional  (1:24)

14 - Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming -M Praetorius  (1:12)

15 - Once in Royal David’s City – JH Gauntlett  (3:21)

16 - Carol – Prelude on Greensleeves – Searle Wright  (2:07)

I ain't come across the (I presume) earlier two volumes, but I hope they're this varied and well done.

THIS LINK GOOD FOR THREE DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

Merry Christmas, one and all!  See you on Monday for the wrap-up of this year's SPOCKY CHRISTMAS!

  

Yer Gonna Luv This One

Or my name isn't Rumpelstiltskin!

If you love the Beatles, and you love Christmas, then you're going to double-love these Beatlesque arrangements of Christmas songs.  Not EVERY LITTLE THING is perfect, but ... YULE LOVE IT.

01. Jingle Bell Rock (2:13)

02. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (2:31)

03. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (2:31)

04. Last Christmas (3:04)

05. Feliz Navidad (3:08)

06. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (2:08)

07. Jingle Bells (2:36)

08. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (2:28)

09. Mary's Boy Child (2:50)

10. White Christmas (3:25)

11. Silent Night (2:55)

12. A Bairn Is Born in Beatlehome (1:20)

And you'll be able to tell which song (or songs) are being emulated.

THIS LINK GOOD FOR THREE DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you Thursday for some Christmas wrapping-up!  Still two more entries to go!

  

Fun Cheese!

As you might expect from our postmodern survey, atop the heights of jaded culture, this stuff is CHEESY.

But it's still FUN!

01. Winter Wonderland (2:37)

02. Jingle Bells (2:50)

03. The Christmas Song (2:50)

04. Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (2:18)

05. Santa's Got a Brand New Bag (2:21)

06. Jingle Bell Rock (2:34)

07. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (2:58)

08. White Christmas (2:34)

09. I'll Be Home for Christmas (2:36)

10. Little Saint Nick (2:15)

11. Do You Hear What I Hear? (2:13)

THIS LINK GOOD FOR THREE DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

PS:  Yes, the conductor is THAT Stu Phillips, later of Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century fame.

See you on Monday.  Have fun with this most glistening and manically cheerful album!

  

Fashion: Old. Message: Eternal

This 1987 release is a nice mix of peppy and reverent.

01. Fanfare - Gloria (0:55)

02. Once in Royal David's City (3:07)

03. Ding Dong! Merrily on High [Brass Instrumental] (2:28)

04. Ding Dong! Merrily on High [Vocal Version] (2:06)

05. The Holly and the Ivy (2:01)

06. Good King Wenceslas (2:52)

07. Here We Come a-Wassailing (2:30)

08. Silent Night (3:26)

09. Deck the Halls! (2:52)

10. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing [Vocal Version] (3:16)

11. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing [Brass Instrumental] (2:19)

12. We Wish You a Merry Christmas (2:23)

13. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (2:48)

14. Joy to the World (1:50)

15. In the Bleak Midwinter (2:08)

16. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (2:36)

17. Torches (1:28)

18. We Three Kings (2:02)

19. The First Noel (5:02)

20. O Come All Ye Faithful (3:47)

THIS LINK GOOD FOR THREE DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

Of course, our topic at hand is just about as peppy as can be!

Stay pepped, and I'll see ya on Thursday.

  

Don't Say It Doesn't Mater

Sorry, I couldn't resist!

It's a 1992 release.

01. Wsórd Nocnej Ciszy (0:46)

02. Hej w Dzien Boskiej (3:27)

03. Lulajze Jezuniu (1:40)

04. Wiwat Dzisiaj Boskiej Istnosci (3:31)

05. Cicha Noc (1:33)

06. Bóg Sie Rodzi (3:34)

07. Jezusa Narodzonego (1:19)

08. Gdy sie Chrystus Rodzi (3:27)

09. Wykrzyknijmy Wiwat! (1:45)

10. Przy Onej Górze (3:03)

11. Dzisiaj w Betlejem (1:50)

12. Gesu Bambino (3:56)

13. W Ziobie Lezy (2:54)

A few notes ... Track 3 is 1:40 in length.  However, the first 1:40 of Track 4 is Track 3 again.  Then a new song starts.

Track 5 “Cicha Noc” is “Silent Night.”  Track 12 is indeed the familiar “Gesu Bambino.”  Track13  is recognizable as “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly.”

It's at least partly charming, to this guy in the New World.

