Astrud Gilberto - The Astrud Gilberto Album (1965)

This is one of my favorites. I absolutely love the way Astrud Gilberto sings - so easy and effortlessly! Like most folks, the first song I ever heard her sing was "The Girl from Ipanema" - well, I was immediately smitten with her singing! (I used to be able to play that song on the sax.) Also, thanks to her, I was introduced to the bossa nova sound, which I also love. Another good thing about this album is that Antonio Carlos Jobim (another favorite) is featured playing guitar (did I mention that I'm taking guitar lessons now?), and he wrote several of the songs. All in all, you just can't go wrong with this awesome record!

A few months ago, I was watching a movie on cable TV called "Get Yourself a College Girl" - one of those beach party type movies, but instead taking place at a ski resort. Frankie and Annette were not in it, but instead it starred Mary Ann Mobley, Chad Everett, Nancy Sinatra, and several others. Anyway, there's this one scene in the ski lodge where a band starts to play and I immediately recognized the song as "The Girl from Ipanema". It sounded exactly like the recording so I paid special attention. Then who walks in singing the song but Astrud Gilberto! As you see the band, it's Stan Getz playing sax! I was very excited (it's the simple things in life that make me happy!). Anyway, I've posted the video of that scene below the track listing for the album. Enjoy!

Track listing for Astrud Gilberto - The Astrud Gilberto Album:

Side 1:
1. Once I Loved
2. Agua De Beber - with Antonio Carlos Jobim
3. Meditation
4. And Roses And Roses
5. O Morro (Nao Tem Vez)
6. How Insensitive

Side 2:
1. Dindi
2. Photograph
3. Dreamer
4. So Finha De Ser Com Voce
5. All That's Left is to Say Goodbye


Astrud Gilberto & Stan Getz performing "The Girl from Ipanema" in the motion picture "Get Yourself a College Girl":

Ferrante & Teicher - Holiday for Pianos (1963)

Here's a gem by the world's best known duo piano team - Ferrante and Teicher! This is a pretty fun album, especially since all the songs are familiar to me. I've enjoyed other albums by these two, so decided to buy this one when I saw it in the dollar bin at HPB. I think my favorite song here is "Mexican Hat Dance". I remember dancing to that tune when I was in kindergarten, but I don't think I ever heard it played the way F&T play it. Their version reminds me of a Tom & Jerry cartoon. I mean, can't you just see Tom playing the piano and Jerry dancing on the keys? Love it! So, take a trip around the world tonight and give a listen to this album!

Track listing for Ferrante & Teicher - Holiday for Pianos:

Side 1:
1. Far Away Places
2. Mexican Hat Dance
3. A Foggy Day (In London Town)
4. Arrivederci Roma
5. Japanese Garden
6. April in Portugal

Side 2:
1. Lady of Spain
2. Loch Lomond
3. Calcutta
4. Wonderful Copenhagen
5. Paris Joy Ride
6. Aloha Oe

Duane Eddy - Twangin' the Golden Hits (1965)

Okay, so like I'm taking guitar lessons and lately I've been listening a lot to albums that feature the guitar. I even went out and bought a brand new guitar - a Fender acoustic guitar. It's just the basic kind that's good for beginners. (I already play piano, alto sax, and ukelele.) Maybe some day I'll get good enough that I can buy a really cool guitar like the one in the picture or even branch out into electric guitars! I've got a long list of songs I want to play (I've only just learned how to play "Amazing Grace" - the first song we learned in class.), most of which are ballads. Maybe in the far-off future, I'll even record myself playing a tune and post it!

Anyway, going through my albums, this one stuck out. I like the style of Duane Eddy, although I will probably never be able to play that way. I think I just like the way these songs sound - so 1950s! Most of these are quite familiar, but I think my favorites are "Rebel Rouser" (his big hit in 1958) and "Honky Tonk".

