Sorry for the delayed response; I've been very sick with Covid, Flu and Pneumonia all at the same time.

Yes, there are two stellar RGM Christmas CD releases coming out: The Ultimate Pops Christmas Party, which is a complete collection by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops; and a Masterworks edition of The Great Songs Of Christmas, which is a best of collection of the first 10 Goodyear Christmas albums.

Thanks for the info, Chip. I'm looking forward to both of these, particularly the Fiedler compilation. Am I correct in assuming the latter will include the original, 1949 recording of "Sleigh Ride"?

Yes indeed Mike, Arthur Fiedler's original 1949 recording of Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride" is not only included, but it leads off the CD. By the way, this is the *first* time this original 1949 recording has been released on CD.

I just got the e-mail from Real Gone.  This is OUTSTANDING news!

I just got the email from Real Gone, and came here to see the news about it (after I pre-ordered the albums on their website). Nice to see them issuing new Christmas CDs.

Any chance we see more releases next year? I'm hoping for a Jack Halloran release! As you know, Christmas is A-comin' so I'm sending out my list.

Hard to say, Rodney; the record companies still are not fully playing ball. Gordon's doing the best he can given the circumstances.

Appreciate the update Chip. Both releases sound great. Hope you are feeling better!

Hi Chip,

   Just seeing this.  Hope you are feeling better!

Chip,

Do you think that the record companies are hesitant to do CD's because Vinyl is coming back big-time?  I was at Walmart the other day and saw and Elvis Golden Records LPM-1707  and everything appears to be the same as the original copy that I have in my record collection other than it is gold vinyl instead of black.  There are a lot of other original records (re-released) with original artwork and possibly from the original masters.  And even new releases from current artists are coming out on vinyl  And, according to The Guardian, Vinyl sales in the US are up 21.7% for the first half of 2023 over the same period last year, according to a new music industry report

Lisa: Yes, and thanks!

Susan: No, I think it's because of streaming.

Hello Chip,

Oh I see.  Thanks for letting me know.  But being a Vinyl addict, I love getting albums on Vinyl.  Wish they would release songs on 45's again.too.  Another thing in miss is the commercials for Christmas Albums thjat were advertised on TV about this time of year so you could order them and have them arrive in time for Christmas.

"...which is a best of collection of the first 10 Goodyear Christmas albums."

In my opinion, every song on the first 9 Albums in the Goodyear series could be "Best Of"!  I believe the 10th album was already a "best of" - a compilation taken from the first 9 albums.  Is that correct?

I feel the same with the Valu/True Value Happy Holidays series.  All the songs in my opinion were "Best Of" and when they came out with Volume 25 it was a compilation of the songs from the previous years.  I believe the 40th Volume  was also a compilatoin of previous years.

I do have all 40 Volumes; 1-25 on Vinyl and the rest on Cassette or CD and I did find out that Volume 26 was released on Vinyl and CD, but it is harder to find it on Vinyl.

Sadly, most of the Christmas songs from all of the "Series" that were released in the 1960's and 1970's are not played on the radio, even streaming radio.  So in many cases, having these albums is the only way the hear them.

True, you do hear Bing Crosby's White Christmas on just about any radio station playing Christmas music, but in most cases it is songs by Mariah Carey, Michael Bolton and other popular artists from recent years and not the classics most of us grew up with.  At least on the stations in my area of Vermont.

That is correct, Dan.

Hi Chip:

Apologies, but I am a little late to this part of the party....regarding the RGM 2023 release of the Arthur Fiedler's The Ultimate Pops Christmas Party, is it true to state that some of those tunes (specifically those with Steve and Edie and Leontyne Price  from the "Chrismastime in Carol and Song" vinyl album) that these are the first time several of these have been re-issued since that album (1969) and first time ever on CD?   Again, if you mentioned this in detail prior, accept my apologies but I was just on RGM's site and making my annual purchase(s).  Thanks as always.   Regards, Jim Allen, Tennessee

Yes Jim, it's a first-time-ever release on CD for the '69 LP.