2009 additions to the collective.

[putrid]

Just bought these three CDs from half.com

33 favorite Christmas hymns
Christmas Crooners (BMG Special Products) : Various Artists (CD, 2003)
Christmas in the Aire : Various Artists (CD, 2005)

Out of the 62 songs on these CD's only 3 of them will be repeats of what i already have.

[theedwin]

Pretty cool that you only get 3 repeats. I hope you like those 3 songs! LOL

[putrid]

That's why I'm going to mix my own Christmas CD's. A day and a half of Christmas music with No repeats!!!! With the new CD's I'll have 988 Christmas recordings to choose from. My hour counter in iTunes lists time by the day now. LOL

It's the real reason behind listing all the music I have by artist, song and album. I can compare what I have to a CD. And if necessary I'll even listen to a sound sample and compare it with the recordings i already have. More importantly it helps me collect recordings without getting lots of the same stuff over and over again. Compellation Cd's are cheeper than one by a single artist. And ....I'm thrifty. OK CHEEP LOL

[theedwin]

A day and a half with no repeats? You could supply MUZAC with that!!!! Great job Putrid!

[putrid]

I have a collection of Christmas Muzac CDs. I was thinking off offering them as a prize for the next Christmas prop contest. Pass em on to someone else. LOL

[Sickie Ickie]

We'll be glad to use 'em! :)

[putrid]

Now we need to start a new contest so I can send someone this collection of electronic mall joy. LOL

Decided to try Amazon. Ordered my first CD from them today. Added "Trio West Plays Holiday Songs" to my growing collection of Jazz Christmas music.

If you'd like to hear samples of this CD here's a link,

http://www.amazon.com/Trio-West-Plays-Holiday-Songs/dp/B000MGTIJ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1247268710&sr=1-1

[Elvira]

What a fantastic idea!

[putrid]

Ya, I thought buying from Amazon was a pritty good idea myself. JK LOL Looking forward to being able to contribute to the next contest with hours and hours of muzack! One CD alone is 68:03 of pure homonagized synthetic JOY! LOL

First of the new CD's came in today. "Christmas in the Aire". It's all over the spectrum as far as music goes. Kids choirs to 40's big band swing. Most of the 20 songs are classical pieces. One song really sticks out. But not in a good way. It's a full choir with synthesiser music. A marriage of real people and muzack. Guess it's like mixing that chocolate and bacon. LOL If you could hear what it tastes like it would sound just like that song. You might have to dip it in paint thinner to get the full effect. One bad song out of 20 aint bad at all. There's a version of "O Magnum Mysterium" done by a madrigal choir (Waverly Chonsort) that totally ROCKS. Going to search for more from these guys. The "Hallelujah Chorus" done by 'The Royal Philharnonic Orchestra' isn't one of the better versions. If you like out of the ordinary mostly classical Christmas music it's one to look at. Looking forward to hearing the others.

[putrid]

Just had to look. Found me a CD by The Waverly Consort and had to get it. " A Waverly Consort Christmas" This is so cool I'll probably listen to it all year long. If your interested in hearing samples here's a link,

http://www.amazon.com/Waverly-Consort-Christmas/dp/B000002SRK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1247351115&sr=1-1

The sample of 'Campanis Cum Cymbalis' was the 'gota have' song for me. Totally cool. Paid more for this CD than 9 at my normal .75 buying price. I'm usually cheap but couldn't pass this up.

[putrid]

This isn't a CD I'm getting but I thought ya'll like to hear something really different. Yes that's a banjo playing "Linus and Lucy". And yes that guy is playing cords on a bass guitar.

http://www.amazon.com/Jingle-All-Bela-Fleck-Flecktones/dp/B001EOQTOC/ref=pd_sim_m_37

[Sickie Ickie]

This is so much fun easy listening. :D

Thanks for the link, P!

[Elvira]

Ya, I thought buying from Amazon was a pritty good idea myself. JK LOL



Heheheh Amazing!

[putrid]

Well "Trio West Plays Christmas Songs" came in today and I'm TOTALLY digging it. Lively three piece jazz group. Listening to a somba version of 'God rest ye merry gentlemen'. Never heard that song sound this lively and up tempo. Totally cool.

[putrid]

The remaining 3 CDs came in today.

A Waverly Consort Christmas.
If there was a way to wear a CD out this one will suffer from constant use. If you not a fan of true madrigal it's not for you. Music spanning from the 1300's to mid 1800's. Played on traditional instruments. Very well done.

33 Favorite Christmas Hymns.
Uptempo full choir and orchestra. The choir sings in both traditional and modern pronunciations. Both a good classical and modern sound. All songs are either traditional hymns or parts of works like 'The Messaih'. Some might be unfamiliar but still nice to listen to.

Christmas Crooners.
If your into the 1940's Frank and Bing Christmas music this would compliment your collection. Neither Sinatra or Crosby are on this CD. Which is great cuz you can only have so many versions of their songs before you get overload. LOL A really good CD. The only odd song is a slow version of 'Up on the house top." But that's just personal taste. Or lack of it. LOL With this CD I now have 16 different versions of 'Jingle Bells'. I can burn a CD of nothing but Jingle Bells!

Well I'd have to say so far I've done good. Only one 'different' CD out of 5 isn't bad. ( Christmas in the Aire ) Considering the amount of Christmas music I have it's getting harder to find stuff on the cheap side. But I'm not ready to lay down the $35 to $40+ for the hard to find ones yet. I might be mental but I'm not crazy. LOL I can wait. Trio West was hard to come by last year. I think I'll sit around and enjoy the new music I have now. And wait patiently.

[putrid]

First I have to correct myself. I have a total of 23 different versions of Jingle Bells. That's not counting 'Jingle Bell Rock' or 'Jingle Blues'.