Track listing for Duane Eddy - Twangin' the Golden Hits:

Side 1:
1. Rebel Rouser
2. Raunchy
3. Shangri-La
4. Last Date
5. Honky Tonk
6. Theme from "A Summer Place"

Side 2:
1. Tequila
2. Stranger on the Shore
3. More (Theme from "Mondo Cane")
4. The River Kwai March
5. Swingin' Shepherd Blues
6. Rumble

And here's Duane Eddy playing "Rebel Rouser" on the show "Hullabaloo":

Peggy Lipton - Peggy Lipton (1968)

This was one of the records that I had been searching for for quite some time, and I finally got it on eBay a couple of weeks ago! Woo hoo! Okay, so Peggy Lipton isn't the greatest singer, but who cares??? She was HOT as "Julie Barnes" on the television series "The Mod Squad", which aired from 1968 to 1973 (I remember I had a crush on her when I was a little girl and watched the show), was still hot when she starred as "Norma Jennings" on the TV series "Twin Peaks", and is still hot today!
Peggy married Quincy Jones shortly after the end of "The Mod Squad", and gave up acting to be a wife and mother. One of her daughters, Rashida Jones (who looks a LOT like her!) is now starring in "The Office". Peggy has also penned her memoir "Breathing Out". Oh, she wrote a couple of the songs on this album, too - not bad for a 20-year-old at the time!
So, this post is for any Peggy Lipton fans out there! Enjoy the songs, and enjoy looking at her picture - sigh. (Peggy - if you ever come across this blog - you are still HOT!)

Track listing for Peggy Lipton - Peggy Lipton:

Side 1:
1. Let Me Pass By - written by Peggy
2. Natural Woman
3. Memories of a Golden Weekend (or How I Got the Acapulco Blues) - written by Peggy
4. San Francisco Glide - written by Peggy (has a skip)
5. Stoney End
6. Who Needs It

Side 2:
1. Hands Off the Man (Flim Flam Man)
2. It Might as Well Rain Until September
3. Wasn't It You?
4. Lady of the Lake
5. Honey Won't Let Me - written by Peggy

James Darren - Album No. 1 (1959)

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

For Valentine's Day, I decided to share this James Darren album with you because it has some good "love" songs, and because I think he's a pretty dreamy guy. I'm sure y'all are familiar with him - he starred as "Moondoggie" in the "Gidget" movies, starred in the television series "The Time Tunnel" and "T.J. Hooker", and had a recurring role as "Vic Fontaine" on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", where he was a Frank Sinatra-like character and got to sing. He's still a very fine looking man! So, I hope y'all have a special someone with whom to share this Valentine's Day and can cuddle to the tunes of James Darren! I've also included a Scopitone video of James Darren singing "Because You're Mine" (LOVE the lovely ladies in the video!).

Track listing for James Darren - Album No. 1:

Side 1:
1. Let's Fall in Love
2. Sophisticated Lady
3. Let There Be Love
4. The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else
5. Sweet Lorraine
6. There's No Such Thing

Side 2:
1. Love Among the Young
2. Emaline
3. Gidget
4. Does Your Heart Beat for Me?
5. Mighty Pretty Territory
6. Walkin' My Baby Back Home


Scopitone of James Darren singing "Because You're Mine":

Ace Cannon - The Moanin' Sax of Ace Cannon (1963)

"Are you facing a jail sentence? Or was there no letter today from your loved one? Are you a prisoner of love, a victim of unrequited love or singing the blues? Have you had a last date with that certain one and sadly concluded it's all in the game? Have you left your heart in San Francisco, or are you sad for any reason?

If so, this album is for you."

What better way to introduce this album than by the lines above from the liner notes? They say it all. Ace Cannon is indeed one of the best alto sax players ever - he is "The Godfather of Sax"! I love sax music - I think the sax is the sexiest sounding instrument around! (That's one reason I started playing it myself about 20 years ago.) So, I hope you like this album as much as I do. Enjoy!

Track listing for Ace Cannon - The Moanin' Sax of Ace Cannon:

Side 1:
1. Moanin' the Blues
2. Trouble in Mind
3. Prisoner's Song
4. I Love You Because
5. Last Date
6. Singing the Blues

Side 2:
1. It's All in the Game
2. No Letter Today
3. I Left My Heart in San Francisco
4. I Can't Get Started with You
5. Prisoner of Love
6. Moanin'

Frankie Laine - Hell Bent for Leather! (1961)

I was saddened to hear that Frankie Laine died yesterday at the age of 93. One of the most popular entertainers of the 1950s, he had hits with songs such as "That's My Desire", "Mule Train", "Jezebel", "I Believe", and "That Lucky Old Sun". He's also remembered for singing the theme to the television series "Rawhide" and the theme to the movie "Blazing Saddles". So, in fond memory of Frankie Laine, I share with you the album "Hell Bent for Leather!", which contains some of his most memorable western hits. (For an alternative version of "Mule Train" as played on the Hammond organ, go to my previous post.) You ride 'em, cowboy - R.I.P. - Frankie Laine (1913 - 2007).

