Thursday, November 1, 2007

More Christmas Memories

C 6
Columbia Records created a series of albums exclusively for Good Year called Great Songs of Christmas. Growing up, we had two of them. One we enjoyed more than the other. But both were great in their own way. The favorite in our house was Album 5 which we have affectionately called "the red album" for years.

On this particular album you'll hear artists such as Andy Williams, Maurice Chevalier, Danny Kaye, Diahann Carroll and many others. To this day, my brother and sister and I will sing our version of Maurice Chevalier's version of 'Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.' I think my mom even has us on video somewhere singing it. Just imagine that voice. The ending goes like this: Now, I think I leave to you what to give the rest. Choose for me dear Santa Claus. You will know the best, oh yes you will. Now if you don't know his singing style that reference is probably lost on you. But think Christmas, in the style of Thank Heaven for Little Girls. That song always brings a smile to my face.

Also on this album was a song by Alfred S. Burt who had died "just 11 years ago" - making this album from 1965. It's 42 years old. It's older than me and I can't remember a Christmas without it. The song is called Star Carol. It was sung by Anna Maria Alberghetti and it is so beautiful.

Long years ago on a deep winter night,
High in the heav'ns a star shone bright,
While in a manger a wee baby lay,
Sweetly asleep on a bed of hay.

Jesus the Lord was that baby so small,
Laid down to sleep in a humble stall;
Then came the star and it stood overhead,
shedding its light 'round His little bed.

Dear baby Jesus, how tiny Thou art,
I'll make a place for Thee in my heart,
And when the stars in the heavens I see,
Ever and always I think of Thee.


Steve Lawrence and Edie Gorme sing Sleigh Ride. There's such joy and cheer in their voices. You actually feel as if you were on sleigh ride. Andy Williams sings O Holy Night. Silver Bells by Doris Day. Silent Night by Maurice Chevalier (two verses in English and another in his native French.) Sammy Davis, Jr "recorded the song which was written especially for this album, and is heard here for the first time. "It's Christmas Time All Over the World"."

But what I think I love almost as much as the beautiful music is the album notes. Yes, there are secular songs. But the overall sense of this album was about recording music to celebrate the birth of our Savior. Shameful as it is, the last paragraph of the album notes would never be written today. Not on a "non-religious" album anyway. "And once again we are delighted to have this opportunity to wish you all the richness, the festivity, the reverence, and the warmth of the Holy Season."

If anyone is still reading, thank you for allowing me to share another memory from my childhood. I know how blessed I am to have had it. And I hope that when my children are grown and they hear Star Carol they'll think of their childhood with the same gratitude and joy that I do.

39 comments:

Anita said...

Sounds wonderful! Every year we buy a new Christmas CD... Some of them were lost in May, but I have quite a few still... And this year, maybe I will add 2! LOL

Have a great day!

Heidi said...

Yep Julie! You rushed the season this morning. I am a terrible person with doing that as I would love to have Christmas in my home 365 days a year but really have promised to enjoy November. Soooo...what about a childhood memory of your autumn's or Thanksgiving?

But I do have memories similar to this as we had the TimeLife "The Joyous Songs of Christmas" which was our family's music. It was the music we set up the tree to and baked to cookies while singing or humming along. Humm...that album you mentioned is younger than me.

Wishing you an inspired November 1st!

~~ Heidi ~~

FarmHouse Style said...

Julie, the albums sound wonderful, I love old Christmas music. As you said, eventhough they are secular they still pay reverance to what once we all accepted as the reason for the season.

Loved your post!

Rhonda

Terri Steffes said...

I love the thought of this! Thanks for sharing your memory with us! Music was always an important part of the season for us.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the sweet post.Yes Rian is awsome.. a
He left this morning going back to NJ. All I have done is cry in bed. Please keep me in your prays.
Hugs,Brenda

Kristen said...

I love that Christmas is coming. I just love it! This is my favorite time of year!

Michelle E. ~ Vintage Pastiche' said...

JULIE!! What a beautiful post! I love when you share your memories :) Girl I miss coming over here daily :( I've missed so much fun. Thanks for thinking of me still.

*muah*
Michelle

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Sweet memories, Julie! I wish it was more like the good old days too, but it sounds like "Christmas" will eventually be taken away from all of us...not in our hearts though.

Hugs,
Rhoda

Elle Jay Bee said...

Hi Julie,
I love when you share your holiday memories. Don't ever stop sharing. I love that you seem to enjoy life so much, and have such an appreciation for everyone and everything in your life.
My favorite holiday singer is Burl Ives. He sang all of the songs from the original Rudoph movie of my childhood, so his voice transports me back in time...

Linda

Michelle said...

Thanks for sharing your memories.. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year - love your music!

Mary said...

What a beautiful memory, Julie! Isn't it funny how our memories are so rich with all the five senses? I can remember sights, sounds, smells, tastes and even the feeling of laying down under the Christmas tree to set up the little glitter-crusted houses and trees on a soft pad of white cotton...
thanks for inspiring the memories!
xoxo,
Mary

Distant Timbers Echo said...

I enjoyed your memory!

For my money, you just can't beat Frank Sinatra and Danny Kaye when it comes to Christmas songs!

Nunnie's Attic said...

Oh Frank Sinatra is a whole other post, darling!

Love,
Julie

Anita said...