Then I have tobe honestand admit that I'm still looking for more music. Got a small but growing list. I know it looks this way but I'm not one of those "knows the price of everything and the value of nothing' kind of collectors. I really do take the time to enjoy the music I have. I can listen to 23 different versions of 'Jingle Bells'. One right after the other. Enjoying every minute of it. Out of the 1023 Christmas recording I have 99% of them are really good. OK, so i didn't count the 20+ CDs of country, odd and 'what was I thinking' LOL Hopefully who ever gets them will enjoy them.

[theedwin]

besides the link you gave above, do you think you could post anything on something other that a "quicktime" or "download this" that I could listen to some of those countless Jingle Bells?

I will NOT let ITUNES on my computer! NO Quicktime for me! when I said I forgot my password and asked you for it, DONT send me in circles to download your crap again! New computer a few months ago, NO ITUNES CRAP! (and by "CRAP" I meant something else!)

sorry, but at least I got that off my chest!

Music please? (in some youtube or photobucket format please?) :D

[theedwin]

Sorry Putrid, and every one else... :D

Putrid, here is #24

I just found this on Youtube... yah I know... I was thinking of posting this on my AAT thread but I think P would get a bigger kick out of it here! So here goes!

"Press Here"

YouTube - Jingle Bells

[putrid]

Sorry Theedwin. Didn't realize the links would be customized to my iMac. Guess the only thing I can do is make a list of the CDs. You'd have do a search on Amazon or CDuniverse for each one. Some of the versions I have aren't listed on either.

[putrid]

Before you ask, yes I did. 3 more CD's. LOL

'Rudolph Frosty & Friends Favorite Christmas Songs'
this one features a collection of the original songs off of "Santa Clause is coming to town". "Frosty the snowman" and "Rudolph the red nosed reindeer"

"Jazz to the world" jazz of corse. LOL

"Merry Christmas from Doris Day and Dinah Shore."
I have only a few songs from each of these artists.

Theedwin, altho I don't understand your dislike for iTunes I do agree about Quick time. It sucks. I don't use it myself. I have 'VLC'. I runs circles around Q and microsoft. Totally cool vid. If you let it play threw there's a bunch of other music vids as well.

[theedwin]

P, sorry I went on a rant there, I just don't like Itunes. Because I forgot my password on Itunes, I couldn't play things in Quicktime. When I tried to download the new version of quicktime, I would have to enter my Itunes information. Of course when I asked for my password, it was under an old email address that I no longer had access too, but there was no way to get that updated either. (big circle of headache!)

After I posted the jingle bells thing last night, I spent the next hour playing other Christmas songs. LOL. I have a few CD's of Christmas music somewhere... but I don't have a CD player... (except for the computer). Great score P!

[putrid]

LOL Dude your talking to the computer axe murderer here. I have a history. A rap sheet. There's a thread on this forum filled with months of my technofrustration. After vista decided I could no longer use the CD burner I decided it needed new hardware. I did prove that historic B.C. technology ( an axe ) isn't compatible with ac electronics. LOL Your post just reminded me of the pain. Bad times. Really really really bad times. Guess the only way to fix your passward problem would be to make a new account. But I wouldn't bother downloading Quick time. It sucks. I have a mac and don't use it. I have VLC. And if you don't have an iPod then iTunes won't be any better for ya then windows media player. Have you tried the 'audio help page' link? Might me something there that would help.
When I first got my iMac I had to switch the media options on all the CD sites. There are still a few out there that only use windows tech. I just got VLC and am hoping it'll solve that problem for me. When I go to Amazon or any of the others I no longer get the option to choose I just get the preview. Guessing the only way you'd be able to hear samples would be to copy the album name and to your own search at Amazon or CDuniverse.

Here are the links to the latest CDs

Merry Christmas from Doris Day & Dinah Shore

http://www.amazon.com/Merry-Christmas-Doris-Dinah-Shore/dp/B0000A4GBJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1247931730&sr=1-1


Jazz to the world. Really cool version of 'The little drummer boy".

http://www.amazon.com/Jazz-World-Various-Artists/dp/B000005GZQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1247931661&sr=1-1


Rudolph Frosty & Friends Favorite Christmas Songs

http://www.amazon.com/Rudolph-Frosty-Friends-Favorite-Christmas/dp/B000006O7I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1247931605&sr=1-1

[putrid]

don't know if I'll get this one or not but thought it was to cool! There's no audio samples and Amazon is the only place I could find it.

The Ren & Stimpy Show Crock O' Christmas

http://www.amazon.com/Ren-Stimpy-Show-Crock-Christmas/dp/6302865646/ref=sr_1_2483?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1247933767&sr=1-2483

I miss that show.

[theedwin]

That show was so great!!! I loved the close ups when they were angry with hairs popping out, the big bloodshot eyes, the bugs crawling out of their widened nostrils! ROLF!!!!

I don't think I will use your "BC" technology on my "AC" PC. (that was fun to write!) I will just go with what I have.... LOL

[putrid]

Totally dug that show. I think I might still have a few epps I taped on VHS.

[Sickie Ickie]

I bet the Simpsons have to have a Christmas CD out, too. eh?

[theedwin]

"Ding fries are done, Ding fries are done" Family Guy

[putrid]

Sickie Ickie, if they did I can't find it on Amazon.

[theedwin]

Maybe I could make one!

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/stuff/Theatre055.jpg

[putrid]

Show off. JK LOL Still a great thing to have dude!