THIS LINK GOOD FOR THREE DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you Monday!

  

All Things Being Equitable

This is a cute little EP. Found at an OKC thrift store, of course.

01. O Holy Night (2:21)

02. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (2:14)

03. Hark, the Herald Angels Sing (2:33)

04. The First Noel (2:04)

05. Joy to the World (2:01)

06. O Little Town of Bethlehem (2:13)

07. Away in a Manger (2:07)

08. O Come All Ye Faithful (2:26)

09. We Three Kings of Orient Are (2:27)

10. Silent Night (2:35)

There's something to be said for simplicity.  This was playing in the car yesterday and the beautiful wife actually complimented me on my musical taste.

This is basically the aforementioned chimes (sounding like big ole GONGS in my opinion), backed very lightly by organ chords.

And the copy I bought was a gift.  Maybe Milt Asfahl worked for Equitable?

THIS LINK GOOD FOR THREE DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you on Thursday for something from across the sea.

  

A Pablumated Christmas

It's a 2004 release.

01. Christmas Bells: Ding Dong Merrily on High / I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (2:52)

02. I Wonder as I Wander (3:38)

03. Still, Still, Still (2:29)

04. How Great Our Joy (2:32)

05. Silent Night / Prelude in C (2:53)

06. Reflection on Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming (3:47)

07. Gigue on In Dulci Jubilo (2:43)

08. Advent Carols: Of the Father's Love Begotten / O Come, O Come Emmanuel (4:05)

09. The Birthday of a King (3:01)

10. Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head (3:23)

11. The Manger Song Medley: Away in a Manger / Coventry Carol / Infant Lowly, Infant Lowly (3:21)

12. Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne (4:06)

It’s a spoonfed Christmas.  So mushy you may prefer a real-life, sometimes colicky baby.  For those who prefer reverence in the easy-listening style.

THIS LINK GOOD FOR THREE DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you on Monday for a listen to some Christmas from across the pond!

  

A Brassy Welcome to Spocky Christmas!

This month, as with every year during SPOCKY CHRISTMAS here at the Record Round-Up, you'll encounter moving and maudlin, stirring and sappy renditions of Christmas music.

This 1994 cassette is one of the gooder ones.

01. Angels from the Realms of Glory (1:31)

02. Joy to the World (2:58)

03. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (3:02)

04. What Child Is This? (2:47)

05. Go Tell it on the Mountain (2:04)

06. Carol of the Bells (2:41)

07. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (2:09)

08. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (2:37)
09. Angels We Have Heard on High (2:29)
10. Deck the Halls (3:50)
11. Silent Night / Away in a Manger (2:20)
12. We Wish You a Merry Christmas (1:39)

THIS LINK GOOD FOR THREE DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you on Thursday!

Thankful for ... ADVENTURE!

Yup, on this Thanksgiving Day, the Super Blog and the Record Round-Up are helping you be thankful by reminding you of all the thrills that keep yer ole heart pumpin' ...

This project began in the late 1970s when I held the condenser mic of my cassette recorder up to the speaker of our TV and recorded the audio of the opening credits of Jonny Quest and The Man from U.N.C.L.E..

Earlier attempts at this grouping were shared as MA-06 - Science Fiction & Fantasy Cassette.

Here's what we got:

01 - Star Wars Suite - John Williams - 1977  (12:39)

02 - The Martian Chronicles Theme - Stanley Myers - 1980  (2:03)

03 - Battlestar Galactica - Erich Kunzel / Cincinnati Pops Orchestra - 1984  (3:26)

04 - The Wild Wild West (4th season edit) - Richard Markowitz - 1968  (1:24)

05 - Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (edit) - Stu Phillips - 1979  (1:24)

06 - Prelude - Outer Space - The Day the Earth Stood Still - Bernard Herrmann - 1951  (1:49)

07 - Doctor Who - Ron Grainer - 1980  (2:43)

08 - Tales of the Gold Monkey - Mike Post & Pete Carpenter - 1982  (1:02)

09 - Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Jerry Goldsmith - arr Fried - 1983  (1:19)

10 - Scarecrow and Mrs King - Arthur B Rubinstein - 1983  (1:16)

11 - Star Trek II and III Suite - James Horner - 1982  (13:44)

12 - Mission Impossible ’88 - Main Title - Lalo Schifrin - 1988  (1:04)

