Liner Notes

Buckeyes are Champions

Congratulations to the Ohio State Buckeye football team for winning their ninth national championship.

If you grew up in Ohio, especially in the 1960s and 70s, you were probably an OSU fan no matter where you ended up going to college in the state. My parents certainly were and they instilled the love of Buckeye football on us as well.

During the early 1970s, the Bucks’ offense featured a back who is still the only two-time winner of the Heisman Trophy, given to the country’s best player each year. Archie Griffin.

But we’re here to listen to one of those albums that my dad collected over the years more for what’s on it than to really listen to it. In fact it doesn’t look like he did much playing of this one at all.

This record recaps in great detail the 1974 season which ended in a Rose Bowl loss to USC for the national championship. You are going to hear some very familiar names if you are an older college football fan.

And I’m going to do something different. I’m going to play the whole album with only one interruption at the end of side one. Each side is 45 minutes long.

So get ready to hear Ohio football history through the voice of Marv Homan to celebrate the 2024 NCAA Football Championship in this Special Volume: History of a Champion; O-H-I-O

Video Intro

Listen here or on my PodBean Podcast Episode page:

You can check out the video version here or on YouTube:

Credits and Copyrights:

See information from the Discogs.com page here

Marv Homan – Great Moments In Ohio State Football – A Tribute To Woody Hayes
Label: Fleetwood Records – FMS 1009
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Compilation, Stereo
Released: 1975
Genre: Non-Music
Style: Spoken Word

I do not own the rights to this music. ASCAP, BMI licenses provided by third-party platforms for music that is not under Public Domain.

Here is the Episode Script!

It was an interesting start to the game with that long drive by the Irish to score and then a late run from Notre Dame trying to catch up. But the Buckeyes prevailed.

If you grew up in Ohio, especially in the 1960s and 70s, you were probably an OSU fan no matter where you ended up going to college in the state. My parents certainly were and they instilled the love of Buckeye football on us as well.

During the early 1970s, the Bucks’ offense featured a back who is still the only two-time winner of the Heisman Trophy, given to the country’s best player each year. Archie Griffin.

But we’re here to listen to one of those albums that my dad collected over the years more for what’s on it than to really listen to it. In fact it doesn’t look like he did much playing of this one at all.

This record recaps in great detail the 1974 season which ended in a Rose Bowl loss to USC for the national championship. You are going to hear some very familiar names if you are an older college football fan.

And I’m going to do something different. I’m going to play the whole album with only one interruption at the end of side one. Each side is 45 minutes long.

So get ready to hear Ohio football history through the voice of Marv Homan to celebrate the 2024 NCAA Football Championship in this Special Volume: History of a Champion; O-H-I-O

[Side A]

I loved hearing the radio broadcasts from that era, plus the Buckeye all brass marching band still sounds the same.

Why this record for this episode? Because I’ve been waiting to pull this one out at just this moment. Hope you are enjoying it.

Now let me tell you about my dad’s vinyl I am spinning for this episode.

Marv Homan – Great Moments In Ohio State Football – A Tribute To Woody Hayes
Label: Fleetwood Records – FMS 1009
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Compilation, Stereo
Country: Released: 1975 probably
Genre: Non-Music
Style: Spoken Word

The liner notes are short, and not exciting, so I’ll skip those. But inside the gatefold also show photos of many of the famous players for the buckeyes from 1916 through 1974.

Let’s see what prices this record is being sold at on discogs dot com.

$8.00 High
$1.12 Low

$3.43 Average
$2.99 Median

Last sold on Feb 02, 2024 for five bucks

My dad’s record is in really good condition. However, the cheapness of the material used didn’t hold very well and I had to use my highest weight on the tone arm to fix the nasty skips that were on side one.

The cover is in fair condition. There’s those wear marks that show the outline of the record on the back. Since it’s a gatefold, they are not evident on the front. There are no markings and no address label.

So I’ll value my dad’s vinyl at a dollar fifty. Maybe that latest championship made it more valuable. Who knows?

Yesterday’s victory added the name Ryan Day to the list of head coaches that have won national championships at OSU.

The others are:
Paul Brown
Woody Hayes
Jim Tressel
And Urban Meyer

Which makes it…
Time for this episode’s interesting side note and it has to do with that last name I mentioned. And it’s a short one.

My daughter graduated from the same high school as Urban Meyer, St John in Ashtabula Ohio.

And I met Urban back when he was the head coach of Utah. He was the best man in a friend’s wedding in 2002-3.

OK, let’s move on.
During side B of this record you are going to hear the only two time Hiseman trophy winner set a bunch of NCAA and Buckeye records. Plus a milestone for Woody Hayes for his 200th history at the collegiate level.

[Side B]

Well, I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you.

I think I remember this album cover from my growing up days in the house. But I don’t ever remember hearing it.

Coming from a Buckeye family, especially in the 1960s and 70s it was probably common to see a record like this around the house.

The front cover features a montage of painted like figures. There’s Woody barking orders. Archie during a long run. Three other older figures in different football poses. And behind it all is Ohio Stadium known as the Horseshoe filled to the brim with the Buckeye Marching Band spelling out Script Ohio.

The back cover is filled with actual photographs in a montage style on a green background. Woody stand out in the middle and is joined by Archie and a group of cheerleaders. There is action shots from several games over the years dating back to the 1920s when players wore leather helmets with no masks.

Several of those photos are from the Michigan games.

So thanks for tuning into this Special Volume: History of a Champion; O-H-I-O however you did.

If you want more information about this SHOW, head over to spinning my dad’s vinyl dot com.

And I’m going to finish this show the way all Ohio State Buckeye football games end. With the band playing and the football team singing Carmen Ohio.
Until next time.

Go with the flow my friends.

Liner Notes

Political comedy that hits home

My dad seemed to have an album for every occasion.

I can’t tell you how appropriate the timing is to play this record for you. Oh wait…yes I can…and will.

This is truly in the vein of “the more things change the more they stay the same.” And it’s all portrayed using some of the main characters of an all time classic movie.

Tomorrow the United States of America swears in its 47th president, who, of course, was also the 45th president. We will not be making any commentary on the results of the most recent election itself, but we will be reflecting on many similarities of current events to what you are about to hear.

So, get ready to listen to a comedy recording performed right about the time Richard Nixon was getting elected as the 37th president 53 years ago in Volume 212: Inauguration Italian Style.

Video Intro

Listen here or on my PodBean Podcast Episode page:

You can check out the video version here or on YouTube:

Credits and Copyrights:

See information from the Discogs.com page here

The Firsta Family – The Firsta Family
Label: Poppy – PYS5706
Format: Vinyl, LP, Stereo
Released: 1972
Genre: Non-Music
Style: Comedy, Spoken Word

We will hear 10 of the 17 tracks on this album.

