Goodyear, Great Songs of Christmas. Volume 10. 1970

Goodyear Great Songs of Christmas, Volume 10. 1970

     From 1961 thru 1969, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company with Columbia Records and Stanley Arnold and Associates produced nine unique collections of Christmas music which they sold in their retail stores during the holiday season.  In 1970, they concluded the “Great Songs of Christmas” series with a “Best of” compilation of the most popular selections from the previous nine collections. Among them you will find many of the special recordings done exclusively for Goodyear’s Great Songs of Christmas albums in previous years including Barbra Streisand’s “Silent Night”, Isaac Stern’s “Ave Maria”, and Petula Clark’s “Happiest Christmas”.

     Goodyear would continue the Christmas album tradition for seven more years after concluding the “Great Songs of Christmas” series.  The additional release titles are listed below.  At a later date, we will re-visit the Goodyear series in our blog providing more information on each of these releases, but will be moving on to other unforgettable Christmas music and artists beginning with our next blog post.  We hope you have enjoyed the information we have provided thus far on the Goodyear “Great Songs of Christmas” series and that you will continue to frequent our blog for more interesting and enjoyable information about your favorite Christmas music.

Additional Goodyear Christmas Albums

Joyous Songs of Christmas. 1971

Christmas Is 1972

Many Moods of Christmas 1973

Carols and Candlelight 1974

Henry Mancini Selects Great Songs of Christmas 1975

Mancini Moods at Christmastime 1976

Great Songs of Christmas with Perry Como and Eugene Ormandy 1977



This blog is written and published by DLF Music Transfer, LLC  dba Christmas LPs to CD.  For more information on Christmas music or to purchase CDs of classic Christmas records on CD, please visit our website www.christmaslpstocd.com , call us 888-384-6970, or e-mail us david@dlfmusic.com.

Goodyear Great Songs of Christmas. Volume 9. 1969

Goodyear Great Songs of Christmas. Volume 9. 1969. 

     With Volume 9 of the “Great Songs of Christmas”, Goodyear made a departure from their standard album presentation.  Featuring the beautiful artistry of stained glass windows from Notre Dame Cathedral, Goodyear and Columbia selected a gatefold record jacket for their 1969 release.  Photos of the performing artists grace the back of the jacket unlike their previous releases which feature similar artwork on the front covers.  While several of the previous releases in the series featured performances recorded exclusively for Goodyear and the “Great Songs of Christmas” albums, this album features a selection written and recorded specifically for this 1969, Volume 9 release.  In the liner notes, Goodyear and Columbia write:

     “The beautiful sun-lighted window on the front cover of this album belongs to the 12th-century cathedral of Notre Dame in Chartres, France.  This giant kaleidoscope of stained glass, along with the three huge lancet arch windows at right, illuminates the north transept of the ancient cathedral.  Created by gifted French glass cutters so very long ago, the windows tell to all who behold them the story of Christ, His Angels and His Saints.  In the tradition of Chartres and of the season, we at Goodyear would like to express to you all, in this, our ninth Christmas album, our sincerest wishes for a very merry Christmas.”

     Petula Clark opens with a new song written for her and recorded especially for this album, “The Happiest Christmas”. She offers also the beuatiful “Silent Night, Holy Night.”

     Next, Bing Crosby lends his easy, relaxing style to a delightful performance of “Secret of Christmas”.

     Joan Sutherland, one of the finest operatic voices in the world, performs the traditional “Twelve Days of Christmas” and “Ave Maria”.

     “The First Noel” is given tender treatment by Connie Francis.  She also performs the lovely “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”

     Richard Kiley, who thrilled millions in “Man of La Mancha”, recorded three selections especially for you: “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” and “Panis Angelicus.”

     For Lawrence Welk fans, the Christmas mood is well expressed by three favorite carols: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “Good King Wenceslas,” and “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.”

     The London Symphony Orchestra and the Roger Wagner Chorale, conducted by Erich Leinsdorf, combine their talents in a performance of two beautiful Latin  hymns: “In Dulci Jubilo” and “O Sanctissima.”

     Mantovani and His Orchestra perform the favorite “O Holy Night” and “Skater’s Waltz”.

     Lena Horne gives her bright and beautiful interpretation of “Winter Wonderland” and “Jingle Bells.”

     Finally, Vladimir Horowitz offers the warm and charming “A Christmas Tale for Children.” “

(Quoted material taken from the liner notes of the “Great Songs of Christmas,” Volume 9.  Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Columbia Records Special Products Division. Stanley Arnold and Associates. Hampto Court Productions, Inc.  1969.)

