С Новым Годом (& С Рождеством Христовым, слишком)

And Here It Is!!!

The 2014 WTF Xmas Mix!

Dig It! Or Don't.

I think it's a bit toned down in comparison to prior posts. I also think it holds up well, however, with repeated listenings.

Merry Christmas, Everybody!

С Новым Годом (& С Рождеством Христовым, слишком)

1. Gloria - AR Music
2. What Child Is This? - Sleepy Sun
3. Francincense - The Prog World Orchestra
4. The Little Drummer Boy - Brave Combo
5. Angels We Have Heard on High - Bad Religion
6. Winter Wonderland - Abney Park
7. Bleak Mid-Winter - Erasure
8. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Kate Rusby
9. Just Me and These Ponies (For Christmas This Year) - Corb Lund
10. Everything Is Cool - John Prine
11. Do You Hear What I Hear? - William Beckett
12. Christmas Must Be Tonight - Hall & Oates
13. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - The Wave Benders
14. Linus and Lucy - The Brantley Family Band
15. Flat Screens - Danielle Ate the Sandwich
16. Santa Stole My Girlfriend - The Maine
17. Because It’s Christmastime - Parry Gripp
18. Peanut Brittle Brigade March - USAF Airmen of Note
19. Merry Christmas - The Automatics
20. Santa Claws Is Coming 2 Town - Bandrew
21. Reggie the Christmas Hamster - Parry Gripp
22. Wandele in de snie - Beppie Kraft
23. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - The Kickin’ Kazoos
24. 赤鼻のトナカイ - Yuki Uchida

A Hurried, but Happy Holiday Post

I'm sorry to say that I don't have a lot of time to spend on this. 'Tis the Holiday Season and, as such, my life is rather frenzied lately.

Right now, our local PBS Station is playing a Lawrence Welk Christmas Special (which I'm allowing myself to miss parts of in order to post this) and I've a Christmas Party to attend later this evening, along with another tomorrow.

Didn't want to put this off any longer, though.

This is another of the records that I grew up with. It's really incredibly groovy and I hope it warms a few hearts out there.

The Wonderful Songs of Christmas
with
The Harry Simeone Chorale

1. Pat-a-Pam
2. Silver Bells
3. It's Christmas Again
4. White Christmas
5. Twelve Days of Christmas
6. Do You Hear What I Hear?
7. Sleigh Ride
8. Christmas Child
9. Masters in This Hall
10. Carol of the Star
11. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
12. March of the Angels

More detailed info on this record can be found on Discogs: Here

A couple of quick notes: I believe that I misspelled the name of Track 1 as "Pat-a-Pan", as opposed to the correct "Pat-a-Pam", in the process of ripping this album. Also, I've noticed that there is a skip in one of the tracks.

I'll correct these errors, replace the linked file, and post links to the repaired tracks later.

Happy Holidays!!! Stick This in Your Ear!!!

Keep pokin' it in there until it hurts. It probably won't take too long.

You're probably safe through the first half of this post. The first half consists of album entitled "A Christmas Festival" by The Philadelphia Orchestra, Conducted by Eugene Ormandy, along with the Temple University Concert Choir and the St. Francis de Sales Boychoir.

This is a Really Great Christmas Album!

Monophonic recording from 1964 -

A Christmas Festival

1. O Tannenbaum
2. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
3. Little Drummer Boy
4. I Wonder as I Wander
5. For Unto Us a Child Is Born
6. Here We Go A-Caroling
7. Good King Wenceslas
8. Away in a Manger
9. Jingle Bells
10. We Three Kings of Orient Are
11. Hallelujah Chorus
12. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

The second half is much less interesting. It's called "Christmas at Ye Olde Fireplace with Charlie Spivak".

Charlie Spivak, a trumpeter and bandleader best known for his big band in the 1940s, sounds like he's barely awake throughout the entire recording.

Ye Olde Fireplace was a Steakhouse in Greenville, SC in the 60s and 70s. Spivak was the resident band leader for much of that time.

