Thanks Chip,

For this Spotlight on Andy Williams.  I was and still am teary eyed from watching all 3 video clips.  I also watched the movie "Born Free" a few weeks or so ago.  I can't remember if it was on TCM or Retro-Plex or maybe MGM, I hadn't seen the movie since I was a child.

Is so hard to believe that he is no longer with us.  I know when he announced last November 7th, at his Christmas Concert that he was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer he was looking forward to returning to The Moon River Theater to celebrate his 75 years in Show Business.  When he mentioned his bladder cancer and returning to The Moon River Theater, he said the following:   "But that is no longer a death sentence. People with cancer are getting through this thing. They're kicking it, and they're winning more and more every year. And I'm going to be one of them."

Tears.

Great tribute my friend.

The world needs 1974's "Christmas Present" album remastered now, featuring "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day." I've waited a while for this one, but everyone always forgets this one in comparison to his other more classic-Christmas-productions which I'm much more fond of as far as albums go, as is seems everyone else is too. I've got just the one song from other compilations, but it'd be nice to have the whole album sounding better than its 1990 cd-release which always skyrockets in price around the season due to being so out of print two decades later. (Labels? Wake up! PLEASE!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Present_(album)

I first heard "Bells" on THIS one a few years back, entitled The Ultimate Greatest Christmas Collection I think (maybe from the UK), and just sort of choked.

I believe the only version I can find on youtube to share it with the Jedi council here, is one that was synched to Disney villains at this link; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuluBM5XIG0
I'd insert the tube in here, but it's so not Christmas, I didn't want to offend any of us purists. (Including myself.)

But if anybody can find a visual of ANDY actually singing this, please. SHARE!

If there's already been mention of Andy's version of this song in other areas of the board, my apologies.

Chip,

Thank you for posting another great video clip from Andy.  This song has always made me cry even to this day.  I know you're aware that the late Bobby Russell, 19 April 1940 - 19 November 1992,  (Saturday Morning Confusion, 1971) wrote this song and Bobby Goldsboro had a huge hit with it too in 1968.

But Andy's rendition is even more special to me as I grew up listening to most of his albums that were in my family and I feel so guilty that I didn't ask my Aunt's when they were throwing a lot of albums out when I was a teenager.  There were a lot of Andy's albums among other artists, but I pretty much only took the Christmas albums.  I could just kick myself now.

I can't say off the top of my head how many of Andy's albums I do own, being they are, unfortunately, still packed away in boxes and the one album I have access to besides his Christmas album is "Andy Williams Greatest Hits" Columbia Stereo Tape 4-Track HC 1348, so besides his Christmas albums and the Reel-to-Reel tape that is all I have access to for now.

I believe I have about 15 in my collection, but that is only a drop in the bucket of his many many albums.  Also one of my favorite Duets that Andy did was "I Like Your Kind of Love" with Peggy Powers. in 1957 and is on his "16 Biggest Hits" album.

Again, words aren't enough to express my feelings about Andy Williams and the world has lost one of the greatest singers of all time.   And I am so heartbroken that I had to watch every video on YouTube that I could get to play on my Streaming Media Player and I cried myself to sleep.  I am still very teary-eyed and I know that any time I hear a song by Andy that I will end up crying.

Rest in Peace Andy Williams now you can sing your Golden Voice along with the Angels.

Chip,

I didn't realize that Bobby Goldsboro charted for 5 weeks at # 1. I was only 10 at the time, but I am surprised that Andy Williams version wasn't also released as a single because he had so many great hits.

It has to be a great feeling to have family in the music business and basically have a lot of accurate information that the general public doesn't have.

I always felt special because I met a few artists in person because of the Sound Company I worked for, but after the concerts we did the sound systems for, I never saw them in person again. So it was just a casual meeting, but to actually have family members in a performing capacity, producing capacity, etc. and then other contacts in the music business, it also makes it special to know you through the message board and I have always been grateful for all the information you have provided all of us over the years. And help us to find the artist or song title that we have often had trouble identifying.

