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From the Vault...
12/03/2006
#1023 |
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info
Various Artists
"First Christmas Record For Children"
© Harmony/Columbia Records
Year of Release: 1961
Rating:
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track listing
Here Comes Santa Claus--
Doris Day
I Saw Mommy
Kissing Santa Claus--
Jimmy Boyd
The Littlest Snowman--
Captain Kangaroo
Rudolph The Red-Nosed
Reindeer--
Gene Autry
Suzy Snowflake--
Rosemary Clooney
Frosty The Snowman--
Mitch Miller &
The Sing-Alone Gang
Twas The Night
Before Christmas--
Ray Heatherton
Jingle Bells--
Arthur Godfrey
He'll Be Coming
Down The Chimney--
Gene Autry
Santa Claus Is Coming
To Town--
Bob Hannon
C-H-R-I-S-M-A-S--
Rosemary Clooney
Silent Night Holy Night--
Mitch Miller &
The Sing-Along Gang
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WSVNRadio Archives
Various Artists related sites:
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Various Artists
"First Christmas Record For Children"
Ohhh, I'm a kid all over again...
As a young child, my mother had great Christmas vinyl albums. One of them
was reissued on CD in 1999, First Christmas Record For Children. A
fantastic assortment of Christmas songs from pre-Rock artists, this vinyl
album was constantly played during the holiday season. To my discovery, I
easily brought the CD, and experienced many childhood memories all over again.
Some of the common classics are on this album, Jimmy Boyd's "I Saw Mommy
Kissing Santa Claus," and Gene Autry's "Rudolph The Red-Nosed
Reindeer." Most remember Elvis' version of "Here Comes Santa Claus,"
but Doris Day's version just maybe a better version to some. Mitch Miller & His
Sing-Along Gang have two songs on this album, "Frosty The Snowman" and a
bonus track for CD, "Silent Night."
My most favorite tracks are: Doris Day's "Here Comes Santa Claus,"
Rosemary Clooney's "Suzy Snowflake" -- a song that just doesn't get
enough play, yet when you listen to it, it becomes a Christmas classic.
The spoken story by Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keeshan), "The Littlest Snowman"
is a wonderful story about snowmen and one particular snowman, with the red
candy heart. Another spoken word track is Ray Heatherton's "Twas The Night
Before Christmas." Arthur Godfrey's "Jingle Bells" has different
vocals; I'm not sure if they are the orignal extra verses of this song.
Gene Autry's "He'll Be Coming Down The Chimney" is another favorite,
yet I remember Guy Lombardo's version. "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"
is on the album, but by a different artist most may not remember, by Bob Hannon.
Rosemary Clooney also has another enjoyable song, "C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S."
My only complaint: The ORIGINAL version of this album contained a track by
Red Skelton -- "The Little Christmas Tree." Copyright issues is my guess
to why this track was not included on the CD re-issue. (Which probably is the
concern of why his "Pledge Of Allegience" was never officially released on
any CD compilation.) The original vinyl track listing:
Here Comes Santa Claus--Doris Day
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus--Jimmy Boyd
The Littlest Snowman--Captain Kangaroo
Suzy Snowflake--Rosemary Clooney
Twas The Night Before Christmas--Ray Heatherton
Jingle Bells--Arthur Godfrey
The Little Christmas Tree--Red Skelton
He'll Be Coming Down The Chimney--Gene Autry
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town--Bob Hannon
C-H-R-I-S-M-A-S--Rosemary Clooney
"The Little Christmas Tree" by Red Skelton can be heard on
youtube.com
Perfect timing for the 2006 Christmas season, First Christmas Record For
Children is an excellent compilation of old-fashioned Chrstimnas tunes from
the pre-Rock era. The songs from this era are classics compared to the later
decades of Christmas songs to come. It's on Amazon.com, so it is worth picking
up. Guaranted to be enjoyed by all ages, this album is worth having.
© WSVNRadio.net. All rights reserved.
Review or any portion may not be reproduced
without written permission. Cover art is the
intellectual property of
Harmony/Columbia Records
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