Grant Advertising International Band of Bangkok

Artist: Grant Advertising International Band of Bangkok

LP: 7" single

Song: "Medly"
1. The Sound of Thailand
2. "Sawutdee Ka"
3. "We Three Kings"
4. Magic Beams
5. Our Thailand
6. Thai "Jingle Bells"
7. Grant Farewell
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Here's a 1965 Christmas oddity from Thailand I picked up at Beats & Bohos last Thursday night before meeting my friends for a Christmas noir theatrical production at the Greenlake Theater. This record was evidently once presented as a gift to a Dr. S. H. Work. We're having a very white Christmas here in Seattle, which means I'm stranded at home making butterscotch apple crisp that I'm not going to have to share with anyone. Merry Christmas!

 

Loretta Young

Artist: Loretta Young

LP: The Littlest Angel and Lullaby of Christmas

Song: "The Littlest Angel"
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Speaking of old-timey Christmases, here's one from the dusty, snow-crusted aisles of Christmas past. Though I enjoy the lilting voice of Oscar-winning actress Loretta Young (there are things to admire about Gregory Peck too, of course), I have to admit this record puts me straight to sleep—with visions of sugarplums and everything. I recently watched Loretta Young in a decent film noir from 1949 called THE ACCUSED and she's also great in COME TO THE STABLE and THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER, for which she got her Oscar. It's too bad she isn't better remembered nowadays. You can read all about here here.

[ Loretta Young: January 6, 1913 — August 12, 2000 ]

The Three Suns

Artist: The Three Suns

LP: The Sounds of Christmas

Song: "Jingle Bells"

[ listen ]

Song: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"

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Song: "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"
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Not only does this 1957 Christmas album from The Three Suns have a terrific old-timey cover and contain lovely old-timey instrumental holiday music that fills the soul with cheer or whatever, but the liner notes contain a rundown on the history of a host of popular carols, both secular and spiritual alike! According to Wikipedia, The Three Suns was First Lady Mamie Eisenhower's favorite band.

[ The Three Suns ]

Jerry Wallace

Artist: Jerry Wallace

LP: Comin' Home to You

Song: "Comin' Home to You"
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I went to the thrift store on my way home from work on Friday to look for a white elephant gift for my office holiday party next week. I was excited to find a vintage Sears "Cooky" Press & Cake Decorator set with all the pieces intact!

I just hope nobody's mad if this is what they end up with for their gift. If they are, I guess I'll steal it away from them and decorate my own cookies and cake. I also found this Jerry Wallace LP for .99¢ in the dusty thrift store bins. He evidently started out sorta' rockabilly in the 1950s, but mellowed out by the 1960s and '70s when he scored a number of country hits. It's always exciting to discover a new artist and a new hairdo idea at the same time...and at such a bargain price!

[ Jerry Wallace: December 15, 1928 — May 5, 2008 ]

Christmas Becomes Electric feat. Dusty Wakeman

Artist: Christmas Becomes Electric feat. Dusty Wakeman

LP: Christmas Becomes Electric

Song: "The First Noel"
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Song: "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
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I always tend to overeat during the holidays and usually end up gaining a few extra pounds. That's why I was delighted to find this 1984 Christmas record that works so well with my current aerobics routine, which is also from 1984. I am now able to bask in the holiday spirit and lose weight at the same time! 

Producer and co-arranger Dusty Wakeman was evidently so preoccupied with magically touching these holiday classics that he forgot to name his band. I've decided to call them Christmas Becomes Electric and declare this album their self-titled debut release. It's basically the soundtrack you'd end up with if you crossed this film with this one.

[ Producer and Texan Dusty Wakeman ]