Friday, December 20, 2024

Hello, Mister Playlist

Album cover of Christmas Songs and Carols on Golden Records label, illustrated by Lowell Hess, showing Victorian carolers on a snowy evening near a gas street lamp with a wooden sign with Santa Claus's face on it.
In my imagination, that’s me in the lower left.

Coffeetime, December 20, 2024, Angelynn Grant

set 1
Red Garland / All Kinds of Weather / Winter Wonderland / Prestige / 11.27.58 
Dick Robertson & his Orchestra / Don’t Wait ’Til the Night Before Christmas / Decca / 9.19.39 
Kay Kyser & his Orchestra / Hello, Mister Kringle / Columbia / LA 9.7.39 / vocal = Ginny Simms, Harry Babbitt, Sully Mason, & Ish Kabibble
Frank Sinatra / Christmas Dreaming / Columbia / Hollywood 6.26, 27.47 / with Axel Stordahl & his Orchestra / “no sign of snow around”
The Nic Nacs [The Robins] / Gonna Have a Merry Christmas / RPM / LA 11.2.50 / with Little Esther 
Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, & Vera Ellen [dubbed by Trudy Stevens] / Snow / soundtrack, Paramount movie White Christmas / Hollywood 1953 
Ella Fitzgerald / Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas / Sleigh Ride / Verve / LA 7.15 & 16.60 / studio orchestra arranged & conducted by Frank DeVol ​
Nancy Wilson / That’s What I Want for Christmas / Capitol / Hollywood 11.18.63 / with celeste!

bed
Dexter Gordon / The Panther! / The Christmas Song / Prestige / 7.7.70 

set 2
Charles Schultz /A Charlie Brown Christmas original soundtrack / dialogue snippet / Buena Vista / LA 1977 / with Peter Robbins [Charlie Brown] & Christopher Shea [Linus]; “besides, I think it needs me”
Vince Guaraldi / A Charlie Brown Christmas / O Tannenbaum; Skating; Hark, the Herald Angels Sing; The Christmas Song; Christmas Time is Here (vocal) / Fantasy / LA 1965 / with the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in San Rafael 
Dean Martin / It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas / NBC TV broadcast, The Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis Show / Hollywood 12.5.52
Bing Crosby & Peggy Lee / Here Comes Santa Claus / radio broadcast, The Bing Crosby Show For Chesterfield / Hollywood 12.3.49 / with Jud Conlon’s Rhythmaires {Conlon, Mack McLean, Charles Parlato, Loulie “Lily” Jean Norman, Gloria Wood} and John Scott Trotter & his Orchestra
Anne Lloyd & the Sandpipers / Christmas Songs and Carols / When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter / Golden Records / 1958 / with = Mitch Miller; cover by Lowell Hess 
Doris Day / The Doris Day Christmas Album / The Christmas Waltz / Columbia / LA 1964

bed
Don Patterson / Holiday Soul / Merry Christmas, Baby / Prestige / 11.25.64 

set 3
Cranston East A Cappella Choir / Speak to One Another / Fum, Fum, Fum / Vogt / Cranston, RI fall 1972
Kenny Burrell / Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas / Merry Christmas Baby / Cadet / Chicago 10.66 / Burrell g, Charles Stepney p; Cleveland Eaton b, Morris Jennings d
Steve Allen Trio / A Chiaroscuro Christmas / Jingle Bells / Chiaroscuro / Pittson PA, WVIA 1973 / Allen p, Paul Rostock b, Ira Saylor d
Richard Himber & his Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra / Winter Wonderland / Victor / 10.23.34 / vocal = Joey Nash 
Henry Hall & the BBC Dance Orchestra / The Fairy on the Christmas Tree / HMV / London 11.29.36 / vocal = The Three Sisters 
Mel Blanc and the Sportsmen / Jingle Bells / radio transcription AFRS Mail Call Christmas Special / Hollywood 40s
Kay Starr / December / radio transcription / Hollywood fall 1949 / with Billy Butterfield Quintet and background vocals by The Three Beaus & a Peep: Darlene Zito, Phil Scott, Lester Brush, & Jimmy Leyden
Jo Stafford / Happy Holiday / Happy Holiday; Winter Weather / Columbia / 1955 / a sort of concept album, with Paul Weston & his Orchestra
Julie London / I’d Like You for Christmas / Liberty / LA 1957
Sammy Davis Jr. / It’s Christmas Time All Over The World / Reprise / LA mid-1965

