VA - Firestone Presents Your Favorite Christmas Carols Vol. 01 - 07 [1962 - 1968] + VA - Goodyear Presents Christmas [1970 - 1977] (14 x CDs)

 

XMAS SPECIAL

VA - Firestone Presents Your Favorite Christmas Carols Vol. 01 - 07 [1962 - 1968] + VA - Goodyear Presents Christmas [1970 - 1977] (14 x CDs)

The 1962, RCA pressed, Firestone Presents Your Favorite Christmas Carols was the first of what became an annual holiday music series. Over the years, the front cover illustration of a gorgeous red bow and ribbon remained a constant, although background "wrapping paper" colors varied. We played these albums over and over every Christmas, while I was growing up. They are wonderful and bring back many happy memories. You can't find any music of this quality being made today.

Although it's commonly cited that the Beatles were first to print lyrics on their album covers, that honor may belong to these Firestone collections. From this very first issue, all song lyrics were included on their back covers. 

Volume 1 is amazing and features mezzo-soprano Risë Stevens. Her co-star on this album, tenor Brian Sullivan of the Metropolitan opera company. Oldest here is "The Friendly Beasts," aka "The Donkey Carol," which originated in 12th Century France. It's based on the melody of an even earlier Latin song. "A Virgin Unspotted" is a carol from 1861.  Miss Stevens is at her best on "What Child is This?" Mr. Sullivan sings "Adeste Fideles" in both English and Latin. The choral medley finale is the program's highlight.

The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company graced each Christmas season, for seventeen years, from 1961 through 1977, with an LP of holiday favorites by Various Artists, sold both at Goodyear stores and at Richfield (later ARCO) stations. For the first nine years, the albums always had the same title: "The Great Songs of Christmas." In 1970, the album was called "The Best of the Great Songs of Christmas" and featured songs already included in prior releases. The last seven albums had different titles each year (although the "Great Songs of Christmas" title was brought back for the 1975 and 1977 releases). Until 1975, the albums were produced by Columbia Records through its Columbia Special Products subsidiary, and most often featured artists from the Columbia stable. Whether by choice or by legal obligation, the same performances were often used on more than one album; I think most of The Barbara Streisand Christmas Album ended up spread out over several Goodyear albums. Selections were also sometimes edited down or together from their original form. The last three albums were released through RCA on the RCA Special Products label. Of course, RCA was no stranger to the Christmas album/tire company biz: they issued Christmas album series for both Firestone and B F Goodrich through the sixties and early seventies.

More Info can be found here - http://yulelights.com/goodyear/goodyear.htm

Here are some Christmas favorites that you don't see posted anymore. 

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Pt.1     Pt.2     Pt.3     Pt.4 

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You may also like these previously posted Christmas Specials.

VA - A Very Special Christmas Volumes 1-9 [1987 - 2013] (9 x CD's) + Bonus ICON

https://butterboycompilations.blogspot.com/2019/12/va-very-special-christmas-volumes-1-9.html

https://butterboycompilations.blogspot.com/2019/12/va-time-life-treasury-of-christmas-i-ii.html

VA - Time Life Treasury Of Christmas I & II [1997-1998] (6 x CD's)

https://butterboycompilations.blogspot.com/2019/12/va-time-life-treasury-of-christmas-i-ii.html

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Track list

Firestone Vol. 1

01 Firestone Orchestra & Chorus Medley,  Joy to the World, Away in a Manger, We Three Kings of Orient Are, Hark! The Herald Angels 2:59

02 Rise Stevens What Child Is This? 2:22

03 Brian Sullivan O Come, All Ye Faithful 2:52

04 Firestone Orchestra & Chorus Medley, A Virgin Unspotted, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, Deck the Hall 2:43

05 Brian Sullivan O Little Town of Bethlehem 2:21

06 Rise Stevenschorus O Holy Night 2:32

07 Brian Sullivan It Came Upon the Midnight Clear 2:26

08 Rise Stevens The Friendly Beasts 2:31

09 Firestone Orchestra & Chorus Medley, Here We Come a-Wassailing, Good King Wenceslas, O Christmas Tree 2:46

10 Brian Sullivan The First Noel 3:35

11 Rise Stevens Silent Night 2:23

12 Firestone Orchestra & Chorus Medley, Jingle Bells - Up on the House-Top - Jolly Old Saint Nicholas - We Wish You a Merry... 2:37

