“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”.   Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Sinatra and Keely Smith.  A rare EP and picture sleeve from Reprise Records in the UK from the album of the same name.   Cover photo from the Warner Bros. film “Robin and the Seven Hoods”.  In addition to Frank singing the title song, Sammy swings “Jingle Bells”, Dean croons “Peace on Earth and Silent Night” and Keely Smith (one of my faves with or without Louis Prima) serves up “The First Noel”.

(20 votes, average: 3.35 out of 5)

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I found the final piece to my puzzle this week!  Appropriately it was the December 1969 release with Santa on the cover – the final issued comp from Capitol records that year and the center image that tied the whole year of covers together.  And on the back cover “Merry Christmas from Capitol.”  These kind of promotional compilations showcasing individual tracks from the labels stable of recording artists was de rigueur for the day.  And many had cover themes that tied the year of monthly releases together, but this collection is the best (and only 12-month puzzle I know of).  I was at Groove Merchant on Haight Street in San Francisco a while ago and they have this complete puzzle nicely framed on the wall.

(33 votes, average: 4.70 out of 5)

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Louis Armstrong  “White Christmas” / “Winter Wonderland”  Decca Records  (UK)

(34 votes, average: 3.85 out of 5)

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Two rare record packages.  On top:  “It’s a book!  It’s a record!  It’s a game!”  20,000 Leagues Under The Sea  Put out by Platter Books.  Bottom:  A Dell Comic Book and Record  The cult classic “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians”  These and a hundred more cool records from the LP Cover Lover collection are up on the auction block starting at 9PM on Sunday night, May 24th.  Don’t miss out!

(27 votes, average: 3.78 out of 5)

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Tavin Pumarejo con su Tuna … Fish   “Trullando en Navidad”  Koitre Records   (Some great entries in our caption contest!  We went with the simple “Fish Schtick” from LP cover lover Mike,  “A Fish Called Juanita” from LP cover lover Wayne too!)

(36 votes, average: 3.72 out of 5)

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Connie Canuso  “Someone Painted Rudolph’s Nose a Chocolate Brown”  Applause Records

(36 votes, average: 3.56 out of 5)

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“Momma’s Twistin’ with Santa Claus”  Mark Anthony  LaBelle Records

(32 votes, average: 3.25 out of 5)

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Dickory Dock with all of his Friends  (Supermailman, Abby and Puffy plus Professor Schnitzel, Jingle Jim, Little Jock, and Mr. Bigsby)   Piper Records  (1966)   Dickory Doc was a local Children’s TV show produced by Kaiser Broadcasting and broadcast on UHF Channel 48 WKBS-TV in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and on UHF Channel 38 WSBK-TV in Boston, Massachusetts.

(45 votes, average: 2.91 out of 5)

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“Na Er Det Jul Igjen”  Traditional Norwegian Christmas songs.  These dolls are common in many homes in Norway.  Musica Records (Norway)

(38 votes, average: 2.55 out of 5)

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Connie Francis  “Christmas in My Heart”  MGM Records

(53 votes, average: 4.08 out of 5)

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