bed
Gene Ammons / Night Lights / The Christmas Song / Prestige / 2.2.70 

set 4
Tommy Flanagan / An Uptown Christmas / The Christmas Waltz / Uptown / 8.12.87
Judy Garland / from the soundtrack to the film “Meet Me in St. Louis” / Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas / MGM / Hollywood 12.4.43
King Cole Trio / The Christmas Song / Capitol / Hollywood 6.14.46 / written by Robert Wells & Mel Tormé 
Johnny Mercer / Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town; Jingle Bells (Capitol Promos) / Capitol / Hollywood 9.17.47; 1946 / with the Pied Pipers
James Brown & his Famous Flames / James Brown Christmas Album / Merry Christmas, I Love You / King / 1966
Dinah Washington / Make Me a Present of You / EmArcy / LA 11.11.55 / with Ernie Wilkins Orchestra
Golden Gate Quartet / Go Where I Send Thee / Bluebird / Charlotte, NC 8.4.37

last soulful (Christmas) song
Otis Redding / Soul Christmas / Merry Christmas, Baby / Atco / Memphis 2.67

Friday, December 13, 2024

The Best Playlists Happen While You’re Dancing

Scan of the cover for the 78 rpm Golden Record, Winter Wonderland and Mr. Snow, showing a cartoon illustration of children smiling on a sled and building a snowman.
Merry Xmas, Kiddie Records Weekly!

Coffeetime, December 13, 2024, Angelynn Grant

set 1
Hank Mobley / Hank Mobley Quartet (5066) / Avila and Tequila / Blue Note / 3.27.55  
Rouse-Watkins Jazz Modes / Jazzville / Legend / Dawn / 6.56 / Rouse ts, Watkins fh, Gildo Mahones p, Paul West b, Art Taylor d
Bernie Cummins & his Orchestra / I Told Santa Claus to Bring Me You [written by Truman Virgil “Pinky” Tomlin] / Vocalion / 12.12.37 / vocal = Walter Cummins
Frankie Laine / Christmas Favorites / You’re All I Want For Christmas / Mercury / 1950
Felix Gross & his Orchestra / Love for Christmas / Savoy / LA 10.25.49 / Joe Howard ts, Mitchell “Tiny” Webb g, Minor Robinson d
Sparky / I Don’t Want a Lot for Christmas / Capitol / Hollywood 1952 / with music by Billy May 
Connee Boswell / Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! / Decca / Hollywood 1946 / with Russ Morgan & his Orchestra
Jo Stafford / Ski Trails / By the Fireside / Columbia / 1955 / with Paul Weston & his Orchestra and The Starlighters 

bed
Bucky Pizzarelli / Flashes - Solo 7-String Guitar, Volume 3 / Arbors Jazz / 2004

set 2
Bill Evans & Jim Hall / Intermodulation / Turn Out the Stars / Verve / 4.7.66 
Jimmy Hamilton / Can’t Help Swinging / Dancing on the Ceiling / Prestige Swingville / 4.4.61
Eddy Duchin & his Orchestra / When Winter Comes / Brunswick / 5.16.39 / vocal = Johnny MacAfee
Bing Crosby / I’d Like to Hitch a Ride with Santa Claus / radio broadcast, Philco Radio Time [Decca] / Hollywood 11.25.50 / duet with Lindsay Crosby; with John Scott Trotter & his Orchestra and Jud Conlon’s Rhythmaires [Jeff Alexander Chorus  
Bob Keeshan & Lumpy Brannum / Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas from Captain Kangaroo / Crackerjack Christmas / Golden Records / 1958 / with Jimmy Carroll & Orchestra and Mr. Green Jeans aka Lumpy Brannum
Danny Kaye / The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing / soundtrack to White Christmas / Hollywood 1953 / with the Starlighters & Rosemary Clooney, dialogue with Vera-Ellen & Rosemary Clooney (“I don’t weigh very much.”) 
Billie Mae Richards & Paul Soles / soundtrack to TV show Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / We’re a Couple of Misfits / Decca / 1964

set 3
Oliver Nelson / Nocturne / Azure-té / Prestige Moodsville 13 / 8.23.60 
Jimmy Forrest / Out of the Forrest / That’s All / Prestige / 4.18.61 
Sammy Kaye / Santa Claus Is on His Way / Victor / 1941 / vocal = The Three Kaydets
Mills Brothers / On This Christmas Eve / Decca / 9.8.49 
Bing Crosby & Peggy Lee / Little Jack Frost Get Lost / radio broadcast, Philco Radio Time / Hollywood 1.11.50 / with John Scott Trotter & his Orchestra and Jud Conlon’s Rhythmaires  
The Dinning Sisters & Bob Atcher / Christmas Island / Capitol / Hollywood 1950
Dean Martin / Christmas Blues / Capitol / Hollywood 10.5.53
Allen Keller / A New Look at the World / Christmas Road / Charlie Parker Records / early 1960s

