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RichLI
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Date Posted:12/15/2014 11:05:04Copy HTML

 when I was younger growing up in NY, I used to listen to WPAT around Christmas Time. Sadly, I lost my audio tape recordings I made many years ago of their "Spirit of Christmas" song marathon which started at noon on Christmas Eve. I'm trying to recapture some of that music. Unfortunately there is no playlist available that I can find online, and I'm going by memory. There are two songs I remember hearing which I'm trying to hunt down, but my descriptions may not be enough:
1- an instrumental medley of Patapan and Jingle Bells. It sounded like woodwind/flutes and began with Patapan in minor key, blended into Jingle Bells, then back to Patapan.
2- this one is even harder to describe- an instrumental orchestral version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. There are hundreds of them, but this one was very powerful, lots of brass. It's not by Percy Faith but it sounded like a song he would create.
johnnyelectron Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #1
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:12/16/2014 12:32:43Copy HTML

RichLI: the 2nd tune: did it almost sound like a 'Salvation Army Band'?
I seem to recall that one, and it might have been the Philadelphia Brass, or it could have indeed been a Salvation Army Band?

A few years back I found online, a newspaper photo from the station that Marlin Taylor programmed, (maybe WPAT) and it had their full song listing of what music they were playing for Christmas.  Perhaps that can be located and help narrow it down to a 1000 songs?

RichLI Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #2
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:12/16/2014 02:33:40Copy HTML

 Hi Johnnyelectron,
Thanks for your reply. I discovered the station that Marlin Taylor worked as general manager was WRFM. That station also had a 36 hour "Christmas Festival of Music" which aired the same time as WPAT's marathon. I'd be very interested in locating that newspaper photo you mentioned. My google searches came up empty so far.  Do you remember which website you saw it?
CluelessInSeattle Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #3
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:12/16/2014 11:23:28Copy HTML

Gee, RichLI, I hope you are able to track these down. 

Now you've got me curious.  "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" is one of my all time favorite Christmas songs, so I'm always up for hearing a different take on it.
 
And that ABA rondo of Patapan and Jingle Bells sounds like something I might really enjoy too.

Keep us posted!
Will in Seattle a.k.a. "Clueless"
SinterKlaus Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #4
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:12/19/2014 08:59:47Copy HTML

George Melachrino does a brassy version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen . . . . .could that be it?
RichLI Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #5
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:10/09/2016 09:57:51Copy HTML

 I found the version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" that I could not identify - right in my own collection!
It is found on the great album "The Glorious Sound of Christmas" by Eugene Ormandy & the Philadelphia Orchestra. Thanks for all those who replied!

CluelessInSeattle Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #6
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:10/10/2016 07:22:08Copy HTML

That's great news, RichLI!  I just listened to it on youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vC_SiL6KgI

And it is a rousing version, isnt it?  It had me dancing in the kitchen.

So, what about the other tune you were hunting for,  the  instrumental medley of Patapan and Jingle Bells?  Were you ever able to track that one down?
Will in Seattle a.k.a. "Clueless"
RichLI Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #7
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:10/10/2016 10:23:20Copy HTML

 Hi Will,
No luck (yet) on the Patapan/Jingle Bells medley. 
Christmas Music Guru Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #8
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:10/11/2016 04:45:08Copy HTML


It's too bad that you couldn't have given me more of a description of the song than you did when you first asked about it two years ago, because I could have identified it for you at that time and saved you all that time. This album resides in the 2nd Tier of my Top 500, coming in at #155. With a collection as large as mine, I'm only going to be as good as the description I have to work with.


Lawrence F. "Chip" Arcuri Owner/Webmaster | The Yule Log.com
CluelessInSeattle Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #9
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:10/15/2016 03:15:58Copy HTML

Hey, RichLI, can you recall anything really distinctive about that recording of the Patapan/Jingle Bells medley?

I'm asking because I bet that if you had mentioned the galloping horses' hooves percussion effect in the "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" recording, then Chip would probably have been able to identify it for you off the top of his head.