Firestone Vol. 2

01 Columbus Boychoir And Firestone Chorus Opening, O Holy Night, O Come, All Ye Faithful 2:48

02 Rise Stevens And Firestone Chorus O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 3:03

03 Columbus Boychoir Medley, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, The First Noel 2:24

04 Brian Sullivan And Firestone Chorus Medley, We Three Kings of Orient Are, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 3:03

05 Rise Stevens, Brian Sullivan, Firestone Chorus Angels We Have Heard On High 3:21

06 Columbus Boychoir Carol of the Bells 1:30

07 Firestone Chorus Hallelujah 3:34

08 Rise Stevens, Brian Sullivan, The Columbus Boychoir, Firestone Orchestra & Chorus Deck the Hall 2:02

09 Rise Stevens And Firestone Chorus Medley, Away in the Manger,  It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 3:09

10 Rise Stevens, Brian Sullivan, Firestone Chorus Joy to the World 1:43

11 Columbus Boychoir And Firestone Chorus Medley, Silent Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem,  Jingle Bells 3:38

12 Rise Stevens, Brian Sullivan, The Columbus Boychoir, Firestone Orchestra & Chorus The Twelve Days of Christmas 4:26

Firestone Vol. 3

01 Columbus Boychoir And Firestone Chorus Medley, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,  Joy to the World 3:05

02 Roberta Peters Gesu Bambino 3:30

03 Franco Corelli Panis Angelicus 3:32

04 Martha Wright The Holly and the Ivy 2:44

05 Gordon Macrae Go Tell It on the Mountain 2:55

06 Columbus Boychoir And Firestone Chorus Medley,  Here We Come a-Wassailing, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen,  Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella!, Good King Wenceslas 5:09

07 Franco Corelli O Holy Night 3:30

08 Columbus Boychoir And Firestone Chorus The Little Drummer Boy 2:50

09 Roberta Peters Ave Maria 4:16

10 Gordon Macrae Sleigh Ride 2:48

11 Martha Wright Silver Bells 2:57

12 Gordon Macrae And Martha Wright White Christmas 3:22

Firestone Vol. 4

01 The Young Americans Medley Here We Come a-Caroling; Deck the Halls; God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen; O Little Town of Bethlehem 3:46

02 James Mccracken Angels We Have Heard on High 2:44

03 Dorothy Kirsten I Wonder as I Wander 3:23

04 Young Americans Medley: We Three Kings of Orie 2:44

05 Vic Damone It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 2:32

06 Young Americans Ding Dong Merrily on High 1:28

07 Julie Andrews The Christmas Song 3:21

08 Dorothy Kirsten Joy To The World 2:13

09 James Mccracken Ave Maria 2:21

10 Young Americans Medley: Away In a Manger - Sil 2:31

11 Julie Andrews Rocking (Little Jesus, Sweetly 2:28

12 Young Americans Masters in this Hall 0:58

13 Vic Damone Have Yourself a Merry Little C 2:49

14 Julie Andrews The Bells of Christmas 3:22

Firestone Vol. 5

01 Julie Andrews Joy To The World 2:58

02 Julie Andrews Irish Carol 3:21

03 André Previn O Little Town Of Bethlehem 2:48

04 Julie Andrews Deck The Halls 2:27

05 Julie Andrews Angels From The Realms 2:34

06 Julie Andrews Away In A Manger 3:32

07 Julie Andrews The Bells Of Christmas 3:04

08 Julie Andrews It Came Upon The Midnight Clear 3:16

09 Julie Andrews Sunny Bank (I Saw Three Ships) 2:31

10 Julie Andrews God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen 3:07

11 Julie Andrews Wexford Carol 3:16

12 Julie Andrews Jingle Bells 3:04

Firestone Vol. 6

01 Vienna Choir Boys Medley, Christmas Is Coming, Adeste Fideles, Angels We Have Heard On High 3:41

02 Roberta Peters The First Noel 3:11

03 Vienna Choir Boys O Tannenbaum 2:13

04 Jack Jones O Little Town Of Bethlehem 2:59

05 Firestone Orchestra & Chorus Messiah And The Glory Of The Lord 3:06

06 Jack Jones And Roberta Peters Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 2:50

07 Jack Jones, Roberta Peters, Vienna Choir Boys, Irwin Kostal, Firestone Orchestra & Chorus This Is That Time Of Year 2:49

