Event Recap Chat with Duke Allen about Christmas Flipsides and Flops

[MerryCarey]

I assume the Elvis album is still in print ... I wonder if the "safe" 1957 Christmas albums are.

 

[MerryCarey]

Bing's probably is.

 

[Jeff Westover]

That Elvis album I think is the top selling Christmas album of all time

 

[Jeff Westover]

Isn't it?

 

[e_xander]

@SBellsRikki I've been in radio since 1994, I know how DJ's can be. News people are different

 

[MerryCarey]

What's next in the platter party?

 

[e_xander]

Yes Yes...More please, Mr Allen!!

 

[Duke Allen]

It continues to amaze me (or bemuse me) that singers who owned the pop market decades ago (Bing Crosby, Gene Autry) are heard only at Christmastime now, and even then some people have no idea how huge they are.

 

[Duke Allen]

You ask, you get! Time for a dignified poem (ahem), featuring the celebrated literatus Art Carney. I'll type the story while Merry digs up the record...

 

[Jeff Westover]

I love this one!

 

[Jeff Westover]

WAY ahead of his time

 

[e_xander]

Me Too!!

 

[MerryCarey]

 

[Jeff Westover]

I don't know the story tho

 

[Jordan Rivers]

My heck!!!

 

[Storeytime]

I never knew this was Art Carney.

 

[Jordan Rivers]

This is 50s?

 

[Jordan Rivers]

Who is on the drums?

 

[Duke Allen]

1954. This might be the first rap record! TV star Art Carney was making novelty records and children’s records for Columbia producer Hecky Krasnow. The band was having a late night, having just recorded a spoken-word record of “The Night Before Christmas” with Carney reciting the poem. The producer sent the band home, and all the musicans had packed up except the drummer (don't know who), who played a fast “bop” beat on his cymbal.

 

[Jordan Rivers]

WOW