13 - Also Sprach Zarathustra (excerpt) - Richard Strauss - 1968  (1:39)

14 - The Greatest American Hero - Joey Scarsbury - 1981  (1:47)

15 - Themes from ET - Walter Murphy - 1982  (3:53)

16 - Alien - End Titles - Howard Hanson - 1979  (2:50)

17 - Twilight Zone the Movie - Theme and Overture (edit) - Marius Constant and Jerry Goldsmith - 1983  (5:55)

18 - Jonny Quest (edit - no FX) - Hoyt Curtin - 1964  (2:27)

19 - The Flash (no FX) - Danny Elfman - 1990  (1:33)

20 - Star Trek the Motion Picture - Main and End titles (edit) - Jerry Goldsmith - 1979  (3:25)

21 - System 9 - Mark  Alfred - markssuperblog.blogspot.com - 2024  (8:30)

Full Space Ahead, Junior Spacers!

Beside the tracks marked “edit,” the “Star Wars Suite” and “Star Trek II and III Suite” are also blended by me from the soundtrack releases.

The final track, my space de resistance, is a montage of SF excerpts from film and TV from the last seventy-some years.  (A PDF of the sources is enclosed.)  These dialogue excerpts are laid upon a bed of background fx which contains sounds from Star Trek, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Star Wars, The Jetsons, The Bionic Man, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Space Ghost, and perhaps some others.  Underlaying it all is the haunting sound of NASA’s Voyager Recordings, which may be found here. --- Symphonies of the Planets  -- 

You might say this is my sci-fi answer to the Beatles’ “Revolution 9.”  What do you think?

THIS LINK GOOD FOR THREE DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you on Monday for the beginning of SPOCKY CHRISTMAS 2024!

  

An Interesting Product of Its Time

This is the 1982 OST of the animated film.

Like many children's adaptations of classics, it has its weaknesses but still wields much power for those who surrender to the spell.

01. The Last Unicorn - America (3:11)

02. Man's Road - America (3:25)

03. In the Sea - America (3:20)

04. Now That I'm a Woman - Katie Irving (2:45)

05. That's All I've Got to Say - Jeff Bridges, Katie Irving (2:48)

06. The Last Unicorn, Part 2 - America (3:10)

07. Forest Awakens: The Unicorn Forest / The Hunters - London Symphony Orchestra (2:13)

08. Red Soup - London Symphony Orchestra (0:35)

09. Red Bull Attacks - London Symphony Orchestra (3:37)

10. The Cat - London Symphony Orchestra (1:43)

11. The Tree - London Symphony Orchestra (1:23)

12. Haggard's Unicorns - London Symphony Orchestra (2:15)

13. Bull-Unicorn-Woman - London Symphony Orchestra (2:50)

14. Unicorns in the Sea - London Symphony Orchestra (1:55)

15. Unicorn and Lír - London Symphony Orchestra, America (3:30)

THIS LINK GOOD FOR THREE DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you on Thursday!

  

Umm-hmm. What Are Your Other Fantasies?

This is a 1977 cassette.

01 - Prelude in C Minor - Bach

02 - Bourée from Suite in E Minor - Bach

03 - Sarabande from Suite in E Minor - Bach

04 - Preludio from the Suite in E Major - Weiss

05 - Courante from the Suite in E Major - Weiss

06 - Menuet from the Suite in E Major - Weiss

07 - Bourée from the Suite in E Major - Weiss

08 - Giga from the Suite in E Major - Weiss

09 - Fantasy in E Minor - Weiss

10 - Sonata in E Minor - Scarlatti

11 - Españoletas from the Suite Española - Sanz

12 - Danza de las Hachas from the Suite Española - Sanz

13 - Canarios from the Suite Española - Sanz

14 - Allegro Spiritoso from Sonata in C Major - Giuliani

15 - Variations on the Theme "Malborough" - Sor

It's lilting, sometimes stirring, a wunnerful time.

THIS LINK GOOD FOR THREE DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you on Monday, fellow fantasists!

  

I Remember, I Remember!

That's a sly aspersion to Track #2 of this 2006 release.

