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vinyl LP front cover
cover photo by David B. Hecht
photo of album cover by Styrous®
Today is the birthday of Arthur Fiedler who was born in n Boston, Massachusetts, in 1894, to parents who were Austrian Jewish immigrants. His father was a violinist who played in the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and his mother was a pianist.
What
better tribute to this event at this time of year than his Christmas
album? All the songs are standards so nothing to really say about them
other than his treatment of them.
The one stand out on the album is the now traditional song, The Toy Trumpet. The song was written in 1937 by Raymond Scott who was an American composer, band leader, pianist, record producer, and inventor of electronic instruments (link below).
The trumpet solo is by Al Hirt who uses a trumpet mute so that it sounds distant, however, the arrangement is jazzy and fast. A very nice treatment of the song.
In the finale of the 1938 film, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Shirley Temple and Bill Robinson sing and dance to the song and they use the original version by Scott. The musical comedy film was directed by Allan Dwan and in addition, it starred Randolph Scott (no relation to Raymond) and Jack Haley who would portray the Tin Man the following year in the MGM film The Wizard of Oz.
The original version of The Toy Trumpet was recorded by The Raymond Scott Quintette in New York City on February 20, 1937 (link below). It was much faster, jazzier and stopped for a vamp stroll near the end. It featured Pete Pimiglio on clarinet, Dave Harris on sax, Dave Wade took the trumpet part, Raymond Scott played piano and Johnny Williams was on drums. Williams would later be the father of film score composer and Boston Pops Conductor John Williams. Funny how things come around.
A Christmas Festival was written by Leroy Anderson, in 1950. It was first performed on June 12, 1950, and recorded by Arthur Fiedler & the Boston Pops on June 19 of the same year. It is a medley of standard Christmas songs and ends with Joy To the World and a grand organ.
Tracklist:
Side 1:
Side 1:
Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orch.* – A Christmas Festival - (8:34)
A1a Joy To The World
A1b Deck The Halls
A1c Good King Wenceslas
A1d God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
A1e Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
A1f The First Nowell
A1g Silent Night
A1h Jingle Bells
A1i O Come, All Ye Faithful
A1a Joy To The World
A1b Deck The Halls
A1c Good King Wenceslas
A1d God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
A1e Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
A1f The First Nowell
A1g Silent Night
A1h Jingle Bells
A1i O Come, All Ye Faithful
A2 Arthur Fiedler And His Chorus And Orchestra* – The Little Drummer Boy - 2:28
A3 Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orch.* – What Child Is This? - 5:34
A4 Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orch.* – The Toy Trumpet, Trumpet – Al Hirt - 2:32
A5 Arthur Fiedler And His Chorus – Carol Of The Bells - 1:10
A6 Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orch.* – March Of The Toys - 3:46
Side 2:
B1 Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orch.* – White Christmas, Violin – Alfred Krips - 2:46
Arthur Fiedler And His Chorus And Orchestra* – Medley - (5:05)
B2a Here We Come A-Caroling
B2b O Christmas Tree
B2c I Saw Three Ships
B2a Here We Come A-Caroling
B2b O Christmas Tree
B2c I Saw Three Ships
B3 Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orch.* – Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers - 3:52
B4 Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orch.* – Sleigh Ride - 2:52
B5 Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orch.* – Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - 2:08
B6 Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orch.* – Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - 2:35
B7 Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orch.* – Winter Wonderland - 2:54
B8 Arthur Fiedler And His Chorus And Orchestra* – Silent Night - 2:20
Companies, etc.
Copyright © – RCA Records
Pressed By – RCA Records Pressing Plant, Indianapolis
Credits:
Conductor – Arthur Fiedler
Engineer [Recording] – Bernard Keville
Photography By – David B. Hecht
Producer – Peter Dellheim
Notes:
℗ © 1972, RCA Records
The label style, with "RCA" above the center hole to the left of Nipper and "Red Seal" on its side to the right of the center hole, indicates a 1976 to late-1980s pressing.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (Side A label): BRRS-3815
Matrix / Runout (Side B label): BRRS-3816
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, etched): BRRS-3815-7S I A1
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, stamped except "I" and "K" etched): BRRS 3816 36 I A1K
Rights Society: ASCAP
Pressing Plant ID (Etched in runouts): I
Arthur Fiedler / Boston Pops* And Arthur Fiedler Chorus* And Orchestra* – Pops Goes Christmas
Label: RCA Red Seal – LSC-3324
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
Country: US
Original release: 1972
Released: 1976 - 1980
Genre: Pop, Classical
Style: Religious, Choral, Light Music
Label: RCA Red Seal – LSC-3324
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
Country: US
Original release: 1972
Released: 1976 - 1980
Genre: Pop, Classical
Style: Religious, Choral, Light Music
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