Christmas at
Ye Olde Fireplace with Charlie Spivak

1. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
2.  The Christmas Song
3. Silver Bells
4. I'll Be Home for Christmas
5. Greensleeves
6. Silent Night
7. Home for the Holidays
8. Medley: Santa Claus is Coming to Town /
   Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
9. Winter Wonderland
10. Blue Christmas
11. White Christmas
12. Adeste Fideles
13. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Hope this helps you get your Holiday Season off to a good start!

The 2013 Christmas Mix

Oh My God!!! He's Gone and Done It Again!!!

Oh My God!!! It's Christmas!!!

1. Colder with Snow - Radio Spot
2. Why Don't We Jingle in the Road? - The Kendal Mintcake
3. I Want a Monkey for Christmas - The Barbary Coasters
4. Get Your X-mas On! - Higgins
5. Funky Christmas - Otis Zee & The Sambuka Band
6. Ice Ice Snow - Cheekyboy (Vanilla Ice vs Martina McBride)
7. Christmas Time - Far Too Jones
8. O Come, All Ye Faithful - Jeffrey Foskett
9. We Three Kings - We Shot the Moon
10. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Steve Stevens
11. Rock This Christmas Down - Lita Ford & Cherie Currie
12. Snowball - Jimmy Fallon
13. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Jingle Punx
14. Mrs. Claus' Kimono - Drive-By Truckers
15. Merry Christmas Kiss My Ass - Chevy Chase
16. Christmas All Summer Long - Deer Tick
17. Snow Day - Bleu
18. When the Elf Comes to Town - The Roundheads
19. I Believe In the Virgin Megastore - Cassetteboy
20. Christmas Time Is Here - Starflyer 59
21. Christmas Waltz [Awayteam Remix] - Nancy Wilson
22. Fruitcake - The Superions
23. Facebook Friend for Christmas - Randy Franklin
24. Give Me a Second Chance for Christmas - Mike Viola & Candy Butchers
25. Christmas Time Is Here Again! - Helix
26. Holidaze (S'Cuze Me, I've Got Gifts to Buy) - Bob Rivers
27. Let's Hear It for the Fat Man - Quicksilver
28. Richard Cheese's Birthday Song for Jesus - Richard Cheese
29. Santa's Gonna Kick Your Ass - The Arrogant Worms
30. Santa Claus, the Original Hippie - Homer & Jethro

Holy Cow!!! What's Going On Here!?!

New Record on The Tuna Melt. Yoo-Hoo! Wee-Hah!

The Three Suns: Dancing on a Cloud

1. Medley: 'S Wonderful / Ain't She Sweet /
   Anything Goes / In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree


2. Medley: Dancing in the Dark / Embraceable You /
   Shuffle Off to Buffalo / Softly As in a Morning Sunrise


3. Begin the Beguine


4. Medley: I'm Just Wild About Harry /
   Three Little Words / Ma Blushing Rosie / Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet


5. Medley: I'll See You Again / L'Amour, Toujours, L'Amour (Love Everlasting) /
   A Kiss in the Dark / Zwei Herzen im ¾ Takt (Two Hearts in ¾ Time)


6. Medley: It's Only a Paper Moon / Sweet Georgia Brown /
   Dancing Tambourine / Limehouse Blues


7. Medley: Avalon / Baby Face /
   Louisiana Hayride / I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover


8. Medley: September in the Rain /
   Tip-Toe Thru the Tulips with Me / Carolina in the Morning / Moonlight Bay


9. Night and Day


10. Medley: April Showers / Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen (Means That You're Grand) /
    In an Eighteenth Century Drawing Room / The Birth of the Blues


11. Medley: And the Band Played On / In My Merry Oldsmobile /
    I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles / Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two)


12. Medley: The Continental / The Japanese Sandman / Swanee

Not much of nuthin'

Okay! It's gettin' close to The Actual Day, but we still have time. Right?



So I picked this one out of Traitor Vic's Pile.That's all I'm sayin'.

Something or Other Doobie Doobie Doo

Finally... Christmas Day!!!

Not My Rip!

I've promised, several times I think, that if I ever found this record I'd post it. Well… Guess What!?!

I found this out on Usenet. I don't even remember which Newsgroup it was posted in. It's a very decent rip and I was happy to add it to my Christmas Collection.

