Hi Chip,
       Thanks for the extensive, informative info on Mr. Autry. It raises a question
or two for me. I believe the first eight songs on that Columbia Records Christmas
Collection you posted (which caused me to acquire a copy) were the eight songs on
that 1950 10" LP "Merry Christmas With Gene Autry". Am I correct? If so, why do you
list this as an "official" and "original" album since those eight songs were recorded in
the few years prior to 1950 and seems like just a collection of singles. Was this a style
then as with Crosby's 1945 and Sinatra's 1948 albums. Also I am interested in why you
consider a reissue to be an "official" album. This 1950 album seems never to have
existed as far as cover art but if anyone has it, it's you. If so, can you post it, please.
As always, many thanks! Tim.

Tim,

First of all, your exact question to me was how many official Christmas albums (LPs) did Gene Autry have over the years. And in the very first sentence of my previous post on this thread you will notice that I stated that I was going give you just that: all of the official LPs -- both 10" and 12", originals and reissues -- that he indeed had in his career. I couldn't have made that any clearer.

Second, you are misinterpreting my use of the word 'original'. The word 'original' in describing two of these five official LP releases meant only that they were the original first issue LPs; it did not pertain to the material contained within them. And to set the record straight, you are wrong in your assertion that the 1950 10" LP consisted of all previously released material. Two of the songs -- Frosty The Snowman and When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter -- were recorded in 1950 for this LP. These two songs were also released together as a single that year as well to promote the album. As for the 1957 LP, all of the songs were released for the first time on that album.

And to answer your question: yes, many recording artists' first official Christmas LP releases (10" and/or 12") consisted of material that had been previously released on 78-rpm discs and/or 45-rpm discs. This included artists such as Fred Waring, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Kaye, among others.

As for the official reissue releases, I gave them to you as well because you said that you were confused by all the different Gene Autry Christmas albums out there, and I just wanted you to know what was a first issue LP and what was a later reissue of the original release. By the way, the word 'official' means a direct release from Mr. Autry's original record labels of RCA and Grand Prix, as opposed to the many budget labels that released his Christmas material in subsequent years.

Chip,
     When I said that the 1950 cover art seemed not to exist, it was my way of
asking you to post it, since you did not after my first post, as you do on many occasions.
I am trying to reproduce my own CD of this album as it first appeared. Of course I knew
that an album, especially one with a catalog number had to have cover art, but I asked
you first, and since you don't have it, I have since found that Columbia Records doesn't
have it in their discography (as they do with almost every other album in that catalog
series) and even the Gene Autry Website (some of which is family) has "no" record of the
album, much less the cover art. So this prompted me say that the cover art seemed
non-existent, which I knew really wasn't the case.
     I have put together as best I could the Sinatra 1948 album with the songs as they
were on that album, although I don't know if the alternate takes were the original ones
released. The art is valid but for the "LP" stamped on the art.
     I actually have the 1945 Crosby (Decca A-403) minus one record which de-values it.
I was aware of all that followed but this is the piece I consider to be original, or as it first
appeared. Thanks. Tim.

     I have no doubt that this was an actual, legitimate, catalog numbered album
but I wasn't clear when I said Columbia Records didn't have it in their discography,
they do! If you do a search of "Columbia Records CL-6137", the third offering reads,
"Columbia 10" Album Discography, Part 2 (CL-6100 to CL-6199) 1950-1952. Page
down to CL-6137. It does list the album and the songs on it but it doesn't show the
cover art as it does with all the other albums around it. As far as the Autry Website,
I spoke with Karla Buhlman who helped compile "Autry's Complete Columbia Christmas
Recordings". I don't recall her title at the site but she told me they had no record of the
album even after Gene's house was cleaned out after his death and even asked me to
let her know if I find anything. I emailed "Varese Sarabande Records" and I've called
Columbia Records by phone with no response yet from either. These are the only sources
I've tried. I know of no others.