Posted on 11/27/2012 12:29
Weren't those Columbia albums with the LE catalog numbers supposedly "Limited Edition" re-releases? I remember they were very popular and usually available at Woolworths, Grants, and Korvettes.
Posted on 11/26/2012 13:22
Thanks Chip. I actually noticed my mistake after I posted it but never got a chance to correct it..I probably confused the Coasters with Drifters after mentioning Ben E. King or because I had that particular Coasters album filed away with an old Drifters albums entitled THEIR GREATEST RECORDINGS: THE EARLY YEARS which, as you obviously know, was released on the ATCO label and had almost the same covers as two other ATCO releases by the Coaster and Clovers. Either that or it's just another sign of my getting older!!!
Posted on 11/25/2012 20:31
I found that I have two original 1962 ATCO albums that also have the earlier LP labels (yellow with the Lyre symbol) Chip mentioned. The two albums are COAST ALONG WITH THE DRIFTERS and BEN E. KING SINGS FOR SOULFUL LOVERS. Everything else has the second generation ATCO labels.
Posted on 11/24/2012 21:55
I have the original 1962 pressing of that particular Acker Bilk album and it has the same style label as the one in question. This was the second ATCO label used on album releases beginning with the 1962 ATCO LP release of THE MANY GUITARS OF JORGEN INGMANN. Earlier ATCO album labels were similar to the original yellow 45s but with a small black harp included on the upper left corner with ATCO printed in white lettering across the top, slightly towards the right.
These second "generation" ATCO mono and stereo album lables each received slightly different color ID variations while using the same design and lettering. I also have a few Bobby Darin DJ album releases using a thrid label which was all white. These releases were used for DJs or promotional copies.
The original 1962 45 rpm of STRANGER ON THE SHORE should have the same ATCO label as the white and yelllow single pictured. Just today I was just looking at a rare ATCO single by Darin called SHE'S TANFASTIC on ATCO (ca. 1960) and it also has that same label as the 45 rpm pictured.
Posted on 11/21/2012 11:19
I recall going into some detail about Synthetic Plastics in a post from last year. The plant, warehouse, and in-house store was very close to my grandparents house in the Ironbound section of Newark - or at least one facility was. My father had a lot of those Newark based albums growin up by a fellow named Johnny Kay. I think Chip even posted some photos of one of his Christmas albums that I described.
Later on a lot of kids I knew had Christmas albums released on the budget MISTLETOE label sold mostly in Pathmark, ShopRite, and A&P stores. I remember that MISTLETOE was located between Rahway or Linden. I remember my sister buying the two popular Dave Seville & The Chipmunk holday re-issues on MISTLETOE back around 1972 for $1.50 each at a local Pantry Pride store...And yes, the so-called "vinyl" on many records from that period was extremely thin and floppy due in part to to the continuing oil problems at the time. I still have the Star Ledger article (from October 1972) about the changes in record production caused by the petroleum "shortages" as it was a current events story I presented to my 5th grade class.
Posted on 11/20/2012 17:57
I'm originally from the "Ironbound" section of Newark NJ until my family moved to Roselle NJ (a small borough bordering Elizabeth, Cranford and Linden) right before the infamous riots of 1967. Naturally, the Log was always seen on the place it was born and raised: WPIX channel 11 .
I was born in January '62 so I was old enough to remember watching the very first Yule Log broadcast as a kid in Newark - and I was fascinated if not a little aftraid of it. But growing up the Yule Log became as much a part of what Christmas felt like just as much as trips to find the perfect tree, holiday visits to Bamberger's and Menlo Park Mall, the distinct smell of artificial snow in a can, playing with Lionel trains under the tree, buying new holiday albums at Korvettes, Grants, Woolworths, or Bradless, decorating the house with lights, wishing for snow, my mother and grandmother baking endless plates of Italian cookies for weeks on end, my father opening the first bottles of his homemade Anisette, and just being with friends and family.
Through it all, the Yule Log was always there to provide that familiar soundtrack each and every Christmas Eve, regardless of where we where or where we went in life.
Posted on 10/26/2012 20:03
For anyone who lost both Tribune stations - PIX 11 and Antenna TV - on Cablevision over the last few months, THEY ARE BACK as of today.
Posted on 10/22/2012 21:06
Now that we inch closer and closer to that special time of year, I was just wondering what some of us might have on our lists as far as this years new "must have" holiday releases? I try to pick up at least 2-3 new selections every year although this year I might have more than that...You never know!
Right now, that new Percy Faith 2-album MUSIC OF CHRISTMAS and HALLELUJAH CD release tops my "must have" list as it does for so many otheres, followed by Andy Williams MERRY CHRISTMAS (his second holiday LP) on CD that I've somehow overlooked for way too long! Those are the two must haves for me right now.
Posted on 10/20/2012 11:52
THANKS everyone!
I just love talking and hearing about audio - especially the "old school" stuff. It doesn't matter to me the price or prestige of the components; it's just the fact that these classic electronics are still out there and continue to bring so much enjoyment is what really matters!
I myself may have listed a lot of components which pretty much do nothing but collect dust. But now I rely an old pair of Advents, an even older Pioneer receiver, a simple AR "Turntable," and a very basic (but extremely reliable) Sony XE-500 CD player that I forgot to mention.
Except for my father's classic AR stuff and his old MAC tube receiver, everything else is probably doomed a fate of eventual storage - or eBay one day!
Posted on 10/19/2012 15:24
Susan,
I still HAVE (and enjoy) every one of those compents I listed! I used to have a lot more but we were running out of room, so I dumped a lot of it on ebay back in 1999 and 2000.
I was hoping that Chip would chime in and describe his system - the one he uses to enjoy that impressive North Pole archives of Christmas and holiday music he knows like the back of his hand!
