[78-L] Christmas Music

[David Lennick]

Me, I had a traditional Christmas upbringing..it was CHANUKAH I never heard of 
till I was ten. Gotta love assimilation.

dl

Michael Biel wrote:
> Jack Palmer wrote:
>> OK Mike,
>>     You show the records but how would I ever hear them.  We got a radio 
>> when I was about 6 years old but never had a record player.  I am sure some 
>> Christmas songs appeared on the radio but not from records.  They would have 
>> been live in those days.  Were any recordings played on the radio at all in 
>> 1920 or 1930?  I realize I am changing my statement but I still feel 
>> deprived.    Jack
>>
>>   
> 
> I cited the records because you asked if this type existed.  But it also 
> lists the songs that were a common part of Christmas during that era, 
> and once broadcasting was established these songs and others, including 
> long-form presentations of Christmas stories, would have been performed 
> on radio endlessly.  The playing of these recordings on the air would 
> not be necessary to indoctrinate all into the American form of Christmas 
> tradition.  And yes, local stations would play records, but not the 
> networks.  But someone listening to radio would have a much wider range 
> of performances than someone only listening to the records they happend 
> to have bought.  New songs get played over the radio constantly, but you 
> would have to get up and go out and buy a record of the new song in 
> order to hear it on your phonograph.  Same with new performers.  Or 
> performers doing new performances of new or old songs that they might 
> not have recorded yet.  All of the songs you seem to feel you were 
> deprived of by not having a phonograph were heard on RADIO FIRST.  RCA 
> Victor had a slogan "Music You Want, When You Want It." but how do you 
> know you want it if you haven't heard it yet.  So you are more likely to 
> hear a new song on radio than on your own phonograph.  So when Crosby 
> sang "White Christmas" on radio in Dec 1941 you couldn't have bought it 
> on record until the fall of 42.  The NEW traditions were made on radio 
> before they would get to your phonograph.   You weren't deprived, you 
> were better off.  Those who only had phonographs were worse off than 
> those with radios. 
> 
> Make you feel better now??
> 
> Now ask ME how I would have become acquainted with the Hannukah 
> traditions!  You can count on your fingers all the Hannukah 78s that 
> were ever released.  Talk about being deprived and discriminated 
> against.  Oh, and by the way, your Christmas is over by now, right?  We 
> still have another day of Hannukah to go.  XM's Radio Hannukah is still 
> on the air while the Christmas channels are departing.  You're taking 
> down your decorations, dragging out your old dried up tree, throwing out 
> all the wrapping paper, and I am still twirling my dreidel,  wrapping 
> presents, and setting fire to the menorah.  Tough luck, old chap.
> 
> Mike (HAPPY HANNUKAH!!!!!) Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com 
> 
> 
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Michael Biel" <mbiel at mbiel.com>
>>
>>   
>>> From: Jack Palmer <vdalhart at earthlink.net>
>>>     
>>>>     So far I stand by my statement.  No one has listed any true Christmas
>>>> Songs like we hear at Christmas today that came out before I was 9 or 10
>>>> years old.  Nothing for my early years even if we had a record player.  I
>>>> was denied a traditional Christmas raising.    Jack
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>       
>>> I don't know what you are talking about.  The 1916 Victor catalog lists
>>> over 30 Christmas sides in a special section.  Four versions of Adeste
>>> Fideles, two each of Hark the Herald Angels Sing, It Came Upon A
>>> Midnight Clear, Silent Night,  Star of Bethleham, and other titles
>>> include the First Nowell, Birthday of a King, Joy to the World, While
>>> Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night, Behold Christmas Lights,
>>> several Christmas medleys, one of which includes God Rest Ye Merry
>>> Gentlemen and Little Town of Bethleham, and, of course there's Christmas
>>> Morning at Clancy's.  Two versions of Der Tannenbaum (Oh Christmas Tree)
>>> are listed under German Records.  There are a couple of readings of
>>> Scrooge.  Harry Humphrey read from Luke 2 with the Victor Orch playing
>>> It Came Upon A Midnight Clear on the other side.  Jingle Bells is listed
>>> under Oh You Silv'ry Bells by the Peerless Quar.  Hayden Quar does a
>>> song Winter backed with Silver Bell.   Oh Holy Night was mentioned in
>>> another post as Cantique de Noel and even Caruso recorded it.  Santa
>>> Claus Hides in the Phonograph was from 1922 or 23.  There must be
>>> recordings of A Visit From St. Nick from this era as well.
>>>
>>> WHAT MUCH MORE DO YOU WANT?????????????????????
>>>
>>> Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com
>>>