Can you think of anything in the Patapan/Jingle Bells medley that stands out in the way those hoof beats do in "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"?
Will in Seattle a.k.a. "Clueless"
RichLI Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #10
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:10/16/2016 07:26:30Copy HTML

 Hi Will,
The best I can describe it is that it was all instrumental, with a leading flute and it started with Patapan in minor key. Then it segued into Jingle Bells changing to a major key, then back to Patapan in minor key. I guess it was the key changes that intrigued me and set this version of Patapan apart from others. 
It's hard to remember when I haven't heard some of these songs in close to 20-30 years! The audio tapes I made of Christmas music during the 36 hour commercial free radio marathons are sadly long gone. 
CluelessInSeattle Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #11
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:10/16/2016 07:51:52Copy HTML

That sounds lovely, RichLI.  I hope you keep looking for it and when you find it you'll post it here.
Will in Seattle a.k.a. "Clueless"
Christmas Music Guru Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #12
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:10/17/2016 01:48:33Copy HTML


Rich,

Instrumental versions of "Pat-A-Pan" are rare, but The Living Trio did a version on their 1967 LP, I'll Be Home For Christmas. As with the version that you're looking for, this instrumental version of "Pat-A-Pan" was also part of a medley; however, the song "Jingle Bells" was not involved. Instead, this particular medley began with "The Little Drummer Boy" and was followed by "Wassail Song" and then finally "Pat-A-Pan."

If you want to hear it, click here and jump to the 17:25 mark on the YouTube posting. In the meantime, I'll keep an eye out for the version that you alluded to. If I have it, it is probably in my archives and not my
Top 500, as the version that you described just doesn't jump out at me.



Lawrence F. "Chip" Arcuri Owner/Webmaster | The Yule Log.com
RichLI Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #13
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:10/30/2017 09:16:53Copy HTML

 Hello all!
I was finally able to obtain a recording of the Patapan/Jingle Bells medley that I've been trying to identify. Years ago, I gave my parents some old audio cassette tapes which included the first 6 hours of the WPAT "Spirit of Christmas" from 1987. They found the tapes, and I was able to convert these tapes from cassette to CD, then to digital files. Since they were recorded directly from the FM radio using an analog tape, the quality isn't that great, but it is a small miracle that they survived!
Anyway, I posted the song below. It sounds unusually electronic for WPAT! Any help with identifying the artist would be greatly appreciated! 

https://soundcloud.com/tekkrokk/patapan-jingle-bells/s-mK0oj

Regards,
Rich



RichD Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #14
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:10/31/2017 01:37:43Copy HTML

The track is great !! Would love to know who recorded it as well !!!
Christmas Music Guru Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #15
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:11/02/2017 07:06:06Copy HTML


Doesn't sound familiar, but I've collected so much stuff over the years that it's just impossible to remember everything. However, if over the years I did acquire the album that this song is from, then it's more than likely not in my
Top 500; but rather, somewhere in my archives.



Lawrence F. "Chip" Arcuri Owner/Webmaster | The Yule Log.com
RichLI Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #16
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:11/05/2017 07:26:06Copy HTML

 I appreciate the help anyway! I tried my music recognition apps (Shazam and Soundhound) but no luck!
RichLI Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #17
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:11/23/2019 04:05:07Copy HTML

Hello all!


I thought that I would refresh this request to see if anyone can help me identify the artist/album for this Patapan/Jingle Bells medley. This was recorded on the WPAT "Spirit of Christmas" 36 hours of commercial free music on Christmas Eve 1987, in NY:


https://soundcloud.com/tekkrokk/patapan-jingle-bells/s-mK0oj


Thanks & Merry Christmas!

Christmas Music Guru Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #18
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:11/23/2019 08:07:25Copy HTML


Hesitant to say this, but after listening to it again, I'm not even sure it's in my archives. It'll be interesting to see if I have it after it's identified.


