Two records in particular received heavy rotation, neither of which I can remember the name of. The first two tracks in this post appeared on a Capitol compilation which probably came out in the late 60s (the Beach Boys pic is circa 1969's 20/20), but our copy is a cheap Pickwick reissue.
Dean sounds as if he threw back one too many drinks while recording Rudolph - I've heard holiday drunks who sounded less sauced while wailing away to seasonal favourites. Dasher, Dancer and the rest of the reindeer were miffed when they discovered Dino forgot to mention them.
One year in university, a group from my residence attempted to spread seasonal cheer by caroling around downtown Guelph for charity. Mixed results: some folks were happy, the old folks home was not (residents were sent to bed before 8!). Our luck would have improved had Nat King Cole joined us.
Other highlights: The Beach Boys wanting to be home for Christmas - whether Murry Wilson was invited is unknown. Lou Rawls' Vegas-y take on The Little Drummer Boy. After listening to Sandler & Young's muddled version of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, it's easy to see why SCTV thought the duo was a target for abuse ("I'm Belgian! BELGIAN!!!").
I think album #2 was called 20 Christmas Favourites: released on TeeVee Records, it has a festive tree on the tree, with a green broder around the picture. Most of the tracks were raided from Columbia and RCA's MOR libraries: Johnny Mathis, Ray Conniff, Peter Nero, etc. Mitch and the Gang lead off side one with as whitebready a version of Winter Wonderland as you'll find.
Our album doesn't credit Andre Previn's role in It Came Upon A Midnight Clear. No matter - it's the classiest track on the record. No choirs, choruses, etc, just Julie Andrews and a good arrangement.
Other highlights: The high, high voice that blurts out "four calling birds" in Tennessee Ernie Ford's take on The Twelve Days of Christmas. Mahalia Jackson's soul-stirring version of Go Tell It On The Mountain.
Happy holidays. Programming will resume in 2006. - JB