I think the closest I ever came to being a relative to a celebrity was my Uncles cousin was Teresa Brewer, but I'm not technically related because he was my Uncle only because he married my mother's sister. Then my Cousin babysat for the Twins from Little House on The Prairie Lindsay and Sydney Greenbush before they were discovered and picked to play Carrie Ingalls.

Though I am not one of the first members who joined the message board, I do feel that I am in the greatest company of Christmas Music lovers and though my knowledge of the music isn't anywhere close to yours, I would say I am above average in certain areas of music. And it is very hard to stump you.

I know sometimes it takes a little while for you to find the answer, but you always come through. The specific item I am referring to was when I posted some clips of songs I taped off the radio and didn't know the name of the artist. It turned out to be James Last, and the reason you didn't immediately remember who it was, is because it was done in German and was harder to recognize who it was. But thanks to your help, I was able to identify the song and also find the album.

I know I've thanked you on several occasions, but again I want to thank you and reaffirm how grateful I am to you for all that you have done in keeping this message board going and all the help you have given us all.

Also helping to get a lot of albums released on CD, and most importantly, all the effort you did in restoring the Music for the WPIX Yule Log and then adding the additional 4th. hour and all the effort you put in to getting the information out there for us so we know what time and station the WPIX Yule Log will be broadcast on.

  and Kudos to you Chip, and again, I

You're welcome Chip and I thank you again.  Wow, I didn't realize I had over 650 posts.  I doubt that I will ever catch up to you though, not that this is a race lol.

I know what you mean though about all of this being "A Labor of Love"  Anyone with such dedication and appreciation of Christmas music among other genre, and also doing everything in your power to make sure that the Yule Log Broadcast goes off without any problems, and if there are any, you are the first one to be on the phone with the powers that be to find out what happened.   Then too anyone who has been collecting records for as long as we have, and your amassing all the information you have about the music, even down to the littlest detail in some cases such as who may have designed the artwork for a particular album, as that isn't always printed on the jacket or record label among other credits.

Also that you pretty much can answer our questions with such accuracy and you know where the information is in your archives.

I know that when I first decided to start taking care of my records and actively collecting, that I was more interested in getting the album, not knowing it was a reissue or not and years later with your help I was able to find out how to tell if it was a reissue or original, and have replaced several reissues with the original albums.

I realize that there are other members here who appreciate the music as much as we do and some also care about the smallest detail, but I know of people who just buy an album or CD for the sake of getting the album, and don't realize who produced it, designed the artwork, arranged the music and even who wrote the lyrics and music.

In my case, where possible, I try to include in my database and also in the Metadata when I am digitizing my collection to preserve the vinyl from getting scratched anymore, the artist, album title, song title, composer, producer, arranger, the date the album was released, if it was a reissue and any other information I am able to get.

That is a true collector and I try to get both the Mono and Stereo release if there was one done for a particular album.  For instance with the Firestone series that look like a present tied with a ribbon and bow, there were 7 Volumes, but I have 12 records because the first Volume was only released in Mono and Volume 7 was only released in Stereo.  There were other albums released for Firestone, but the ones I am referring to are the most important ones to have being the other Firestone releases are basically compilations of previously released music on other compilations. (Record company ploy to get you to buy another album thinking you are getting an entire new release, only to find that the songs are on other albums you already have purchased.  They change the title, artwork and song order so you don't initially realize that you have this music)

Oh well, this has really gotten off topic and I apologize, but again, I thank you for all that you do with the Website, Message Board, getting albums released on CD and getting all the information about The Yule Log Broadcast out there as soon as possible.  And all the help you have given us over the years.

Great loss.  Still can't really process it though.

I was driving to work late and listening to NPR.  Andy's Moon River started to play and I said out loud, "Oh no".  It played for a while before they started talking and eventually confirming what I instantly knew. 

