Saturday, December 22, 2007

A Disneyland Records Christmas

Here are four great Disneyland Records Christmas records I picked up recently in my thrift shop travels.
The first is Disney Christmas Favorites - The Mouse Concert plus other Yuletide Favorites. Check out this great album cover. I just love the artwork of the mice on the front and back covers of this album. I didn't photograph it, but the back cover has drawings of the various mice playing their different instruments. This copy is made in Canada, 1973, and distributed in Canada by Walt Disney Music of Canada Limited. Songs on the album are your typical Christmas fare. There are two tracks by Cliff Edwards, and one by Ludwig Mousensky and the All Mouse Symphony Orchestra & Chorus.
Second is Walt Disney's Christmas Favorites. This one is from 1958, and is a product of Pickwick International Inc (GB) Ltd, and distributed under licence from Walt Disney Productions Ltd.
The back of the album jacket has some info on Ludwig Mousensky: "This is a record that embodies all the spirits of St. Nicholas, Santa Claus and Father Christmas. In song and story, some old, some new, Mickey Mouse Record artists bring you many delightful moments on this long playing record.
Discovered under a stairway at the Disneyland Studio, the unique all-mouse symphony orchestra under the able baton of Ludwig Mousensky is undoubtedly the first and finest rodent ensemble in the world. And, we here at Disneyland records are proud to present their first recording, The Christmas Concert. Here are Christmas hymns, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, O Little Town of Bethlehem, O Come All Ye Faithful, Jingle Bells, and the popular Winter Wonderland. The Mousensky group's rendition of these songs is truly a delightful experience for all. Under the maestro, the orchestra, consisting of Skueeky, Zeke, Horace, Henrietta, Tubby, Tootie, Clarence, Pinky, Stuffy, Zooty, Hans, Fritz, Otto (these three were formerly with the Vienna's famed eutschMICEster Band), Pee Wee and Frenchy give a new dimension to these Christmas favourites. All proving that Christmas is a time for both mice and men.
Next up is Rankin/Bass presents Frosty's Winter Wonderland, Complete Story and Original Soundtrack from 1976. The complete story from the second (and not nearly as good) Frosty Christmas animated special, told and sung by Andy Griffith. Other guest voices are Shelley Winters as Mrs. Frosty, Dennis Day as the Parson, Jackie Vernon as Frosty, and Paul Frees as jack Frost. This one is also made and distributed in Canada by Walt Disney Music of Canada Limited.
Finally, we have Disney's Merry Christmas Carols, starting Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy & Chop 'n' Dale, with Larry Groce and the Disneyland Children's Sing-Along Chorus. This one also has the usual Christmas songs, including The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't be Late), I Wish it Could be Christmas All Year Yong, Here We Come A-Caroling, Sleigh Ride etc. The nice thing about the album is that the back cover has the lyrics for all eleven songs on the album so that everyone can sing along. The date on this one is 1980.

10 comments:

Avery Goode said...

Wow, I'm so excited you're doing a Disneyland Records site. I was their record producer for 8 years, so it's great looking at some of my old stuff. (On this blog, I produced the Rankin-Bass album and the Disney Christmas stuff. If you ever want to pick my brains, lemme know!
Jymn Magon

Ronn Roxx said...

Wow... you must have been excited to find my blog as you posted your comments 4 times ;-)

I'd love to pick your brain, as I am sure myself and all readying this blog would love to hear any stories or info you could provide us with!

Can you send me some details of the things you worked on?

Everyday Matheson said...

Hi,

I found your page through a google search. I am 30, and when I was little, we had a Disneyland Christmas record that had a light blue cover, with current Disney charecters around it.

I was wondering if you have any information about that album.

Thank you,

K

Kristine said...

Hi Ronn, I am desperate to get hold of the "Disney's Merry Christmas Carols - 1980" preferably on CD or a download. Any idea how I can go about doing this? When I was a teenager my parents had a copy of this album on tape (I'm now 31), and it just made Christmas for me. I would really appreciate any feedback.

Kind regards,
Kristine

Grinnygog said...

For Kristine, all the songs from the 2 Di$ney Christmas albums from the late 70s have been released on CD - but are tricky to find.

When I was little, I had the album I linked below: "Disney Christmas Favorites", then got the "Merry Christmas Carols" a few years later. They both feature Larry Groce and the Disneyland Children's Chorus and I believe were released within a year or two of one another.

For Everyday Matheson, was this the album you had:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B001FDIV4S/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&s=miscellaneous

Di$neyland Records released a CD called "Disney Presents A Family Christmas" which has most of the songs from the 2 albums. It is dated 1987 and was probably one of the first CDs produced by Di$ney, since the catalog number is
CD-005!!!

Then I discovered that a CD was released in Japan in 1999 that has the remaining 7 songs that were NOT included on "A Family Christmas". I discovered and ordered the CD on Amazon many years ago. It has the same cover and title as the first album I linked above. The label is Walt Disney Records and the catalog number is AVCW-12058

I look forward to hearing from other fans of Di$ney's great Christmas albums!

spedcat said...

How do I get a CD version of the Disney Christmas Favorites with the Mouse chorus? I have the album, but it is very scratchy.

Grinnygog said...

Here is a link to download all the tracks from the 1979 & 1980 Di$ney Christmas albums. They are all ripped from digital releases, so the sound quality couldn't be better. I've included scans of the album covers as well. Enjoy! Merry CHRISTmas!!!

http://mediafire.com/?j93bo17lcp6ob

kalkal said...

Grinnygog - you have made my family's Christmas for 2012, I have a VERY worn out tape of these songs, and we have searched for the CD's for years.
MERRY CHRISTMAS :) :) :)

mandalynn said...

Omg...thank you SO MUCH for these Disney Christmas songs!!!

Like so many others have mentioned, I have looked for these albums/songs everywhere (especially the 12 days of Christmas with the whole Disney gang!). When I was young, my family always listened to these songs and they just put a huge smile on my face :)

Again, much appreciated and Merry (early) Christmas!!

bethie84 said...

Thanks for the file! Although some are linking you to amazon.. you can find those on alot of the other xmas disney cds. Thanks though!! Burnt enough CDS and loaded to itunes.. forever mine!!!