[78-L] Gene Autry Christmas records

[David Lennick]

Just to add to the confusion, the kids (vinyl) issue of Frosty in Canada with 
the picture sleeve has a BLACK label! And I think it has the same number as the 
microphone issue but with a -V suffix. (Something like C-1400-V.)

dl

On 1/2/2011 1:14 AM, Michael Biel wrote:
> On 1/2/2011 1:00 AM, DAVID BURNHAM wrote:
>> Every copy I had of the Gene Autry records was on the red microphone label,
>> although I've seen pictures of the yellow labels.
>>
>
> Every copy of the Gene Autry christmas records I've had were on the
> yellow kids label.  You haven't mentioned if you have U.S. pressings or
> only Canadian.
>>
>> A couple of years ago I bought a CD which claimed to be the "Complete Columbia
>> Christmas Recordings", by Gene Autry.
>
>
> Oh no!!!!  Not another mystery CD!!
>>    On this CD, "Frosty the Snowman" always
>> bothered me - it just didn't sound right.  When you hear a song like this
>> umpteen times every Christmas throughout your childhood every nuance - the
>> rhythm of the words, the balance between the piccolo and the clarinet in the
>> opening, etc. - become etched in your brain.  All of the other selections on
>> this CD with which I was familiar sounded the same as I'd always heard them,
>> (except I find "Here Comes Santa Claus" a bit duller than on the 78).  I just
>> now listened to "Frosty" on the CD
>
> So prey tell, what is the discographical data of this CD.  Please.
>> and the 78 side-by-side to see if there was
>> something which described the difference.
>
> Is there a take number?
>> They're obviously from the same
>> recording session on June 12, 1950, the same musicians, arrangement and pickup
>> but I finally found something which ensures that these are two different
>> recordings:
>
> Why should you think that alternate takes weren't unusual?
>
>
>
>> on the 78 he sings "Weren't they surprised when before their
>> eyes.....", and on the CD he sings "Were they surprised, before their
>> eyes.....".
>
> This is a good way of determining the two takes.  In my memory the first
> version sounds closer to the proper rhythm.
>>
>> Does anyone know if this version was ever released on 78 or did something happen
>> to the master of the original version or did the crew who compiled the CD just
>> grab the wrong tape off the shelf?
>>
>> db
>
> It's not unusual that alternate takes are issued.  Since this side has
> probably been issued a dozen times, this might not be its debut.
>
> Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com
> __________________________