Track listing for Frankie Laine - Hell Bent for Leather!:

Side 1:
1. Wanted Man
2. High Noon
3. Gunfight at O.K. Corral
4. Bowie Knife
5. Along the Navajo Trail
6. The Cry of the Wild Goose

Side 2:
1. Rawhide
2. City Boy
3. Cool Water
4. The 3:10 to Yuma
5. The Hanging Tree
6. Mule Train


And here's Frankie singing one of his other hits, "The Rock of Gibralter":

The Don Baker Trio - Hammond for Dancing

What a fun album to listen to! I have to admit that I am one of those people that finds organ music pretty darn groovy - especially when played like this! You can really get down and dancin' with tunes played on the Hammond organ! I love it! I remember when I was in college in San Antonio, my friends and I would sometimes go eat dinner at this Mexican food restaurant and they would have this guy playing the organ for entertainment. He'd play tunes like "New York, New York" and "Mack the Knife" - it was great! That's what this album reminds me of - only much better. And, you haven't heard anything until you've heard "Mule Train" played on the Hammond! I don't know what year this was produced, but it's Capitol T1357, if that helps. So, here I share with you "Hammond for Dancing" - "a fine and unusual blend of Hammond organ, piano, celeste, and rhythm by the Don Baker Trio."

Track listing for Don Baker Trio - Hammond for Dancing:

Side 1:
1. I Won't Dance
2. Dansero
3. Moritat
4. Jungle Drums
5. When Day is Done
6. Frasquita Serenade

Side 2:
1. I Could Have Danced All Night
2. Carinoso
3. The Old Refrain
4. Cherokee
5. Taboo
6. Mule Train

Eddie Albert - High Upon a Mountain (1958)

Everybody remembers Eddie Albert as the star of the television series, "Green Acres", or movies such as "Oklahoma!", "Roman Holiday", "The Joker is Wild", and "The Longest Yard", to name a few. But, before making films and TV shows, he was a successful singer performing in clubs and theatre. This is one of about eight albums he recorded, and it contains songs of "spiritual substance - but which were still songs, not sermons". According to the liner notes, "These are songs with a soaring, top-o'-the-world feeling. 'They do something for me,' Eddie Albert says. And he, in turn, does something wonderful for them." Eddie did have a pleasant singing voice, and I think he did a very nice job on these songs. Some are familiar to me (I remember learning "Let There Be Peace on Earth" when I was in grade school), and others are not, but I liked them all. And, on the cover, Eddie looks somewhat rugged standing on that mountain in his jeans and plaid shirt!

Track listing for Eddie Albert - High Upon a Mountain:

Side 1:
1. A Still Small Voice
2. You'll Never Walk Alone
3. The Best Things in Life Are Free
4. Without a Song
5. I Believe
6. Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'

Side 2:
1. High Upon a Mountain
2. No Man is An Island
3. Let There Be Peace on Earth
4. Look for the Silver Lining
5. Ask Your Heart to Show the Way
6. I May Never Pass This Way Again

Me and My RC (1975)

"Me and my RC, me and my RC. 'Cause what's good enough for other folks ain't good enough for me! Me and my RC, me and my RC!"

How many of you remember those commercials from the 1970s? They were among my favorite commercials back in the day, and probably one of the best ad campaigns ever! I remember riding my skateboard (back when they were skinny little wooden things) and drinking an RC Cola as I rode along, sometimes singing the little jingle. Ah, the memories that this record brought back as I listened to it! This record is another of the gems I've found in the Half-Price Books clearance bin. (Actually, I give credit to my friend, Bradley, for finding it but letting me buy it for my collection.) Once again, the cover caught my eye - the girl just epitomizes the wholesome, girl-next-door type of the 70s! Well, this is the music from several TV commercials, but I don't know if the record was given to radio stations or what. The record only has tracks on one side and says "Not for sale, broadcast, or public performance", so I don't know what else anyone would do with it - maybe it was just part of a media kit or something like that. Whatever - it's really cool! In fact, I think I'll go have a Moon Pie and an RC right now (it's a Southern thing)!