Lawrence F. "Chip" Arcuri Owner/Webmaster | The Yule Log.com
Motown Mike Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #19
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:11/24/2019 03:10:22Copy HTML

Just a thought: back in the '70s and '80s a lot of B/EZ stations would actually publish their Christmas Eve/Christmas Day playlists in the local newspapers a couple days or so ahead of time. If anyone here has a Newspapers.com account maybe they could search the archives of some of the NJ papers and see if WPAT ever did this?


Christmas Music Guru Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #20
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:11/25/2019 04:16:50Copy HTML


I never saw either WPAT or WRFM post their marathon Christmas playlists in any of the New York or New Jersey papers here. But it certainly couldn't hurt to check.


Lawrence F. "Chip" Arcuri Owner/Webmaster | The Yule Log.com
RichLI Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #21
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:11/28/2019 07:51:44Copy HTML

 Thanks for the suggestion Motown Mike! Unfortunately WPAT never did publish their Christmas music marathon. I would’ve been very interested in seeing that. IMHO, WPAT was the gold standard of the 3 NYC area radio stations playing uninterrupted Christmas music on Christmas Eve. The 3rd station, aside from WRFM was WCTO.


I did find out last year thanks to another board member that WRFM used to publish their Christmas music playlists in the Sunday New York Times in the 70s and 80s. Not sure if WCTO ever published their playlist.


Much thanks Chip for checking that elusive song!

Christmas Music Guru Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #22
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:11/28/2019 09:48:27Copy HTML



That's absolutely correct, Rich; WPAT was indeed the best Easy Listening station here in the New York metro area; and, of course, with their annual "Spirit Of Christmas" radio presentation, they had the best Christmas radio programming as well. For anyone interested, we talked more about this in another thread; click here.

By the way, that was interesting about WRFM publishing their playlists in the Times; I didn't know that.


Lawrence F. "Chip" Arcuri Owner/Webmaster | The Yule Log.com
BIGBILL52 Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #23
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:11/29/2019 04:01:26Copy HTML

 Rich, glad you mentioned WCTO. Growing up in Brooklyn and eventually ending up in New Jersey I was always a WPAT guy and I agree is was the best. One day I needed to go to my brother's house on long Island about two weeks before Christmas when I was able to pick up WCTO on the car radio . Great station. For several years my brother would make a tape for me on Christmas Eve until they went off the air.   

Kringleling Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #24
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:12/11/2020 09:47:37Copy HTML

I've been on a bit of a Patapan kick lately and saw this thread.   I did some searching on newspapers.com and found a few Patapan/Jingle Bells entries in various 1980s Christmas song marathons attributed to a Ben McPeek.   It appears there is not much out there about him, other than that he was a Canadian composer.    Perhaps this is his song? 

snow miser Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #25
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:12/19/2020 11:41:05Copy HTML

Hello Kringleling,


Thanks for the post.  This one interests me a lot.  I did a search for Ben McPeek and I've seen a lot of Christmas Music marathons in print, but not a one leads to a Ben McPeek and Patapan.  Can you tell me what newspaper and date?  I have access to the newspaper.com site and would be able to search these.  Thank you.


Snow Miser

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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:12/20/2020 01:00:03Copy HTML

Kringleling,


I think you are definitely on to something here.  I was able to find a 45 released by the Canadian Talent Library in 1973.  On side B there is a "Patapan" by the Ben McPeek Orchestra.  On another site that details the 45 it says, "...a medley of "Patapan/Jingle Bells" by the Ben McPeek Orchestra.


If you look at the image of the 45 site here: http://www.45cat.com/record/s5830


You'll notice the Patapan by Ben McPeek is 2:35 long and it's a match for the recording that RichLI originally posted.  The only thing left here is to get a copy of that 45 to confirm that it is indeed the mystery recording.  Let the search begin...


Chip - any chance you have this 45 in your collection?  :)


Thanks again Kringleling.