The Godfathers Inauguration
Mama Presidentes Tour
First Cabinet Eating
White House Garage Sale
Group Confessional
Papa Presidente’s Security
Breakfast Problem
Family Portrait
The Late Show

I do not own the rights to this music. ASCAP, BMI licenses provided by third-party platforms for music that is not under Public Domain.

#comedyalbum #inauguration #godfather

Here is the Episode Script!

Thanks sweetie and thank YOU for tuning into episode 212 of Spinning My Dad’s Vinyl.

My dad seemed to have an album for every occasion.

I can’t tell you how appropriate the timing is to play this record for you. Oh wait…yes I can…and will.

This is truly in the vein of “the more things change the more they stay the same.” And it’s all portrayed using some of the main characters of an all time classic movie.

Tomorrow the United States of America swears in its 47th president, who, of course, was also the 45th president. We will not be making any commentary on the results of the most recent election itself, but we will be reflecting on many similarities of current events to what you are about to hear.

So, get ready to listen to a comedy recording performed right about the time Richard Nixon was getting elected as the 37th president 53 years ago in Volume 212: Inauguration Italian Style.

[Music: The Godfathers Inauguration]

It’s a gathering of actors and comedians calling themselves the Firsta Family performing
The Godfathers Inauguration, which is the second cut of the album. The first cut explains why the Don was running for president in the first place.

Ok…Why this record for this episode?

Honest! I’m not drawing any parallels between these skits from 1972 and what is currently happening now. BUT, if you want to infer any parallels, I certainly won’t stop you.

When I listened to this album, I couldn’t help thinking about the feelings certain people have about a certain someone and how dead-on the writers of this material were so many years ago.

Yes, you could still drop this comedy into almost any presidential election and aftermath in the last five decades, but doggone it, the lead character of this story just happens to have the same name as our incoming president. Who, of course, has been compared to the head of the mob.

I don’t think this is an odd record in my dad’s collection. There’s not only parallel to the incoming president, but of course, the main character of this recording does a great job of imitating the main character from the famous Godfather movie, which came out the same year.

Not all of them, but some of these skits also relate to some great Italian-American family traditions.

Like this next bit.

[Music: Mama Presidentes Tour]

Mama Presidentes Tour featuring Louise Chalmis as Mama.

Now let me tell you about my dad’s vinyl I am spinning for this episode.

The Firsta Family – The Firsta Family
Label: Poppy – PYS5706
Format: Vinyl, LP, Stereo
Released: 1972
Genre: Non-Music
Style: Comedy, Spoken Word

We will hear 9 of the 17 tracks on this album.

I’ll be using most of the liner notes to introduce more fully each of the actors you are hearing.

But I will read the cast member’s name and who they are portraying along with some other important people that helped produce this record now.

Jack DeLeon as Papa Presidente
Jesse White plays KISSingliero, a play on consigliere or advisor.
Louise Chalmis as Mama
Bob Ridgeley as Skippy
Dick Clair as Michael
Jenna McMahon as the Airline Stewardess, a skit you won’t hear on this episode.
Jerry Fogel is the announcer
And Ed Peck plays Senator Bilboat.

The album was produced by Jack DeLeone with Ed Monaghan.
Written by Ed Monaghan, Anne Monaghan, and Jack DeLeone.
Additional material by Barry Waronker.
Group Confessional written by Dick Clair and Jenna McMahon.
Production Supervisor Harry O’Connor
Engineer Dave Weekman
Editor Bob Casey
Production Assistant Fran DeLeon
Recorded at Annex Studios in Hollywood

Let’s see what prices this record is being sold at on discogs dot com.

$6.00 High
$0.77 Low

$1.79 Average
$1.35 Median

Last sold on Dec 28, 2024 for $2.95.

My dad’s record is in fair to good condition. Not much hiss or crackle. The surface is really clean. Probably because it’s still in the original internal paper sleeve. It doesn’t look like he played it very much.

The cover is in poor condition only because it’s a cutout. This one is the variety that has a huge part of the lower corner missing, right where the slit is.

The color is still a strong royal blue with just a hint of the disk outline weathered in. The back is in good condition too. There are no other markings usually seen on my dad’s covers. Including no address label.

So I will value my dad’s vinyl at a buck fifty.

Next up. I’ve already described plenty of family dinners to you.

[Music: First Cabinet Eating]
[Music: White House Garage Sale]

There’s some extra absurdity for you during the White House Garage Sale.

Before that we heard First Cabinet Eating.

I’m going to use the back cover liner notes to give a little more information about each of the main characters.

I’m reading from the bottom up.

Ed Peck
a graduate of the Second City company featured roles in Bullit, Alice B Toklas, comedy roles include Dick Van Dyke Show and Love American style.

Jerry Fogel
Two years on the television series mothers-in-law, played by Kay Ballard’s son. featured role in the movie Tora Tora Tora, disc jockey for WBBF in Rochester New york.
Jenna McMahon and Dick Claire
featured in the funny side comedy series for NBC, 1971 Academy Award nominated short The rehearsal which they wrote and performed in, have written for Mary Tyler Moore Show and Bob Newhart Show.

Bob Ridgely
has appeared in over 100 television commercials, started as singer in nightclubs. well known for his John Wayne impression in Taster’s Choice and Ford television commercials.

Louise Chalmis
Her career is as varied as the number of dialects she has mastered. graduate of LA City college. She has appeared in television, radio and Children’s Theater in southern california.

Jesse White
one of the top comedy actors on both coasts. He has made 54 movies, 17 Broadway shows. most notable Harvey 4 years on broadway. in recent Revival on Broadway of Harvey, James Stewart and Helen Hayes. Best known as the Maytag repairman television commercial.

and Jack de Leon
Jack the Presidente and star of the Firsta Family is an Italian brooklyn-born actor and comedian and is considered by his peers to be one of the most versatile vocal Impressionists in show business. His classical portrayal of the Italian movie, has been seen on almost every major television show including the Dean Martin show, Johnny Carson, Mike Douglas, and Ed Sullivan.

Jack now resides in California where he is acting in television, motion pictures, writing scripts and dreaming up ideas like the Firsta Family.

Now…Bless me father for I have sinned…it’s been several decades since my last confession.

[Music: Group Confessional]

There is the Group Confessional
As a recovering Catholic, I really felt this one.

Time now for this episode’s interesting side note and it has to do with a particular Italian stereotype portrayed in pop culture.

The iconic image of an Italian mobster carrying a violin case that conceals a machine gun first gained popularity during the Prohibition era of the 1920s and 1930s, reflecting the public’s fascination with organized crime. The concept is tied to real-life gangsters who used inconspicuous containers, such as violin or guitar cases, to discreetly transport firearms, particularly the compact Thompson submachine gun, or “Tommy Gun.”

Apart from being the ultimate mobster prop, carrying a Tommy gun in a violin case came about as a practical solution, in the 1920s, to needing to carry a firearm in public.

