Volume 208: A 78RPM Christmas

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.