NEW YEAR'S EVE With Guy Lombardo

Here's a complete kinescope of the CBS Network TV special with Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians as aired on December 31, 1957 (and into January 1, 1958).


Join Guy and the boys for "The Sweetest Music This Side Of Heaven," along with guest stars The Petticoats, from the Grill Room of New York City's Roosevelt Hotel.


Veteran CBS Newsman Bob Trout reports from Times Square in New York City.


Complete with Clairol commercials.


Happy New Year from Bob's Bandstand!

1949 version: Perry Como - The Lord's Prayer

Here's Perry Como with his 1949 recording of Albert Hay Malotta's "The Lord's Prayer."


Perry is accompanied by Choir and Organ under the direction of Mitchell Ayres.


Released on RCA Victor #52-0071.

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen-Bing Crosby (1942)

Here again is Bing Crosby with "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentleman," with John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra and Max Terr's Mixed Chorus.


Released on Decca Records in 1942 and was the 78 RPM flip side to Bing's classic recording of "White Christmas."

1942 HITS ARCHIVE: Silent Night, Holy Night - Bing Crosby (1942 version)

From 1942, here again with Bing Crosby with Franz Gruber's immortal hymn, "Silent Night."


Bing is backed by Max Terr's Mixed Chorus and John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra.


Released on Decca #18510.

1942 HITS ARCHIVE: Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful) - Bing Crosby...

Here's another Classic Crosby Christmas recording in which Bing sings in both Latin and English.


"Adeste Fideles  (O, Come All Ye Faithful)," with John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra and Max Terr's Mixed Chorus.


This 1942 recording was released on Decca #18510.

1942 HITS ARCHIVE: White Christmas - Bing Crosby (his original #1 version)

Here's the classic 1942 version of Irving Berlin's "White Christmas," as only Bing Crosby can sing it.








The Ken Darby Singers and John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra back up Bing on this recording.








Released on Decca #18429.

King Cole Trio - The Christmas Song (original 78 rpm, second recording)

Here are the King Cole Trio, with Nat being the vocalist-pianist, Oscar Moore on guitar, and Johnny Miller on bass, with four string players, a harpist, and a drummer under Charlie Grean's direction with "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)," recorded in New York City on August 19, 1946 and released on Capitol #311.

1958 HITS ARCHIVE: The Chipmunk Song - David Seville (original #1 45 sin...

Yes, it's time for David Seville (a.k.a. actor-songwriter Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.) and The Chipmunks (Alvin, Simon, and Theodore) with "The Chipmunk Song" from 1958.


Released on Liberty #F-55168.

The Little Drummer Boy (Perfect Version)

Here's the Harry Simeone Chorale with "The Little Drummer Boy."


Recorded on October 19, 1958 and released on 20th Century Fox Records.

BRENDA LEE - ROCKIN AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Here's Brenda Lee with her original version of "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree."


This song was composed by Johnny Marks ("Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer").


Recorded on October 19, 1958 and released on Decca #9-30776.

Jingle Bell Rock / Bobby Helms 1957

Here's Bobby Helms with the original version of "Jingle Bell Rock," recorded in October of 1957 and released on Decca #9-30513.

Blue Christmas- Elvis Presley

Here's Elvis Presley with would should be considered the most famous version of the song "Blue Christmas."


Elvis cut the recording in Hollywood on September 5, 1957 and was first released as a track on the RCA-Victor album Elvis' Christmas Album.

1949 HITS ARCHIVE: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry (his orig...

From 1949, here's Gene Autry with his original #1 version of Johnny Marks' "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."


Gene is joined on the vocal by The Pinafores.


Released on Columbia #38610.

1949 HITS ARCHIVE: Sleigh Ride - Boston Pops (1st recorded version)

From 1949, here's the first recorded version of Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride" by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra, released on RCA Victor Red Seal #10-1484..

'THE PLYMOUTH SHOW" Starring Lawrence Welk (Christmas Episode; ABC-December 24, 1958)

Here is the Wednesday, December 24, 1958----Christmas Eve----ABC Network telecast of The Plymouth Show starring Lawrence Welk.


Join Lawrence, along with his Champagne Music Makers, the Lennon Sisters, Champagne Lady Alice Lon, the Little Band, clarinetist Pete Fountain, and many others for "wunnerful, wunnerful" Christmas music!


This was Lawrence's other weekly ABC Network TV show, alongside his Saturday night Dodge Dancing Party.

1939 Tommy Dorsey - March Of The Toys

Here's a spot-on swingin' rendition of "March of the Toys," from Victor Herbert's operetta Babes In Toyland, as only Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra can play it.


Apparently, that's Yank Lawson on the trumpet solo.


Recorded in New York City on August 10, 1939 and released on Victor #26346.

1950 Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters - Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian Chris...

Mele Kalikimaka from Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters!



That's also the name of this 1950 selection (the "Hawaiian Christmas Song) with Bing, Patty, Maxine, and LaVerne plus Vic Schoen and His Orchestra.



Released on Decca #27228.

1950 Johnny Desmond - Sleigh Ride

From 1950, here's Johnny Desmond singing "Sleigh Ride" with the Ray Charles (NOT that one) Singers.



Tony Mottola conducts the orchestra here.



Released on MGM #10827.

1938 Sammy Kaye - Don't Wait 'Til The Night Before Christmas (Three Baro...

Here's a title with a timely advice: "(Don't Wait 'Til) The Night Before Christmas," as we Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye.

The Three Barons handle the vocal here.

Recorded on November 11, 1938 and released on Victor #26104.

1949 Russ Morgan - The Mistletoe Kiss (The Heartbeats, vocal)

With the vocal by The Heartbeats, here's Russ Morgan and His "Music In The Morgan Manner" Orchestra with "The Mistletoe Kiss."

