Peter Pan Records Album Cover Artist, George Peed

    For anyone who scrutinized the album covers of their childhood vinyl records, George Peed (brother of reknowned Disney storyteller, Bill Pete) may ring a bell. His colorful artwork graced the sleeves of numerous releases on the Peter Pan children’s record label as well as covers of Peter Pan’s sister labels (i.e. Tinkerbell, Ambassador, Diplomat, etc.). He began his career as a Disney animator, and did character designs for “Fantasia” and TV’s “Mighty Hercules.” His later years were spent filling up record jackets with fantastical images.  Look for his distictive signature on your album’s cover art. Here’s a look at some of his impressive album artwork illustrations on some of your favorite Christmas records.



Sleigh Ride and Jingle Bells The Caroleer Singers and Orchestra Diplomat Records Artwork by George Peed



Irwin the Disco Duck Christmas and New Year’s Party Peter Pan Records Artwork by George Peed

Bozo’s Christmas Sing Along Larry Harmon Peter Pan Records Artwork by George Peed

Snoopy’s Christmas The Peppermint Kandy Kids Peter Pan Records Artwork by George Peed

Frosty the Snowman The Peppermint Kandy Kids Peter Pan Records Artwork by George Peed

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town The Peppermint Kandy Kids Peter Pan Records Artwork by George Peed

The Chipmunk Song The Pixies Diplomat Records Artwork by George Peed

The Little Drummer Boy The Peppermint Kandy Kids Peter Pan Records Artwork by George Peed

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.

"Christmas Is" by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.

Christmas Is by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Columbia Special Products 1972 P11417

Song Listing:

Christmas Is (The Hillside Singers)

Winter Wonderland (Jo Stafford)

White Christmas (Frank Sinatra)

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Judy Garland)
What Child Is This? (Vikki Carr)

Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (Tony Bennett)

The Christmas Song (Barbra Streisand)

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas (Bing Crosby)

I’ll Be Home For Christmas (Doris Day)

O Holy Night (Andy Williams)

Jingle Bells (The Mills Brothers)

Silver Bells (Patti Page)

Merry Christmas Darling (The Carpenters)

Silent Night, Holy Night (Julie Andrews)

     The title song of this album, “Christmas Is”, sets a happy, reflective mood for your holiday listening.  The Hillside Singers recorded this rendition especially for this album.

     In her own inimitable style, Jo Stafford recalls for us the delight of “Winter Wonderland” — in a recording first made popular in 1955.

     Next you’ll hear Frank Sinatra at his holiday best. “White Christmas,” recorded in 1944, has become the all-time Christmas favorite.

     “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” strikes a poignant, nostalgic note. Sung by the incomparable Judy Garland, this recording was taken from the original 1944 sound track of the movie, “Meet Me In St. Louis.”

     “What Child Is This” is a traditional carol, sensitively sung by Vikki Carr.  It was recorded especially for this album.

     Now a children’s favorite, “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” is performed here by Tony Bennett, and the way he sings it, everybody listens.

     Barbra Streisand sings an old favorite that’s titled simply “The Christmas Song.”

     Bing Crosby brings a happy song from a 1963 Meredith Willson musical.  You’re sure to recognize “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas.”

     In 1943, most American servicemen could only “dream” of getting home for the holidays.  The affecting lyrics of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” as interpreted here by Doris Day, bring back many memories.

     “O Holy Night” was written in the 1800s by Adolphe Adam, a French composer.  This stirring masterpiece is sung for us by Andy Williams.

     With a lighthearted, foot-tapping change of pace, the famous Mills Brothers bring joy and verve to the perennially popular “Jingle Bells.”

     In gentle contrast, “Silver Bells” seems almost traditional.  Yet this song, originally titled “Tinkle Bells,” was introduced in the 1950 movie, “The Lemon Drop Kid.”  Patti Page presents her happy version of “Silver Bells” for you listening pleasure.

     The Carpenters have created a new Christmas classic entitled “Merry Christmas Darling.” The song was written by Richard Carpenter and Frank Pooler.

     Perhaps the most universally loved traditional carol is “Silent Night, Holy Night.”  Julie Andrews sings it for you, in a recording made especially for use on this album.

     The closing reprise for this album is a portion of the title song, “Christmas Is.” 

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.

Peppermint Kandy Kids — Peter Pan Records

     The Peppermint Kandy Kids were a studio singing group created by Peter Pan Records.  They are credited with several much-loved children’s Christmas releases by Peter Pan in the 1970s including “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town”, “The Little Drummer Boy”, “Snoopy’s Christmas”, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty’s Christmas.”  Only “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” and “Frosty’s Christmas” were released only once.  The remaining selections were released at least twice and some three times.  This creates a great deal of confusion among the releases because Peter Pan used the same catalog number and album artwork for each re-release.  Below, we hope to provide information that will help you find the version of these favorite children’s Christmas albums that you remember.

“Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” Peppermint Kandy Kids.  Peter Pan Records. Catalog #8109 1972 Song Listing: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town We Need A Little Christmas It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas Winter Wonderland The Christmas Song The Man in the Red Suit Santa Medley Reprise – Up on the Housetop Santa’s Magical Bag My Favorite Things The Marvelous Toy Scarlet Ribbons Happiness Is Love Is A Simple Thing We Wish You A Merry Christmas

“Frosty the Snowman” Peppermint Kandy Kids. Peter Pan Records. Catalog #8018 1972 Song Listing: Frosty the Snowman I Love Snow A Snowman Has A Heart It’s A Big Christmas World Christmas Is Coming Come, Follow Fum, Fum, Fum Sleigh Bells All Through the Night Pat-a-Pan Hejom Fejom Silent Night There’s No Place Like Home For the Holidays Silver Bells White Christmas

“Snoopy’s Christmas” Peppermint Kandy Kids. Peter Pan Records. Catalog # 8090 1972 Track Listing: (The 1972 release features music only.) Snoopy’s Christmas Santa Claus For President Who Stole the Mistletoe The Happiest Time of the Year We Wish You a Merry Christmas God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Deck the Halls Travelin’ Man Children of the World Unite Superstar Christmas Eve in Sloopyville Jingle Bell Rock

“Snoopy’s Christmas” Peppermint Kandy Kids. Peter Pan Records. Catalog #8090 1977 As you can see, the song listing and album artwork for the 1977 release are identical to the 1972 release. For the re-release, the original songs were interwoven with a storyline and dialog.

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” Peppermint Kandy Kids. Peter Pan Records. Catalog #8089 Song Listing: (The 1972 Version of this release is music only.  If you are looking for the version with the story of Rudolph’s Christmas party, you want the 1978 release.) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Rudolph’s Christmas Party Chris the Christmas Tree Morris the Moose Roly Poly the Polar Bear Here Comes the Rhythm Band All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth) South Pole Calling North Pole (Peter and Penelope Penguin) A Letter to Santa I Hear Christmas

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” Peppermint Kandy Kids. Peter Pan Records Catalog #8089 1978 The 1978 re-release uses the same song listing and album artwork as the 1972 version. The 1978 re-release features the story of Rudolph’s Christmas Party woven between tracks.

“Little Drummer Boy” Peppermint Kandy Kids. Peter Pan Records. Catalog #8088 1971 Song Listing: The 1971 release features carols sung by children. Little Drummer Boy Medley: Joy to the World, The First Noel, O Come All Ye Faithful Do You Hear What I Hear I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Old Toy Trains Medley: Good King Wenceslas, Deck the Halls, The Wassail Song The Twelve Days of Christmas ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas The Christmas Feeling Where Is Christmas

“Little Drummer Boy” Peppermint Kandy Kids. Peter Pan Records. Catalog #8088 1972 Track Listing: The 1972 version features the same artwork as the 1971 version. The songs are in a different order, and the singers include both adults and children. Little Drummer Boy ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Where Is Christmas The Twelve Days of Christmas Deck the Halls The First Noel The Wassail Song Do You Hear What I Hear I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day Come All Ye Faithful Joy to the World The Christmas Feeling It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Good King Wenceslas Old Toy Trains

“Little Drummer Boy” Peppermint Kandy Kids. Peter Pan Records. Catalog #8209 1978 Track Listing: The 1978 version features Christmas music with the story of a fictional little boy’s travels that parallels the lyrics of “The Little Drummer Boy”. Do You Hear What I Hear It Came Upon a Midnight Clear The First Noel Where Is Christmas The Little Drummer Boy Deck the Halls Joy to the World The Twelve Days of Christmas Reprise – It Came Upon a Midnight Clear I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day Come All Ye Faithful Reprise – Where Is Christmas

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.



WT Grants – "A Very Merry Christmas"