Track listing for Me and My RC:

1. Overture; Stock Car
2. Truck Driver
3. Lawyer; Theme Music; Freckle-Face
4. Executive Decision
5. Blacksmith
6. Crop Seeder; Theme Music; Farm Girl
7. Basketball
8. Riverboat; Theme Music; Georgia Nights
9. Fiddler

P.S. For you fans of RC Cola and/or Moon Pies, check out some great collectibles at the Moon Pie website!

And here's one of the commercials for you (the one called "Executive Decision")!

An Affair to Remember OST (1957)

One of my favorite movies of all time is "An Affair to Remember", starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. And, yes, I do cry each and every time I see it. Actually, I start crying before the sad or sentimental parts even start! And sometimes even just talking about the movie and the sad or sentimental parts will start me crying. I'm as bad as Rita Wilson was in "Sleepless in Seattle" when she was describing the movie. This is one of the movies that my mother introduced me to when I was growing up, and we would often watch it together when it was on TV. I also grew up listening to this soundtrack, so this record has been played A LOT. This record belonged to my mother (I believe she bought it in 1957, when it came out), so it is now 50 years old! Wow! The cover is quite worn, and you'll still hear quite a bit of clicks and pops (especially on side 2) even though I ran it through the click and pop removal software. But, Vic Damone still sounds loud and clear on the title song (make me swoon!).

Other info about this album... Lionel Newman conducting the 20th Century-Fox Orchestra and Chorus; Music - Harry Warren; Lyrics - Harold Adamson and Leo McCary (the director of the film); Incidental Music - Hugo Friedhofer; Soloist - Marni Nixon; title song sung by Vic Damone. Harry Warren, Harold Adamson, Leo McCary, and Hugo Friedhofer were all Academy Award winners for various other works. The title song was nominated for Best Song at the 1957 Academy Awards but didn't win ("All the Way" from "The Joker is Wild" won instead). Hugo Friedhofer was also nominated that year for Best Score for "An Affair to Remember", but Malcolm Arnold won for "The Bridge on the River Kwai". "An Affair to Remember" had two other nominations - Cinematography and Costume Design - but didn't get those either.

Track listing for An Affair to Remember OST:

Side 1:
1. Main Title - An Affair to Remember (Our Love Affair) - vocal by Vic Damone
2. Continue - instrumental
3. "Villefranche" and "In the Chapel" - instrumental
4. Tomorrowland - vocal and instrumental
5. Pink Champagne - instrumental
6. Revelation - instrumental
7. You Make It Easy to Be True - instrumental
8. Proposal - instrumental

Side 2:
1. Continue - vocal and instrumental
2. Night Club Affair - vocal and instrumental
3. Empire State Montage - instrumental
4. Return to Villefranche - vocal and instrumental
5. Tiny Scout (He Knows You Inside Out) - children's chorus
6. Ballet - instrumental
7. End Title - An Affair to Remember (Our Love Affair) - chorus and instrumental

Various Artists - 18 Top Hits (1957)

Here's yet another album I bought for the cover alone - LOVE the girl dancing by the jukebox! The cover was kind of weird though because the back is completely blank - no track listing or names of the artists. So how did people know whether or not they wanted to buy this if they didn't know anything about what was on it? Did they buy it for the cover alone, too? Strange. And, although it's called "18 Top Hits", there are actually 23 songs on it. Well, this album is on the Waldorf Record Corp. label, which was a budget record label started in 1953 or 1954 by Enoch Light (which explains why he and his orchestra play several of the songs on this album). The records were sold exclusively in Woolworth stores (ah, how I fondly remember the Woolworth in my home town). Anyway, this album contains the hits of the day, but not recorded by the original artists. This is probably one of the albums I've had the most fun listening to and recording - it's just so...nostalgic! Listening to albums like this makes me wish that I had been around back in those days - sigh. Well, the album was pretty beat up when I bought it in the clearance bin at my favorite place (Half-Price Books), and four of the songs have skips. I did do the click and pop removal but there's still quite a bit of clicks and pops, so y'all may want to clean it up further if you can. Overall, this is a fun album!