Two CDs have come in.
Jazz to the World
and
Merry Christmas from Doris Day and Dinah Shore.
Listening to the latter now.
Jazz to the world has a 2 songs on it that are kinda like kenny g ( grossing out here. only two songs....only two songs....LOL) One that's more broadway than jazz but the rest hit it on the X for me. Sweet!
I got the Doris and Dinah CD for the sheer lack of female artists I have in my collection of Christmas music. I'm happy with all the songs I've heard so far. Typically more sappy 50's style music but that's how it was done back then.
Looking forward to getting the last of these three. It's got "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" sung by Fred Astaire. Just like on the original TV show.

[theedwin]

Show off. JK LOL Still a great thing to have dude!

You caught me!!! blush: LOL The family of 5 has become such a mainstay at my place that I don't even see them anymore...

I love Dina Shore!

[Sickie Ickie]

Me envious of Edwin's Simpsons!

[putrid]

So am I Sickie Ickie. It's always cool to have house guests you never have to clean up after or feed. LOL

[theedwin]

Well they do take up about 40 sq/ft of my 600 sq/ft apartment... surprise: I really like them, but they are SO HUGE!!!! I can't wait to get my own house! I was going to put them in storage (unit) but I couldn't say it is worth paying $45 a month for them. I know, eventually they will be worth a very large amount of money, but as big as they are - right now they are kind of a pain in the butt!

More Music Please!!! :D

[putrid]

Theedwin, hope to hear good news on your house hunt soon. Keep a good head. Don't get yourself talked into something you'll have to put up with for years. Like payments you can't afford.

I'm still on the hunt but things are getting harder to find. Especially when you have over 1060 songs. It's gone from 'great sounding jazz piano piece" to "is there a real difference between what's there and what I already have and will I listen to it?" The differences between traditional and modern interpretations of classical music make both worth having. Even the differences between a full orchestra and a sextet. I have both but this part of the library is the smallest and needs improving. But even here I run the risk of just getting music to have. It's more important to get music I'll listen to. I'm still looking. Totally dig the 'wish list' page you get on Amazon. Makes comparing choices easier.
My hope is to have a few days worth of great music to listen to. And not to listen to the same thing over and over again.

[Sickie Ickie]

You could transmit your own Christmas station in Dec, P. :)

[putrid]

Cool idea Sickie Ickie but I don't what to mess with all the legal stuff. I'll play it really loud and leave all the windows down as I drive by. Best i can do. LOL

[putrid]

Well the harder you search the more you find. Got a few more coming. I think the most I paid for any one of these was .14 + shipping.

'Holiday Classics'
http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Classics-Various/dp/B000ZW0CPQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1248908525&sr=1-2

15 Christmas favorites
http://www.amazon.com/15-Christmas-Favorites-Holiday-Star/dp/B000007OKN/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1248908650&sr=1-3

And finally
A Cowboy Christmas
http://www.amazon.com/Cowboys-Christmas-Gene-Autry/dp/B0009TSEV4/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1248908715&sr=1-9

There are a hand full of repeats. I have almost half of the songs on the Gene Autry CD. Getting the remaining ones are worth it to me.

[theedwin]

is that 14 cents?

[putrid]

Yep, that's 14 cents. Shipping and all came to $9.11. Like on Ebay I read the Amazon's sellers feedback before making a decision. There's a lot of great music hidden on that site. To find the Christmas stuff click on music. Then under 'genres' click on miscellaneous. Under 'brows' click on holiday and your there.

And speaking of Great music. Here's some Christmas stuff you may not have heard yet.

James Brown,
http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-James-Brown/dp/B0000047KP/ref=sr_1_112?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1248921575&sr=1-112

Booker T
http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Spirit-Booker-T-MGs/dp/B0000034CL/ref=pd_bxgy_m_img_b

Ventures
http://www.amazon.com/Ventures-Christmas-Album/dp/B000002Z9K/ref=pd_bxgy_m_img_b

No matter what your into there's a good chance there's Christmas music for ya.

[theedwin]

you checked feedback for 14 cents? Geez you are cheap!!!! LOL

[putrid]

Price breakdown
A Cowboy Christmas 14 cents.
Holiday Classics 1 cent.
15 Christmas Favorites 2 cents.

Shipping is $2.98 each.

I don't think there's a word in the English language that describes just how cheap I am. LOL

[theedwin]

I found one....

ROCK ON!!!!!!

[putrid]

LOL thanks Theedwin. You don't have to spend a lot to have good stuff. Still looking. One thing I've noticed about Amazon is it's never the same order of selections twice. And a lot of selections are repeated. But I do like the 'wish list' option. I use it to reference between CDs I'm looking at. I've got a few on my wish list I'm hoping to get at a cheaper price. Someone will eventually offer them at a price I can afford. You know. 50 cents or less. LOL I'll sit here and wait like a vulture.

[putrid]

Two CDs came in today
'15 Christmas Favorites. Holiday Star Time'
and
'Holiday Classics. A collection of Jazz Favorites'

I'm listening to the latter one now. Jamming to Greensleeves done by 'John Coltrane Quarter'. Cool. Plus it's got 'Merry Christmas Baby' done by B. B. King. The song selection isn't all jazz. So the tittle is a bit misleading. There's only 4 songs on it that are jazz. Some familiars on there by Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzferald. Along with more modern artists like Diana Krall, Eartha Kitt and Diana Schuur.

'15 Christmas favorites' is another great collection of 40's and 50's and some 60's Christmas music but without any from Frank Sinatra or Bing Crosby. A great find for the frank and bing overloaded collection like mine. LOL

[putrid]

Decided to add to the big band and swing side.