 Have an Original Recipe Christmas! 
 
Allow me to apologize for not being any more active on the blog for the last couple of years. I assume that most of you are aware that there was a Great Upheaval a while back in which many of the blogs that posted Out-of-Print materials, including a good number which were operated by people who I consider friends, were taken down or destroyed by various means.

I've got to admit that watching my friends' hard work being destroyed was disturbing. Several posts here at The Tuna Melt were also targeted. After going to the trouble of ripping an album to Mp3, cleaning the pops and scratches, organizing the files and tagging them correctly, compressing them into a single archive file, uploading that file to a file sharing site, and composing a blog post in which to share it with the world, to have that work struck down comes as a real slap in the face.

Very much of the joy of operating The Tuna Melt, and of sharing my interests with the world, has been compromised.

Most of the links in the posts on this blog are dead by now and I'm not certain that I want to spend the time and effort to bring them back to life. The suggestion has been made that it might be best if no mention of an Artist or Album Title be made in a post (in order to avoid being identified by automated "Search Bots", so I'm not going to mention this album in this post, or post it's tracklist. These precautions may be over the top, but I think most of you will be able to figure out what the album is and what's on it from looking at the picture, eh?

The Tuna Melt has survived other situations like this one in the past. If I can find a way to begin to enjoy doing it again I may be back someday.

To any of you who have enjoyed anything that you've found here in the past I offer my thanks for helping me to spread a little joy.

Thanks for visiting and Happy Holidays!

Jaymz Bee & The Royal Jelly Orchestra: A Christmas Cocktail

Voldar is BACK!!!


'Bout Damn Time, Too! I know, I know… Christmas is almost here and we're gettin' off to a late start.

The fact of the matter is that the current economic misfortunes effecting much of the planet Earth have begun to take their toll on Mars as well. As our few-in-number and highly secretive Earth-Based Trading Partners have experienced financial downturns, we've suffered right along with you. As a result, my schedule has become rather erratic to the point at which it is difficult to plan ahead and/or work around.

Now that I'm here, though, I'll try to spruce up the season with a few choice holiday offerings from Traitor Vic's expansive collection.

Speaking of whom, Vic apparently took my late arrival as a sign that I had decided not to show up this year and, so, was caught completely off guard by my appearance. I've taken it easy on him this year and locked him into the shed in the back yard instead of the closet that I usually put him in. He should be relatively comfortable there for the time being. I'll allow him to come out on Christmas Eve, of course, so that he can run to the store to get me some refreshments to enjoy as we await a visit from Santa Claus. In the meantime… I plan to share some of the selections he has that are on Compact Disc, as opposed to the time consuming Vinyl Rips that he limits his own offerings to.

You are welcome to enjoy this holiday collection, from 1996, by Jaymz Bee & The Royal Jelly Orchestra. Jaymz is a musician, writer and radio personality from Canada. Along with The Royal Jelly Orchestra, and another combo called The Deep Lounge Coalition, he has released several collections of modern day pop tunes performed in an Easy Jazz, Lounge Style. He's also recognized as a bit of a Cocktail/Lounge Authority, having written "Cocktail Parties for Dummies" in 1997.

Jaymz Bee & The Royal Jelly Orchestra: A Christmas Cocktail

1. Jingle Bells
2. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
3. It's Christmas Time (Oh Yeah)
4. Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
5. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
6. White Christmas
7. Winter Wonderland
8. The Christmas Song
9. Christmas Cocktail
10. Sleigh Ride
11. Space Age Santa
12. Carol of the Bells
13. The Little Drummer Boy

The Rite of Exorcism

I've thought about posting this record at Halloween several times over the last few years, but my good sense has always won out and kept me from doing so.

It's not like it's HORRIBLE or anything. Okay. Maybe it is. But it has a Really Great Cover and at least one pretty cool song on it.

Other than that, it is a mostly "spoken word" or "audio drama" presentation that purports to be a "Simply and Faithfully Presented" reenactment of what might have gone on during the act of evicting demons or other spiritual entities from a person at some unspecified point in the past (as the current Rite, updated most recently in 1999 I believe, calls for the presence of two priests).