If you would like to view the television commercial for Goodyear’s “Great Songs of Christmas” Volume 9, please click the link below and select #11 from the list at the right of the screen.

http://wn.com/Vintage_Goodyear_Tire_Commercial

    
    

This blog is written and published by DLF Music Transfer, LLC  dba Christmas LPs to CD.  For more information on Christmas music or to purchase CDs of classic Christmas records on CD, please visit our website www.christmaslpstocd.com , call us 888-384-6970, or e-mail us david@dlfmusic.com.

  

Goodyear Great Songs of Christmas, Volume 8. 1968.

Goodyear “Great Songs of Christmas” Volume 8. 1968

     For the first time in the series, side one of Goodyear’s “Great Songs of Christmas” Volume 8, published in 1968, contains happy, upbeat contemporary Christmas favorites while side two is filled with the familiar, traditional carols that anyone familiar with the “Great Songs of Christmas” would come to expect from a Goodyear holiday album.  Most of the songs on Volume 8 were commissioned by Goodyear and Columbia exclusively for this release.
     “For the eighth consecutive year, Goodyear presents the Great Songs of Christmas — as our special holiday greeting to you.  And for the first time on any album of Christmas music, you can now enjoy musically
the two moods of Christmas.  This exclusive innovation in Album 8 allow you to select the holiday listening that fits your holiday mood.  On Side 1, there’s the happy sound of Christmas joy and laughter — a perfect background for you holiday entertaining.  And Side 2 presents the best loved carols of tradition — for family listening with all the inspriation of the sacred season.  The recording artists gathered here for your enjoyment include the greatest names from the worlds of opera, popular entertainment, and folk music.  Ten of the selections are contemporary, popular favorites.  Ten more are selections from the season’s most revered traditional carols.  Together, they provide almost twice the listening time normally found on two ordinary albums.  Each year we try to include one or two less familiar carols, and two of the year’s traditional selections are well loved in England, though less well known here.  These are “Little Jesus, Sweetly Sleep”, a Czech carol, and “On Christmas Night All Christians Sing”.  Both were recorded especially for this album.  In fact, nearly two-thirds of the performanceds here were commissioned by Goodyear and recorded especially for us, including the selections for Robert Goulet and Carol Lawrence, Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Anthony Newley, Sally Ann Howes, Robert Merrill, and Anna Moffo. (Carol Lawrence appears through the courtesy of RCA Victor Records.)  Of the popular selections, six have not been included in any of our previous albums — the festive “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” the lilting “Christmas Waltz,” and winter medley “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” and “I Love Winter Weather,” the nostalgic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, ” the children’s favorite “Here Comes Santa Claus”, a happy new song “A Marshmallow World,” and the calypso-like “Mary’s Little Boy Child.”  With these beautiful sounds of Christmas go our warmest wishes for joyous holidays and a good new year. Merry Christmas!

(Quoted material from the back of the “Great Songs of Christmas” Volume 8 record jacket. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Columbia Records Special Products.  Stanley Arnold and Associates.  Hampton Court Prod., Inc.  1968).

This blog is written and published by DLF Music Transfer, LLC  dba Christmas LPs to CD.  For more information on Christmas music or to purchase CDs of classic Christmas records on CD, please visit our website www.christmaslpstocd.com , call us 888-384-6970, or e-mail us david@dlfmusic.com.

Goodyear Great Songs of Christmas, Volume 7. 1967.

Goodyear Great Songs of Christmas. Volume 7. 1967

    