Guy Lomardo
http://www.amazon.com/Guy-Lombardo-Mills-Brothers-Christmas/dp/B000008U7P/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1249192954&sr=8-1

Mitch Miller
http://www.amazon.com/Presents-Christmas-Songs-Carols-Miller/dp/B000AA4KO2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1249193004&sr=8-3

Big band Christmas
http://www.amazon.com/Big-Band-Christmas-Various-Artists/dp/B0000026DB/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1249193059&sr=8-1

Swinging Band Christmas
http://www.amazon.com/Swinging-Band-Christmas-Various-Artists/dp/B000008O0X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1249193103&sr=8-1

and one more for the 40's and 50's collection of singers
Best Christmas Ever.
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Christmas-Ever-Various-Artists/dp/B000000WCC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1249193384&sr=8-1

[Sickie Ickie]

Go Putrid! Your music collection must be HUGE!

[putrid]

Don't have as many Christmas CDs as I do Jazz but I'm working on it. LOL
Right now, not counting the ones still on the way, I have 80 CDs ripped into this box. I do have some repeat recordings. Out of the 33 recordings of 'Jingle Bells' I have 8 repeats. Out of 44 recordings of 'Silent Night' I have 5 repeats. I still have 2 classical CDs to rip and the 6 CDs on the way. It's become really hard to find 40's and 50's music I don't already have. Any CD I'm interested in I compare what's on it to the lists I have. Listen to the samples. If i like the majority of the songs I don't already have I get the CD. Not going to buy a CD for just 1 or 2 songs. It's some work but it's the only way I've found to keep the repeats down. To be honest I had most of the repeat recordings before I stared building this collection last year. Being able to see what's on the CD and listen to samples has made it easier to build a great collection. Guess my only real obstacle is the amount of money I'm willing to put into this project. If money was no option there's a lot of CDs I'd have right now. The good news is my collection is proof you don't have to spend a lot to have a lot.

[putrid]

Just for kicks I wanted to see Just how many songs i have and what the repeats are. Out of 1127 recordings I have 126 repeats. My repeat recordings are 11%. (11.18%) Will have to see if the repeat rate stays that low or lower when all 6 of the CDs come in.

[theedwin]

Boy you are taking it easy this weekend!!! LOL ROFL!

[putrid]

Theedwin, it was easy. Just sit back and play with spread sheets. LOL If I ever get back into learning how to set up a data base it'd even be easier. Right now i don't need the frustration. I've set up a few small relational data bases and they can get real frustrating really quick.

Gene Autry's Cowboy's Christmas came in today. If you worried about adding old country and western music to your collection don't fret it. Only one on the CD that could even be called country western. "32 feet and 8 little tails". And it's to cool not to listen to. Over all the songs are short but each worth owning. Well there's one I think sounds kinda funky because it's easy to tell he's trying to hard to sing. LOL But we are talking country western here. JK LOL

[putrid]

'Mitch Miller Presents Christmas Songs and Carols' came in today. Each song by itself is great. But with only a small number of performers, I'm guessing a quartet, each song tends to blend into the next. Most songs on this CD have very little instrumental backup. If your looking for something that anyone can sing along with. Simple, streight forward non pretentious music. This CD is for you.

I work with a guy that grew up listening to Mitch Miller Christmas records. His whole family gets together and sing along with them every year.

[theedwin]

My Mom had Mitch Miller records galore!! I bet she has that one somewhere!!! I always did have fun "singing along with Mitch!" (Bell bottom trousers, coat of navy blue.......)

[Sickie Ickie]

Not to mention his tv shows.

[putrid]

Never watched the TV shows.
Of the 4 Mitch Miller songs I had prior to this CD 2 have a lot of echo and reverb. This CD has none of that. Kinda glad. They sound better without it. But this is cool. I only have one repeated song by Mitch Miller and the gang. They sound different enough to not count as the same. The first is mainly a cappella with a few nots on a piano between verses and plenty of echo and reverb. The second has simple piano cording wile they sing with no studio effects. I could play them side by side and not tell there the same group. Totally cool.

Nothing cane in today. But there's always tomorrow.

[Sickie Ickie]

The hope continues. :)

[putrid]

And so does my search. Only now I don't know what I'm looking for. LOL

[theedwin]

You sound like me and my AAT's!

[putrid]

Theedwin, Guess the only difference is CDs don't take up as much room. LOL
Nothing came in today.

I did learn something about one CD I'd forgotten. I have a CD called '33 Favorite Christmas Hymns'. It's all one song. One verse of each song and then right into the next one. Kinda useless unless your willing to listen to the entire CD. If you listen to a single song it has an abrupt beginning and an abrupt end. Been looking for songs to make a few comp CDs. I picked a few from this one. Listening to the songs I picked I thought something wrong had happened when I ripped the CD to the computer. Nope, just the way it was recorded. I guess this gives me an excuse to look for more choir oriented Christmas music......like i need an excuse. LOL

[theedwin]

the 33 favorites sounds interesting P!

[putrid]

Theedwin, the music is great, it's just a shame it's done as one song instead of each completed song.

Four CDs came in.
'A Big Band Christmas'
This is by far the better of the big band Christmas CDs I have. A few of the songs,
'I've got my love to keep me warm'
'There's frost on the moon'
'Winter weather' and
'Little Jack Frost get lost'
can't be called Christmas music. But they're good just the same. The remaining 9 are pure big band swing Christmas songs.

'A Swinging big band Christmas'
This one's got a few Christmas songs I'd never heard before.
'He'll be coming down the chimney' and
'Old fashioned Christmas tree'
Both done by Guy Lombardo.
It also has the only Christmas song I know of recorded by Gene Krupa. A New Orleans style version of 'Jingle Bells'.
The CD also has really cool swing versions of
'Dance of the sugar plum fairies' ( anybody who's ever played 'Tetrus' knows this one LOL)
'Parade of the wooden soldiers' and condensed version of
'The Nutcracker Suite'.
It's really cool listening to these classical pieces done in a 6 over 4 swing than the normal 4/4 we're all used to hearing.

