Christmas Music Guru 
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1#
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Rank:Honorary Member
Status:
Lawrence F. Arcuri Owner/Webmaster of TheYuleLog.com
Posts:2494
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RE:George Melachrino
(Date Posted:11/18/2010 16:43)
John,
The Melachrino Strings is a group that was led by Robert Mandell after George Melachrino had died in 1965.
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Lawrence F. "Chip" Arcuri
Owner/Webmaster | The Yule Log.com
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Motown Mike
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2#
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Rank:Platinum
Posts:202
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RE:George Melachrino
(Date Posted:11/18/2010 17:11)
Keep in mind that Melachrino himself recorded two different Christmas albums. Several years before Christmas Joy there was Christmas in High Fidelity, which had most of the same tracks in mono and is available from Collectors Choice as a twofer CD with the non-holiday album Under Western Skies. http://www.amazon.com/Under-Western-Skies-Christmas-Fidelity/dp/B00001ZWD1Even if you have Christmas Joy, I'd say the earlier album is worth seeking out, if only for Melanchrino's wonderful arrangement of Waldteufel's "Skater's Waltz" (which is one that he inexplicably chose not to remake in stereo). (Message edited by Motown Mike On 11/18/2010 17:15)
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YULEBOYY
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3#
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Rank:Silver
Posts:50
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RE:George Melachrino
(Date Posted:11/18/2010 18:07)
My thanks both to Chip for the info and to Mike for further facts on George Melachrino's Christmas discography.
I really must save my money for a copy of Christmas Joy next year. I shall obtain it on LP if only to have the wonderful cover artwork full size, and transfer it to CD for the full listening experience. I'm afraid I have spent my allowance on all the Christmas music I can afford this season already :)
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anthonyv
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4#
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Rank:Gold
Posts:139
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RE:George Melachrino
(Date Posted:11/19/2010 00:45)
I can still remember looking at one of Mr. Melachrino's album covers as a kid. In fact, even today, that specific album cover usually pops into my head immediately whenever I recall Christmas music growing up - it's the one with the little house (set againt a dark background) blanketed by drifts of snow with a few pine trees around it. I think my parents old worn out copy was in LIVING STEREO although I might be wrong since it's been more than 35 years since I last saw it.
I'd love to locate a copy of that album if only for the cover though I remember enjoying the music which reminded me of holiday "department store music."
(Message edited by anthonyv On 11/19/2010 00:46)
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Christmas Music Guru
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5#
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Rank:Honorary Member
Status:
Lawrence F. Arcuri Owner/Webmaster of TheYuleLog.com
Posts:2494
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RE:George Melachrino
(Date Posted:11/19/2010 03:15)
Sorry John, for misreading your earlier question and not answering it entirely. This is why I primarily answer questions either late at night or in the wee hours of the morning, instead of rushing during the day... Haste makes waste.
All the Melachrino tracks used on various compilation LPs issued in the 1960s (including albums by BF Goodrich, JC Penney and Reader's Digest) were from the 1959 LP, Christmas Joy. This was not only because it was by far the better of his two Christmas albums artistically, but also because it was the better of the two albums technologically, having been recorded in stereo. And notwithstanding the billing on some of the special edition compilation LPs, the billing on both of his RCA Christmas albums (Christmas In High Fidelity and Christmas Joy) was George Melachrino and His Orchesta. As I said in my previous post, the "Strings" billing was primarily used after his death when Bob Mandell took over orchestra in 1965.
In my Top Play, Christmas Joy is in the 2nd Tier (album #158), and Christmas In High Fidelity is in the 3rd Tier (album #252). Click here.
As for the Yule Log, Melachrino's second recorded version of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town from the LP, Christmas Joy, is song #66 on the soundtrack. Click here.
George Melachrino is one of the many recording artists that legendary producer Ethel Gabriel, who I am proud to call a friend, worked with over the years. Among the albums she produced for him were all of his "mood" albums. Though they collaborated many times, she has always told me that he is one of the few artists that wasn't the easiest to work with. Her favorites were Perry Como, Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Al Hirt and Elvis. All of whom she also had close personal relationships as well, especially Elvis. She also had good working relationships with Chet Atkins, Kate Smith, Arthur Fiedler, Robert Shaw, Norman Luboff, Danny Davis, Floyd Cramer and Johnny Douglas, among many, many more. In her 40-year career she produced over 2500 albums, won 6 Grammy Awards and earned 15 Gold Records.
*[Edited 11/19/11 to
restore album cover image] (Message edited by Christmas Music Guru On 11/19/2011 00:10)
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Lawrence F. "Chip" Arcuri
Owner/Webmaster | The Yule Log.com
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anthonyv
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6#
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Rank:Gold
Posts:139
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RE:George Melachrino
(Date Posted:11/19/2010 21:42)
Chip,
Thanks so much for posting a picture of that particular Melachrino album cover (one of the best looking holiday album covers IMO).
I may not have seen the album in many years but it is exactly as I remembered - exactly!
Thanks again, Anthony
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YULEBOYY
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8#
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Rank:Silver
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RE:George Melachrino
(Date Posted:12/02/2010 11:18)
Chip,
Thank you for your detailed posts in reply to my initial inquiry.
So, I gather that the billing on the tracks appearing on the LP compilations as "Melachrino Strings" has to do with the fact that Mr. Melachrino had passed away, and the producers (or whoever) felt that crediting a deceased man with the tracks might be a source of confusion for some? Also that the body of musicians formerly under his direction was at the time contemporarily appearing on other LPs released on RCA as Melachrino Strings?
I'm trying to be as certain as possible that, in obtaining certain compilations, I would be hearing the same tracks as appeared on Mr. M's Christmas Joy. The compilation LPs are going for a song compared to stereo versions of the LP on eBay. And until I hear tracks from CJ itself (which I hope to be able to afford next holiday season), I have nothing for comparison.
Thanks again.
John
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Christmas Music Guru
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9#
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Rank:Honorary Member
Status:
Lawrence F. Arcuri Owner/Webmaster of TheYuleLog.com
Posts:2494
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RE:George Melachrino
(Date Posted:12/02/2010 23:32)
Tim,
First, let me reiterate that all Christmas compilation albums from the 1960s like the ones I mentioned in my post of November 19, 2010, have the original George Melachrino music from his 1959 LP. Compilations after that, I cannot categorically say.
Second, to differentiate by billing alone what is genuine George Melachrino music and what is not can sometimes be difficult. This is because George Melachrino himself sometimes used the billing The Melachrino Strings and Orchestra conducted by George Melachrino, and other variations thereof. And compilation albums would sometimes just shorten it to read The Melachrino Strings or Melachrino's Strings. So it can make for a very confusing situation. In fact, on some of the BF Goodrich and JC Penney albums the billing is The Melachrino Strings and Orchestra, this notwithstanding the fact that the actual billing on both his Christmas albums was George Melachrino and His Orchestra.
The bottom line is that after 1965 when George Melachrino died, all albums released by the succeeding orchestra under new conductor Bob Mandell were billed simply as The Melachrino Orchestra or The Melachrino Strings. In the exact same way that after the great maestros Percy Faith and Mantovani died, their succeeding orchestras were billed as The Percy Faith Orchestra and The Mantovani Orchestra.
By the way, after Percy Faith died, the new 'Percy Faith Orchestra' did not record any Christmas music; however, after Mantovani died, the new 'Mantovani Orchestra' recorded a ton and it has confused folks for years as to what is genuine and what isn't. I've written many a post and email over the years clarifying things for folks.
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Lawrence F. "Chip" Arcuri
Owner/Webmaster | The Yule Log.com
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