Recorded in 1949 and released on Decca #24766.

1952 Molly Bee - Willy Claus (Little Son Of Santa Claus)

Here's a cute Christmas novelty as then-teenaged Molly Bee----with the Orchestra under the direction of Van Alexander---singing "Willy Claus (Little Son of Santa Claus)."

Recorded in 1952 and released on Capitol #2285.

1946 Bob Crosby - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow (Bob Crosby, vocal)

From 1946 on ARA #RM 129, here's Bob Crosby and His Orchestra with "Let It Snow; Let It Snow; Let It Snow."

Bob sings here too.

Rockin' J-Bells (Mono)

It was high time we added a little rock 'n' roll music into our Christmas music festival as we present Little Bobby Rey with Rockin' J-Bells.

Released on Art Laboe's Orignal Sound Records in 1959.

1949 HITS ARCHIVE: Yingle Bells - Yogi Yorgesson

From 1949, here's music by the one-and-only Yogi Yorgesson, "Yingle Bells."

The Johnny Duffy Trio accompany Yogi (in reality, comedian Harry Stewart) on this release as Capitol #57-781.

1940 Raymond Scott - All Around The Christmas Tree (Clyde Burke, vocal)

Let's go "All Around The Christmas Tree" with the song's composer Raymond Scott and His Orchestra with vocal by Clyde Burke.


Recorded on November 29, 1940 and released on Columbia #35864.

1953 Joni James - Christmas And You

From 1953, here's Joni James with "Christmas and You."  Lew Douglas conducts the Orchestra and Chorus.




Released on MGM #K11637.

Lawrence Welk's TOP TUNES AND NEW TALENT (ABC-December 24, 1956)

Here's a complete kinescope recording of the December 24, 1956 ABC Network telecast of Lawrence Welk's Top Tunes and New Talent, which was Lawrence's other weekly ABC telecast (which aired on Mondays at 9:30 PM Eastern Time) alongside his Saturday Dodge Dancing Party.


Enjoy the Champagne Music Makers, Champaign Lady Alice Lon, the Lennon Sisters, and many others, as well as commercials for the 1957 Dodge and Plymouth automobiles!

1942 Woody Herman - Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (Woody, vocal)

Here's Woody Herman and His Orchestra with "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town."



Woody does the vocal here.



Recorded on July 31, 1942 (on the eve of the start of the American Federation of Musicians' strike against the major record companies) and released on Decca #18512.

1941 Sammy Kaye - Santa Claus Is On His Way (Three Kaydets, vocal)

Time to Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye as Sammy and the boys play "Santa Claus Is On His Way," with vocal by The Three Kaydets.



Recorded in New York City on October 23, 1941 and released on Victor #27691.

1939 Kay Kyser - Hello Mr. Kringle (Harry, Ginny, Sully & Ish, vocals)

Here's Christmas cheer from Kay Kyser and His Orchestra, "Hello, Mr. Kringle."

Harry Babbitt, Ginny Simms, Sully Mason, and Ish Kabibble (a.k.a. Merwyn Bogue) handle the vocals here.

Recorded in Los Angeles on September 9, 1939 and released on Columbia #35248.

1937 Russ Morgan - I Want You For Christmas (Russ Morgan, vocal)

Here's Music In The Morgan Manner with Russ Morgan and His Orchestra, "I Want You For Christmas."


Russ does the vocal here.


Recorded on October 20, 1937 in New York City and released on Brunswick #8005.

1934 Ozzie Nelson - Jingle Bells (Ozzie & Harriet, vocal)

Here's "Jingle Bells," the Ozzie and Harriet way, with music by Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra, with Ozzie and Harriet Hilliard  handling the vocal.



Recorded on November 23, 1934 in New York City and released on Brunswick #7333.

The Andrews Sisters - The Merry Christmas Polka 1950 with Guy Lombardo

Here they are, Maxine, Patty, and LaVerne, the Andrews Sisters with "The Merry Christmas Polka," with Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians.

Recorded in 1949 and released on Decca #24748.

1949 HITS ARCHIVE: I Yust Go Nuts At Christmas - Yogi Yorgesson

From 1949, here's the one-and-only Yogi Yorgesson (a.k.a. songwriter-comedian Harry Stewart) with his own composition, "I Yust Go Nuts At Christmas."

Yogi's backed up by the Johnny Duffy Trio.

Released on Capitol #57-781.

1936 Louis Prima - What Will Santa Claus Say (When He Finds Everbody Swi...

Maybe Santa will be swinging too, Louis! 

Here's Louis Prima and His Orchestra with his own composition, "What Will Santa Claus Say (When He Finds Everybody Swingin')."

Louis does the vocal here.

Recorded in Chicago on November 16, 1936 and released on Vocalion #3376.

1934 HITS ARCHIVE: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - George Hall (Sonny Sc...

Here, we have George Hall and The Hotel Taft Orchestra with "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town."

Sonny Schuyler handles the vocal here.

This early version of this evergreen Christmas classic was recorded on November 13, 1934 and released on Bluebird #B-5711.

1955 Bing Crosby - Christmas Is A-Comin’

From 1955 (recorded on November 22 of that year), here's Bing Crosby with "Christmas Is A-Comin' (May God Bless You)," with Jud Conlon's Rhythmaires and orchestra directed by Buddy Cole.

Released on Decca #29790.

1952 HITS ARCHIVE: A Christmas Festival - Leroy Anderson (his original v...

From 1952, here are parts one and two of "A Christmas Festival," by Leroy Anderson and His "Pops" Concert Orchestra.

Issued on Decca's Gold Label Series, #16041.

Enjoy!