There's also a medley of songs done by Mitch Miller and the A.A.F Band. I'm guessing the only surviving recording was a 78'. You can hear some of the pops and scratches they couldn't mix out.

'Guy Lombardo / The Mills Brothers; Christmas'
Guy Lombardo rocks, guess I'm not a fan of the Mills Brothers. Well one song out of 6 isn't bad. LOL

'The Best Christmas ever'
I admit to buying this one for a few songs only. One big gem is,
'Baby it's cold outside'.
A live version done by Louis Armstrong and Velma Middleton. It's cool to hear them joke back and forth and the audience react.

And yes I got more CDs coming. It's not a hobby anymore. It's an obsession. LOL

'Christmas Sing Along with Mitch Miller'
Holiday Instrumentals: Mantovani'
'Greatest Christmas Hits: The Philadelphia Orchestra
Christmas Together. Sharing the joys of the holidays.
The last one is done is normal Christmas music done on older instruments. Really cool sounding.
So I got a modern choir and 3 classicals.

and by the way...I now have 29 versions of Jingle Bells...LOL

[putrid]

CD came in today.
'Christmas sing-along with Mitch'

This is the second Mitch Miller CD for me. The first,'Mitch Miller presents: Christmas songs and carols' sounds like a small group of enthusiastic carolers. This CD is sung by the same group but as a more refined classical choir. Slower and just as well done. The music on these two CDs is totally different. If you played then back to back you wouldn't know they were the same group. What's really cool is you get all the verses to the songs. This make an almost 5 minuet version of 'Silent Night'. Totally cool.
The CD contains mostly Christian carols with 'deck the halls' oddly thrown it the mix. Nine songs to sing in church and one to sing in the parking lot? JK LOL

'Mitch Miller Presents: Christmas songs and carols' great for family sing alongs and gatherings.
'Christmas sing-along with Mitch' great for after hours of just to slow down and relax.

In my opinion both CDs are excellent!

[putrid]

I got board and ordered way to many CDs today. Most of these have been on my Amazon 'wish list' for a wile. I was going to get them anyway so why not today. LOL I've still got a hand full that I'm waiting to find at a lower price.

Wanted to find out how many repeated songs I have so far. Out of 1182 I have 108 repeats. Or 9.137% of the music is repeated.
I still have 3 on the way and just ordered another 6.

[theedwin]

Are you going for a world record P? LOL

[putrid]

LOL no, but I probably rival some radio stations collections.
I've got some more classical coming. Plus I've found alternate version of songs done by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. As of right now, before the remaining CDs come in, I have 50 Christmas songs by Bing Crosby. There are different version of the same songs. I have 5 different 'White Christmas'. Two different of each, 'God rest ye merry gentlemen', 'I'll be home for Christmas', 'Silent Night' 'Jingle bells' and 'The First Noel'. Plus plenty of non standards like 'Hitch a ride with Santa Claus', 'Wonderful white world of winter, 'Little Jack Frost get lost' and 'Marshmallow wold' to name a few. The CDs coming in will add to that collection.

[theedwin]

My hat is off to you Putrid!

You wouldn't have any Electronic Dance Christmas music would you?

[putrid]

No but I might be able to point you in the right direction if your looking for some.

Another CD came in today,
'Ormandy. Philadelphia Orchestra: Greatest Christmas Hits'.

http://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Christmas-Hits-Philadelphia-Orchestra/dp/B000002YVE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250545473&sr=1-1

Lively classical versions of standard carols. Most with full choirs. A few with children choirs. Uptempo and strong performances with no real stinker in the bunch. And with the exception of one song the entros lengths are reasonable. They go from none to 6 to 8 seconds, two between 12 and 18 seconds and one at over 30. ( entros are preludes to the actual song. Usually you have no idea what your listening to until the real song starts. A BIG pet peeve of mine with classical Christmas music. Why have a 40 second or longer prelude to a song who's total length is less than 3 minuets?)

All in all a great CD.

and a link to
Christmas sing along with Mitch, Kinda forgot to give a link on the above post.

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Sing-Along-Mitch-Miller-Gang/dp/B0000025SL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250545537&sr=1-1

[putrid]

CD came in today.

'Mantovani: Holiday Intrumentals. 2 disc set'

I already have one Matovani CD, 'Holy Night'. and it's good. This new set didn't hold up to my expectations. Entitling it 'instrumentals' is misleading. 6 of the 22 songs have vocals. Poorly done vocals at best. Poorly done isn't an overstatement. Both CDs in this 2 CD set have a few good points. But right now it's hard for me to get past all the bad ones. A hand full of the songs are well done. The rest are more like the 'Boston Pops'. If you don't mind overly cutesy music and vocals give this set a try. For me trying to compare this set with 'Holy Night' is impossible.

http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Instrumentals-Mantovani/dp/B0000BWVAU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250639354&sr=1-2

On a personal note. I just want folks to know that this is just my opinion. Out of all the CDs I get there's bound to be a few I don't like.

[putrid]

Three CDs came in today.

'Songs from White Christmas and other yuletide favorites'
Jo Stafford

http://www.amazon.com/Songs-White-Christmas-Yuletide-Favorites/dp/B000BU0C5C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250736269&sr=1-1

10 out of the 12 songs are not standard carols. TOTALLY COOL! Even though these songs were meant for kids they're still great. 'The night before Christmas song' is a duet with Gene Autry. 'C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S' was the official song for Christmas Seals. A few of the songs are directed right at kids. 'Little Red Ridinghood's Christmas tree', 'Suzy Snowflake', 'He'll be coming down the chimney' and 'A Christmas present to Santa Claus'. In all it's a great collection of almost lost songs.