     The first “W.T. Grant Co. 25 Cent Store” opened in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1906.  By catering to budget-minded customers, W.T. Grant Co. built itself into one of the nation’s biggest general merchandise retailers.  Good profits and quick turnover of inventory led to sales of nearly $100 million dollasrs by 1936. (The same year that William Thomas Grant founded the WT Grant Foundation.) At the time of his death in 1972 (age 96), Mr. Grant’s nationwide department store empire had grown to almost 1200 stores.
     The W.T. Grant story ended in 1976 when the corporation filed for bankruptcy protection – at the time, the second largest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history. While there is disagreement among those who have studied the company’s rise and fall as to the reason for their eventual demise, most agree a few factors were key.
     While other large department stores like K-Mart, one of W.T. Grant’s biggest competitors, were adapting to the growth of the suburb and the changes this growth created in the shopping habits of consumers, Grants was slow to evolve.  Though in the 1960s and 1970s the company opened some larger stores (later called Grant City), the stores were not uniform in size nor in layout; therefore, the consumer did not get the feeling of comfort and familiarity when shopping in any Grant City store as that awarded with uniformity of K-Mart stores.
     Exceptionally rapid overexpansion also played a role in the failure of W.T. Grants.  Between 1969 and 1973, the company opened 369 stores in relatively small towns where major rival department stores had not yet opened.  Unfortunately, many of these stores were opened in poor locations evidenced by suits brought by the corporation against at least three of its executives for allegedly accepting bribes to lease inferior sites at inflated rents.  Former Grants executives later stated that “the expansion program placed a great deal of strain on the physical and human capabilities of the company; (the company’s) training program could not keep up with the explosion of stores…And it did not take long for the mediocrity to show” (Business Week, July 19, 1976, ps. 60-61).
     Additionally, Grants’ management refused until it was too late to eliminate shareholder dividends.  Even as the company was losing money, dividends were paid with borrowed funds until the availability of such funds was gone. 
     Another blow to company solvency was created by the company’s fundamentally flawed in-house credit system.  In efforts to boost sales, thus profits, cashiers and clerks were required to offer a Grant’s credit card application to every customer without fail. Final credit approval lay with the store manager creating an inherent fatal flaw in the system – the man responsible for sales and maximizing profitability was also facing corporate demands to meet credit sale quotas.  Since the 1200 Grants store managers made the final decisions as to whom would be issued credit accounts and what credit limits would be established on those accounts, the system was doomed to abuse thus, failure.  During the bankruptcy proceedings, one former Grants manager stated, “We gave credit to every deadbeat who breathed” (Business Week, July 19, 1976, p. 61).  Repayment terms were generously accomodating to credit customers as well.  “Until 1975 (Grants’ in house credit program) allowed 36 months to pay, with a minimum payment of $1 per month: (Business Week, July 19, 1976, p. 61).  As one could predict, credit delinquencies and losses created more fragility in cash flows and operating capital increasing the company’s dependency on bank credit extensions.
     A strong case has been made that Grants’ dependency on the availability of credit from banks was the major factor that lead to the death of the company.  Refusal to cease shareholder dividends, a poorly constructed expansion program, and disastrous in-house credit program were but three factors that forced the company to knock on the door of banks to borrow the money needed to keep the business afloat.  The banks’ control over the business eventually grew so strong that Grant executives Harry Pierson and Robert A. Luckett complained later that “the banks were running the company” (Schroeder, in Morgan v. Grant, p. 350). 
     We will leave to others to analyze the rise and fall of the W.T. Grant Company and will join with many of you in enjoying the wonderful music compilations sold at these “25 cent” neighborhood stores as the “A Very Merry Christmas” record album series. 

“A Very Merry Christmas” Produced Exclusively for Grants Columbia Special Products Catalog #CSS563 1967 Song Listing: The Little Drummer Boy (Ray Conniff and the Ray Conniff Singers) Jingle Bells (Jimmy Dean) Santo Natale (Patti Page) The Star Carol (Simon and Garfunkel) O Holy Night (Johnny Mathis) We Three Kings of Orient Are (Jimmy Rodgers) Sweetest Dreams Be Thine (Theodore Bikel and the Pennywhistlers) Medley: The First Noel, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, Oh Come All Ye Faithful (Andre Kostelanetz and his Orchestra) Touch Hands on Christmas Morning (Mike Douglas) Der Tag, Der Ist So Freudenreich (E Power Biggs, Organ, with Orchestra and Chorus) The Twelve Days of Christmas (Burl Ives with Percy Faith and His Orchestra) God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Andre Previn) Do You Hear What I Hear (Bobby Vinton) Handel: Hallelujah Chorus (The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Richard P. Condie Conducting and The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy Conducting)

“A Very Merry Christmas, Volume 2” Produced Exclusively for Grants Columbia Special Products Catalog #CSS788 1968 Song Listing: Joy to the World (Mitch Miller and the Gang) O Holy Night (Robert Goulet) It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (Anita Bryant) Sleigh Ride (Andre Kostelanetz and his Orchestra) The Christmas song (Steve Lawrence) O Little Town of Bethlehem (Mahalia Jackson) Here We Come A-Caroling (The New Christy Minstrels) Jingle Bells (Jim Nabors) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Doris Day) Silver Bells (Johnny Mathis) We Need A Little Christmas (Skitch Henderson and his Orchestra) I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Johnny Cash) White Christmas (Eydie Gorme) What Child Is This?/ The Holly and The Ivy (Bing Crosby) Silent Night, Holy Night (The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Richard Condie Directing and The New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein Conducting)