01 - In Dulce Jubilo - Traditional

02 - Remember O Thou Man - Traditional

03 - Gently the Fragrance - Traditional

04 - Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day - Traditional

05 - Veni Salvator Hominum - Böddecker

06 - Quatrième Symphonie en Quatuor - Corrette

07 - Jauchzet dem Herren, alla Welt - Bruhns

08 - Musettes - Les Fêtes d’Hébé - Rameau

09 - Vous qui Désirez sans Fin - Traditional

10 - Rigaudons - Les Fêtes d’Hébé - Rameau

11 - Chrétiens qui Suivez l’Église - Traditional

12 - Musette - Troiséme Concert Royal - Couperin

13 - Gráce soit Renduë - Traditional

14 - Bereitet die Wege, Bereitet die Bahn - Bach

15 - Mit Zarten und Vergnügten Trieben - Bach

16 - Noël Provençal - Corrette

... As in, "Remember, O man, that thou art dust."  I take that to mean you shouldn't get too puffed up about your achievements.

THIS LINK GOOD FOR THREE DAYS.

As far as I'm concerned, these performances are not all that impressive.  What do you think?

PERMANENT LINK.

  

See you on Thursday.

  

Don't Get TOO Mad

It's a 1996 release.

01. Miss Ann-Margret - Thirteen Men (2:44)

02. Cal Tjader - Soul Sauce (Guacha Guaro) (2:27)

03. Walter Wanderley - The Girl from Ipanema (2:29)

04. Nancy Wilson - Call Me (2:16)

05. Harold Johnson Sextet - Sorry ‘Bout That, Part 1 (2:11)

06. Mel Tormé - Comin’ Home Baby (2:45)

07. René Touzet - Baby Elephant Walk (2:36)

08. Quincy Jones - Soul Bossa Nova (2:48)

09. Connie Francis - Bossa Nova Hand Dance (Deixa Isso Pra La) (2:09)

10. Les Elgart & His Orchestra - Frenesi-Twist (1:47)

11. Pérez Prado & His Orchestra - Why Wait (2:23)

12. Earl Grant - House of Bamboo (2:41)

13. Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers - Cantaloupe Island (3:47)

14. “Brother” Jack McDuff - Hot Barbecue (2:59)

15. Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ’66 - Mas que nada (2:41)

16. Dick Hyman & His Orchestra - Washington Square (2:32)

17. Trudy Pitts - Take Five (4:31)

18. Mose Allison - I’m Not Talking (2:33)

THIS LINK GOOD FOR THREE DAYS.

IMO it’s trying too hard to beat the Ultra-Lounge series’ packaging at its own game.  The “insert” is a sheet of semi-card stock about two inches square, evidently intended to entice consumers to buy all the volumes so as to have the complete saga of Doris and Rex.  This is way too cynical and dismissive of the craftsmanship (dare we say “art”?) in the originals, and makes fun of the historical period.

But the music ain’t bad.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you on Monday!

  

No More Fighting

I guess I'm a wimp, but it really bugs me when disagreements and arguing go so far as to lead to physical violence.  Some causes are worth fighting for, like the War Between the States.

This is an interesting 1998 release.

01. Leroy Troy - Cumberland Gap (3:28)

02. Simon and Verity Grace - When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1:49)

03. Benny Martin - Home Sweet Home (2:20)

04. Simon and Verity Grace - Two Little Boys (3:23)

05. Grandpa Jones - Grandfather's Clock (2:41)

06. Johnny Gimble - Darling Nellie Gray (2:53)

07. Arthur Smith - Goober Peas (1:55)

08. Simon and Verity Grace - Aura Lee (3:16)

09. Leroy Troy - Brother Green (2:29)

10. The Eddie Adcock Band - Go Down Yonder Moses (2:32)

11. Hoot Hester and Sam Levine - Marching Through Georgia (2:44)

12. Leroy Troy - Write a Letter to My Mother (3:24)

13. Laura Weber - Faded Coat of Blue (4:37)

14. Benny Martin and Arthur Smith - Dixie (2:21)

15. Grandpa Jones - My Pretty Quadroon (3:28)

16. Tommy Faile - Yellow Rose of Texas (2:10)

17. Dick and Jacquie Schuyler - Maryland, My Maryland (2:04)

18. Paul Warren - Listen to the Mockingbird (3:27)

19. Don Ange - Lorena (3:40)

20. Rhonda Renee - Battle Hymn of the Republic (2:24)

These songs were popular across the USA at the time of the conflict.  Many on each side thought they were in the right.  Lots more just got dragged into things.

THIS LINK GOOD FOR THREE DAYS.

PERMANENT LINK.

See you on Thursday, fellow citizens of the world!