Audio

A ’66 HOLIDAY MEMORY: THE SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS!

 

A MERRY MANCINI CHRISTMAS (COMPLETE LP) * 1966

 

 

—A MERRY MANCINI CHRISTMAS—

A Merry Mancini Christmas is a 1966 album by Henry Mancini of orchestral and choral arrangements of Christmas music. In addition to traditional Christmas songs, it also contains the original Mancini composition “Carol for Another Christmas”, the theme of the 1964 television film of the same name. The initial Billboard review from October 29, 1966 wrote that “It’s an important addition to the Christmas shelf because Mancini’s arrangements are as fresh and familiar as the material is familiar and lasting.” The album was reviewed by Stephen Thomas Erlewine at Allmusic who described it as an “ideal holiday record” and added that ” . . . the album is filled with the lush arrangements that are his aural signature, and they sound perfect when matched with these 11 Christmas medleys and carols.”

(Source: WiKipedia)

— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —

Click on (COMPLETE LP) for the complete track listing on this album.

 

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THIS WEEK 50 YEARS AGO: THE HOTTEST HIT IN THE USA!

 

 

 

 

NUMBER 1 IN AMERICA * DECEMBER 14-DECEMBER 20, 1969

 

 

BILLBOARD HOT 100 TOP FIVE: WEEK-ENDING December 20, 1969

(Click on chart image 2x for detailed view)

 

 

— NUMBER ONE FOR 1969 —

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SEVENTEEN WEEKS on the singles chart, “Leaving On A Jet Plane” by Peter, Paul & Mary peaked this month at No. 01 (1 week) on the Billboard Hot 100. Week ending December 14 through December 20, 1969. (Source: Billboard)

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MCRFB Link: For the previous No. 1 record in the U.S.A. 1969 GO HERE.

 

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A HOLIDAY TUNES COUNTDOWN! 09 CHRISTMAS DAYS

 

 

 

—RUN RUDOLPH RUN—

“Run Rudolph Run“is a Christmas song popularized by Chuck Berry, written by Johnny Marks and Marvin Brodie and published by St. Nicholas Music (ASCAP). The song was first recorded by Berry in 1958 and released as a single on Chess Records. Berry’s 1958 45-rpm single, however, gives writing credits to “C. Berry Music – M. Brodie”.

(Source: WiKipedia)

— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —

 

 

CHUCK BERRY * 09 * DECEMBER 17

 

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A HOLIDAY TUNES COUNTDOWN! 10 CHRISTMAS DAYS

 

 

 

–-HAVE YOUR SELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS—

The Hollyridge Strings were an American studio orchestra that specialized in easy-listening music, and recorded for the Capitol Records label in the 1960s and 1970s. Stu Phillips, Mort Garson, and Perry Botkin, Jr. were among those who produced, arranged, and conducted the group’s recordings.

The group specialized in orchestral versions of songs by such then-contemporary pop-music artists as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Four Seasons, Elvis Presley, and Simon & Garfunkel. Capitol Records released this Hollyridge Strings instrumental cover of this titled Christmas song classic as a single in December 1965.

(Source: WiKipedia)

— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —

 

 

THE HOLLYRIDGE STRINGS * 10 * DECEMBER 16

 

 

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TEMPTATIONS CHRISTMAS LP COVER FLASHBACK! 1970

THE TEMPTATIONS ‘CHRISTMAS CARD‘ ALBUM 1970

 

—ABOUT THIS ALBUM—

The Temptations Christmas Card is a 1970 Christmas album by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label. The album was released on October 30, 1970. It’s also the group’s first holiday release, it features each Temptation leading on various popular Christmas standards and original Christmas songs.

(Source: WiKipedia)

 

 

RUDOLF THE RED NOSED REINDEER * THE TEMPTATIONS

 

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A HOLIDAY TUNES COUNTDOWN! 11 CHRISTMAS DAYS

   

 

 

 

—LITTLE ALTAR BOY—

“Little Altar Boy” was written in 1961 and first recorded that year by vocalist Vic Dana for his album This Is Vic Dana. Released as a single, it reached number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In an introspective moment, Dana performs this quiet song in the 1962 musical-comedy film Don’t Knock the Twist.

The song was also recorded by Andy Williams on his 1965 album Merry Christmas, by Glen Campbell on his 1968 album That Christmas Feeling, and by Jack Jones on his 1969 album A Jack Jones Christmas.

(Source: WiKipedia)

— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —

 

 

VIC DANA * 11 * DECEMBER 15

 

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A HOLIDAY TUNES COUNTDOWN! 12 CHRISTMAS DAYS

 

 

 

—SLEIGH RIDE—

“Sleigh Ride” was covered by the American girl group the Ronettes. The Phil Spector-produced recording has become the most popular version outside the traditional pop standard genre, charting yearly in Billboard’s Top Ten U.S. Holiday 100 and was #26 in 2018 in the Hot 100. It features the well-known “Ring-a-ling-a-ling, ding-dong-ding” background vocals, and the clip-clop and whinny of a horse at its beginning and end.

(Source: WiKipedia)

— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —

 

 

THE RONETTES * 12 * DECEMBER 14

 

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A ’64 HOLIDAY MEMORY. THE SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS!

 

STEVE LAWRENCE & EYDIE GORME * THAT HOLIDAY FEELING! (COMPLETE LP) * 1964

 

 

—ABOUT THIS ALBUM—

The husband-and-wife duo of Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme were firmly established as one of the best traditional pop acts in the United States when they recorded this lush Christmas offering for Columbia Records in 1964. On ‘That Holiday Feeling!‘, Steve and Eydie deliver solid solo performances — Gorme on “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “White Christmas,” Lawrence with “Let Me Be The First To Wish You Merry Christmas” and “The Christmas Song” — while they show off the splendid vocal give and take that made them stars on “Sleigh Ride,” “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!,” and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” Featuring arrangements from some of the best studio men in the business (including Don Costa, Al Cohn, and Patrick Williams), That Holiday Feeling! is a beautifully crafted artifact from the era of great singers, and captures Steve & Eydie at their best.

(Source: AllMusic)

— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —

Click on (COMPLETE LP) for the complete track listing on this album.

 

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