'A Christmas Festival'

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Festival-Various-Artists/dp/B000002Y73/ref=sr_1_27?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250736203&sr=1-27

A collection of well done classical renditions of Christmas carols by different artists. Including The Royal philharmonic and E. Power Biggs. The only bummer is 'The Little Drummer Boy' was mastered at a lower volume than the rest of the CD. A great collection of well done pieces.

and speaking of classical,
'The many moods of Christmas'
Robert Shaw Chorale

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Victor-Version-Chorale-Orchestra/dp/B000003G9R/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250736114&sr=1-2

The music is full orchestra and choir. Ten of the 17 songs are standard carols. The other 7 you may have heard. 'I saw three ships', 'Patapa' and 'Fun, fun, fun: March of the Kings' to name a few. If you only get a few classical Christmas CDs this is one to add to the list. Well done and well recored.

[theedwin]

You could make your own "Time Life" collection of music and sell it. You could call it "Putrids 5,000,000 Favorites!" Maybe you could make enough money to buy some clamps to hold the dresser together when you put all of your cd's in there! LOL ROFL!!!!

I hope the mailman doesn't think you are buying "Dirty stuff". LOL

[putrid]

Theedwin, Getting closer to that 5,000,000 mark all the time. LOL

New CD

'Lifetime intimate portrait: Christmas Belles'
Another of the few all female artist CDs I have. And a good one at that. Along with some old standards there's 'Christmas Carousel', 'Papa Noel', 'Ole Santa' and 'That's what I want for Christmas'. There's also 4 songs that are just about snow or winter weather. 'Warm December', 'Love turns winter to spring', 'Snowbound' and the standard 'Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow'. For me it's a great CD. Notables are "Christmas time is here' sung by Rosemary Clooney and 'Jingle Bells Cha Cha Cha' sung by Pear Bailey.

http://www.amazon.com/Lifetime-Intimate-Portraits-Christmas-Belles/dp/B00004XSZA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250945861&sr=1-1

[putrid]

Two CDs came in today. One is the one I ordered the other is the wrong one but I'm keeping it anyway.

'Sing we now of Christmas'
Roger Wagner Chorale.
Sweat! Another well done classical and full choir work. Out of the ten songs there are only two that folks may not be familiar with. 'Hodie Christus Natus Est' and 'Wassail song'. The only bummer is the CD doesn't have the song 'Sing we now of Christmas' on it. Why would ya name a CD after a song that's not on the CD? LOL and this gives me yet another version of 'Jingle Bells'!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Sing-Christmas-Roger-Wagner-Chorale/dp/B000002SXH/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250989786&sr=1-1


The wrong CD I'm keeping anyway.
'Bing Crosby: Gift collection'
Nothing really special about this CD. It does have two versions of songs I don't have. One i've never heard before. A short version of 'Baby it's cold outside' sung by both Bing Crosby and James Stewart as a joke in front of a live audience. There are two songs that have no real reason for being on a Christmas CD. 'Irish Lullaby' and 'A thousand violins'. Kinda weird when there is a lot of good Christmas orientated songs by Crosby that could have been there instead. There are better Bing Crosby CDs out there. ( like the set I ordered) with better selections. Get one of those instead. Those two versions of songs I didn't have are available on better CDs

because this is the wrong CD there's no reason to give a link to the right one.

[putrid]

I should have listened closer to ''Bing Crosby: Gift collection' before I posted above. Yes there is two songs that don't belong on a Christmas album. But out of the remaining 10 eight of them are versions of songs I don't have. I only information I can give on the CD is it's name and it's a Digital Dejavu production out of Italy by Cedar digital remastering. Pressed (manufactured ) by Phonocorp SpA no. 5-126-2. Another oddity is the CD artwork is tittled 'gift collection' but the CD is tittled 'gold collection'. I'll take a gander and see if I can find a 'gold collection' by Bing Crosby that has these songs on it. Hopefully it'll have music samples. And before ya'll ask, yes the number on the CD matches the number on the artwork.

[putrid]

Still can't find any info on the Bing Crosby CD. A few more odditys about the CD. The spine is titled 'The Bing Crosby Christmas collection' and the back case artwork is titled 'Christmas Bing Crosby'. So I have one CD with 4 titles all with the same '5-126-2' number. LOL

Next CD came in today. 'The Andrews Sisters Songs for Christmas'.

No 40's to 50's Christmas collection would be whole without one of the best known vocal groups of that time. The music is classic Christmas with most being songs I've never heard before. 'Christmas Candles', 'Merry Christmas Polka','Jing-a-ling, jing-a-ling', 'The Christmas tree Angel', 'The toys gave a party for Poppa Santa Claus'( with Bing Crosby) and 'A merry Christmas at grandmothers' ( a Christmas version of ' over the hills and threw the woods' performed with Danny Kaye) The only bummer on the CD is 'Let it snow'. Great performance but not so good recording. I'd recommend this one for anyone who enjoys a good does of classic Christmas music.

[putrid]

Next CD to come in, actually it came in a few days ago. I've been listening to this one every time I turn the computer on. I still can't believe the amount of cool Christmas music that has slipped threw the cracks of time.

'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and other Christmas Classics: Gene Autry'
Out of the 18 songs only 3 are standards. The rest are pure Christmas gold. Every song on the CD is directed right at kids. Simply written and preformed. All with a classic Texas two step you'd expect from a country western star. There is a big band accompaniment. Sometimes overpowering the simple guitar two step. Still well done. Totally glad I got this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Rudolph-Nosed-Reindeer-Christmas-Classics/dp/B0000C8AWW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1251861197&sr=1-1

[theedwin]

Nice Putrid! I can see (or hear) why you listen to this one alot!

[putrid]

OK, I'll admit, I've gone WAY over the top on getting Christmas music this year. I didn't realize just how many CDs I've bought until I re read this thread.

