The Glad Singers - Swing Bells!


Here's another gem of an album rescued from the obscurity bins of the Salvation Army by the King of Jingaling at FaLaLaLaLa.com!

Not much is known about The Glad Singers... when the King posted this album on Christmas Eve last year, he stated:

"It's hard to do research on an artist when the first results Google gives you are your own posts..."

Fly over to the original post at FaLaLaLaLa to read the liner notes (and you can STILL DOWNLOAD this fantastic album)!

As for the music, it's all top notch! It's a cross of Ray Conniff Singers meets Ferrante & Teicher meets Lawrence Welk wrapped around Christmas music. Several tracks on this album swing including "Gloria (Angels We Have Heard)", "Three Kings", and "Fum Fum Fum".

However, the standout tracks are "Joy" and "Ox And Donkey". "Joy" begins as "Joy To The World" but along the way the Glad Singers just keep yell singing "JOY! JOY! JOY!". Add banjo and some bizarre vocal arrangements and you'll be looking at the Christmas punch bowl to see if it's spiked or not.

"Ox And Donkey" starts with an arrangement straight out of the Martin Denny songbook then continues with a nice bossa nova feel. This is one of the freshest Christmas songs I've heard in quite some time. This one's on my list of potential songs to be included on my 2006 Christmas compilation.

After you've listened to this album, remember this: there is a STEREO version of this album floating around somewhere (this is the mono version). Can you imagine the flashbacks that would cause? Could my speakers handle it? King, thanks again for sharing this with everyone!

On to the next new Christmas CD in my collection...


Capt

Comments

John Roarty said…
Hi I am so "Glad!" that you posted this infor on an album that I never kne existed. The only chance reason that I happened to stumble across The Glad Singers was when I purchased a Christmas cd at a local supermarket. I colled Christmas music and am particularly interested in the 50's 60's and 70's lounge stuff. The cd was called "A Really Swell Christmas" and has a deranged looking Santa Claus and a young lady whispering naughty things into his ear. and an added sticker on it that said 100% pure Christmas Cheese! I thought how bizarre, but my curiosity paid off when I bought it for 5 bucks and popped it in my car cd player and heard the first track entitled
"Deck the Halls by none other then The Glad Singers. I was happy to hear this new funky 60's type of twist on Christmas standards. The sound reminded me of The New Christie Minstrels on too much caffine. :)Unfortunately this was the only Glad Singers song on the cd and I have never been able to find the original Glad Singers Christmas album where this great song originated. And now you step into the picture and present the album right here. I am going to investigate to see if I can download this gem! I will let you know of my sucess! Too bad they are not better known.
Have a great Christmas!
thanks for the great info!
John
12/13/2007 09:33:00 AM
CaptainOT said…
John - Glad you're glad about the Glad Singers! Belated holiday wishes!


Capt
1/02/2008 03:26:00 PM
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