The Robert Rheims Choraliers: We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Sunset Records ST 7708

This is a thrift shop find, a reissue of the original LP, in great shape. This recording doesn't appear to ever have been issued digitally, although unscrupulous LP digitizing sites will sell you a CD of it for $20. 

It has been posted on youtube.

Sam Hinton: 'Tis the Season (1991)

SH Enterprises Tape No. G-2

Continuing with the Christmas theme...

The great Sam Hinton recorded his last album for Folkways in 1972 and didn't record for a label again until Master of the Solo Diatonic Harmonica in 2005. But during the 1980s and 1990s, he recorded three albums of music and sold them through his website – From an East Texas Childhood (1986), Of Frogs and Dogs and Such (1991), and 'Tis the Season (1991). They are still available at his website. So they are available on CD, you just have to know where to look.

All three are excellent albums, and musts for Sam Hinton fans. Below is an excerpt from 'Tis the Season, which I purchased on cassette from Hinton in the 1990s. It arrived in an envelope which Mr. Hinton had addressed in his lovely calligraphy.

Cherry Tree Carol

Yamaha KX-400U, Macbook Pro, Audacity

Christmas Eve With Walt Harper (1974)

Open Pantry ‎– OP-LP 100

I'm a big fan of Christmas music, and I recently got away with a small haul of Xmas LPs from the thrift shop – it looked like someone had donated a collection. This LP was in (dare I say it?) mint condition, opened but still in the shrink wrap. $1.99.

Despite being Open Pantry Food Marts' only known LP release, the recording and pressing quality are both very good. Pittsburgh jazz pianist Walt Harper plays and sometimes sings some of his own arrangements of classic Xmas tunes. It's a great record.

Harper's daughter Sharynn has created a website where you can purchase a CD transfer of this LP, so I won't be posting samples, however, I will link you to the samples at the website.

Purchase a CD transfer here

Samples:
Jingle Bells
The Christmas Song

The Music Of India (1965)

Nonesuch ‎– HS-72003

[Update: tracks were deleted from Youtube] This was a thrift shop find (99¢), in excellent shape. It was originally released as part of the Nonesuch International Series, which was a series of recordings of traditional music from around the world. It later morphed into the Nonesuch Explorer Series. Some albums from the series are on CD, but this one is not.

Luis Morales Ramos, Maso Rivera: Parrandeando

Boricua Records ‎– LP-1201 

This was part of that same haul of four Puerto Rican LPs from the thrift shop, all in good shape, all $1.99 each. All four LPs have very little internet presence, though the artists (Ramito, Chuito, Maso Rivera) are well known. The track "Despidiendo el Año" has been posted on Youtube:

Ramito con el Auténtico Sexteto Borinquen: Tirandole Plante Al Boss

BMC BLP 1582

This was part of a haul of four Puerto Rican LPs from the thrift shop, all in good shape, all $1.99 each. All four LPs have very little internet presence, though the artists (Ramito, Chuito) are well known. 

Naufragio

Pura Candela


Grado Blue/Paratrace, Technics SL-7, Pro-Ject Phono Box S, harman/kardon CDR-2.

Freddy Fender: Tex-Mex (1979)

ABC Records ‎MAY-1132

This was from the dollar bin in a Toronto record shop, one of several Freddy Fender LPs, all in very good condition.

"Just Because," "Cajun Stomp," and "Sweet Summer Day" appear on various Freddy Fender compilation CDs. The rest of this album is not on CD.

Fender had just appeared in the movie "She Came To The Valley" as Pancho Villa, hence the cover artwork. The title song from the movie appears on this LP.

Many of Fender's albums have not been released digitally, although some of the tracks appear on compilations. In 2012, Australian company Raven Records released a CD containing both 1974's Before the Next Teardrop Falls and its 1975 follow-up Are You Ready for Freddy? – two of his biggest sellers, and an essential CD for Fender fans, or at least ones without a turntable.

Canadian Brass: Rag-Ma-Tazz (1975)

Boot Records BMC 3004

[Update: tracks were deleted from Youtube] I found this in a dollar bin at a Toronto record store, in great shape. I enjoy Christmas brass recordings (I have two by the Canadian Brass), and I like ragtime music, so I figured I'd enjoy this recording of Joplin (and other) rags.

With an essay on the back cover by "Canadian radio commentator" Richard Gale about the then-current revival of ragtime music titled "The Rag Rage."

Waylon Jennings: Sweet Mother Texas (1986)

RCA ‎– AHL1-7184

On this LP, Waylon Jennings covers Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire." Also, both Johnny Cash and Earl Scruggs make guest appearances. Yet it hasn't been released as a CD or mp3s. I'm surprised by whoever it is that decides these things.

This was a gift from a fellow collector in Toronto. I shopped for LPs there this past weekend and made many finds in the dollar bins.

Marty Mitchell: You Are The Sunshine Of My Life (1977)

MC Records 3

This was a thrift shop find, in excellent shape, except it's a cut-out, with the typical saw cut. Mitchell reminds me a bit of Gram Parsons here. The production, and his singing, make this a worthwhile listen.

 

Chocolate: Monsieur Chocolate Prefiero El Son (1980)

SAR Records SLP 1009

This was part of a haul of 38 records from the thrift shop. I sometimes research records on my phone before buying them, but I bought this on sight because it looked interesting. $1.99, in very good shape. It is not on CD.

Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros was a Cuban trumpeter.

Eric Schoenberg: Acoustic Guitar (1977)

Rounder Records ‎– 3017

I picked this up at a stoop sale along with Schoenberg's other solo album, Steel Strings. Both were in very good condition. Neither are on CD.

Steel Strings is a solo acoustic guitar album, while this album has both solo tracks as well as duets with various bass players. "Lady Madonna" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" have been posted on youtube:

KVIL Christmas Vol. II

FW-KVIL-84

It's not my intention to turn this into a Christmas music blog. It's just that this LP has been sitting by my desk with a Post-it on it that says "Not on CD" for a long time, and I want to tidy up.

This was a thrift shop find (99¢), in excellent condition. The singing style on most of the tracks is not to my taste, however, "White Christmas," the only track performed by The Texas Girls Choir, is a standout. It is not on CD.

White Christmas

Grado ZF2/Gold, Technics SL-7, Pro-Ject Phono Box S, harman/kardon CDR-2.

Eastman Frənch Horn and Trombone Choírs: Music For Christmas

Sto1at Records SZM 0120 

Christmas is over, but here's a record that can be part of your Christmas Mix 2017. I was going through my overstock, and I found this LP, which I've never posted here. It has a nice version of Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming, one of my favorite Christmas songs. It is not on CD. 

This was a thrift shop find (99¢), in very good condition. 

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

Grado Blue/Paratrace, Technics SL-7, Pro-Ject Phono Box S, harman/kardon CDR-2.