This record lists no Artist or Group as being responsible for it's creation. I decided to ascribe it to Rev. Patrick J. Berkery, Ph.D. because:
A - It is he who came up with the original concept and who followed up by doing the Theological and Liturgical Research that it required and…
B - He also recorded at least one other record, 1969's "Prayers for a Noonday Church" (which can be found over at Dr. Schluss' Garage of Psychedelic Obscurities).

It's not horribly scary (although it does contain some pretty weird squeals and shrieks), but it is an interesting artifact.

This record has also been shared at least one other time (in two parts, as individual files for Side A and Side B) at WFMU's Beware of the Blog, where you can read a rather lengthy discussion of it's qualities (and/or lack thereof) if you'd like.

It is presented here in all six (6) individual tracks at 320kbps.

The Rite of Exorcism

1. Day of Wrath
2. THE STORY (Part I)
3. The Lord's Prayer
4. THE STORY (Part I)
5. THE STORY (Part II)
6. Ron Aimee Fugue

Billy Boyd: Twangy Guitars

There's no such person as Billy Boyd. Okay. There is, of course. But the guy that played a Hobbit in The Lord of the Rings movies didn't record this record in 1960.

This Billy Boyd was actually Jerry Cole.

Cole played with The Champs. He also worked with just about every important musician in America between 1959 and 1991. Find his story (along with a list of albums he released under different names) here: Jerry Cole @ The Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

Billy Boyd: Twangy Guitars

1. Shuffle Boogie
2. Night Rock
3. When the Lights are Low
4. Jivin' at The Savoy
5. Stompin' at the Crossroads
6. Diggin' the Blues
7. Mambo Boogie
8. South Hampton
9. Bolero Boogie
10. Duck Walk
11. Oop Shank
12. Drifting

The Gaylords: Let's Have a Pizza Party

Back in the 60s and 70s, when you went to an Italian Restaurant in the US, chances are good that you heard Italian Music being pumped through the sound system. Mandolin and Accordian would serenade you as you enjoyed your Spaghetti and sipped your Chianti.

Nowadays, most of the better Italian restaurants with which I'm familiar have no music playing (canned or otherwise) and the popular chains are usually brightly lit, loud, and feature Soft Rock or New Age-ish background music. Thank God for Unlimited Salad and Breadsticks!

This record reminds me of the stuff they played back in the old days. The Gaylords were Ronald L. Fredianelli, Bonaldo Bonaldi and Don Rea (with Bill Christ replacing Fredianelli when the latter did a stint in the US Army). Fredianelli later took the stage name Ronnie Gaylord and Bonaldi became Burt Holiday.

Most of their records were of Italian folk melodies translated to and sung in English, thereby introducing them to a wide American audience. This one, though, consists of Italian Songs sung in Italian and played in the old country Italian style.

Find more info on The Gaylords here:

http://www.thegaylords.com/index.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gaylords_%28American_vocal_group%29

http://home.earthlink.net/~v1tiger/gaylords.html

The Gaylords: Let's Have a Pizza Party

1. Ah Marie
2. Neapolitan Nights
3. Quando Mi Bacio Teresa
4. Ti Voglio Tanto Bene
5. Sicilian Tarantella
6. La Romanina
7. Bionda Biondina
8. Scrivimi
9. Sbarazzina
10. Panzy
11. Carmela
12. Non Ti Scordar Di Me (Say You Will Not Forget)

Sammy Laului Orchestra: Hawaiian Wedding Song

Like a Budget Hawaiian Vacation

As we complete our tour around the mighty Pacific Ocean, we approach the shore of Waikiki only to discover a record on Diplomat Records! Diplomat, one of several labels of Synthetic Plastics (of Newark, NJ), was the Budget Record Label to End All Budget Record Labels. My record doesn't even list an artist name on the sleeve or the label. Luckily, the record was released with several different variations on the sleeve over the years and some of them identified the music as being performed by the Sammy Laului Orchestra: a group with such a wide range of different sounds that it's almost difficult to believe the entire record is by the same combo.