33 favorite Christmas hymns
Christmas Crooners (BMG Special Products) : Various Artists
Christmas in the Aire : Various Artists
Trio West Plays Holiday Songs
A Waverly Consort Christmas
'Rudolph Frosty & Friends Favorite Christmas Songs'
Jazz to the world
Merry Christmas from Doris Day and Dinah Shore
Holiday Classics. A collection of Jazz Favorites
'15 Christmas Favorites. Holiday Star Time
A Cowboy Christmas
Guy Lombardo The Mills Brother's Christmas
Presents Christmas Songs and Carols
a Big Band Christmas
Swinging big band Christmas
Best Christmas Ever
Philadelphia Orchestra: Greatest Christmas Hits'.
Mantovani: Holiday Intrumentals
'Songs from White Christmas and other yuletide favorites' Jo Stafford
'A Christmas Festival'
'The many moods of Christmas
Lifetime intimate portrait: Christmas Belles'
'Sing we now of Christmas
'Bing Crosby: Gift collection'
The Andrews Sisters Songs for Christmas
'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and other Christmas Classics: Gene Autry

And I still have these coming,

Christmas together, sharing the joys of the holidays
Christmas Album: Bing Crosby
Christmas Belles
Snowfall: Jackie Gleason

And there are still a hand full of CDs I'm waiting for someone to offer at lower prices than what's for sale now.

Here's the rundown on the music (not counting the CDs I have coming)
1376 recordings
1252 no repeats
124 repeated recordings at 9.01163% (this is not counting the CD '33 favorite Hymns' as it's only one song.)
In 3 genre on 103 CDs
Pop/easy listening
Jazz
Classical

Once these last 4 CDs come in I'll start making my personal mix CDs for the house and car.

[Sickie Ickie]

you are going to mix your house and car

[putrid]

Be a great sounding stereo but I don't think I'll get good gas milage. LOL

[theedwin]

Don't mix your CD's in the wrong cases. That would be alot of unmixing to do later.

[putrid]

Yep, done that one before. LOL

Well two of the CDs came in today,

'Christmas Belles'
Adding to my collection of 40's threw the 60's female artists. A nice CD. And for me it only has one song on it that's a repeat of what's already in the collective. Of the 10 songs only one is a non standard 'Ring those Christmas bells' by Peggy Lee.

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Belles-Reflections/dp/B000WB0M1E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1252446210&sr=1-2



'Snowfall: Jackie Gleason'

I think I can best describe this CD as a soft version of the Twilight Zone. LOL I can honestly say I have nothing in my collection that even comes close to this music. Every song goes at a snails pace. Maybe 70 to 80 beats a minuet. A surrealistic dreamscape of sound that's assured to put most people to sleep. Or drive them up a wall. Either way I wouldn't play it in a car wile driving. LOL

http://www.amazon.com/Snowfall-Jackie-Gleason/dp/B00005Y7P9/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1252446988&sr=1-3

[putrid]

Got this CD sometime mid last week and have been listening to it a bit each day.

'Bing Crosby Christmas album.'

If you grew up in the 70's like I did you'll recognize the musical style. It reminds me of all the musical variety shows and TV commercials. The CD has 10 non standard Christmas songs. Most i've never heard before. Still a nostalgic journey that'll take ya back to a time when folks on TV would sing about toilet paper and medications. LOL For me it's a cool CD to have.

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Album-Bing-Crosby/dp/B0000047KL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1252925214&sr=1-1

[putrid]

I know. it's an obsession. But there's so much good Christmas music out there I still don't have to listen to. I need to be able to listen to it ALL! LOL

Got a CD in a few days ago. Odd name but has a few great tracks.
'Hollywood Angels'

The original album came out in 1970. This has a lot of that 60's sound to it. Especially from groups like 'The Young Americans' and 'Anita Kerr / Rod Mckuen'. It also has Lawerence Welk, Bing Crosby and Jo Stafford.

One song is a complete mystery as to why it's there. 'So long, stay well.' Nothing in it about Christmas.

The Glenn Miller version of 'Jingle Bells' has an add in it for Chesterfield cigarets. And also sings about drinking tequila. It's a new one on me.

Unfortunately I can't find this CD on any sound files. I bought it without listening to it. ( ya, I'm getting that obsessed. LOL )

[putrid]

And ya'll thought I was done. LOL It's getting harder and harder to find more of the music I'm interested in. Figured I'd share these tittles before the CDs come. Both feature music from the 30's threw the 50's. Some cool tracks. Between these two I'll get 41 more recordings I don't already have.

spirit of Christmas past.

Christmas Anthology: 1930-1950

[theedwin]

Very nice Putrid, That will be alot of fun to listen to. :D

[putrid]

And one more. Don't know how I passed this one up. Has 7 recordings from Bing Crosby I don't have. One will be the only recording of Good King Wenceslas I have by him.


sharing the holidays with bing crosby (http://www.amazon.com/Sharing-Holidays-Bing-Crosby/dp/B0000AZKJO/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1Z8GF52GITGWM&colid=3KEO5W8OEO7V0)

[putrid]

Patience has paid off again!! I've been hiding in the shadows waiting for this CD to show itself at a lower price. NABBED IT! Been over two months sense I started this hunt. LOL From over $9.00 to just over $2.00. It was JUST listed on half.com. THE ONLY copy listed on half.com. LOL

the link is to Amazon because Half doesn't have music files you can listen to.

http://www.amazon.com/Ill-Home-Christmas-Various-Artists/dp/B00005RIJU/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I37VD02KNSZYLS&colid=3KEO5W8OEO7V0

12 of the 19 songs are new recordings added to the collective.

Still on the hunt for 5 more..............

[theedwin]

Resistance is Futile! :D

[Sickie Ickie]

We are Putrid...you will be assimilated.