Posted on 10/18/2012 15:59
Susan,
Wow...I thought more people would be willing to talk about the equipement that ALLOWS for them to hear, listen and enjoy so much of the music they love. Then again, I realize that "downloading" has seriously diminished much of the audio world that I once loved and that a lot of people have "down sized" or done away with their old systems for smaller, more convenient, modern "portable" units.
Anyway, these are the components I use to enjoy the magical world of music in the three rooms (den, living room, basement family room) I've incorporated stereo systems:
Nakamichi Dragon cassette deck (1986), Nakamichi SR-3a receiver (1987), ARXA turntable (1963), AR "The Turntable" (1985), Pioneer SX 1250 receiver (1977), Mc Intosh 4100 tube-type receiver (1979), two Sony CDP X339ES CD players (1993), Acoustic Research AR-3 speakers (near MINT legendary speakers my father purchased in late 1962), Advent 25th Anniversary Loudspeakers (1993), Cambridge Soundworks Model Six (gift from my old friend Henry Kloss in 1993 when I worked for CS).
Posted on 10/17/2012 23:02
Christmas Always,
Thanks so much for kindly responding. I always enjoy hearing from a fellow audiophile, especially on forums dealing with classic music such as this one - which is probably among THE best in my opinion! I also have a solid background in audio that continues to this day! I'll try and list my set-up of sound components tomorrow. I have a horrible cold that has me pretty much knocked down - or out - for the count!
Posted on 10/17/2012 11:47
Being a serious audiophile going back to my teen years in the late 1970s when I would devour every issue of STEREOPHILE magazine without the disruption of ever seeing a single ad (which the magazine did not feature for many years). This was still an era when true audiophiles cared more about the constant pursuit of accurate sound and not status!
If this topic was discussed before, I do apologize...The only topics I came across (just to make sure) that was even close was a question about MP3 players.
Anyway, before I describe my own components, I'd love to hear about other people's sound systems!
Anthony
Posted on 10/13/2012 16:07
Yeah...You're probably right about that Chip. The 1950s and '60s were obviously the real Goden Age for Christmas and holiday music since no other era ever came close to capturing the magic of those true masters. Perhaps the answer was actually too simple or obvious for me to realize, huh? Thanks.
Posted on 10/13/2012 13:30
Chip,
Being that you know this music so well, you might be right. For some reason I'm really not sure if there is an easy answer - although your explanation seems to make a lot of sense. Anyway, it's really just a trivial observation on my part; sometimes I think about almost every year right about this time. Thanks.
Posted on 10/12/2012 14:29
Chip,
Sorry about that edited post...I actually answered my own question about that 1955 TV version right after I mentioned it. However, I didn't know about the other 1959 TV version which has peaked my interest!
Susan,
I admit that I've thought about those very same things over the years. But I've also come to realize that I don't think we're supposed to know the answers to those questions in MIRACLE ON 34th STREET. Without leaving us to wonder for ourselves, the story fails on so many levels. Not knowing for sure, but still believing, seems to be the real premise behind the story feom start to finish. I also recall a very important line in the film which suggests that faith is believing in something when common sense tells us otherwise! Ultimately, it is up to us to either believe or not believe without the help of any defintive answers.
But the fantasy element is not uncommon to holiday stories, films, or music since it seems to be a truly integral element in the holiday itself! After all, a large part of the magic of Christmas IS choosing to believe in things that seem either fantastic and miraculous, whether it's the miracle of the Nativity, angels, Santa Claus and his elves, flying reindeer, snowmen with magic hats, the North Pole, ghosts of Christmas, the Island of Misfit Toys, or an old man who believes himself to be the on-and-only Santa Claus!
Of course this is only my opiinion.
Posted on 10/11/2012 23:26
Interesting thought JeepGuy.
I'm not sure if I'm actually referring to "sound" as much as "feel." I think it's easier to record holiday music where it might "sound" like it's from an earlier time, but even then it just lacks that special "feel" that captures the magic of the true Christmas classics...Does that even make any sense?
Posted on 10/08/2012 22:27
Talking to my wife tonight about the Christmas albums we both grew up with, our discussion turned to the holiday music of today.
We both wondered why the older music still sounds so "special" compared to the current releases played on most radio stations today? Could it just be the sentimental attachment we have for the music we grew up with? Is it simply too easy to dismiss todays holiday music because we tend to look back at most things from our past as being better? Is there really something lacking in todays Christmas music that makes it sound as if it is missing some all-important ingredient? I'm really not sure. While time and taste obviously change over the course of time, there is definitely something missing in todays holiday music that doesn't have that same "magic" to it anymore. Am I over-analyzing this or do others sort of feel the same way?
Would love to hear what everyone else thinks.
Anthony
Posted on 10/03/2012 10:14
Chip,
Were there just those three Andy Williams holiday LPs on Columbia or were there others? The man had such a special way with holiday music that it seems like he recorded so much more of it - although I'm probably adding to my memories because of all his Christmas TV specials.
Other than maybe Dean Martin and Perry Como I never saw or heard someone look so at-ease and sound so comfortable singing like Andy Williams did.
Posted on 10/02/2012 23:25
In retrospect, I'm glad that I recorded the Yule Log a few years back...But it just doesn't have the same special "feel" as seeing and hearing the actual TV broadcast on Christmas morning.
For some reason it reminds me of when they'd simulcast the show on the radio. As much as I always loved the actual Channel 11 TV broadcasts, the music always sounded "different" on the WPIX FM radio simulcasts every Christmas Eve...Regardless if it was on a high-end home stereo system, on a table radio or small transistor radio, or even over the car, that collection of music was always pure magic!
I'm hopeful that this situation between Tribune and Cablevision will be resolved by the start of the holiday season - but I'm not counting on it.
Close it