It's a nice record, though, and should help you to relax at the end of a long, hard day. If you find yourself thinking that the song "Island's Goodbye" sounds an awful lot like "Now Is the Hour", you're correct. You are also correct if you find yourself thinking that much of this album sounds remarkably (EXACTLY!) like the album "Hawaiian Enchantment", by Luke Leilani, on Spin-O-Rama Records or, perhaps "Hawaiian Enchantment", by The Hawaiian Islanders, on Wyncote.

Sammy Laului Orchestra: Hawaiian Wedding Song

1. Hawaiian Wedding Song
2. Dreams of Hawaii
3. Waikiki Moods
4. White Sands
5. Girl of the Island
6. Hawaiian Skies
   
7. Island's Goodbye
8. Chanting Waves
9. Isle of Dreams
10. Hula Moola
    

Various Artists: Songs of Guam

This one is Oddly Charming…

Well, okay… Mostly it's just odd.

Upon happening upon this record I thought I had found a collection of, perhaps, Traditional Guamanian Folk Songs or Historical Recordings of The Chamorro People. What I had actually found is a bunch of songs by an American woman who had lived in Guam for a couple of years that were recorded in Hawaii, apparently by Hawaiian recording artists.

From the liner notes:

"With the exception of four Guamanian folk songs… this KONA RECORDS Album reflects the musical impressions of Mrs. D.S. (Jean) Lennox. She has completed a labor of love for the Island she called home for a little while.

"Her affection for Guam and it's people is rewardingly evident in each of her ten original compositions. For a "Statesider", who lived just two years on the Island of Guam, our composer has created a truly remarkable musical montage."

The native language of the Island of Guam (and all of The Marinara Islands) is a Malayo-Polynesian language called Chamorro. The Chamorro language was heavily modified during Guam's occupation and colonization by Spain from 1668 to 1898 and now contains many words and phrases of Spanish origin. Guam was captured by the US in a bloodless landing during the Spanish-American War. Since then, Guam's official languages have been Chamorro and English and, again, the Chamorro language has incorporated many English words. It makes for a bit of a strange mix.

Something tells me that Mrs. D.S. (Jean) Lennox had no idea, while writing these songs, that they would ever end up being recorded for commercial release. They're nice enough, and charming in their own way, but they sound more like songs intended to be sung by school children than professionally created pop pieces. The quality of the recording is poor and the singers involved, while competent, sound uninspired and disinterested. That being said, since our recent visit to Tahiti I figured I'd continue the Pacific Cruise and steer the Good Ship Tuna Melt on over to Guam for a visit.

Various Artists: Songs of Guam

1. Guam is Good
   
2. The Old Spanish Bridge
   
3. Song of Guam
   
4. The Wizard Lizard
   
5. The Island of Cocos
   
6. Statesider's Song
   
7. Guamanian Medley -
   Panguengue / Toma Na Plangpang Tres / Gumupo Si Paluma / Nobia Cahula
   
8. The Ladrones Latte Stones
   
9. It's Always Manana on Guam
   
10. Honeymoon Island
    
11. Hafa Adai
    

Piiraa É: Autrefois

There's a lot more that I don't know about this than there is that I do.

It comes from French Polynesia and, so, all of the information provided on it's packaging is done so in a mish-mash of different languages that I don't understand. Even the name of the group is spelled in two different ways on the cover.

Once the music starts, though, I understand all that I need to.

The warmth of the sun… The coolness of the Sea Breeze… The gentle rhythm of the waves lapping at the shore… The tinkle of ice as it swirls in the exotic concoction that I hold in my hand… It all takes me to long ago and far away Tahiti.

Chanté par le groupe de Piiraa É: Autrefois

1. Aue Te Mauiui
2. Pae Minuti
3. Fautaua
4. Tapau Féi
5. Maraamu
6. Te Ua´a Rii Pitate
7. Po Iti Ava´e
8. Enere
9. Faariri
10. Piiraa É
11. Hoi Hoi Rii Mai Na Ra

Özel Türkbas: How to Make Your Husband a Sultan

Shake It, Baby! Shake It!