When people caught on, violin cases started to be used to hide all kinds of firearms – from machine guns to sawed-off shotguns.

From a practical point of view, musical instrument cases come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, making them the perfect prop for concealing any weapon you might be transporting.

But gangsters didn’t just use musical instrument cases…they used anything that was handy. Real-life gangster Al ‘Scarface’ Capone reportedly used to carry his shotgun in a golf bag.

Others would carry them in newspapers. “Due to the large size of certain US newspapers in the 1920s and the early part of the 1930s,” says Valerie Cormett in The Guardian, “Even a machine gun could be concealed relatively easily. Bullets could be fired from rolled up newspapers much more efficiently than from a violin case.

She said “I think Hollywood has a lot to do with this myth – a violin case is much more visually arresting than a copy of the Chicago Tribune.”

The violin case concealing a machine gun likely first appeared in popular culture through urban legends and pulp fiction of the time, but it wasn’t widely visualized on screen until later films and media. Early depiction could be traced to Looney Tunes or Merrie Melodies cartoons, which often played with mobster stereotypes in an exaggerated, humorous manner during the 1940s and 1950s. Cartoons like these popularized absurd yet memorable imagery, such as mobsters with violin cases containing machine guns, cementing the trope in public consciousness. The reason this imagery caught on is because it encapsulated the duality of mobsters—using an object associated with culture and refinement (a violin) to hide something violent and subversive.

OK…Now for three short bits in a row.

[Music: Papa Presidente’s Security]
[Music: Breakfast Problem]
[Music: Group Confessional]

That was Family Portrait, before that we heard Breakfast Problem and we started that set out with Papa Presidente’s Security.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you.

While digitizing this record I kept chuckling to myself, not only because some of these bits were really funny, but how the subject matter of this album from 53 years ago and how it was treated is so similar to some of the situations we are seeing today.

I loved it.

I don’t remember this album cover from my growing up days in the house.

It is very distinctive with the title The Firsta Family in large white letters on a royal blue cover. The only other image present is the seal of the president of the United states. With notable exceptions. The real seal shows the eagle; in one claw is an olive branch, a symbol of peace, and the other claw holds thirteen arrows, a symbol of war.

On the album cover the arrows have been replaced by a violin case and the olive branches have been replaced by a machine gun. Go figure. But see previous break.

I really left some good material unplayed. Like the President giving Russia a raspberry…you know…Phllbt.

Or a bit about the boys kidnapping an entire state.

And yes. I went ahead and made the comparison of this fictional first family from 53 years ago to what sometimes seems like a fictional family about to enter the White House for the second time.

It’s all just Late Show fodder.

[Music: The Late Show]

The Late Show

And there you have selections from a comedy album produced the same year as the first Godfather movie was released and Richard Nixon was re-elected.

So thanks for tuning into Volume 212: Inauguration Italian Style

however you did. If you want more information about this SHOW, head over to spinning my dad’s vinyl dot com.

I’ll be back next week with all my skips, scratches, and pops

FOR Volume 213: Ray’s Marvelous

Until then,
Go with the flow my friends.

Liner Notes

Easy Listening Latin Music

I’ve mentioned this a few times on this show. The Latin beat was extremely popular when my dad was a teenager and beyond. This record is a combination of taking that Latin beat, this time from a specific country, and arranging it with a plush orchestra.

The orchestra conductor who arranged this music was considered the leader in a genre that infiltrated hundreds of radio stations in the 1960s. It’s still a term widely used to describe this sound.

So get ready to hear the captain of the easy listening movement in Volume 211: Percy’s Cuba.

Video Intro

Listen here or on my PodBean Podcast Episode page:

You can check out the video version here or on YouTube:

Credits and Copyrights:

See information from the Discogs.com page here

The Jonah Jones Quartet – Great Instrumental Hits Styled By Jonah Jones
Label: Capitol Records – T1557, Capitol Records – T-1557
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Released: 1961
Genre: Jazz
Style: Swing, Easy Listening

Bass – John Brown
Drums – George Foster
Piano – Teddy Brannon

We’ll hear 7 of the 12 songs on the album.

The Poor People Of Paris
Written-By – Marguerite Monnot, and Rene Rouzard

Dansero
Written-By – Lee Daniels, Richard Hayman, and Sol Parker

The Third Man Theme
Written-By – Anton Karas, and Walter Lord

Lisbon Antigua
Written-By – Paul Portela

Soft Summer Breeze
Written-By – Eddie Heywood, and Judy Spencer

Serenata
Written-By – Leroy Anderson

Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White
Written-By – Louiguy (real name Louis Guglielmi)

I do not own the rights to this music. ASCAP, BMI licenses provided by third-party platforms for music that is not under Public Domain.

Here is the Episode Script!

Thanks sweetie and thank YOU for tuning into episode 211 of Spinning My Dad’s Vinyl.

I’ve mentioned this a few times on this show. The Latin beat was extremely popular when my dad was a teenager and beyond. This record is a combination of taking that Latin beat, this time from a specific country, and arranging it with a plush orchestra.

The orchestra conductor who arranged this music was considered the leader in a genre that infiltrated hundreds of radio stations in the 1960s. It’s still a term widely used to describe this sound.

So get ready to hear the captain of the easy listening movement in Volume 211: Percy’s Cuba.

[Music: Malagueña]

Percy Faith And His Orchestra with the title track of this album Malagueña
Written-By – Ernesto Lecuona – The first of many times you’ll hear that name.

Ok…Why this record for this episode?

While I have loved the authentic Latin music my dad has in his collection, it’s also been interesting to hear more Americanized versions of the music created in order to attract more American listeners. Thus, of course, selling more records.

Percy Faith recorded nearly 300 albums according to discogs dot com and he performed a variety of styles. As you’ll hear in more detail, he was a leader in the easy listening music style. So it only made sense to combine Faith’s popular arrangements with the popular sound of the Latin beat.

The title of the album, Malagueña, was familiar to me as there is a great video of the immortal Roy Clark playing it on acoustic guitar on YouTube. But I couldn’t quite hear in my head how it or the other Cuban music on the album might sound with the full Percy Faith orchestral treatment. I was familiar with Faith’s music, even though this is just the first of only two records my dad had by this artist. I had played plenty of his tunes at the first radio station I worked at.

What I am not familiar with, no matter how hard I try, is how to pronounce some of these song titles. But I am very familiar with this melody.

[Music: El Manisero (The Peanut Vendor)]

El Manisero (The Peanut Vendor)
Written-By – Marion Sunshine, Moises Simons, and Louise Wolfe Gilbert

Now let me tell you about my dad’s vinyl I am spinning for this episode.

Percy Faith And His Orchestra – Malagueña (Music Of Cuba)
Label: Columbia – CS 8081
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Released: 1958
Genre: Jazz, Latin
Style: Easy Listening, Afro-Cuban Jazz, Rumba, Samba, Cha-Cha

We’ll hear 6 of 14 tunes from this album.