Track listing for 18 Top Hits:

Side 1:
1. Around the World - Enoch Light & his Orch. (skips)
2. A Fallen Star - Bobby Sykes & The Country Five (skips)
3. Send for Me - Bob Eberly with Enoch Light & his Orch.
4. Long Lonely Nights - Keith Textor & The Monarchs
5. Star Dust - Loren Becker & The Monarchs
6. What Will I Tell My Heart - Jimmy Blaine with Enoch Light & his Orch.
7. Fascination - Sylvia Textor with Enoch Light Orch.
8. My Heart Reminds Me - Sylvia Textor & The Monarchs
9. Please Send Me Someone to Love - Loren Becker & The Monarchs
10. Tammy - Dottie Evans
11. There's a Gold Mine in the Sky - Bob Eberly, Enoch Light Orch. & Chorus
12. Chances Are - Keith Textor

Side 2:
1. Diana - Jerry Duane with The Monarchs
2. Rainbow - Loren Becker, Enoch Light Orch. & Chorus (skips)
3. Love Me to Pieces - Dottie Evans with The Monarchs (skips)
4. Honeycomb - Jerry Duane
5. Whispering Bells - Brigadiers with Enoch Light & his Orch.
6. That'll Be the Day - Artie Malvin with The Zig Zags
7. Passepartout - Enoch Light & his Orch.
8. Invitation to a Bullfight - Enoch Light & his Orch.
9. Entrance of the Bull March - Enoch Light & his Orch.
10. Paris Arrival - Enoch Light & his Orch.
11. Pagoda of Pillagi - Enoch Light & his Orch.



BTW, the 20,000 site hits mark came and went and I didn't even notice! Thanks to all of you who have been visiting, browsing around, and downloading the albums I'm sharing! If y'all have any requests, please let me know and I'll see if I have it. And I'm looking for the following "celebrity vocals" albums - Peggy Lipton's self-titled album from 1968; Sajid - by Sajid Khan in 1967; Kurt Russell's self-titled album from 1970; Clint Eastwood - Cowboy Favorites from 1959. There are many more, but these are the only ones I can think of for now.

Paul Weston and His Orchestra - Mood for 12 (1955)

Here's yet another gem from the Half-Price Books clearance bin! The cover is what definitely caught my eye (ooh - doesn't she look lovely?!), but when I saw that it was a Paul Weston album, I absolutely had to buy it! Paul Weston was one of my mom's favorites, so I grew up listening to his music - makes for great mood music to be playing in the background when you're with your lovely lady! This album features some great solos by Ziggy Elman, Eddie Miller, Matty Matlock, Babe Russin, Ted Nash, Clyde Hurley, George Van Eps, Bill Schaefer, Stanley Wrightman, Barney Kessel, Paul Smith, and Joe Howard (noted on each song below). I must admit that I'm particular to the ones that have sax solos - they just have such a sexy sound! Enjoy!

Track listing for Paul Weston and His Orchestra - Mood for 12:

Side 1:
1. It's the Talk of the Town - Tenor Sax solo by Babe Russin
2. I'm Comin' Virginia - Trombone solo by Bill Schaefer
3. Memories of You - Trumpet solo by Clyde Hurley
4. Nice Work If You Can Get It - Piano solo by Paul Smith
5. My Funny Valentine - Guitar solo by Barney Kessel
6. Emaline - Tenor Sax solo by Eddie Miller

Side 2:
1. Skylark - Tenor Sax solo by Ted Nash
2. Judy - Clarinet solo by Matty Matlock
3. Louisiana - Guitar solo by George Van Eps
4. Georgia on My Mind - Trombone solo by Joe Howard
5. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea - Piano solo by Stanley Wrightman
6. Confessin' - Trumpet solo by Ziggy Elman

Billy Vaughn and His Orchestra - Melodies in Gold (1957)

Today's post is one of Billy Vaughn's many recordings on the Dot label - "Melodies in Gold". Having played the sax myself, I'm especially fond of Billy Vaughn (and others who played or featured the sax in their recordings). This album contains great standards by such composers as Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer, Jerome Kern, and Cole Porter - some of my favorites! Check out Space Age Pop for a great bio on Billy Vaughn. Oh, yeah - I guess I should mention that it was the album cover that first grabbed my attention when I bought this album (yet another gem from the Half-Price Books clearance bin)!

Track listing for Billy Vaughn and His Orchestra - Melodies in Gold:

Side 1:
1. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
2. Indian Love Call
3. Dream
4. Sweet and Lovely
5. Time on My Hands
6. Night and Day

Side 2:
1. I'm in the Mood for Love
2. My Melancholy Baby
3. Moonglow
4. Intermezzo
5. I'll Get By
6. Stardust

Francis Scott and His Orchestra - Moods for Candlelight

Well, Happy New Year! I hope y'all had a great holiday season and that 2007 brings only good things to you! I took a little holiday from the blog, but I'm ready to get going again! Thanks to all who have been leaving comments - I have read them, but I just haven't gotten a chance to respond. Thank you all for your nice wishes and comments.