Özel Türkbas was a huge talent and a huge star! After starting out as a child star (at the age of seven), in her native Turkey, she went on to play starring roles in fourteen Turkish movies. She was brought to the US by Italian director Franco Zeffirelli, in 1959, in order to appear in the role of La Oriental in his production of Opera Thais.

This is the first of five Belly Dance records she released. She also wrote and published two Belly Dancing books and a Turkish Cookbook.

As Belly Dancing became a huge fad in the United States through the 60s and 70s, Özel was extremely influential in it's promotion. As a Turk, she wore the traditional Turkish Belly Dancer costume (generally regarded to be considerably "sexier" than some other outfits, but probably the best known type in the rest of the world), but she was always careful to emphasize the beauty and discipline of the dance as opposed to it's more sensual aspects.

Well… Except for the title of this record, I suppose.

Özel Türkbas: How to Make Your Husband a Sultan

1. Özel's Dance Music
2. Hoplada
3. Tín Tín
4. Tokat
5. Kandirali Çíftetellí
6. Taksímler
7. Anadolu
8. Fasulya

Note: Each of Özel's albums included at least one selection that was nearly the length of an entire side. If you are going to use this record as a Belly Dancing beginner, let me advise that you might want to skip to the second track as the first is about 14 minutes long and may result in Gut Bustage.

Lenny Dee: Most Requested!

Most Dee-manded!

Of all the Pop Organists of the Easy Listening / Space Age Pop era, Lenny Dee is my favorite. While others played with much technical savvy and brilliant arrangements, Lenny performed with a flair, rhythm and humor all his own.

This is a great record. It includes two pieces by Henry Mancini (always a plus!) and handful of others that I absolutely love. All are played with the patented "Lenny Dee Bounce" and plenty of Pizazz!

Lenny Dee: Most Requested!

1. Hello, Dolly!
2. Canadian Sunset
3. The Girl from Ipanema (Garota De Ipanema)
4. Baby Elephant Walk
5. Bluesette
6. Moonlight Cocktail
7. Java
8. Summertime in Venice
9. Cafe Oriental
10. On Green Dolphin Street
11. The Pink Panther
12. Honky Tonk Train Blues

International Pop Orchestra / 110 Musicians: Christmas Favorites

One Last Shot Before Santa Get's Here!


Boy Howdy! I've had a Hoot here on Earth over the last few weeks. I got to go to some cool places and see some cool stuff!

This is the barn in Traitor Vic's backyard. I think it looks pretty nice at Christmas Time.


This is the wreath that hangs on the barn at Christmas Time.


I also got to visit a place called Tiny Town (which, of course, we on Mars were already aware of because of it's Extreme Incandescence). It was Marvelous! It was Horrifying! It was Awful!




Now, sadly, it comes to an end. I'll be letting Traitor Vic out of the closet that I've had him locked in in just a few moments. We'll sling up in the den, waiting for that fat dude to tumble down the chimney, and get to work on the remainder of the 12-pack of Yuengling from which Santa's beer was chosen.

This is what we did last year and it didn't turn out so well. Santa arrived to find that I had consumed his beer and eaten his "patè on a cracker" treats and, to say the least, was not happy. He immediately announced that he found me to be "Bad", tossed a lump of coal into my stocking, yanked it from the mantel and began pounding me in the head with it.

I'm learning the Respect that comes with the Fear of that dude. Santa Claus is not to be messed with.

Hope all of you have been good little boys and girls this year! And, whether you have or not, here is my final present to you for 2009. It's a good ol' Wyncote record, so you know it's just perfectly mediocre, but in a marvelous way!

It's 10:10PM, Eastern Standard Time, on Christmas Eve now and NORAD has just reported that Santa has just arrived on the East Coast of the United States, so I need to run now. I've got a long drive tomorrow. Hope to see you all again next year!

International Pops Orchestra / 110 Musicians: Christmas Favorites

1. O Come All Ye Faithful
2. Hark the Herald Angels Sing
3. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
4. O Little Town of Bethlehem
5. Joy to the World
6. Deck the Halls
7. The First Noel
8. Good King Wenceslaus
9. O Holy Night
10. We Three Kings of Orient Are
11. Silent Night