The liner notes aren’t too long, but I’m only going to pick out a few.

As any visitor knows, there is more to Cuba than rum and sugar, more than gambling and good times, more than historic shrines and beautiful scenery. There is music, fascinating and unusual music, and it is constantly in the air. For this dazzling musical journey to Cuba, Percy Faith has selected a program of characteristic Cuban melodies, some familiar, some relatively unknown, and arranged them in that vivacious fashion for which he has become famous.

Canadian-born Mr. Faith seems to find a special delight in the frisky rhythms and sultry airs, in arranging them for unusual combinations of instruments, and introducing novel – to Mainland ears – effects. In Malaguena he has accomplished this agreeable feat with even more than his customary richness, and the profile of Cuba he presents is entirely winning, a colorful and enchanting likeness of a colorful and enchanting island.

Let’s see what prices this record is being sold at on discogs dot com.

$12.00 High
$0.52 Low

$4.68 Average
$3.75 Median

Last sold on Oct 06, 2024 for 3 pounds 20, or about $3.30 US.

My dad’s record is in fair to poor condition. There’s lots of crackling at the beginning of each side. But it settles down as the needle works down the groove.

The surface itself is pretty clean with only a few of those markings you can get when pulling an album out of the sleeve.

The cover is fair bordering on poor. Plenty of wear marks on the frog cover. There are a couple of tiny slits on each side of the opening.

The word Posted is stamped on the back and the green magic marker is present.

There is no address label on the front.

So I’ll value my dad’s vinyl at a buck.

Next up…not exactly “Show me the way to go home,” but this is a song about a winemaker.

[Music: El Bodeguero]

El Bodeguero (The Winemaker)
Written-By – Richard Egues

Now let’s learn a little about this featured orchestra leader.

Percy Faith was born on April 7, 1908, in Toronto, Canada. He was a famous Canadian musician, conductor, and composer known for creating beautiful, lush orchestral music. As a child, Percy showed a great talent for playing the piano, but after a fire injured his hands, he focused on arranging and conducting music instead. He is often credited with popularizing the “easy listening” or “mood music” format. He became a staple of American popular music in the 1950s and continued well into the 1960s. Although his professional orchestra-leading career began at the height of the swing era, he refined and rethought orchestration techniques, including use of large string sections, to soften and fill out the brass-dominated popular music of the 1940s. People loved how his music could make them feel relaxed and happy.

One of Percy Faith’s most famous pieces is “The Theme from A Summer Place,” which won a Grammy Award in 1961 and became one of the best-known instrumental songs of all time. He also worked on Broadway shows and arranged music for many singers, including Tony Bennett and Doris Day. His work helped popularize orchestral music in a time when rock and roll was taking over the charts. Faith’s music remains popular today, especially for those who enjoy calming, timeless melodies. He passed away on February 9, 1976, but his music still brings joy to people around the world. Percy Faith was 67.

This next song sounds like it could have come from a James Bond movie.

[Music: Siboney]

Siboney
Written-By – Ernesto Lecuona

Time now for this episode’s interesting side note and it has to do with how Percy started a very popular trend.

Percy Faith is often credited with popularizing “easy listening” or “mood music” because he took orchestral music and made it appeal to a wide audience. During the 1950s and 1960s, he blended classical music techniques with modern pop melodies, creating a smooth and relaxing sound that stood out. Unlike big bands or rock and roll, his music wasn’t about excitement or dancing—it was designed to set a calm, romantic mood. Percy Faith’s arrangements featured sweeping strings, gentle rhythms, and soft instrumental solos, making his music perfect for quiet evenings or background listening.

What made Faith a leader in this movement was his ability to reinvent popular songs. Instead of just performing them as they were, he arranged them into lush orchestral versions that felt new and sophisticated. His work on radio and television also helped spread the “easy listening” style, as millions of people tuned in to hear his music. By creating albums filled with this kind of sound, Percy Faith inspired other musicians to follow in his footsteps, solidifying his role as a pioneer of mood music.

Speaking of music styles, let’s cha cha over to see mama.

[Music: Mama Inez]

Mama Inez
Written-By – Elisio Grenet

Well, I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you.

Latin music, no matter how it’s presented, always gets me moving. A sight I think you would rather not see. But it is hard to resist.

I’ll be looking forward to the other Percy Faith album my dad has where he takes on the music of Mexico.

I think I remember this album cover from my growing up days in the house.

The bright orange title of the album in all caps takes up the entire width. Colorful dots focus your eyes on the words Music of Cuba.

Under that the photo by Leo Stashin is of a light brown skinned woman looking intently off to the distance. There’s a leaf covering part of her forehead. Kind of typical artwork for album covers of the 1950s.

So let’s finish up with a trip to a sea town in Spain. Yes Yes.

[Music: Para Vigo Me Voy (Say, Sí Sí)]

Para Vigo Me Voy (Say, Sí Sí)
I’m Going To Vigo (Say, Yes Yes)
Written-By – Al Stillman, Ernesto Lecuona, and Francia Luben

And there you have selections from an album filled with atin music with an American orchestral twist.

So thanks for tuning into Volume 211: Percy’s Cuba

however you did. If you want more information about this SHOW, head over to spinning my dad’s vinyl dot com.

I’ll be back next week with all my skips, scratches, and pops

FOR Volume 212: Inauguration Italian Style

Until then,
Go with the flow my friends.

Liner Notes

Welcome to season five.

We start out 2025 with a trumpet player you’ve heard twice before. This is the last of his records in my dad’s collection.

When I first came across him, 165 episodes ago, I realized quickly that I had been missing out on listening to another great trumpet player in my youth. His previous episodes are on my play-often list.

The arrangements on this record call for his playing to be smooth and lyrical, but we know he had a famous solo that was brash and beautiful.

So, get ready to hear from a musician who was the jokester of the Cab Calloway orchestra for over a decade in Volume 210: Jonah Style.

Here’s the promised link: Read the Jonah Jones New York Time Obituary. 

Video Intro

Listen here or on my PodBean Podcast Episode page:

You can check out the video version here or on YouTube:

Credits and Copyrights:

See information from the Discogs.com page here

The Jonah Jones Quartet – Great Instrumental Hits Styled By Jonah Jones
Label: Capitol Records – T1557, Capitol Records – T-1557
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Released: 1961
Genre: Jazz
Style: Swing, Easy Listening

Bass – John Brown
Drums – George Foster
Piano – Teddy Brannon

We’ll hear 7 of the 12 songs on the album.

The Poor People Of Paris
Written-By – Marguerite Monnot, and Rene Rouzard

Dansero
Written-By – Lee Daniels, Richard Hayman, and Sol Parker

The Third Man Theme
Written-By – Anton Karas, and Walter Lord

Lisbon Antigua
Written-By – Paul Portela

Soft Summer Breeze
Written-By – Eddie Heywood, and Judy Spencer

Serenata
Written-By – Leroy Anderson

Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White
Written-By – Louiguy (real name Louis Guglielmi)

I do not own the rights to this music. ASCAP, BMI licenses provided by third-party platforms for music that is not under Public Domain.

