FaLaLaLaLa

Previously, every album you downloaded from here was one that was recorded and posted by me.  But as the site is growing and my time (due to a more than full time job) is shrinking, I felt it was time to bring in some new blood.

This is the first Featured Album from my friend Ernie of Ernie (Not Bert).  I think you’ll agree it’s a worthy addition to the FaLaLaLaLa family.

 

 

 

 

Various Artists
Merry Christmas From The Command Family Of Recording Stars
Command RS 920 SD
1967

SIDE ONE:

01-1 William Steinberg and The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra-Adesta Fidelis
02-1 The Ray Charles Singers-Christmas Is A Birthday
03-1 Bobby Byrne-The Christmas Song
04-1 Ashley Miller-The First Noel
05-1 The Robert De Cormier Singers-Mary’s Little Boy Child
06-1 Toots Thielemans-Jingle Bells

SIDE TWO:

07-2 The Ray Charles Singers-Silent Night
08-2 Al Casamenti And The Command Guitars And Strings-Sleigh Ride
09-2 Robert Maxwell-White Christmas
10-2 Doc Severinsen-Joy To The World
11-2 Dick Hyman-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
12-2 Virgil Fox-O Holy Night

LINER NOTES:

The True Warmth and Joy of A Real Family Christmas with A Special Gift from Each Famous Member of The Command Family of Recording Stars.

Here’s a gay, holiday package that’s as full of surprises as a traditional Christmas pudding.

Each of Command’s famous stars has prepared something special, a Christmas song wrapped with love, with affection and with a deep feeling for the inner meanings of this season.

From William Steinberg and The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra…the noblest of all Christmas hymns…Adeste Fidelis.

From the Ray Charles Singers…something old and something new…Silent Night and Christmas Is A Birthday.

From Doc Severinsen…an amazing performance on the rarely heard piccolo trumpet…Joy To The World.

From the majestic classical organ…Virgil Fox…O Holy Night; and…

From the mighty Paramount Theatre Organ…Ashley Miller…The First Noel.

From the West Indies…a calypso Christmas song…by the Robert De Cormier Singers…Mary’s Little Boy Child.

You’ll hear White Christmas as you’ve never heard it before…played on the harp by Robert Maxwell.

You’ll hear Jingle Bells as no one has ever heard it before…in a sly and swinging harmonica treatment by Toots Thielemans.

There’s a Sleigh Ride with Al Casamenti and the Command Guitars and Strings, The Christmas Song by Bobby Byrne…and Dick Hyman, joining with all the other Command Stars, in hoping you’ll

Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas

ERNIE SEZ:

From Enoch Light’s famous Command label, here’s a collection of Christmas songs that runs the gamut from organ to harmonica, though trumpet and harp, then back through some tight vocal harmonies. It’s almost all here, in one form or another.

If you’re familiar with the output of the Command label, then I don’t have to tell you about what’s on this record. If you aren’t versed in such matters, then go visit a thrift store near you and stock up. About the only drawback to this record is that it was made after Enoch Light had packed up and sold out to ABC, moving on to start the Phase 3 label, which was, if anything, even more out-there than Command, which was even more over-the-top than his previous label, Grand Award.

But back to this record. There’s not a klinker in the bunch, really. Each has it’s own charm. You’ll just have to listen to it and decide which tracks you like. As far as I know, everything here was recorded especially for this LP, with the exception of the Ashley Miller track, which was from an earlier LP of Christmas music that Command pressed up especially for E.J. Korvette, an early membership discount store based in New York City.

Except for maybe half-a-dozen albums, the entire Command back catalog remains unissued on CD. Hopefully, the sharing of this once-lost music will help to alleviate this tragic oversight.

Ernie (Not Bert)