A Little Bit Colder by Cristy Lane (1971)

Today I started what I hope to be a daily offering of Christmas holiday themed YouTube videos. I have plenty of obscure songs not found on YouTube so I will share these treasures with everyone out there. All of these tracks come from Christmas music obsessed people--Andy Cirzan, et al.-- who spend their time searching for them and then share them via playlist downloads on the web. What I will do is take the ones I like best and provide them individually on YT. Sound quality is an issue on some of these recordings but it is not my fault! I realize most of them come from old vinyl that is not in the best of condition. But it is surprising to me that they were not digitized in a higher quality fashion. Since I am a digitizer of vinyl myself, I can attest to having taken some very poor condition records and turning them into some great quality mp3 files. The mono ones come out even better sounding than their stereo counterparts. If I had access to all this Christmas vinyl that I will be uploading, I would make some really great sounding files with the software I use. Alas, we'll have to work with what he have at hand.

My first upload for the season is one from Andy Cirzan titled, "A Little Bit Colder" by Cristy Lane. After a little bit of research I learned that this is the original 1971 version released on the very obscure Extremely Brave record label. She re-recorded this song for a 1983 release and it has nowhere near the charm of this early 70's nugget.

A Growing Christmas Music Library

I have acquired some new additions to my Christmas music library in 2016. It's a mix of stuff I have found at secondhand stores and others bought and shared online. Here are some of my finds:

- The Soulful Strings - The Magic of Christmas
- The King Family Christmas
- Jack Jones Christmas (1969)
- Paul Revere & The Raiders - A Christmas Present...and Past
- Jingle Bell Jazz
- Andy Williams & The Williams Brothers Christmas
- Barry Manilow - Because It's Christmas
- The Blenders - Ring the Christmas Bells
- The Avalanches - Ski Surfin'
- Lynn Anderson - The Christmas Album

And I am still adding selections to my library. Already in 2017 I have added:

The Torero Band - Tijuana Christmas (1968)
The Hollyridge Strings - Christmas Favorites (1965)
Rotary Connection - Peace (1968)

I am also still indulging in holiday music.

I am by no means any kind of a record collector. I may be a music collector but I'm not necessarily interested in having the physical media on which the music came from. I have purchased over 200 LPs over the last several years at thrift stores. The main purpose was to record them into mp3 files. I'd say 90% of these records I have no interest in keeping. They are by no means rare or anything out of the ordinary. But I have found some that I plan to keep and some I will try to sell others on ebay. Most will be in crates at a future garage sale.

So I came across some pretty good stuff for this year. I do keep an eye out for holiday records at the stores I go to. But it's not an obsession with me.

I would love to come across something so rare and so good-sounding that no one has ever heard before. Better yet, I would love to make something like that. Making your own recording is really the only way to guarantee that no one else has a copy or has even heard it before. Since I do make my own music that is a real possibility for me. And I have decided that I will spend 2017 making Christmas & seasonal music, both original tunes and standards.

Yowls & Yodels from the Yule Vortex (2010)

Here is Andy Cirzan's annual Christmas mix from 2010. I was not able to find the back cover art. I probably have it somewhere on my drives but who knows where.

Songs for the Christmas Season 30

According to Wikipedia, the Christmas season is described as the period of time that includes Christmas and New Year's and even to the day of Epiphany which is usually on January 6 or 7. So I continue on with more holiday music.

First today we have Etta Jones with "Ring the Bells". A very nice holiday original which I have played annually since first hearing the song back in the 90's.





Next is a great seasonal favorite called "It's a Marshmallow World." This version is from 1964 and it's by Brenda Lee and it's one of my favorite takes. I love the little electronic piano or harpsichord sound in the first part of the song.

The Cassette Years: Part 1 (2008)

I've got Andy Cirzan's annual Christmas mix from 2008 so hear it while you can. I don't know if these things will be taken down or not, but as they say, hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Songs for the Christmas Season 29

Let's keep the Christmas music going, ay? First up today is The Band doing their song, "Christmas Must Be Tonight," featuring the lead vocals of Rick Danko.





To follow that up will be another one from my own channel, The Dellacroce Sisters doing "Who is Santa Claus?" Definitely a fun tund and in the Christmas spirit.

Andy Cirzan Christmas Mix: The Cassette Years Part 2 (2009)

Here's a little Christmas treat. Last year I started to upload episodes of "The Christmas Club with Johnny & Andy" but as I listened to the episodes I noticed some had segments that were clearly lifted from past shows. I don't know if this was done by J&A or by the station that played their shows. Thus I gave up on that endeavor. In addition, for 2015 and this year their show has been picked up by another station and as a result of not knowing ahead of time, I missed both shows. Luckily I downloaded the unique annual mixes that Andy puts out every year for about the last 8-10 years or so. These mixes are made available for free download for a few weeks and then they are taken down. I'm in the process of uploading the shows I have to mixcloud and I will make them available here. I know, it's Christmas Day today so I'm a little late, but if you're anything like me you will continue to listen to Christmas music well into the winter season. Sides A & B are below for your listening pleasure.