     For their “Great Songs of Christmas” Volume 7, Goodyear chose to employ the talent of many of the artists they had showcased in their previous releases (i.e. The New Christy Minstrels, Robert Goulet, and Barbra Streisand), while inviting new artists to add their voices to the collection.  Tony Bennett, The Cleveland Orchestra under the direction of George Szell, Sally Ann Howes, Jerry Vale, and John Davidson make significant contributions to the “Great Songs of Christmas” Volume 7 line-up.  Goodyear sums up this release as follows.
     “It is Christmastime, and in the tradition of the season Album Seven brings you the sounds of Christmas — old and new — in a colection of beautiful music perfromed by twelve of today’s favorite recording artists and groups.
     Tony Bennett introduces Album Seven with the childhood favorite, “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”.  This is Mr. Bennett’s first recording of Christmas music, and this song has been recorded especially for this 1967 Goodyear album.
     Victor Herbert’s “Toyland” recalls the wonder and excitement of a child’s Christmas.  The beautiful voice of Sally Ann Howes captures the nostalgia of this lovely classic in this recording made especially for Album Seven.
     The resonant baritone voice of Robert Goulet expresses the joy of the season in this version of the popular “This Christmas I Spend With You.”
     The world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra, under the direction of George Szell, is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year.  Recording Christmas music for the first time, the Cleveland Orchestra offers a rousing version of “Deck the Hall With Boughs of Holly.”  Although the melody predates Christianity in England, this song ultimately became traditional with the Welsh in their celebration of Christmas.
     “Do You Hear What I Hear” is one of the loveliest and most memorable of the Christmas songs introduced in recent years.  This new carol is beautifully sung by Diahann Carroll.
     “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose…” — these are the now familiar words of Mel Torme’s “Christmas Song.”  It is recorded here by Mr. Torme’s good friend, Mr. Tony Bennett.
     Clement Moore’s well known poem, ” ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” has now been set to music.  The popular Steve Lawrence brings warmth and understanding to this sentimental reflection of the holiday.
     The Brothers Four sing their first album selection “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”, with foot-tapping enthusiasm.  This popular carol dates back to about 1600 and was written by an anonymous English poet.  The literal and original meaning of the title is “May Good keep you in good spirits, gentlemen”, but through the years the comma was misplaced in the title (“God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen”) changing the meaning considerably.
     The origin of “The First Noel” is obscure, although it is thought to have originated in France about 1500.  It was not until 1833 that the words and music first appeared in print.  The revered  carol is recorded on Album Seven by the bright new recording and film star, John Davidson.
    The music to “The Lord’s Prayer” is so familiar today that it’s surprising to realize that it was composed only thirty-some years ago — in 1935.  Barbra Streisand’s performance of “The Lord’s Prayer” is unusually moving; she recorded it in London especially for this album.
     Side Two of Album Seven opens with an exuberant arrangement of a song all children love: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”  It is recorded here by Harry Simeone and his group.
     “Home for the Holidays” is another of the Christmas favorites which seems to have been around far longer than the copyright date of 1954.  It is recorded with warmth and sincerity by the popular Jerry Vale.
     Sally Ann Howes’ second selection is “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”  This is one of the carols about which the story is known, and it is charming.  A young assistant pastor, moved by his trip to Bethlehem on horseback, wrote the poem.  Several years later, at the pleadings of the Sunday School children, the church’s organist promised to write the music.  Inspiration evaded him, however, until Christmas Eve, and he played the new carol for the first time on Christmas Day as his gift to the children.
    Steve Lawrence’s second song — “Let Me Be the First (To Wish You a Merry Christmas)” — is a relatively new Christmas tune and a delightful one.  It has an infectious melody — the kind one finds oneself humming frequently in the busy days before Christmas.
     “Patapan” is a 17th century French carol which originated in Burgundy.  This is one of the many carols which tell of children marching — singing or with musical instruments — in celebration of Christmas.  The Cleveland Orchestra plays this happy carol.
     Jerry Vale’s second selection is “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”  The first known manuscript of this favorite carol is dated 1751, though the song probably is much older.  Also known as “Adeste Fideles”, it is a processional carol, one often sung by religious orders on their way to Christmas Midnight Mass.
     “Here We Come A-Caroling” is an old English wassail song, popular as long ago as Shakespeare’s time, when it was the custom ot offer the wassail bowl in exchange for gifts.  The New Christy Minstrels’ version of this classic is a rollicking and fresh interpretation.
     The story of  “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” also is an intriguing one.  The words were written 1739 by Charles Wesley, brother of the founder of the Methodist Church.  The melody was written by Mendelssohn in 1840 — not as a Christmas carol, but in a cantata composed in praise of Gutenberg’s invention of printing.  Fifteen years later, a church organist put together words and music which had been written 100 years apart to create this carol.
     The next selection is a new and charming Christmas son, co-authored by Percy Faith.  “Christmas Is” describes all the delights of Christmas.  This sensitive carol is recorded by Harry Simeone’s group.
     No Christmas collection is complete without “Silent Night”.  This unusual favorite was composed on a Christmas Eve in 1818 in Bavaria by the assistant pastor and organist of an impoverished little church.  It was hastily written when the church’s decrepit organ could not be fixed in time for the Christmas service.  First performed by two solo voices, a chorus, and guitar, this lovely carol is performed here by the New Christy Minstrels.
     And with the end of Album Seven, it only remains for us to extend our warm good wishes — for happy holidays and a wonderful new year.  Merry Christmas!”

(Quoted material is taken from the back of the record jacket for “Great Songs of Christmas” Volume 7, 1967, by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Columbia Records Special Products Division, Stanley Arnold and Associates, Inc., and Norfolk Music, Inc.)



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This blog is written and published by DLF Music Transfer, LLC  dba Christmas LPs to CD.  For more information on Christmas music or to purchase CDs of classic Christmas records on CD, please visit our website www.christmaslpstocd.com , call us 888-384-6970, or e-mail us david@dlfmusic.com.