Okay,
look I'm not a fan of Christmas and after having been a radio d.j.
for more years than was healthy, I'm even less of a fan of Christmas music. But there's always an exception. In my case, a
connection. Two of them; both connected to this very
recording:
Yes, this is a clickable link.
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas singers unlimited - YouTube
Other songs follow the above, some seasonal, some not. Some good, others, well...
This group started in the 50s as jazz vocalists known as The Hi-Los. Later they were billed as The J's with Jamie, and finally became known by the late 60s as the Singers Unlimited, mostly doing advertising jingles. The basso of the group is the Ho Ho Ho guy in the Green Giant commercial.
Anyway, back to the story.
In 1967, the financial backer and producer of the Singers Unlimted, whose name I've forgotten, visited his friend Dean Elliot, the chief engineer, musicologist, polyglot linguist and my mentor at a radio station on California's north coast. He brought the master recording of the above cited album and played it for us. I was captivated and slack jawed with awe over the sound quality.
So I was one of the first, if not the first, to put it on the air. In Eureka, pop. 28,000. Not exactly a Number One With A Bullet market, but one that appreciated the good stuff, and the album is the good stuff.
Fast forward to Sacramento airport at Christmastime in 1985. I'm waiting in a long slowly moving line of holiday travelers at the United Airlines counter, shuffling along next to a college age girl. Okay, young woman. Ah hell, I'm too damned old to be P.C.
Okay, so the YW and I get to chatting. Turns out she's a music major at the University of the Pacific in nearby Stockton. The subject of Christmas music comes up. I mention that I was former disc jockey who was not fond of the genre, but said one of the finest Christmas albums I'd ever heard was by a group called The Singers Unlimited.
Then she looked at me. It was her turn to be slack jawed. "I have the album right here," she eventually said, tapping her backpack on the floor with a sneakered foot. "My dad is the lead singer."
Once again the words of Jim McCulla of KABC and my radio guru from years ago, came to mind: "You never know who you're talking to."
True enough. Now I am not a very big person. So, this time of year you should be especially nice to not-very-big-persons. One of us could be one of Santa's elves who is not a disgruntled ex-employee, but one who's been delegated to making a list and checking it twice. (Has anyone actually seen a gruntled ex-employee? Just wondering.)
Or if the elf you encounter at an airport really is a disgruntled ex-employee, he/she may have a bomb in a pointy shoe. Or maybe a recording that will give you a fresh perspective. So be nice.
Comments?
Mike, great news that you'll be okay for the foreseeable future. There's that.The rest of your Tomatoman Times is fascinating to the point of fooling me into thinking I am with you during these experiences, at times. You dasn't keel over on any of us. We never change, Mike, only our bodies do. And only the way we find avenues of survival. Kudos to you for your tenacity and the wit which has obviously seen you through some extremely challenging insults! – Amanda
_____
It has been awhile since I have had the pleasure of reading “The Tomatoman Times”. You always manage to put a very big smile on my face. I am VERY happy your test came back okay. Those of us that have smoked or tasted the occasional drinky always worry about the adverse reactions our bodies my throw at us. Stay well. – Carol M.
Yes, this is a clickable link.
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas singers unlimited - YouTube
Other songs follow the above, some seasonal, some not. Some good, others, well...
This group started in the 50s as jazz vocalists known as The Hi-Los. Later they were billed as The J's with Jamie, and finally became known by the late 60s as the Singers Unlimited, mostly doing advertising jingles. The basso of the group is the Ho Ho Ho guy in the Green Giant commercial.
Anyway, back to the story.
In 1967, the financial backer and producer of the Singers Unlimted, whose name I've forgotten, visited his friend Dean Elliot, the chief engineer, musicologist, polyglot linguist and my mentor at a radio station on California's north coast. He brought the master recording of the above cited album and played it for us. I was captivated and slack jawed with awe over the sound quality.
So I was one of the first, if not the first, to put it on the air. In Eureka, pop. 28,000. Not exactly a Number One With A Bullet market, but one that appreciated the good stuff, and the album is the good stuff.
Fast forward to Sacramento airport at Christmastime in 1985. I'm waiting in a long slowly moving line of holiday travelers at the United Airlines counter, shuffling along next to a college age girl. Okay, young woman. Ah hell, I'm too damned old to be P.C.
Okay, so the YW and I get to chatting. Turns out she's a music major at the University of the Pacific in nearby Stockton. The subject of Christmas music comes up. I mention that I was former disc jockey who was not fond of the genre, but said one of the finest Christmas albums I'd ever heard was by a group called The Singers Unlimited.
Then she looked at me. It was her turn to be slack jawed. "I have the album right here," she eventually said, tapping her backpack on the floor with a sneakered foot. "My dad is the lead singer."
Once again the words of Jim McCulla of KABC and my radio guru from years ago, came to mind: "You never know who you're talking to."
True enough. Now I am not a very big person. So, this time of year you should be especially nice to not-very-big-persons. One of us could be one of Santa's elves who is not a disgruntled ex-employee, but one who's been delegated to making a list and checking it twice. (Has anyone actually seen a gruntled ex-employee? Just wondering.)
Or if the elf you encounter at an airport really is a disgruntled ex-employee, he/she may have a bomb in a pointy shoe. Or maybe a recording that will give you a fresh perspective. So be nice.
Comments?
Mike, great news that you'll be okay for the foreseeable future. There's that.The rest of your Tomatoman Times is fascinating to the point of fooling me into thinking I am with you during these experiences, at times. You dasn't keel over on any of us. We never change, Mike, only our bodies do. And only the way we find avenues of survival. Kudos to you for your tenacity and the wit which has obviously seen you through some extremely challenging insults! – Amanda
_____
It has been awhile since I have had the pleasure of reading “The Tomatoman Times”. You always manage to put a very big smile on my face. I am VERY happy your test came back okay. Those of us that have smoked or tasted the occasional drinky always worry about the adverse reactions our bodies my throw at us. Stay well. – Carol M.