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, although I love CHristmas too, and it is very hard but I FORCE myself to wait until the day after Thanksgiving to play Christmas songs or decorate for CHristmas... Thanksgiving doesn't get much respect these days...

Dena said...

I love this, it's amazing how certain things gathered over the years and steeped in our youth become such an integral part of the holiday season for us. For me it's good ole' Burl and Holly Jolly mixed with the Peanuts and that Christmas Time Is Here song. If you add "It's A Wonderful Life" playing the background, I'm transported :) Thanks for kicking off the season for me!

Hugs,
Dena

Joanne said...

Hi Julie! I just stopped in for a quick visit as I'm reading my emails, and saw the nice note you left me at The Keeping of Christmas. I've saved your site so I can come back often. I see that I'm going to be spending a long time this afternoon catching up with your blog while I have a mug of cocoa :)
~ Joanne

mayberry said...

Christmas memories are some of the most fun and most valuable ones you can make - especially with your kids. Thanks for sharing. You're really getting me in the Holiday spirit!

Supermom said...

I could listen to Christmas music all year round!

Anonymous said...

I do love those old classics, especially the ones that remember the reason for the season!

Thanks for sharing your memories Julie!

xo,
Melissa

Flea Market Queen said...

Julie...
You always share the best memories with us!
Ah Christmas music...I can hear it now!
Priscilla

Anonymous said...

When my parents passed I inherited so many of their Christmas Albums like you are describing... I adore them.. and cant play them enough... I can never get tired of the old music... any of it... such a beautiful sentiment...thank you for sharing

JO

BellaColle said...

I bet that CD is awesome! We always play this set we have that sound similar..the boys now are the ones that make sure it is playing Christmas morning...a warm memory..and simple tradition to have.
I just love Christmas! Thank you for sharing it...
hugs.

PAT said...

Beautiful post dear Julie!!

We were fortunate to see the Andy Williams Christmas Show in Branson one year. We were 6th row center. Absolutely wonderful show.

We have lots of those LP's with Christmas music. Of course now, we have CD's...lots of those too, but still hang on to those LP's.

Thank you!
Pat

Farmgirl Cyn said...

I LOVE Christmas music! O Holy Night is my favorite...I think partly because it was my mom's favorite. My blog will have Christmas music up shortly. Don't you love Sonific???

PS...My daughter Gina is as bad, (or good, depended on if your the kind of person who sees the glass as half empty or half full!!) as I am, and gets her Christmas stuff out about the same time as I do!!
Our husbands just roll their eyes and leave us be!

Farmgirl Cyn said...

Sorry! Not Sonific, but Project Playlist!

blessings said...

"Holy Season", I like that! I think I'm going to call it that for a while =) I'm so thankful for the seasons past that I have had to share with my family - the music, the fun, the stories. I'm glad you have those too. Blessings... Polly

Webmaster said...

Lyric poetry is the best. Thanks for your post, Julie. :)

Alice said...

I wonder if you've put the album on CDs now. I'm guessing it wouldn't be the same. You probably have every crack, pop and hiss of the records memorized along with the music. :)

Bethany said...

We had an old Pat Boone Christmas album and then one like you're talking about with lots of singers. I LOVED them... I think I learned to sing from listening to them all the time and singing along! I think the music is one of my favorite parts of the holidays!
Thanks for your comments on my blog... sorry your Halloween was so crazy! We did go to a lot of houses with bowls set out and "Help Yourself" signs!! Everyone wants to be out running around!

kari and kijsa said...

What a wonderful memory...we are a very close family and treasure our time together. Wish we could hear some of that sound track (especially the song you published)....thanks for blessing us today!

smiles, kari and kijsa

From the Doghouse said...

I've got an album just like that. It's about as old as me, and it says Christmas to me. Hearing that old record crackling, then Nat King Cole singing "Chestnuts roasting ... " puts me in the holiday mood like nothing else.

Rosemary said...

Julie,
Thanks so much for sharing with us.
I thinks it's great!
I am packing up Halloween today, and bringing out the Thanksgiving decor.
Rosemary

Scrappy Moments said...

Julie,

I love Old Christmas Music & The Vintage Postcard is Pretty too. Love Your Stories, You are such a wonderful Journaler.

Thank You for the wishes on my new store :)

Angie

Anonymous said...

Julie, I bet swiss cheese would work just fine and it would be less expensive too. Thanks so much for sharing your lovely memories with us. They are so Important. I love to wrap holiday presents while listening to Christmas music.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for all your sweet prayers!

Unknown said...

Hi Julie,

I don't know that song but O Holy Night is my very favorite Christmas song. You do love Christmas don't you? I think that's great. I seen commercials for Christmas on TV this morning.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Wonderful Christmas Memories! We always listend to Andy Williams and Bing Crosby. I have a warm, fuzzy feeling thinking about Christmas growing up...
Penny

Shelly @ thePINKbarn said...

hi julie....i too LOVE Christmas music! And I love that you have it playing on your blog! Maybe I'll try to figure that out for mine! :-) Thanks for stopping by to say hi! We did see some intersting people in New York! But we didnt get to see the naked cowboy! Maybe next time :-)

Have a beautiful evening!

Blessing!
Shelly

Emily said...

I love that you've decorated for Christmas on your blog! I like it. I also like reading about your Christmas memories. Music is unforgettable in your memory.
All of the Christmas shows are starting up in Branson. I like to go to Silver Dollar City for their Christmas festival. If you ever get the chance to go, you would love it.