Here is the Episode Script!

Thanks sweetie and thank YOU for tuning into episode 210 of Spinning My Dad’s Vinyl.

And welcome to season five.

We start out 2025 with a trumpet player you’ve heard twice before. This is the last of his records in my dad’s collection.

When I first came across him, 165 episodes ago, I quickly realized that I had been missing out on listening to another great trumpet player in my youth. His previous episodes are on my play-often list.

The arrangements on this record call for his playing to be smooth and lyrical, but we know he had a famous solo that was brash and beautiful.

So, get ready to hear from a musician who was the jokester of the Cab Calloway orchestra for over a decade in Volume 210: Jonah Style.

[Music: The Poor People Of Paris]

It’s the Jonah Jones Quartet with vocal backing by the Swinginest Chorale performing
The Poor People Of Paris
Written-By – Marguerite Monnot, and Rene Rouzard

The rest of the Quartet behind Jones is
Bass – John Brown
Drums – George Foster
Piano – Teddy Brannon

The solo I mentioned was Cab Calloway’s 1931 recording of Minnie the Moocher.

Ok…Why this record for this episode?

I’ve really started to look forward to any session listening to this trumpet player’s music. I’m sorry I didn’t know much about him earlier when I was starting to listen to more jazz. He would have been high on MY to play list.

I loved learning about his fun-loving personality, which got Dizzy Gillespie kicked out of Cab’s band. That’s a story you can hear in Volume 38: Dizzy Will Excite.

This album is also a great example of the experimentation with pop music in the late 1950 through the early 1960s. This almost sounds like a recording Ray Conniff might have made. With the vocals that aren’t necessarily lending lyrics to the song.

It’s good stuff.

Now a song Doris Day recorded a couple years after Jonah did.

[Music: Dansero]

Dansero
Written-By – Lee Daniels, Richard Hayman, and Sol Parker

Now let me tell you about my dad’s vinyl I am spinning for this episode.

The Jonah Jones Quartet – Great Instrumental Hits Styled By Jonah Jones
Label: Capitol Records – T1557
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Released: 1961
Genre: Jazz
Style: Swing, Easy Listening

We’ll hear 7 of the 12 songs on the album.

The liner notes are short and I’ll even skip a couple sentences listing all the songs.

Jonah Jones imparts his magic touch to a dozen fine songs which are already famous as great instrumental hits. but now they have been removed from the lush orchestral surroundings in which they were originally heard, and tailored to suit the clean, compact style which has become a Jonah Jones trademark.

Once again, as in Jonah’s Touch of blue album, The Familiar quartet sound, paced by the brilliant Jones trumpet against a shuffling rhythm background, is augmented by the Swinginest Choral. They’re tasteful vocal riffs add even more excitement to these inventive arrangements.

Each one was a best seller in its own right but they may well become hits all over again, now that they’ve been swingingly styled by Jonah.

Let’s see what prices this record is being sold at on discogs dot com.

$25.00 High
$0.75 Low

$6.81 Average
$5.99 Median

Last sold on Oct 15, 2024 for $5.99

My dad’s album is in good condition. Not much hiss or many crackles. The surface is pretty clean too. Only a few wear marks are visible.

The cover is in poor condition. The front is still in pretty good shape, but there is a slit along the bottom edge and one near the opening.

The usual word Posted is stamped on the back along with a green magic marker streak. His ever-present address label is on the front.

Since the record itself is in such good shape, I’ll value my dad’s vinyl at two bucks.

OK…Here’s a melody regular listeners of this show should recognize.

[Music: The Third Man Theme]

The Third Man Theme
Written-By – Anton Karas, and Walter Lord

We’ve already taken a closer look at the life of this great trumpet player in episodes 45 and 126, so let’s just summarize here.

Jonah Jones was a famous trumpet player and singer who became known for his cheerful, easygoing jazz style. He was born Robert Elliott Jones on December 31, 1909, in Louisville, Kentucky. As a young boy, Jonah taught himself to play the trumpet and started performing in local bands. In the 1920s, he joined riverboat bands that played jazz as they traveled up and down the Mississippi River. Later, Jonah became part of bigger bands, including the famous Cab Calloway Orchestra, where he performed for many years.

In the 1950s, Jonah Jones gained even more fame by forming his own quartet. His music was different because it combined swing jazz with a more relaxed, pop style that made it easy for anyone to enjoy. One of his most popular albums was Muted Jazz, which won a Grammy Award in 1959. Jonah’s energetic performances and catchy tunes brought jazz to a wider audience, and he continued to entertain people around the world until his death in 2000. Today, he’s remembered as a musician who made jazz fun and accessible for everyone.

Jonah Jones died April 30, 2000 at the age of 90.

Wow…90. In Portuguese that would be Anitgua.

[Music: Lisbon Antigua]

Lisbon Antigua or old Lisbon, which is a port town in Portugal.
Written-By – Paul Portela

Time now for this episode’s interesting side note and it has to do with how Jonah Jones’ career could not be muted…well kinda.

This tidbit is provided in his obituary from the New York Times.

He staged a midcareer resurgence in the 50’s by putting a mute in his horn and familiar pop melodies in his hands. In 1952 Mr. Jones received an offer from the pianist Joe Bushkin to fill in at the Embers, one of New York’s 52nd Street jazz clubs. Mr. Jones agreed to put a mute in his horn; this quieter sound was what his predecessor in the band, Buck Clayton, had adopted, and it was what the restaurant preferred. Mr. Jones, whose resume included stints with the society band leaders Lester Lanin and Meyer Davis, wasn’t particularly fazed. Despite the fact that his regular style was open, forceful and swinging in the Louis Armstrong vein, he knew how to play softly too.

He was invited back to play at the Embers with his own quartet in 1955, and the same restrictions of volume applied. Occasionally Mr. Jones was tempted to take the mute out of his horn. ”People would say, ‘Jonah, just play one chorus open,’ ” Mr. Jones told John S. Wilson of The New York Times in 1983. ”One night, Joe Howard, the maitre d’, who had warned me to keep the mute in, was busy, and I thought he wasn’t listening, so I played one chorus open. Afterward, when I came off the stand, Joe told me that if I took the mute out again I should just forget the address of the club.”

The trumpeter Jimmy Owens recalled: ”The essence of his style was to swing. His whole thing was to communicate, and that’s why he stuck with the melodies. He always said of himself that he was not a chord player, like Dizzy Gillespie and Roy Eldridge and Charlie Shavers; he was more of a melody player.”

By the way, the use of Mr, is New York Times writing style.

Speaking of melodies, up next, we’ll hear a couple of pretty ones.