We've been going to Branson for the last several Branson Christmas Seasons.  He and his Christmas show were the reasons we made the decision to start going.  It has been a real blast to finally get to go see him.  In the process we saw a great number of other Christmas shows while we vacationed there.  Anyway, last November when he stepped out on stage and admitted he had been diagnosed with cancer, it was about a week before we were supposed to arive in Branson.  There was a heady mix of emotions.  Ms. Persimmon works in a cancer center.  We went anyway.  We also kept the tickets to our two Andy Williams Christmas shows but it was apparent a good many others had not.  We were used to seeing sold-out shows for the Christmas season there.  Fully 25-30% of the Moon River Theatre was empty during the two shows we saw last year.  That was a pity.  The show had his stamp all over it and was really quite good.  Some old favorites and some new.  Anyway, he was mentioned in both shows to roars and applause.  He did touch a good many people.

Then, maybe we were looking for any signs or scraps of how he was.  We did notice that the numerous immaculately placed lights on the trees surrounding the Moon River Theatre and Moon River Grill seem to have been neglected.

Fast forward, there were some other signs of worry.  A total redesign of his website seems to have stopped 6+ months ago.  It is still barely functional (or not depending on what you do on it).  There was no officially released information for months.  The Enquirer originally broke the cancer story last year and it was distributed widely for a couple of weeks before Andy walked on stage and confirmed it.  Some time around late July to early August this year they also quoted a family friend that he had been told that treatment was not working and that he had gone home to Branson to live out his remaining days.  It gave us fear pangs, but it was the Enquirer after all.  However, it spread like wildfire online and for weeks there was no official word.  Several weeks in, official word ran counter to the report by the enquirer.  People reported seeing him or hearing he was regularly conduction business for the Moon River Theatre.  Good signs.  Fingers crossed.  Still there was no official word, the website languished, the 75th Anniversary shows had not been fleshed out until almost the last minute, and I kept hearing this little voice stating that it was the enquirer who originally broke the story the first time.  Put it out of my mind...mostly.

Schedules and lineups get released.  More people report sightings.  It is reported he likely won't sing as planned in the 75th Anniversary shows but may drop in from time to time as his recovery progresses.  It was also reported that he was still hoping to participate in the Christmas shows as he can.  Shows in full swing, no real functionality to the website. 

Fast forward...I hear Moon River being sung by Andy on NPR and knew instantly humanity, the arts, Christmas, and a family had just received a massive loss.  I called Ms. Persimmon to deliver the news.  Short phone call...lots of silence.  At work, people dropped by all day to talk about it.  Several asked if I was cancelling our trip (a little soon).  My reply was that I had not heard they were cancelling Christmas and I really didn't think Andy would want to see people get miserable but rather celebrate  and amazing person and a terrific season.  Also, the lineup for the coming Christmas shows was full and again had his stamp all over it.  We're absolutely still going and still going to the two Andy Williams Christmas shows for which we already have tickets.  We already miss him but are glad to see he no longer has to be sick and in pain.  We hope the family will take some heart from the fact that people are still coming and celebrating him as well as his part in the Christmas celebrations for a good many fans. 

Rest in Peace Andy.  We, and a good many others, loved you.  The joy is not over.
The musical gifts you left us will forever be a part of our lives and family Christmas celebrations. 

Finally, big thanks to Chip for again delivering his tribute to us.  I wish other outlets had treated him as well.  I wish there was a worship icon.  I'd have to use it and the words "Thanks Chip!!!" in my sig!


BTW, one saying about Andy Williams which is ubiquitous is when they referred to him as Mr. Christmas and that the reason that the Branson Christmas Season starts at the beginning of November is because Andy Williams says so.  I've seen this on various travel shows on cable for years, interviews with other performers on cable, and in a good many shows in Branson during the Christmas season.  Before he arrived in Branson it almost shut down after summer.  Now, you can go at the beginning of November, spend several days getting inundated with Christmas, bring it all home for the Christmas family staycation for the remainder of the season. 

Andy's version of the Girl Watching Song was used in a Fiat commercial in the UK a couple of years back, and it hit the TOP 10 in the UK!  It also introduced Andy to a new generation of fans.
Also, there is a YouTube (from Japan?) of Andy singing the Love Story theme live on his show (no lip sync) and it is fantastic!  I wish I had a link; perhaps someone can post it here.