08 Jack Jones Medley, Fum, Fum, Fum,  O Come, Little Children, Deck The Hall 3:36

09 Vienna Choir Boys Dance Of The Christmas Doll 2:34

10 Bernie Leighton I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day 2:59

11 Firestone Orchestra & Chorus Alleluja 2:42

12 Roberta Peters Silent Night 3:13

13 Roberta Peters And Jack Jones With Vienna Choir Boys Medley, Christmas Is Coming (Reprise), We Wish You A Merry Christmas 3:02

Firestone Vol. 7

01 Vienna Choir Boys And Firestone Orchestra & Chorus Medley, Joy To The World, The First Noel,  Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 3:12

02 John Gary And Firestone Orchestra & Chorus Rise Up, Shepherd, And Follow 3:11

03 Leontyne Price O Holy Night 2:42

04 Nicolai Gedda And Firestone Orchestra & Chorus Good Christian Men, Rejoice 1:59

05 Vienna Choir Boys While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks 2:17

06 Vicki Carr And Firestone Orchestra & Chorus I Still Believe In Christmas 2:37

07 Vienna Choir Boys And Firestone Orchestra & Chorus Medley, Jingle Bells, Ding Dong! Merrily On High, The Bells Of Christmas 4:13

08 Nicolai Gedda Ave Maria 4:13

09 Leontyne Price Messiah  He Shall Feed His Flock 3:20

10 John Gary And Firestone Orchestra & Chorus It Came Upon The Midnight Clear 3:38

11 Vicki Carr And Firestone Orchestra & Chorus Medley, Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Up On The Housetop 2:47

