PREVIEW PREVIEW PREVIEW Dear friends of good music,
We created this extraordinary compilation for your listening pleasure and Christmas celebration. It is a far cry from the usual budget crap you’ll see every year in your next door supermarkets and drugstores. We hope you enjoy the music and wish you a merry little Christmas and a happy new year!
Sincerely, your Bear Family Records Team
1 RED FOLEY HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS PREVIEWFirst issued in 1949 on Decca 46185. From ‘Old Shep – The Red Foley Recordings 1933-1950’ (6-CD Box) BCD 16759.
2 EDDY ARNOLD WHITE CHRISTMAS First issued in 1950 on RCA Victor EPA 473 and Vi21/48-0390. From ‘Eddy Arnold – The Tennessee Plowboy And His Guitar’ (5-CD Box) BCD 15726.
3 TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD CHRISTMAS DINNER First issued in 1951 on Capitol 1830. From ‘Tennessee Ernie Ford – Portrait Of An American Singer 1949-1960’ (5-CD Box) BCD 17332.
4 JOHNNY CASH IT WAS JESUS (undubbed version) This is the rare EP mono version without vocal chorus overdubs. First issued in 1959 on Columbia EP 1284-1. From ‘Johnny Cash – The Man In Black 1954-1958’ (5-CD Box) BCD 15517. PREVIEW
Hank Snow 5 HANK SNOW BLUE CHRISTMAS Recorded and issued in 1953 for radio broadcasts known as ‘The Thesaurus Transcriptions’. First issued on Thesaurus 1870 for radio stations only. A rare nugget! From ‘Hank Snow – The Thesaurus Transcriptions’ (5-CD Box) BCD 15488.
6 HANK THOMPSON & HIS BRAZOS VALLEY BOYS IT’S CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY IN ALASKA First issued in 1963 on Capitol LP T-2154. From ‘Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys’ (12-CD Box) BCD 15904.
7 EDDIE CLETRO (feat. DIANA CLETRO: vocal) SANTA CLAUS, JR. A cool yule from one of the tiny but legendary labels! First issued in 1955 on Sage & Sand 214. From ‘Eddie Cletro – Flying Saucer Boogie’ BCD 16510.
8 JOHNNY HORTON PREVIEWTHEY SHINED UP RUDOLPH’S NOSE First issued in 1959 on Columbia 4-41522. From ‘The Singing Fisherman – The Complete Johnny Horton Recordings’ (9-CD Box) BCD 16222.
9 CARL SMITH SNOWDEER First issued in 1956 on Columbia 4-21485. From ‘Carl Smith – Satisfaction Guaranteed’ (5-CD Box) BCD 15849.
10 FRANKIE LAINE & JO STAFFORD CHRISTMAS ROSES This is one of their famous duet recordings made and issued in 1952 on Columbia 39893. From ‘Frankie Laine & Jo Stafford – The Duets’ BCD 15620.
Johnny Horton 11 SONNY JAMES CHRISTMAS IN MY HOMETOWN First issued in 1954 on Capitol F2958. From ‘Sonny James – Young Love – The Complete Recordings 1952-1962’ (6-CD Box) BCD 16373. 12 THE LOUVIN BROTHERS SANTA’S BIG PARADE First issued in 1960 on Capitol 4473. From ‘Louvin Brothers – Close Harmony’ (8-CD Box) BCD 15561.
13 BOBBY HELMS CAPTAIN SANTA CLAUS First issued in 1957 as the flip to the famous ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ on Decca 30513. From ‘Bobby Helms – Fraulein – The Classic Years’ (2-CD) BCD 15594.
14 HANK SNOW REINDEER BOOGIE Hank let the Christmas tree shake in a Boogie Woogie rhythm! First issued in 1953 on RCA Victor 20/47-5340 and EPA 472. From ‘Hank Snow – Snow On Christmas’ BCD 16980.
15 EDDY ARNOLD SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN PREVIEWFirst issued in 1950 on RCA Victor EPA 473 and Vi21/48-0390. From ‘Eddy Arnold – The Tennessee Plowboy And His Guitar’ (5-CD Box) BCD 15726. PREVIEW 16 MARTY ROBBINS FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW Recorded 1958, Columbia unissued. First issued in 1982 on Bear Family BFX 15045. From ‘Marty Robbins – Country 1951-1958’ (5-CD Box) BCD 15570.
17 GENE AUTRY & THE PINAFORES RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REINDEER One of the most classic Cowboy Christmas recordings! First issued in 1949 on Columbia 6-375. From ‘Various Artists – Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer’ BCD 16718.
18 THE DAVIS SISTERS THE CHRISTMAS BOOGIE First issued in 1954 on RCA Victor 20/47-5906. PREVIEWFrom ‘Davis Sisters – Memories’ (2-CD) BCD 15722. 19 RED FOLEY FROSTY THE SNOWMAN First issued in 1950 on Decca 46267. From ‘Old Shep – The Red Foley Recordings 1933-1950’ (6-CD Box) BCD 16759.
20 JOHNNY CASH THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY It’s not the man in red with a white beard, it’s the man in black! First issued in 1959 on Columbia 4-41481. From ‘Johnny Cash – The Man In Black Vol.3, 1963-1969’ (6-CD Box) BCD 15588.
21 TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD A ROOTIN’ TOOTIN’ SANTA CLAUS First issued in 1951 on Capitol 1830. From ‘Tennessee Ernie Ford – Portrait Of An American Singer 1949-1960’ (5-CD Box) BCD 17332. Johnny Cash