The 1974 Christmas LP of Andy's is very 'comforting' and should be remastered.  Perhaps our friends at Real Gone Music (Gordon) can remaster "Christmas Present" next year after this years' remastering of Percy Faith's Christmas LPs?

Chemo is very difficult for someone half Andy's age (I know), and over 60, it's sucess rate drops to 50%; I'm glad he's no longer in pain, but we miss one of the top Christmas artists of all time.  God Bless Andy Williams. 

Something I found particularly depressing was learning that a co-worker of mine had never heard of Andy.  She's 37.  But when I mentioned "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year," she immediately knew who he was.

Isn't it a great testimonial to the timelessness of all this great music?  I wonder if the same could be said for today's music 50 years from now?  Somehow I don't think so.

09-30-12 @ 18:33 PM
Follow-up to above message:

I was reading a discussion about Andy Williams on another website and the question came up as to why Andy's version of "Moon River" was never released as a single.  Would anyone here know why?  Someone said it was a decision by his record company.  That's unfathomable!  Andy Williams' association with "Moon River" is probably as great as Bing Crosby and "White Christmas."



*Message edited by the Yule Log.com Message Board Administrator on 09/30/12 to combine two consecutive reply posts by the same member. Also, double-post was deleted.

Yes, it was the executives at Columbia Records that decided not to release Moon River as a single. The reason was they thought that certain lines in the song like "my huckleberry friend" were too nebulous, bucolic and old-fashioned and they just felt the song wouldn't appeal to the record-buying public -- especially the younger market. I spoke with Felice Mancini (Henry Mancini's daughter) tonight to see if she could shed any further light on this, but this is all she knew as well. By the way, Felice co-manages with her siblings her father's extensive library of music. Felice is also the President and CEO of The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation in Studio City, California. I told her I'd post a link to it on this post for anyone who might be interested in learning more about this wonderful charity: Click here. Posted below is a picture of the very lovely Felice.

Chip,

Were there just those three Andy Williams holiday LPs on Columbia or were there others? The man had such a special way with holiday music that it seems like he recorded so much more of it - although I'm probably adding to my memories because of all his Christmas TV specials. 

Other than maybe Dean Martin and Perry Como I never saw or heard someone look so at-ease and sound so comfortable singing like Andy Williams did.

Speaking of "Christmas with Andy Williams and the Williams Brothers" Columbia Special Products C 10105 . 

My copy is a reissue, so the title really should be "Christmas with the Williams Brothers by Andy Williams and the Williams Brothers".  I apoligize for any confusion I may have caused. especially because Chip had already pointed out the original and reissue of this album, and also because I had typed the Ames Brothers for some reason and didn't even realize it, but it is now corrected.

I don't know if it's just my album, but all of the songs done by Andy alone, start off with a little bit of silence at the beginning and end of each track, as they do on most albums, tfhere is the lead-in on the track, but the songs with his brothers start slightly into the first few notes of the songs.

I've noticed this with other music too.  I can't remember exactly, but I was given a CD on the Laserlight label and it was an abridged version on Nat King Cole's Christmas album and some of the songs start a few notes in and not at the beginning.  If it wasn't Nat King Cole, it was another CD, but definitely, they started each track with the fist second or two missing.

I know there have been other anomalies that I've talked about before, and without going into the entire topic, it was the album by The Royal Guardsmen that has all 3 Snoopy Songs and The Story about the songs before each song.  Then on the Jacket and label for the flip side it lists the songs, but on the vinyl itself it's one song that is printed on the album label is jacket is different.

Edited because I had the Ames Brothers instead of Williams Brothers and the wrong title because mine was a the reissue and I didn't catch the mistake.

:D

I knew you were referring to the solo albums...and I agree with your assessment.

BTW, The last time we saw him do his Christmas show was in November of 2010.  The last words we heard him sing/say started with the first line of "May Each Day"...

"May each day in the week be a good day, may the Lord always watch over you.  Good night Everybody.  Merry Christmas!"

It seems a fitting last memory.