Snow Miser

Christmas Always Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #27
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:12/20/2020 02:07:27Copy HTML

I may have this version of Patapan on a cassette from when I would tape off the radio in the 1970's.  It sounds very familiar to me too.  It could possibly be Ben McPeek as I use to listen a lot of CFLG 104.5 in Cornwall Ontario.  That station still exists today, but they have changed their format.  They are now Fresh 1045  I remember several years ago listening to an 8-Track tape that I recorded.  The tape was an 80-minute one, so 20 minutes per track, but I ended up getting about 25 minutes per track and when I actually played it back, the tape was dragging so the music was playing back faster than recorded but also slowing down.  I had written CFLG asking them about two particular songs that I often heard them playing.

At the time it sounded like a young female singing soprano, but at least 20 years later, I finally found out who it was.  It was Heinthe (Hein Simons) and the two songs I was trying to identify were Little Toy Tin Soldier and Alle Jahre Wieder.

The second song is more recognizable as it was done by many artists.  But the first one, I kept getting search results for artists like Martika and a few other artists, but nothing was the song I was searching for.

I had written several letters to CFLG trying to find this song and didn't get any responses.  Then when I had a computer I would email them and so on, but still no results.  Eventually someone posted a video on YouTube of Little Toy Tin Soldier and I was able to directly search for Heintje.  I was already familiar with him from his singing "Mama:"  from the movie "Die Lummel"

Growing up in Vermont, we got a few Canadian TV Stations on our cable TV system, and one was in French.  Though I couldn't understand the language very well, they did broadcast this movie a few times and I remember Heintje singing Mama on a few television shows like Mike Douglas etc.  Not sure which one he actually sang it on.

I was able to find both of his Christmas albums as only one song that I was searching for was on each.

Moral of the story.  "Persistence will pay off"  It has done so many times since the advent of the personal computer and world wide web.

EDITED as I forgot to include the albums these two songs are from.

Weihnachten mit Heintje

Ariola 78199 IU

1968

Side One

01 Stille Nacht

02 Süßer Die Glocken Nie Klingen

03 Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen

04 Leise rieselt der Schnee

05 Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann

06 Kommet, ihr Hirten

07 O Tannenbaum

Side Two

01 O du fröhliche

02 Am Weihnachtsbaum die Lichter brennen

03 Kling, Glöckchen, kling

04 Alle Jahre Wieder

05 Morgen, Kinder, Wird's was geben

06 Ihr Kinderlein kommet

07 Vom Himmel hoch


And
When The Christmas-Bells Are Ringing

1971

Polydor 2310 148

Side One

01 When The Christmas-Bells Are Ringing

02 Silent Night

03 Winter Wonderland

04 O Christmas Tree

05 Jingle Bells

06 Little Toy Tin Soldier

Side Two

01 White Christmas

02 Little Drummerboy

03 O Thou Joyful Day

04 Wintertide

05 Cowboy Carol

06 From Heaven High The Angels Come



Christmas Isn't Just A Day In December, It's A Way Of Life. Susan
Christmas Music Guru Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #28
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:12/20/2020 05:50:29Copy HTML


Sorry, no dice on this Canadian single.


Lawrence F. "Chip" Arcuri Owner/Webmaster | The Yule Log.com
RichLI Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #29
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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:12/21/2020 05:04:19Copy HTML

 Wow, I really appreciate the updates for this very elusive song! I'm convinced that Kringleling and Snow Miser may have found the correct artist after all of these years!

Anyway, Merry Christmas everyone!


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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:02/17/2021 06:15:26Copy HTML

Hello All,


Just a note to let you know that the Patapan/Jingle Bells Medley is solved.  Kringleling hit the nail on the head.  The artist is indeed Ben McPeek and the song is found on the B side of a 45 titled, "A Joyous Noel", from the Canadian Talent Library.  I was able to find a copy of the 45 from an Internet seller and was able to confirm that it is a match to what RichLI posted. 


Thank you, Kringleling!


Snow Miser

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Re:Help with identifying music

Date Posted:02/23/2021 07:26:36Copy HTML


What an amazing tale of sleuthing and crowd sourcing over six years!


What a wonderful resource this message board is!

Will in Seattle a.k.a. "Clueless"
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