The first album I'm posting for the new year is called "Moods for Candlelight" by Francis Scott and His Orchestra. It's a very soothing album - perfect to listen to when you're all stressed out and need to relax. After all the hectic-ness (is that a word?) of the holidays, I know I needed something soothing to listen to, so that's why I picked this album. It's also great to listen to while reading or working (I'll be loading it to my MP3 player so I can listen to it at work). I couldn't find any information on it as to what year is was produced, but it's on the Capitol label, number T304, if that helps. Here are the liner notes:

The beauteous hue of radiant candlelight Reflected on the face of one so dear... Treasured moments that reach their height of rapture ... amid soft strains of music near.

Picture a setting of gleaming candlelight... alluring melodies painting a romantic backdrop for these lovely leisure moments with one close to your heart.

In this album, the talented young arranger-conductor Francis Scott, has carefully preserved the melodies of these songs you know so well... yet has artfully fashioned them into exquisite and sentimental musical moods.

Capitol presents this very special music for that very special occasion. Romantic, mood-inspiring melodies to provoke softly-spoken words and understanding glances.

Light your candles - enjoy your Moods for Candlelight!

Track listing for Francis Scott and His Orchestra - Moods for Candlelight:

Side 1:
1. The Touch of Your Lips
2. I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You)
3. It's a Blue World
4. It Had to Be You
5. How Deep Is the Ocean (How High Is the Sky)
6. My Heart Stood Still

Side 2:
1. Just a Memory
2. I Hadn't Anyone Till You
3. Dream a Little Dream of Me
4. More Than You Know
5. Remember
6. This Love of Mine

Walter Brennan - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas...Back Home (1962)

Here's an album from one of my favorites - Walter Brennan! I don't know why, but I just loved this man - in all his movies, in his TV shows, and on record (I have several of his albums!). My favorites of his songs are "Old Rivers" and "Old Shep" - they both bring me to tears because they're so sad and he was such a good story teller. For those of you who aren't familiar with Walter's recordings, he didn't sing - he spoke along to background music and sometimes background singers. Walter just seemed like such a nice man - sort of like a kindly grandfather. And his voice was perfect for telling stories, especially sad or sentimental ones - something about the timbre of his voice, I guess. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this Christmas album - "Just Three Letters for Christmas" will be sure to bring a tear to your eye.

Track listing for Walter Brennan - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas...Back Home:

Side 1:
1. White Christmas
2. Just Three Letters for Christmas
3. A Farmer's Christmas Prayer
4. Henry Had a Merry Christmas
5. Old Time Christmas Stories
6. (There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays

Side 2:
1. Silent Night
2. Christmas Together
3. Let the Bells Ring Out
4. A Good Year for Santa Claus
5. O Come All Ye Faithful

Patty Duke & Norman Vincent Peale - Guideposts for Christmas (1963)

Now here's a vinyl rarity for you. This record was produced by the Guideposts magazine back in 1963 but, according to the liner notes, was not for sale. I'm guessing that folks who subscribed to the magazine must've received it as a Christmas freebie. The reason I have this record is that I'm a big Patty Duke fan. But, for those of you who are looking for cheery Christmas songs sung in that Patty Duke style, this record is not that! This is a spoken word record. Patty Duke and Norman Vincent Peale take turns reading "some of the most treasured Christmas stories ever written". Patty Duke was only 16 at the time and was starring in her own weekly TV series when she recorded this. Since this is spoken word, I did not break down the record into the individual stories; instead what you'll get when you download is Side 1 and Side 2. But, as always, I'm listing the tracks below. Enjoy!