[Music: Summer Breeze]
[Music: Serenata]

There is Serenata
Written-By – Leroy Anderson

Before that we heard
Soft Summer Breeze
Written-By – Eddie Heywood, and Judy Spencer

Well, I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you.

I’ve discovered that I really like listening to Jonah’s music. And while my dad only had these three records from him, I know we hear his trumpet in many other orchestras that have been featured on this show.

I think I remember this album cover from my growing up days in the house. Why not? It’s got a bikini clad woman wearing an inordinate amount of necklaces. She is in what can be described as a fashion designer’s studio among several dress forms. The one she is leaning on has a sheath of fabric wrapped around it and trails on the floor for quite a length. Sitting in front of another form is a trumpet standing on its bell.

Jonah was known for his unique album cover artwork. Pretty risque for the times

All right…The shubedoops you’ll hear in this next song are the kind of things my dad would just randomly sing around the house.

[Music: Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White]

Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White
Written-By – Louiguy (real name Louis Guglielmi)

And there you have selections from one of the many great trumpet players from my dad’s collection.

So thanks for tuning into Volume 210: Jonah Style

however you did. If you want more information about this show, head over to spinning my dad’s vinyl dot com.

I’ll be back next week with all my skips, scratches, and pops

FOR Volume 211: Percy’s Cuba

Until then,
Go with the flow my friends.

Liner Notes

Welcome to the last episode of season 4.

You know you can get close to new years eve and NOT have to listen to Guy Lombardo. WE are going to finish out 2024 on a really upbeat note. In fact, there’s nothing like that two-beat music to send us out dancing.

Our featured artist has a slightly more famous brother, but he certainly made a big name for himself as well. And on this record, he features music from the Big Easy, which was among my dad’s favorite styles.

So get ready to hear some energetic New Orleans music in Volume 209: Dixie Dorsey.

Video Intro

Listen here or on my PodBean Podcast Episode page:

You can check out the video version here or on YouTube:

Credits and Copyrights:

See information from the Discogs.com page here

Jimmy Dorsey And His Original “Dorseyland” Jazz Band – Dixie By Dorsey
Label: Columbia – CL 608, Columbia – CL-608
Format: Vinyl, LP, Hollywood Pressing
Released: 1955
Genre: Jazz
Style: Dixieland

South Rampart Street Parade
Written-By – Andy Razaf and Paul Denniker

Jazz Me Blues
Written-By – Tom Delaney

That’s A Plenty (That’s a Party!)
Written-By – Lew Pollack

Struttin’ With Some Barbecue
Written-By – Lil Hardin

Panama
Written-By – Unknown Artist

When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)
Written-By – Joe Goodwin, Larry Shay, and Mark Fisher

I do not own the rights to this music. ASCAP, BMI licenses provided by third-party platforms for music that is not under Public Domain.

Here is the Episode Script!

Thanks sweetie and thank YOU for tuning into episode 209 of Spinning My Dad’s Vinyl.

And welcome to the last episode of season 4.

You know you can get close to new years eve and NOT have to listen to Guy Lombardo. WE are going to finish out 2024 on a really upbeat note. In fact, there’s nothing like that two-beat music to send us out dancing.

Our featured artist has a slightly more famous brother, but he certainly made a big name for himself as well. And on this record, he features music from the Big Easy, which was among my dad’s favorite styles.

So get ready to hear some energetic New Orleans music in Volume 209: Dixie Dorsey.

[Music: South Rampart Street Parade]

What a great way to get this party started.

Jimmy Dorsey And His Original “Dorseyland” Jazz Band with
South Rampart Street Parade
Written-By – Andy Razaf and Paul Denniker

Ok…Why this record for this episode?

I’ve been a big fan of Tommy Dorsey for years. I knew he had a musical brother that he had formed a band with, but Jimmy wasn’t out there recording with the Frank Sinatras of the world.

And that’s just it. Jimmy was performing in the shadow of his big brother but many critics think that Jimmy’s band was extremely underrated.

On an earlier episode I featured an album where they performed together but this record is letting Jimmy shine with his own band.

Tragically the other thing these brothers had in common is that neither reached their mid 50s.

Next up is a Dixieland standard you’ve heard a couple of times on this show.

[Music: Jazz Me Blues]

Jazz Me Blues
Written-By – Tom Delaney

Now let me tell you about my dad’s vinyl I am spinning for this episode.

Jimmy Dorsey And His Original “Dorseyland” Jazz Band – Dixie By Dorsey
Label: Columbia – CL 608, Columbia – CL-608
Format: Vinyl, LP, Hollywood Pressing
Released: 1955
Genre: Jazz
Style: Dixieland

We will hear 6 of the 12 songs on this record.

The back cover is filled with liner notes, mostly the story of Dixieland Jazz, but there is a paragraph about this record specifically.

Plus the first sentence of the notes does mention Dorsey.

In this collection are new additions of 12 sturdy Dixieland favorites, vigorously and brilliantly played by Jimmy Dorsey and an aggregation known as the original dorseyland jazz band.

Here are the echoes of that music, in exciting, infectious reprisals by Jimmy Dorsey and his superlative group. The dazzling variations, the relaxed, easy going atmosphere, the technical proficiency are such as might have been heard any night in New Orleans some years ago. here they are for you to enjoy now, reminders of the vastly entertaining and expressive music of Dixieland style.

Let’s see what prices this record is being sold at on discogs dot com.

$7.59 High
$0.50 Low

$1.93 Average
$1.50 Median

Last sold on Sep 19, 2024 for $2.99.

eBay had them in the 5 to 10 dollar range and so did Amazon.

My dad’s record is in fair condition. There’s not much hiss or crackle at all between the tracks. The surface is in pretty good shape too. Just a few spots here and there.

However, the cover is another story. It’s in poor condition. It has an odd plastic laminate along the opening that is starting to fray. I think the original photograph by Hugh Bell is odd. It’s a hazy black & white image of musicians on a stage. You see a clarinet player, bass player, drummer, electric guitarist, trombone and somebody’s hands that might be playing a piano or a theremin. There’s no instrument in the photo for that pair of hands. There’s also another musician just visible in the haze. I wonder if that’s Jimmy.

There’s a short green magic marker streak on the back along with some tap along the top edge to keep the cover together. There is no address label on the front.

So I’ll value my dad’s vinyl at 50 cents.

Why yes, I’ll go to that party.

[Music: That’s A Plenty (That’s a Party!)]

That’s A Plenty (That’s a Party!)
Written-By – Lew Pollack

Now let’s learn a little about our featured artist.

