FaLaLaLaLa

The Peppermint Kandy Kids
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Peter Pan 8109
Year Unknown

NOTE: This record is not
available for download by request of the copyright holder.  It may see
official release soon.   [King of Jingaling  - Oct. 2007]

SIDE ONE:

01-1 Santa Claus Is Coming To Town  1:58
02-1 Dialogue 1 0:21
03-1 We Need A Little Christmas  1:31
04-1 Dialogue 2  0:49
05-1 It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas  1:37
06-1 Dialogue 3  0:13
07-1 Winter Wonderland  1:50
08-1 Dialogue 4  0:20
09-1 The Christmas Song  1:46
10-1 Dialogue 5  0:47

SIDE TWO:

11-2 Santa Medley  4:35
12-2 Reprise – Up On The Housetop  0:37
13-2 Dialogue 6  0:08
14-2 Santa’s Magical Bag  2:22
15-2 Dialogue 7  0:03
16-2 My Favorite Things  2:08
17-2 Dialogue 8  0:07
18-2 The Marvelous Toy  3:02
19-2 Dialogue 9  0:04
20-2 Scarlet Ribbons  2:15
21-2 Dialogue 10  0:12
22-2 Happiness Is  2:42
23-2 Dialogue 11  0:45
24-2 Love Is A Simple Thing  1:14
25-2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas  1:39

THOUGHTS FROM THE KING:

When I look at the statistics for this little site, there are two searches that lead people here the most, "Caroleers" and "Peppermint Kandy Kids".  It seems that lots of folks had these records as kids.  We Christmas music collectors aren’t surprised.  We see that these records (and the tracks thereof) were recycled and rereleased endlessly.  In fact, it seems that the labels (Diplomat, Peter Pan, Caroleer, Tinkerbell, etc.) and artists (Peter Pan Singers, Caroleer Singers, Peppermint Kandy Kids, etc.) are fairly interchangeable.  This was a money making enterprise.

Then these records were lost to the digital age.  The kids who listened endlessly to these records grew up, got rid of their turntables and turned to CDs, but this music was left behind.  Fast forward a few years and these adults now yearn for the simple music of their youth.  And based on my email they hunt high and low to find this music and their search always ends here.  They thank me profusely with stories that bring tears to my eyes.  Here’s a typical one:

Unable to play the LP and the one audio tape I had made has been
missing in action since we moved a few months ago, I have been sad that
I haven’t been able to share the songs with my 2 year old son.  I
took a chance and searched the web, really thinking I wouldn’t find
anything – everyone I have ever mentioned this album to thinks I’m nuts
and doesn’t know what I’m talking about, except my family who wishes
I’d never learned all the words to every song.

Anyhow, how so
very delighted I was when my search brought me straight to your
website.  I was able to download the songs and just played them for my
son.  

This is one of the best gifts I could have gotten this
Christmas season.  I do believe in Santa and I’ve got a feeling he is you.

So how could I hold this one back and deprive people of important childhood memories?

As far as the music goes, I think it’s hard to hear this for the first time as an adult.  Some of the original songs seem a little silly or trite.  But then again, Christmas–like these songs–is for children.  And obviously these songs struck a chord with many kids so long ago.

The one aspect of this particular record that I really love is the kids that provide the dialogue between songs (which I have separated into separate tracks for those who may just want to hear the songs).  There are some heavy Brooklyn accents from these kids.  I love that they have that specificity to them instead of being just random generic children.  They have some solidity to them.

Anyway, here’s hoping that some more childhood memories are ignited by these innocent little songs.