Lorraine Ellison - Stay With Me

Happy New Years Eve.  I just  spent some time reading entries on a blog "So Many Records So Little Time" and was just drooling over his stories about records he scored at radio stations in the 60's. He had a post about being involved with the band X and had an unreleased test pressing with a picture sleeve. I always liked X and what a fantastic item that is [yes X is a band that should grace my other blog and does not fit here]. It's seems to be that we record fanatics salivate at our finds and can remember every detail of how we found that obscure record..."I was looking through a box mint Mitch Miller in shrink wrap, a polka, and Andy Williams and was just about to quit when BAM...that Mint in shrink Meet The Beatles LP was there", or "I walked into the Salvation Army and first thing I saw across the room was the Velvet Underground LP with the Banana still attached. I thought, oh please be at least playable and I pull the lp out and it is stone Mint." May your 2015 be full of fantastic finds such as these.
I thought I would post this fantastic soulful *song. I also always loved Terry Reid's version and if you check out the Terry Reid section of my blog you will find his copy.

Charles Bradley- Everyday is Christmas

Merry Christmas. I hope you have had a blessed and wonderful day with family. I have chosen a new song for today. I discovered Charles Bradley a few years ago and think he is just wonderful, So I thought I would share a little Charles Bradley Christmas with everyone

Supremes Twinkle Twinkle Little Me

Two Christmas posts remain. It rained all day and finally let up a little while ago which I was happy about because I forgot to buy the dog and cats Xmas. So I did the bravest thing I have done all day, I went to Walmart. Yikes, happy to get out of there with my life.
Here is a nice little Motown Supremes rarity. As you can see, I have the promo copy on Dark Red vinyl and what's is interesting is both sides are Twinkle Twinkle Little Me. I wonder if there is a red vinyl version of Children's Christmas Song, which appears to be the A Side

Miles Davis - Blue Xmas

Three Christmas related posts left for 2014. Record Store Day and Black Friday Record Store day have become in my opinion the best and worst of days. It's the best because of all the cool music that is released or re-released but it's the worst because it's (1) limited and has become fodder for exuberant prices by people who don't give a crap about music thus making it difficult for the person [such as me] to obtain it reasonably; (2) high priced- $10-$14 for a 45 when normally they are $5 bucks, or $35 for an LP. Tonight's 45 is from the recent Black Friday Record store day. I waited in the cold for about 45 minutes and this was one of the items I wanted. It was long gone by the time it was my turn to go peruse the RSD releases. Luckily, my friend in Maryland was able to get a copy for me. From what I can tell from a quick internet search, the songs on this 45 are a rarity in that Miles Davis had only a handful of songs that had a singer on them.
I've enjoyed Miles Davis for years and always buy his albums when I find them. I even found a few weeks ago one of his 45's on the Prestige label with the picture sleeve [. I consulted a renowned expert on pictures sleeves and he had never seen a MD Prestige picture sleeve and we both pretty much are concluding it is an import PS for a domestic 45- still pretty cool]

Soupy Sales - Santa Claus Is Surfin To Town

Here's a surf xmas oddity

Sugar "Chile" Robinson - Christmas Boogie

Here is an early early 45. [1950] I also found some interesting youtube clips of Sugar "Chile" Robinson

4 Seasons - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Nice version of this classic

James Brown - Santa Claus Go Straight to The Ghetto

Well this was a pathetic waste of a day on the prowl for records. I went to a nearby city and community and found 1 45 for .50 in one shop and 10 for a buck in another. Mostly what I found was extremely high priced crap, in some cases 45's that looked like they had been soaked in a water bath and then the place wanted 1.50 for them...or another place with beat up lp's for 29.99. Then the kicker was when I got home I dropped the sack with the 45's and chipped 2 of them and cracked one...at least it was only 30 cents worth of damage and they were worth nothing.
If nothing else, what is Christmas without a little James Brown.

Johnny Horton - They Shined Up Rudolph's Nose

This week has gone by much too quickly. I am glad I still on vacation next week. I have plenty I need to take care of around home that I have not yet done. And of course I have a plan to run around tomorrow looking for records. I have a little day trip planned for a town and surrounding area that I have never really spent time scrounging about.
My parents had a copy of Johnny Horton's greatest hits and when I was growing up I used to play it all the time. Of course I have my own copy but come to think of it I have not listened to it in ages. Apparently there is a pricey rare picture sleeve for this 45

Jan Bradley - Christmas Time

Found this one about a month ago. check out my other blog [which I sadly neglect] if you are interested in some adventurous more modern Christmas 45's. http://sonicparaphernalia.blogspot.com/

Jessie Mae Hemphill - Merry Christmas Pretty Baby

How about a little Christmas blues. I picked this one up at my favorite record stop this past summer. And it's autographed to boot!

Jan and Dean Frosty The Snow Man

Surf meets snow. Actually this was pre surf Jan and Dean. They had some minor success when they switched over to Liberty but nothing that set the charts on fire. This certainly died a quick death in late 1962. Try to find a stock copy of this. This is easily one of their more difficult 45's out there.  Their next 45 [Linda] would start them on the road to hitsville

12/11/23- Listener request. Re-uploaded the song and also rescanned the 45 to include the very rare stock copy I scored after the original posting  

Reverend Cleophus Robinson - Amen

On my vinyl searches I usually keep an eye out for Christmas 45's. But over the last year I have not found as many as I usually do. I had a few on my "want list" but struck a big ole goose egg this year. But I do have enough Christmas 45's to fill the next 12 days- a big smorgasbord of genre's.
I did locate a promo of the Ventures Christmas 45 so I have updated that post with a scan of the label.
For tonight I thought I would start out traditional with Reverend Cleophus Robinson--What a voice he had.

Tommy James And The Shondells- Pick Up

Here is an import rarity. I find the song selections rather strange-not the typical songs found on a Tommy James release. I have to admit that I had not really ever paid attention to these songs and I have the It's Only Love LP. I guess I need to take another listen to that one

The Liberty Bell - Thoughts and Visions

I put up the Christmas Tree and rearranged the living room. My back is thanking me right now. I did run around out of town this morning to a few thrift shops I had not been to in awhile and found a dozen 45's.
Tonight's post reminds me of the Small Faces song "My Way Of Giving"

The Honey Bees - One Wonderful Night

Wow I have been crazy busy. I am looking for some needed rest over the Christmas Holiday. Another recent find- a nice combination of dowop, soul and girl group sounds.