Jimmy Dorsey was a famous American musician who became one of the most important bandleaders during the Swing Era in the 1930s and 1940s. Born on February 29, 1904, in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, Jimmy grew up in a musical family. His father taught him and his younger brother, Tommy, how to play music. Jimmy played the clarinet and saxophone, while Tommy played the trombone. Together, they worked hard to become great musicians, eventually forming their own band called the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra.
Jimmy’s music was upbeat and fun, perfect for dancing. His band was known for playing swing music, a style that was very popular at the time. Some of Jimmy’s most famous songs include “Amapola,” “Tangerine,” and “So Rare.” People loved listening to Jimmy play the saxophone, and his music brought joy during difficult times, like the Great Depression and World War II. Although he and Tommy sometimes had arguments and went their separate ways, Jimmy continued to lead his own band and made many hit records.
Later in life, Jimmy and Tommy reunited and worked together on a popular television show called Stage Show. Sadly, Jimmy passed away on June 12, 1957 at age 53, but his music is still remembered today. He was a talented musician who helped shape the sound of the Swing Era and inspired many other artists. His songs remind us of a time when music brought people together to dance and celebrate.
And that’s what we’re doing in this episode. Celebrating the coming of another new year and the coming of another new season.

In fact, I think I’m going to strut about that.
Struttin’ With Some Barbecue
Written-By – Lil Hardin

Time now for this episode’s interesting side note and it has to do with a radio first.

Jimmy had a special claim to fame: he played the very first saxophone solo ever broadcast on national radio!
Dorsey’s historic saxophone solo broadcast is an example of how he helped shape the popularity of swing and jazz. In 1924, while playing with the California Ramblers, a well-known jazz band of the time, Jimmy performed a saxophone solo during a radio broadcast. This was an exciting and groundbreaking moment because, at that time, radio was still a new technology, and it was quickly changing how people experienced music. Live performances could suddenly reach audiences across the country.

Jimmy’s solo introduced many listeners to the sound of the saxophone as a leading instrument in jazz and swing music. Before this, instruments like the trumpet or clarinet were more commonly featured in solos. His performance helped show how expressive and versatile the saxophone could be, paving the way for its central role in swing bands during the 1930s and 1940s. This moment helped solidify Jimmy’s reputation as a talented and innovative musician early in his career.
This story also highlights how Jimmy was at the forefront of new musical trends. By embracing the saxophone and the relatively new medium of radio, he helped bring jazz and swing to a broader audience. His ability to adapt and excel in this evolving musical landscape set the stage for his later success as a bandleader and swing music icon.

Next up…no this is not a Van Halen tune, but I know the Tijuana Brass recorded it.

[Music: Panama]

Panama
Written-By – Unknown Artist

Well, I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you.

There are some great Dixieland standards on this record and Dorsey’s versions sounded fresh even if they were recorded almost 70 years ago. I really liked some of the arrangements I heard.

I know I played plenty of Jimmy Dorsey music at the first radio station I worked at, WBBG in Cleveland.

This is one of those album covers that I’m not sure I remember laying around my parent’s house or if my dad played it a lot. But I’m sure glad I pulled it out of the stack for this episode.

This episode also marks the end of season 4. I hope you’ve been able to enjoy this great musical journey I’ve been on while spinning my dad’s vinyl. And I hope you will continue to join me in season five.

2024 was a great year of live music for me. It started out watching the Cleveland Orchestra perform Beethoven’s Fifth and Shubert’s Third. Karen and I enjoyed our usual local outdoor summer concert series in various towns in northeast Ohio that usually feature some really good tribute bands. We saw five groups who are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Chicago and Earth, Wind, & Fire, Steve Winwood and The Doobie Brothers and Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra. We saw Apollo’s Fire perform Vivaldi’s Four Seasons on the grounds of the beautiful Holden Arboretum. And we were back at the majestic Severance Music Hall earlier this month to hear the Cleveland Orchestra perform two from Aaron Copeland, a tune from Duke Ellington, and one of my favorite tunes of all time, Rhapsody in Blue.

By the way, I’ve already got tickets to see Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass on an Akron stage in March.

Although I didn’t play Guy Lombardo for this season ender, I still want to offer up a year end toast.

Here’s to music, which Henry Wadsworth Longfellow called “the universal language of mankind.”

Happy New Years! Salut!

My dad always had a big smile on his face, so as I wish you a happy new year, please remember, the whole world smiles with you.

[Music: When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)]

When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)
Written-By – Joe Goodwin, Larry Shay, and Mark Fisher

I thought that was an appropriate song to bring season four of this show to a close.

And there you have selections to dance to as we near new years eve of 2024.

So thanks for tuning into Volume 209: Dixie Dorsey

however you did. If you want more information about this SHOW, head over to spinning my dad’s vinyl dot com.

I’ll be back next week with all my skips, scratches, and pops

As we kick off season five with Volume 210: Jonah Style

Until then,
Go with the flow my friends.

Liner Notes

‘Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, well, except for my dad who was putting together the air hockey game, or large electronic toy crane, or other present that would be one of ours the next morning. I have two younger brothers and a sister.

Those are some of my memories of Christmas past, but I wonder what some of my dad’s memories of those past holidays were when HE was a kid. And did those memories have a soundtrack filled with some of the music you are about to hear.

Because I have a feeling these are my dad’s dad’s 78 RPM shellac records. Most of these disks came out around the time my dad was born.

So, get ready to hear sounds of seasons greetings past with records that were probably my grandfathers in Volume 208: A 78RPM Christmas.

Video Intro

Listen here or on my PodBean Podcast Episode page:

You can check out the video version here or on YouTube:

Credits and Copyrights:

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Jimmy Boyd
written by Tommie Connor and first released by Jimmy Boyd accompanied by Norman Luboff in September 1952

Adeste Fideles – Bing Crosby
written by John Francis Wade in 1743

Silent Night – Bing Crosby
written by John Freeman Young, Joseph Mohr, Franz Gruber in 1859.
This record was originally released in 1935. By dad had the repress released in 1938

Oh Little Town of Bethlehem – Charles Paul
written by Lewis Redner, Phillips Brooks in 1868
Paul released his version in 1937

O, Holy Night – Lucy Isabelle Marsh with Lyric Quartet
written by John Sullivan Dwight, Placide Cappeau, Adolphe Charles Adam in 1855

Night Before Christmas – The Music Hall Drama Group and Orchestra
a poem first published anonymously under the title “Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas” in 1823 put to music by Johnny Marks, Henry Livingston, Jr. in 1942
Released in 1952

Frosty the Snowman – Bud Roman and the Toppers with the Hal Lomen Orchestra
written by Jack Rollins, Steve Nelson in 1950
Released in 1952

I do not own the rights to this music. ASCAP, BMI licenses provided by third-party platforms for music that is not under Public Domain.

Here is the Episode Script!

Thanks sweetie and thank YOU for tuning into episode 208 of Spinning My Dad’s Vinyl.

‘Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, well, except for my dad who was putting together the air hockey game, or large electronic toy crane, or other present that would be one of ours the next morning. I have two younger brothers and a sister.