set 4
Bill Harris / The Harris Touch / Yesterdays / EmArcy / 5.2.57 / Harris g, unknown bongos
Herb Geller / Sleigh Ride / EmArcy / 1954 
Oscar Moore / The Christmas Song / Horizon / Burbank 4.65 / Moore g, Gerald Wiggins p, Joe Comfort b 
King Cole Trio / Jingle Bells / Standard transcription / Hollywood 10.38 / NKC p & voc, Oscar Moore g, Wesley Prince b
The Starlighters / I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm / Capitol / Hollywood 1948
June Hutton / Song of the Sleigh Bells / Capitol / Hollywood 11.26.52 / with Axel Stordahl & his Orchestra and The Boys Next Door
Dean Martin / Silver Bells / NBC TV broadcast, The Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis Show / Hollywood 12.9.52
Alphabetical Four / Go Where I Send Thee / Decca / 8.16.38

last soulful song
Donny Hathaway / This Christmas / Atco / Chicago 1970



Friday, December 06, 2024

(Don’t Wait ’Til) The Playlist Before Christmas

Screenshot from Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol showing the three ragtag animated characters in Magoo/Scrooge's life (housekeeper, maybe the chimney sweep, the junk shop owner, and another, very short character) standing in the junk shop.


Coffeetime, December 6, 2024, Angelynn Grant

set 1
Tommy Potter / Tommy Potter’s Hard Funk / Reets and I / East-West / Stockholm 9.10.56 
Johnny Coles / The Warm Sound / If I Should Lose You / Epic / 4.61 / Coles tp, Kenny Drew p, Peck Morrison b, Charles Persip d
Bunny Berigan & his Orchestra / Trees / Victor / 12.23.37 
Dick Robertson & his Orchestra / Meet Me Under the Mistletoe / Decca / 10.18.41
Fats Waller & his Rhythm / Winter Weather / Bluebird / 12.26.41 
Floyd Dixon / Empty Stocking Blues / Aladdin / LA 9.19.50 / with Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers
Jo Stafford / Ski Trails / Moonlight in Vermont / Columbia / 4.10.56 / with Paul Weston & his Music 

bed
Bucky Pizzarelli / Flashes - Solo 7-String Guitar, Volume 3 / Arbors Jazz / 2004

set 2
Gerry Mulligan / Night Lights / Night Lights / Philips / fall 1962 
Kenny Drew / Pal Joey / My Funny Valentine / Riverside / 10.15.57 
Ike Quebec / Blue & Sentimental / Count Every Star / Blue Note / 12.23.61 
Hank D’Amico / Holiday with Hank / Tomorrow / Bethlehem / 1955 / D’Amico cl, Billy Triglia p, Milt Hinton b, Charlie Smith d; cover photography & design by Burt Goldblatt
Sammy Kaye (Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye) / (Don’t Wait ’Til) The Night Before Christmas / Victor / 11.11.38 / vocal = The Three Barons
Yogi Yorgesson / I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas / Capitol / Hollywood 10.18.49 / with the Johnny Duffy Trio 
Paul Frees, Royal Dano, Joan Gardner, and Laura Olsher / Plunderer’s March (We’re Despicable) / soundtrack to Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol / 1961 / music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill

set 3
Bill Smith / Folk Jazz / Greensleeves / Contemporary / LA 1959 
Teddy Wilson / I Got Rhythm / Blues for Daryl / Verve / Chicago 3.5.56 
Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis / The Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis Cookbook / But Beautiful / Prestige / 6.20.58 
Chick Webb & his Orchestra / I Want to Be Happy / Decca / 11.2.37 / vocal = Ella Fitzgerald 
Delta Rhythm Boys / Jingle Bells / radio broadcast, Christmas Jubilee, AFRS Christmas Jubilee Show / Hollywood 1945
Matt Dennis / Welcome Matt / By the Fireside / Jubilee / 1958 / with band arranged & conducted by Sy Oliver

set 4
Ellis Larkins / Blue and Sentimental / Blue and Sentimental / Decca / 1956 / Larkins p, Skeeter Best g, Joe Benjamin b, Jim Crawford d
Frank Wess / You’ll Do / Savoy / 7.18.56 
Eddie Cantor / The Only Thing I Want For Christmas (Is Just to Keep the Things That I’ve Got) / Columbia / 11.26.39 / with Jerry Joyce and his Orchestra and The Robert Mitchell “Boychoir”
King Cole Trio / (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons / Capitol / Hollywood 8.22.46 / NKC p & voc, Oscar Moore g, Johnny Miller b
Nancy Wilson / Easy / Make Me a Present of You / Capitol / Hollywood 1968
Golden Gate Quartet / Walk in Jerusalem Just Like John / NBC Thesaurus radio program / 1941

last soulful song
Lou Rawls / Merry Christmas. Ho! Ho! Ho! / Christmas Is / Capitol / Hollywood 7.17.67