Track listing for Patty Duke and Norman Vincent Peale - Guideposts for Christmas:

Side 1:
1. The Star and the Shepherd Boy - Dr.Peale
2. The Christmas Thief - Patty Duke
3. The Man Who Missed Christmas - Dr.Peale
4. The Surprise Feast - Patty Duke
5. The Masterpiece - Dr.Peale
6. A String of Blue Beads - Patty Duke
7. The Deputy - Dr.Peale
8. Toys for a King - Patty Duke

Side 2:
1. Let's Go Neighboring - Dr.Peale
2. A Brother Like That - Patty Duke
3. Santa Rides the Bus - Dr.Peale
4. You Can Keep Christmas - Patty Duke and Dr.Peale
5. The Stubborn Unbeliever - Patty Duke
6. A Boy's Finest Memory - Dr.Peale
7. The Best Part of Giving - Patty Duke
8. The Greatest Christmas Story of All - Dr.Peale

The Lennon Sisters - Christmas with the Lennon Sisters (1960)

Last time I presented a quartet of young brothers singing Christmas songs; today I present a quartet of young sisters! The Lennon Sisters were featured on "The Lawrence Welk Show" back in the day. I have to admit that I watched the show when I was a little kid (it was either that or "Hee Haw" - blecht!), and now sometimes catch reruns of it on our local PBS station. Gotta love those polyester suits! Anyway, this is a nice album to sing along with, and definitely one to add to your Christmas collection. Hope y'all enjoy it!

Track listing for Christmas with the Lennon Sisters:

Side 1:
1. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
2. The Little Drummer Boy
3. Christmas Island
4. Adeste Fideles
5. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
6. Silent Night
7. White Christmas

Side 2:
1. Jingle Bells
2. Away in a Manger
3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
4. Winter Wonderland
5. O Little Town of Bethlehem
6. Joy to the World
7. I'll Be Home for Christmas

The Osmond Brothers - We Sing You a Merry Christmas (1962)

Before Donny and Marie, and before Jimmy, there were the Osmond Brothers - Alan, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay, the four oldest singing Osmonds. The Osmonds Brothers first appeared on the Andy Williams TV show back in the early 1960s, and then got a regular spot on the ABC TV series, "The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters". It was during this time that they recorded this Christmas album, which was "brought to you with the cooperation of AC Spark Plug Division" which "sponsors 'The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters' on ABC-TV Sunday night". At this time, the Osmond Brothers sang in a barbershop quartet style, and this is how most of this album sounds. They were very young on this album, and I believe Alan is the one with the lowest voice on this record - the other three sound absolutely adorable, kind of like little chipmunks! Anyway, I've been an Osmond fan since forever (I gave up drinking caffeine for an entire week once because I loved Donny so much!), and it gives me pleasure to share this album with you!

Track listing from The Osmond Brothers - We Sing You a Merry Christmas:

Side 1:
1. Silent Night
2. Winter Wonderland
3. The Little Drummer Boy
4. Jingle Bells
5. O Little Town of Bethlehem

Side 2:
1. Joy to the World
2. White Christmas
3. Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly
4. Christmas Means More Ev'ry Year
5. The First Noel
6. O Come All Ye Faithful

Bobby Sherman - Bobby Sherman Christmas Album (1970)

Who out there remembers Bobby Sherman? He starred in the TV shows "Here Come the Brides" and "Getting Together" and had a string of hits such as "Hey, Little Woman", "Julie, Do Ya Love Me", "Easy Come, Easy Go", "Cried Like a Baby", "The Drum", and several others. (I have all of his albums!) Well, this is the Christmas album he recorded - has some familiar tunes as well as tunes he wrote himself - a MUST for any Bobby Sherman fan!

I had the pleasure of meeting Bobby Sherman several years ago when he came to Dallas for a book signing - he was promoting his autobiography. That morning, he was the guest on a local radio station and they had a contest to win an autographed CD of his. Guess who won - me! I even got to speak to him on the phone and it was broadcast - omigod! That evening I drove to the bookstore where he was going to appear - me and a bunch of other 30-something women who wanted to get a glimpse of their fave! It was really something - for a little while, we were all just a bunch of young teenagers again, all giddy and giggling. We all had stuff for him to sign - old teen magazines, record albums, books, and - the creme de la creme - a lunch box! (I was the one with the lunch box - what can I say?) Besides the CD I had won earlier that day, and the lunch box, he also signed one of my record albums, and a copy of his book. Plus, I got to have my picture taken with him! It was indeed one of the best days of my life! So, needless to say, I LOVE Bobby Sherman!!!

Track listing for Bobby Sherman Christmas Album:

Side 1:
1. Jingle Bell Rock
2. Christmas on Her Mind
3. Blue Christmas
4. Love's What You're Gettin' for Christmas
5. Christmas Wish
6. Amen

Side 2:
1. Prologue
2. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
3. Yesterday's Christmas
4. Christmas Is (Make It Sweet)
5. A Song of Joy (Himno a la Alegria)