Those are some of my memories of Christmas past, but I wonder what some of my dad’s memories of those past holidays were when HE was a kid. And did those memories have a soundtrack filled with some of the music you are about to hear.

Because I have a feeling these are my dad’s dad’s 78 RPM shellac records. Most of these disks came out around the time my dad was born.

So, get ready to hear sounds of seasons greetings past with records that were probably my grandfathers in Volume 208: A 78RPM Christmas.

[Music: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus]

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Jimmy Boyd
written by Tommie Connor and first released by Jimmy Boyd accompanied by Norman Luboff in September 1952

Ok…Why these records for this episode?

I mean, my dad had dozens of vinyl LPs with Christmas music. I could have gone with any one of them. To me, this music all starts to sound the same after a while this time of year no matter what some artists try to do with a song. So when I noticed my dad had just enough shellac to fill a show, I decided to go with more of a nostalgic feel this year.

And when I think about Christmas eve dinner at my grandparents, the memories just start flooding back. My grandma, my aunt and my mom in the kitchen finishing up dinner prep. My grandpa, uncle and dad sitting around the living room chatting. And the, eventually eight, grandkids flittering around the rest of the house, playing in the unused bedrooms on the second floor, sliding down the carpeted stairs back to the main floor, poking out some simple tunes on the organ and piano in the front room, and hiding in the dark recesses of the scary basement during games of hide and seek.

After dinner, my grandmother would entertain us on the organ, singing carols and church hymns. Then we would head outside to light the candles in the bags along with the rest of the households down the street where they lived. It was so peaceful and beautiful on those snowy streets with that soft glow from the candles.

And among it all was my grandfather running around the house, arranging everyone in group poses so he could take dozens of photos on his Kodak Duaflex 2 Camera. The very one I have in my hands.
So, like I said in the opening. I’m sure most of these records are his.

OK…next up is two from Bing

although not the one you think it might be.

[Music: Adeste Fideles]
[Music: Silent Night]

Silent Night – Bing Crosby
written by John Freeman Young, Joseph Mohr, and Franz Gruber in 1859.
This song has been recorded a reported 4,319 times listed on second hand songs dot com.

Before that we heard the flip side
Adeste Fideles – Bing Crosby
written by John Francis Wade in 1743
This song has 1,580 versions

This record was originally released in 1935. My dad had the repress released in 1938

He did not have a 78 RPM copy of White Christmas that I could find.

This is where I usually introduce the vinyl LP, read some liner notes and tell you about the value and condition of my dad’s record.

We don’t have all of that.

So, I’ll just say these shellac records are in poor condition. They have no covers. And I’ll value each one at about 50 cents.

OK…let’s continue to reach back into the 19th century for these songs.

[Music: Oh Little Town of Bethlehem]

Oh Little Town of Bethlehem – Charles Paul
written by Lewis Redner, and Phillips Brooks in 1868
Paul released his version in 1937

This is where I usually do the artist bios, but I thought for this holiday edition, I would skip over any of those and just let you listen to some very old recordings.

In fact, the disk you are about to hear was pressed more than 100 years ago.

[Music: Oh Little Town of Bethlehem]

O, Holy Night – Lucy Isabelle Marsh with Lyric Quartet
written by John Sullivan Dwight, Placide Cappeau, and Adolphe Charles Adam in 1855
The recording you just heard was first released in 1917. But my grandfather had the repress that came out only a year later.

Time now for this episode’s interesting side note, did you think I would skip that? and it has to do with the seven fish dinner tradition of Italians and one that we only came close to participating in once those Christmas eves at my grandparents stopped.
The tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes originates from Southern Italy and reflects the region’s Catholic heritage, particularly the custom of abstaining from meat on Christmas Eve in preparation for the birth of Christ. The focus on seafood aligns with the Roman Catholic practice of fasting or abstaining from certain foods during holy days. This practice became a cultural and culinary celebration, particularly for Italian immigrants in the United States, who preserved and adapted the tradition as a way to honor their heritage and maintain familial connections during the holidays. The number seven is believed to symbolize perfection in Catholicism, often representing the seven sacraments or the seven days of creation.

The dishes served during the Feast of the Seven Fishes vary by family and region, but common choices include baccalà (salted cod), calamari (squid), shrimp, clams, mussels, scallops, and anchovies. Alternatives or additions might include lobster, octopus, eel, or crab, depending on local availability and personal preference. These dishes are often prepared in diverse ways, such as frying, grilling, or serving in pasta dishes or stews. The meal is not just about the food but also about celebrating family, faith, and the rich culinary traditions of Southern Italy.
Our family substituted smelt for one of those…but definitely NOT the anchovies. That was one of my dad’s delights until he died. He would slice oranges with the peel still on. Lay them out in a dish, place one anchovy on each slice, then add seasoning and some Italian dressing. They mostly stayed on his side of the table. Only my Brother-in-law Aaron even tried to eat them every year.

Next up is a familiar story acted out for radio.

[Music: Night Before Christmas]

Night Before Christmas – The Music Hall Drama Group and Orchestra
a poem first published anonymously under the title “Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas” in 1823 put to music by Johnny Marks, and Henry Livingston, Jr. in 1942
This version was released in 1952

I remember several Christmas eves where I was able to position the window in my bedroom just right to view the reflection showing my dad in the family room assembling one of those big toys we would see under the tree the next morning. My brothers would wait for me to identify the present before we settled into bed…oh so long ago…on that night before Christmas.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I enjoyed bringing it to you.

I’m sure you all have your own favorite Christmas moments. Thank you for letting me share mine.

It’s really different now. My dad has been gone for five years and my mom four and a half years longer. We still do a good job of getting together every year. Usually my sister or my brother Tony have enough room for us.

All of my parents’ grandkids are now adults. The youngest is my daughter who just started college this year. The oldest is in her late thirties.

But there was a time when all of us gathered in my parents’ house for a feast. And then spent what seemed like hours opening up presents. We would take turns, one at a time, going by age from youngest to oldest. But each person could only open one gift each turn. The youngest kids would be tearing open wrapping paper long after the adults had made another trip to the bar.

So I propose a toast to my parents, my sibs, my nieces and nephews, my daughter…and to you! May we enjoy peace on earth and goodwill towards men. Merry Christmas!

Now let’s get out and play in the snow!

[Music: Frosty the Snowman]

The flip side of the night before Christmas was this seasonal favorite, Frosty the Snowman from Bud Roman and the Toppers with the Hal Lomen Orchestra
written by Jack Rollins, and Steve Nelson in 1950
Released in 1952

And there you have selections from what holiday music my dad had available in his stack of shellac.

So thanks for tuning into Volume 208: A 78RPM Christmas

however you did. If you want more information about this SHOW, head over to spinning my dad’s vinyl dot com.

I’ll be back next week with all my skips, scratches, and pops

As we finish out the year with Volume 209: Dixie Dorsey

Until then,
Go with the flow my friends.