Songs for the Christmas Season 28

First up today is another great one from Smokey Robinson & The Miracles called "It's Christmas Time" from 1970.

We'll follow that one up with a very old recording. It's called "On a Christmas Day" by Lead Belly from 1942.

Songs for the Christmas Season 27

For today's post I'm taking a couple of songs directly from my very own YouTube channel. First up is a hard-to-find song by The Smothers Brothers called "The Toy Song" from 1965.





And next is a newer recording (just a few years old) by Roman Coppola. Though the tracks from this album are from this decade they could pass for music recording in the mid to late 60's. Very much in the vein of David Holmes style and very groovy.

Songs for the Christmas Season 25

A couple of less-familiar holiday songs today. First up is Chris de Burgh's "A Spaceman Came Travelling" which tells the story of the Christ child. Great song from 1975!





Next is one by Edd "Kookie" Byrnes from 1959. Very cool sounding and jazzy, like something you might hear during a film noir flick or perhaps some Peter Gunn. It's basically the tale of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" told in a very 'hip' style.

Songs for the Christmas Season 24

First up today is a not-so-jolly view of Christmas time. Perhaps a more realistic view but not a cheery song nonetheless. Still a good one that makes you think a bit. It's by Bobby Goldsboro and it's called "Look Around You It's Christmas."






Next is Burl Ives with "Christmas Child (Loo Loo Loo)." Perhaps not a well known holiday staple but it serves a very nice message and is a pleasant recording.

Songs for the Christmas Season 23

Some winter-themed holiday/seasonal songs today. Both songs are from holiday television specials of the 1960's. I love these old songs because they are so light-hearted in nature and just meant for fun and cheer. First is Andy Williams doing "The Skater's Waltz". I'm not sure if this song has ever been recorded other than for this program so pardon the lo-fi sonics.





Next is one from The Lawrence Welk show and a very pleasant tune at that featuring vocal group The Blenders. This is another number very hard to find unless you have the original Welk record. Watch the video for some cool choreography.

Songs for the Christmas Season 20

Once again we will check out some jazz Christmas tunes for this post. First up is "Deck the Halls" by Teo Macero & His Orchestra. I always thought this song was by Herbie Hancock but you learn something new everyday.






And next is "Little Drummer Boy" by Duke Pearson from 1969. This is a great version!

Songs for the Christmas Season 18

Two today by two unrelated women of the surname Lee. First up is Peggy Lee with her rendition of "Happy Holiday" from 1965. It's a groovy, jazzy number.





That one will be followed by Brenda Lee with her rendition of "Winter Wonderland" from 1964.

Songs for the Christmas Season 17

Some of that early 1970's pop/rock sound for our selections today. First, we have The Osmond Brothers with "Sleigh Ride." No, not the familiar holiday tune but an original from them.






And next is The Partridge Family with their take on "Winter Wonderland." Just in case you didn't know, The Partridge Family did not really play anything on this song. Keith Partridge, aka David Cassidy, did sing the lead though.

Songs for the Christmas Season 16

A couple of instrumental holiday songs today. First up is a very smooth, jazz version of "Silver Bells" by Kevin Eubanks on acoustic guitar.






And next is another jazz artist, the Ramsey Lewis Trio, with I believe an original composition called "Christmas Blues."

Songs for the Christmas Season 15

Some soulful tunes for this blog post. First up is my favorite version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by Ray Charles. There is just no funkier version of this song that I know of!






And next is Ella Fitzgerald with "Good Morning Blues" from her 1960 Christmas album.

Songs for the Christmas Season 13

Today we'll go with some classic rock Christmas tunes that are true holiday staples. First we have Elton John's "Step Into Christmas" from 1973.






Next is a blues number that The Eagles made even more popular than the original by Charles Brown. The song is "Please Come Home for Christmas."

Songs for the Christmas Season 12

Today we'll feature some songs by a couple of really great pop vocal groups. First up is The Anita Kerr Singers who sang background on many hit songs and also did their own albums. This song is called "Hurry Home for Christmas" from 1969.






Next we have a group called The Free Design. My first experience with this group was hearing this original Christmas tune called "Close Your Mouth, It's Christmas" from 1970. After hearing this I had to research their non-holiday music and it was equally amazing. These pop vocal groups had such a unique and pleasant sound and the arrangements were so innovative and it's so sad there isn't anything like this anymore.

Songs for the Christmas Season 11

How about some blues for Christmas? Up first today will be Elvis' version of "Merry Christmas, Baby" from 1971. His version is so good I had to share the unedited, nearly 8 minute version.






Let's get even more bluesy now with a classic by Sonny Boy Williamson called "Santa Claus" from 1966.