12 Leontyne Price, Nicolai Gedda, Vienna Choir Boys,firestone Orchestra & Chorus Silent Night 4:19

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GOODYEAR

CD1

01 Hillside Singers Christmas Is 2:38

02 Jo Stafford Winter Wonderland 2:11

03 Frank Sinatra White Christmas 3:18

04 Judy Garland Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 2:19

05 Vikki Carr What Child Is This? 2:23

06 Tony Bennett Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town 2:34

07 Barbara Streisand The Christmas Song 3:51

08 Bing Crosby It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas 2:44

09 Doris Day I'll Be Home For Christmas 2:22

10 Andy Williams O Holy Night 3:17

11 Mills Brothers Jingle Bells 1:41

12 Patti Page Silver Bells 3:29

13 Carpenters Merry Christmas Darling 3:01

14 Julie Andrews Silent Night, Holy Night 2:17

15 Hillside Singers Christmas Is  Reprise 1:54

CD2

01 Perry Como The Christmas Song 3:29

02 Eugene Ormandy & Philadelphia Orchestra & Chorus Sleigh Ride 2:56

03 Perry Como Toyland 3:06

04 Eugene Ormandy & Philadelphia Orchestra & Chorus Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town 2:13

05 Perry Como Home For The Holidays 2:51

06 Eugene Ormandy & Philadelphia Orchestra & Chorus White Christmas 3:42

07 Eugene Ormandy & Philadelphia Orchestra & Chorus Joy To The World 2:03

08 Perry Como O Holy Night 3:37

09 Eugene Ormandy & Philadelphia Orchestra & Chorus Go Tell It On The Mountain 2:15

10 Perry Como Ave Maria 4:35

11 Eugene Ormandy & Philadelphia Orchestra & Chorus It Came Upon A Midnight Clear 3:13

12 Perry Como Carol Medley 4:45

13 Eugene Ormandy & Philadelphia Orchestra & Chorus We Wish You A Merry Christmas 0:25

CD3

01 Henry Mancini Orchestra & Chorus Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 3:10

02 The Carpenters Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 3:57

03 Robert Shaw Chorale Joy To The World Medley 3:08

04 Julie Andrews & Andre Previn Orchestra Irish carol 3:13

05 Perry Como Silent Night 1:00

06 Henry Mancini And His Orchestra O Holy Night 2:36

07 Leontyne Price Ave Maria 4:43

08 Danny Davis, Nashville Brass Jingling Brass 1:59

09 Ed Ames Christmas Is The Warmest Time Of Year 2:35

10 Henry Mancini Orchestra With Chorus White Christmas 2:36

11 Ella Fitzgerald Sleigh Ride 2:52

12 John Gary The Christmas Song 2:19

13 Kate Smith Silver Bells 2:31

14 Bing Crosby A Christmas Toast 2:43

15 Henry Mancini Orchestra With Chorus What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?/Auld Lang Syne 3:42

CD4

01 Henry Mancini The Little Drummer Boy 3:17

02 Henry Mancini Jingle Bells - Sleigh Ride 3:40

03 Henry Mancini The Christmas Song 3:32

04 Henry Mancini Winter Wonderland - Silver Bells 3:51

05 Henry Mancini Frosty The Snowman - Rudolph 2:28

06 Henry Mancini White Christmas 2:43

07 Henry Mancini Carol For Another Christmas 2:36

08 Henry Mancini Silent Night - O Holy Night - O Little Town 6:42

09 Henry Mancini God Rest Ye - Deck The Halls - Hark The Herald 3:17

10 Henry Mancini We Three Kings - O Come All Ye - Joy To The World 3:34

11 Henry Mancini It Came Upon A - Away In The Manger - First Noel 5:03

CD5

01 John Davidson The First Noel 1:35

02 New York Philharmonic With Leonard Bernstein Carol Of The Bells 2:36

03 Anna Moffo Joy To The World 1:34

04 Richard Tucker The Lord's Prayer 2:47

05 Mahalia Jackson Away In A Manger 2:28

06 Isaac Stern Ave Maria 4:37

07 Barbara Streisand Silent Night 2:57

08 Petula Clark Happiest Christmas 2:53

09 Tony Bennett The Christmas Song 2:13

10 Percy Faith, His Orchestra & Chorus The Little Drummer Boy 2:53

11 Andy Williams Do You Hear What I Hear 2:46

12 Doris Day Toyland 2:56

13 Steve Lawrence The Night Before Christmas 2:45

14 Ray Conniff & The Singers We Wish You A Merry Christmas 0:34

CD6

01 Percy Faith His Orchestra & Chorus We Need A Little Christmas 2:06

02 Carol Burnett The Christmas Song 3:32

03 Tony Bennett Winter Wonderland 2:08

04 Bobby Sherman Love's What You're Getting For Christmas 2:13

05 Lennon Sisters The Christmas Waltz 2:24

06 Danny Kaye Deck The Halls 1:12

07 Mormon Tabernacle Choir Joy To The World 2:06

08 Barbara Streisand Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 3:03

09 Jim Nabors Go Tell It On The Mountain 2:54

10 Lena Horne Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 2:18

11 Eugene Ormandy & The Philadelphia Orchestra Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 3:02

12 Andy Williams Sleigh Ride 2:03

13 Johnny Mathis Silver Bells 3:27

14 Ray Conniff & The Singers We Wish You A Merry Christmas 0:34

CD7

01 Ella Fitzgerald White Christmas 2:57

02 Tony Bennett Christmasland 2:18

03 Jo Stafford Winter Weather 1:29

04 Barbara Streisand O Little Town Of Bethlehem 2:49

05 Pat Boone Christmas Waltz 2:22

06 Frank Sinatra Whatever Happened To Christmas? 2:59

07 Sammy Davis, Jr. Jingle Bells/It's Christmas Time All Over The World 3:36

08 Tex Beneke In The Glenn Miller Style The Christmas Song 2:56

09 Doris Day Toyland 2:56

10 Pete Fountain Jingle bell Rock 2:09

11 Bing Crosby Christmas Is 3:06

12 Julie Andrews O Come All Ye Faithful 2:14

13 Andy Williams Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow 2:11

14 Ella Fitzgerald What Are You Doing New Years Eve? 3:26

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