“A Very Merry Christmas Volume 3” Produced Exclusively for Grants Columbia Special Products Catalog #CSS997 1969 Song Listing: Do You Hear What I Hear (Robert Goulet) It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas (Leslie Uggams) Angels We Have Heard on High (Percy Faith Orchestra) I’ll Be Home For Christmas (Johnny Mathis) The Real Meaning of Christmas (Ray Conniff Singers) Three Wise Men, Wise Men Three (Jim Nabors) Christmas Chimes (Andre Kostelanetz Orchestra) Christmas Lullaby (Cary Grant) Handel: For Unto Us A Child Is Born from The Messiah (The Philadelphia Orchestra and The Temple University Choir, Eugene Ormandy Conducting) Christmas Story (Burl Ives) Silver Bells (Mahalia Jackson) I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (Ed Sullivan Orchestra) Some Children See Him (Diahann Carroll) What Child Is This? (Mitch Miller and The Gang) Christmas Chopsticks (Bobby Vinton)

“A Very Merry Christmas Volume 4” Produced Exclusively for Grants Columbia Special Products Catalog #CSS1464 1970 Song Listing: That Holiday Feeling (Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme) Oh Holy Night (Gary Puckett) Tchaikovsky: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy; Dance of the Toy Flutes from “The Nutcracker Suite” (Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops) What child Is This? (Mark Lindsay) The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) (Mel Torme) The Best Gift (Barbra Streisand) I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Johnny Cash) Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Tony Bennett) Winter Wonderland (Aretha Franklin) The Secret of Christmas (Bing Crosby) Silent Night (Julie Andrews) Christmas Medley – Hallelujah Chorus; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; Deck the Hall With Boughs of Holly; Joy to the World; Hallelujah Chorus (reprise) (Peter Nero)

“A Very Merry Christmas Volume 5” Produced Exclusively for Grants RCA Special Products Catalog #PRS343 1971 Song Listing: Home for the Holidays (Perry Como) O Little Town of Bethlehem, The First Noel (Robert Shaw Chorale) The Ballad of the Christmas Donkey (Ed Ames) Sleigh Ride (Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops) Sweet Little Jesus Boy (John Gary) Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (Eddy Arnold) Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Henry Mancini) Christmas Is Coming (Harry Belafonte) O Holy Night (Mario Lanza) Little Drummer Boy, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Norman Luboff Choir) Here We Come A-Caroling, We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Perry Como)

“A Very Merry Christmas Volume 6” Produced Exclusively For Grants RCA Special Products Catalog #PRS427 1972 Song Listing: There Is No Christmas Like a Home Christmas (Perry Como) Medley: Coventry Carol, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Chet Atkins) I Saw Three Ships (Robert Shaw Chorale) The Twelve Days of Christmas (Harry Belafonte) A Christmas Festival Medley:    Joy to the World, Deck the Halls, Jingle Bells, O Come All Ye Faithful (Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops) Medley: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Deck the Halls, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Henry Mancini, His Orchestra and Chorus) Do You Hear What I Hear? (John Gary) Ave Maria (Schubert) (Leontyne Price) I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Ed Ames) Silent Night (Norman Luboff Choir) Little Drummer Boy (Perry Como)

“A Very Merry Christmas Volume 7” Produced Exclusively For Grants RCA Special Products Catalog #DPL10049 1973 Song Listing: Toyland (Perry Como) O Come, All Ye Faithful (Robert Shaw Chorale) God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Julie Andrews) What Child Is This? (Ed Ames) Messiah (Hallelujah Chorus) (Sir Thomas Beecham) Winter Wonderland (Arthur Fiedler) Christmas in My Home Town (Charley Pride) Good King Wenceslas (Morton Gould) Jingling Brass (Danny Davis) Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (Perry Como)

“A Very Merry Christmas Volume 8” Produced Exclusively for Grants Capitol Special Markets Catalog #SL6954 1974 Song Listing: Do You Hear What I Hear (Bing Crosby) The Christmas Waltz (Peggy Lee) Sleigh Ride (Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians) It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (Tennessee Ernie Ford) For Unto Us A Child Is Born (From “The Messiah”) (Charles Mackerras conducting The English Chamber Orchestra with The Ambrosian Singers) The Christmas Song (Nat King Cole) Gesu Bambino (The Roger Wagner Chorale) Blue Christmas (Glen Campbell) Silent Night (Dinah Shore) A Christmas Medley For Children: Toyland, Jolly Old St. Nicholas, O Christmas Tree, Toyland, March of the Toys, Jingle Bells, Up On The Housetop (The Hollywood Pops Orchestra. Arranged and Conducted by Sid Feller)

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.