[putrid]

When your music software measures the amount of time it would take to play your Christmas music by days instead of hours it's no longer a collection. It's a collective. LOL

[theedwin]

So would that mean that I have an AAT collective? LOL

[putrid]

LOL anything past 1000!

An unexpected find on the CD I gust got. 'The spirit of Christmas Past.'. It has a recording of Bing Crosby singing Silent Night that I didn't have. COOL! Now I have 4 different recordings of that song by him. The music on the CD is mostly from the 30's. A lot of swing and rag time. The era before big band jazz. A lot of story telling because at that time most folks listened to stories on the radio. Really cool old stuff that originally came out on 78's.

[putrid]

Instead of pretending that I'm a skilled critic (= my opinion means more than yours LOL) I'll just post the CD tittles and say they're all good. In this case they are. The first four are great for anyone who's wants a wide selection of great old Christmas songs. You'll get repeats but it's worth it.

'I'll be home for Christmas; Songs that won the war.'
http://www.amazon.com/Ill-Home-Christmas-Various-Artists/dp/B00005RIJU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1256406334&sr=1-2

'The spirit of Christmas past.'
http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Christmas-Past-Various-Artists/dp/B000001HIZ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1256406400&sr=1-2

'Christmas Anthology 1930 - 1950.' 2 disc set.
http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Anthology-1930-1950-Various-Artists/dp/B0009R1TC2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1256406456&sr=1-1

'The essential collection: Christmas Favourites.' 2 disc set. (spelling for favOURites is just like on the CD cover)
I'll post a link to this one when Amazon clears personal info off the page.

The fifth CD is
'Sharing the Holidays with Bing Crosby.'
http://www.amazon.com/Sharing-Holidays-Bing-Crosby/dp/B0000AZKJO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1256406843&sr=1-1
This CD was packed with recordings I didn't have yet.

Because of repeats on all these CDs I've increased my percentage to 10.327133%. The highest it's been sense I started collecting music. But it is getting harder to find individual recordings of songs. Now have 1398 unique recordings out of 1559. On 112 CD tittles. Still refuse to by or have MP3s. Don't like the sound of them.

[theedwin]

That's amazing Putrid!! I think you need to add this collection to the collection thread! (unless you already did, but I don't remember)

[putrid]

LOL your right Theedwin, guess it is a collection. I'd to just that.

[putrid]

And now for something completely different.
Blue Grass.

Well, OK, not really blue grass but it is traditional Appalachian music. Post Colonial / pre blue grass.

'Christmas on the Mountain' Craig Duncan

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Mountain-Craig-Duncan/dp/B0006MA37C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1256993555&sr=1-2

Some of the songs are a bit drawn out. You get to hear the same melody played on an autoharp, mandolin, guitar, dulcimer and so on. But all in all for me it's a great breakaway from the rest of the collection.

[putrid]

and now back to the norm...LOL

Two CDs came in today.

Happy Holidays: Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme'

I have no links to the music on this CD. This CD has most of the songs and is done by the same two artists

http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Feeling-Steve-Lawrence-Eydie/dp/B0000DEMAJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1257038501&sr=1-1

The next is pure classical.

'Great Orchestral music of Christmas: the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra.'

Probably one of the best classical CDs of mostly standard songs i have.

http://www.amazon.com/Orchestral-Christmas-Hollywood-Symphony-Orchestra/dp/B001EQP9Y6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1257038799&sr=1-1

Unfortunately you don't get samples of everything on the CD. NO I didn't pay those prices for either. LOL I keep looking till someone offers them either on Half.com, Ebay or Amazon at a good price. Still have a list I'm watching.

[Sickie Ickie]

steve reminds me of Carol Burnett - one of my all time favorite comedic actresses. Wonder if she has a record out of Carol's carols?

[putrid]

I only have one song by Carol Burnett.
'The Christmas Song'
And that's the only Christmas song I've come across by her on any recording. This isn't the CD I have but it does have a sample of that song.

http://www.amazon.com/Noel-Leroy-Anderson/dp/B000002YZE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1257102837&sr=1-4

It's kinda strange. Out of all the Christmas specials she's been on and had done herself you'd think Christmas music by her would be easier to come by.

[Sickie Ickie]

That's awesome! When we get our act together to sync lights, I'll be doing that one for sure! My tribute to a lovely comedic actress I would have loved to have worked with on stage!

[SantasLilHelper]

So many artists and musicians have their own style that I enjoy listening to different versions of Christmas songs, even if they are repeats. My favorite Christmas song to hear the repeats is 'Sleigh Ride'.

[putrid]

Cool SantasLilHelper. I currently have 18 versions of that song. The one song I have the most of is Silent Night. 60 unique recordings of it. Seems like everyone recorded a version of it.

[Rybcon]

Much to my co-workers horror I'll listen to Christmas music at anytime of the year. My iPod has 748 Christmas songs. I'm more of a traditional kind of guy and like the oldies - Bing, Sinatra, Andy Williams, Perry Como. Barbra Streisands CD is great as is Barry Manilow's first Christmas CD. My favorite may be Sing A-Long with Mitch. And for some strange reason I really enjoy Twisted Sisters Christmas CD.

[putrid]

Rybcon, you and I have the same taste in Christmas music. But I don't have Streisand or Manilow's CDs. I do have two Mitch Miller Cds. "Mitch Miller presents Christmas songs and carols" and "Christmas sing along with Mitch." Plus several songs on compilation CDs. I agree with you 100%. There is a lot of great old Christmas music out there.

[annea]

Sting(of the police) has an album out called "If on a winter's night", i've heard the track called 'Soul cakes' and although i'm not normally a fan of folksy music, i like this.
http://www.sting.com/discog/?v=a&a=1