Sunday, December 6, 2015

Merry Christmas - Richard Lefevre and His Orchestra

Welcome back, it's been awhile, hasn't it? About a year! While I only managed to share one album last year, I hope to at least double that amount this year.

Let's get started with this (1968) gem from Richard Lefevre and His Orchestra, on the Kapp label (FCS-4257) and recorded in France (says so right on the back.)

I was lucky to track down a sealed copy of this LP, so the recording you're listening to is the first time this record has been played in 47 years. One of the benefits I'm finding of these still-sealed LPs is that they a) smell fresher b) make my task of recording, cleaning and editing these albums a heck of a lot easier.

Raymond Lefevre's Merry Christmas is easy-listening, orchestral Christmas music at it's best — lush arrangements, aah-ooh-choir, lilting flute trills. Seriously, this is one of the better Christmas albums you'll ever hear. In fact, the music might be as good as the cover photo — a young lady in a mini-skirt Santa costume, hoisting a stack of presents in front of a white Christmas tree. I've seen many Christmas album covers that wowed the eyes, but the contents never thrilled the ears. This is an exception — as there's plenty of highlights here, including the opening "Silver Bells", and "Jingle Bells" ("Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong! Oo-woo-oo-oooo!"), surely the inspiration for John Debney's main titles for the Elf soundtrack.



Enjoy: Merry Christmas by Richard Lefevre and His Orchestra


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15 comments:

  1. BadgercatDecember 7, 2015 at 9:03 AM

    Good to see you back for the season, Ryan. Thanks.

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  2. KurtDecember 7, 2015 at 9:04 AM

    Love that version of Jingle Bells.

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  3. AnonymousDecember 7, 2015 at 12:12 PM

    Welcome back, and thank you!

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  4. AnonymousDecember 8, 2015 at 6:05 PM

    This is an excellent, overlooked album. I just bought a copy from Ebay , last fall.
    But your offering being from a sealed copy should be even better.
    Thanks.

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  5. BadgercatDecember 9, 2015 at 8:31 AM

    Thanks, Ryan. Good to see you back.

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  6. Terrance TDecember 11, 2015 at 7:21 PM

    I discovered this album by way of the Christmas loop heard at Disneyland. Thanks for posting and Merry Christmas!

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  7. barbaDecember 12, 2015 at 11:11 AM

    good one.

    more. more. more.

    s'il vous plait. ooo-ahhhh-ahhhhhhhhhhh

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  8. AnonymousDecember 19, 2015 at 5:59 PM

    This is the best one yet. Thank you for this great holiday gift.

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  9. AnonymousDecember 21, 2015 at 6:48 PM

    Glad to see you back! These vintage Christmas albums have been part of my Christmas season since I first discovered the blog.

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  10. coppinsukDecember 24, 2015 at 1:25 PM

    Hello,

    Greetings from Shropshire, England.

    Thank you for all your efforts that you have expended in sharing your love of music with us – I really appreciate your generosity.

    There is much that I have been exposed to that I would not have otherwise been aware of.

    All the very best for the Festive Season and for 2016.

    Cheers,

    Douglas (UK)

    PS Just been listening to the excellent Robert Benson R/D Christmas Suite - incomparable, definitive, superb, no-one else has come up to the mark. Now have it on a R/D CD.

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  11. benilhalkJanuary 11, 2016 at 4:35 AM

    This is just an amazing and superb album, Merry Christmas dear. I loved silver bells and Jingle bells. Well dear I am planning a holiday party and I am thinking to use the idea of silver bells in that. I am sure it will be a unique idea.

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  12. দুনিয়া / The WorldDecember 22, 2016 at 9:10 AM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  13. obat aborsiOctober 8, 2017 at 10:06 PM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  14. PetersonsDecember 19, 2017 at 1:12 AM

    It's an amazing and super article about the all hip hops music and christmas song also many people are agree with your article.
    christmas song

    ReplyDelete
  15. Charli SmithDecember 20, 2017 at 6:42 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

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