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Get2Me
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  • From:USA
  • Register:10/04/2008 03:09:21

Date Posted:11/17/2017 03:35:39Copy HTML

I know I've talked about this album before, but out of the three Christmas LPs organist Eddie Dunstedter released, Christmas Candy is, in my humble opinion, a lost lounge holiday classic.

Released in 1965 on Capitol records, I first became aware of this album through the handful of songs that appeared on Capitol's own Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails compilations. Since then, I've sought out multiple copies of the album on vinyl and enjoy listening to them a few times each Christmas season. For those who might be averse to instrumental, organ-based, Christmas albums, rest assured: there are plenty of other instruments to round out the songs and keep the tone lighthearted and upbeat, rather than church-like or funereal. The whole affair was quite well recorded (Christmas Candy WAS released on Capitol records, afterall) and the arrangements have a distinctly "hip" Now Sound feel with tight rhythm sections, walking bass lines, and a slight bossa nova bent, all of which tends to be just shy of kitschy. But therein lies the charm of this overlooked album!

Although there's no connection between the two other than the original record label and release year, I think Eddie Dunstedter's Christmas Candy would make a wonderful twofer CD reissue with The Hollyridge Strings' Christmas Favorites LP. It's a darn shame that the Collectors' Choice CD of the latter has long since fallen out of print.

The cuts from Christmas Candy and Christmas Favorites that made their way onto the Christmas Cocktails CDs are among the best of the bunch and full album reissues of both would be a welcome addition to any Golden Age of Christmas Music afficionados' collection.
Christmas Music Guru Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #1
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  • Register:09/07/2005 11:04:22

Re:Eddie Dunstedter's CHRISTMAS CANDY: A Lost 'Lounge' Holiday Classic?

Date Posted:11/18/2017 12:43:46Copy HTML





That's correct, Peter, Eddie Dunstedter's third Christmas album, Christmas Candy, was indeed his best. It resides in the 2nd Tier of my Top 500, coming in at #220. His first and second Christmas albums are in the Bubbling Under section of my Top 500, coming in at #381 and #382, respectively.

The Eddie Dunstedter and Hollyridge Strings Christmas LPs, both being Capitol Records releases, unfortunately now fall under the jurisdiction of UMG, which won't make a release for either album very easy. When Collectors' Choice Music's Hollyridge Strings reissue CD was released in 2008, it was negotiated with Capitol's parent company EMI. In 2012, EMI was absorbed by UMG, thus, sadly, putting the entire Capitol Records library under their control.


Lawrence F. "Chip" Arcuri Owner/Webmaster | The Yule Log.com
Get2Me Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #2
  • Rank:Silver
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  • Register:10/04/2008 03:09:21

Re:Eddie Dunstedter's CHRISTMAS CANDY: A Lost 'Lounge' Holiday Classic?

Date Posted:11/18/2017 06:24:34Copy HTML

That's truly disappointing that CD reissues of Christmas Candy and/or Christmas Favorites are a slim to none possibility. I'm glad I was able to purchase a copy of the latter when it was initially released by Collectors' Choice Music.
Thanks for the info, Chip. As always, it's very much appreciated.
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  • Register:09/07/2005 11:04:22

Re:Eddie Dunstedter's CHRISTMAS CANDY: A Lost 'Lounge' Holiday Classic?

Date Posted:11/19/2017 03:34:56Copy HTML


I wouldn't qualify a release in the future as slim to none, Peter, but it would be exponentially more difficult.


Lawrence F. "Chip" Arcuri Owner/Webmaster | The Yule Log.com
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