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We Wish You a Merry Christmas: Andre Kostelanetz, "Bonanza" Releases Coming From Second Disc Records, Real Gone Music

October 5, 2018 By The Second Disc 13 Comments

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Every year, Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records' bonanza of Christmas music is as sure a thing as Santa's coming down the chimney!  And this year, there's an actual Bonanza as part of our line-up!  On November 9, we're getting into the holiday spirit with two all-new collections.  First up is Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra's The Complete Christmas Albums, and Andre and co. will be joined by The Complete Christmas on the Ponderosa featuring Lorne Greene and the cast of television's Bonanza: Michael Landon, Pernell Roberts, and Dan Blocker!

Almost forty years after his passing, the name of Andre Kostelanetz is still synonymous with the sound of beautiful music.  The Russian-born American conductor gained national attention bringing classical music to the masses first on CBS Radio in the 1930s and then via a series of albums on Columbia Records.  A guest conductor of The New York Philharmonic and Washington, DC's National Symphony, he reportedly sold over 52 million records and set the world record for attendance at a classical concert when 250,000 people showed up to a 1979 performance in Central Park.  In his discography of over 100 albums conducting everything from Swan Lake to the hits of Chicago, Kostelanetz's Christmas albums are among the most treasured.

We're proud to invite you to a true wonderland of Christmas with the release of Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra's The Complete Christmas Albums.  This comprehensive 2-CD, 43-track set features all three of the legendary conductor's classic Columbia Christmas LPs - Joy to the World: The Music of Christmas (1959), Wonderland of Christmas (1963), and Wishing You a Merry Christmas (1965), on which he was joined by vocalist Phyllis Curtin and The St. Killian Boychoir - plus a host of holiday bonuses.  These include Kostelanetz's rare 1950 single of "White Christmas," a complete recording of "The Nutcracker Suite" featuring Peter Ustinov, the rare Christmas Seals promotional single of "It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas," and additional seasonal favorites from the Kostelanetz catalogue.  Wishing You a Merry Christmas makes its CD debut here.  Along with his fellow "easy listening" kings Percy Faith and Ray Conniff, Kostelanetz defined the lush sound of the holiday with his Columbia Christmas recordings.  This collection has been sparklingly remastered in splendid "360 Sound" stereo by Maria Triana at Sony's Battery Studios.  Our very own compilation producer, Joe Marchese, has penned the new liner notes, and John Sellards has contributed the beautiful period design with photos and complete original album artwork.  No doubt the maestro's yuletide recordings will become a few of your favorite things!

BUY NOW FROM AMAZON.COM

Between 1959 and 1973, viewers tuned in weekly to NBC for the latest episode of Bonanza.  The beloved western, following the exploits of the Cartwright family on their Ponderosa ranch, aired for a remarkable 431 episodes and reached an estimated 400 million watchers in 87 countries.  Bonanza inspired, well, a merchandising bonanza, with action figures, comic books, lunchboxes, model sets, dinnerware, and even a chain of steakhouses and a Lake Tahoe theme park.  The program was so popular that RCA Victor jumped at the chance to bring its cast into the recording studio.  Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records are proud to ring in the holiday season with a true yuletide Bonanza.  The Complete Christmas on The Ponderosa brings together the newly-remastered 1963 album Christmas on The Ponderosa - featuring Lorne Greene (Ben Cartwright), Pernell Roberts (Adam Cartwright), Dan Blocker (Hoss Cartwright), and Michael Landon (Little Joe Cartwright) reprising their television roles for a merry family sing-along - plus the worldwide CD premiere of Lorne Greene's 1965 seasonal album Have a Happy Holiday, and both sides of Greene's rare 1966 single "Must Be Santa" b/w "One Solitary Life."  The Complete Christmas on The Ponderosa has been remastered by Mike Piacentini at Sony's Battery Studios.  With liner notes by compilation producer Joe Marchese and design by John Sellards incorporating rare photos of the cast, this first-of-its-kind release celebrates the festive musical legacy of this true TV classic and its memorable stars.  Saddle up!

Both titles are available from Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music on November 9 at the links below!  And don't miss out on more from Real Gone this Christmas season; we have full details here!

Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra, The Complete Christmas Albums (Second Disc Records/Real Gone Music RGM-0812, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Link TBD)

CD 1

  1. White Christmas
  2. The First Noel/It Came Upon a Midnight Clear/Silent Night, Holy Night/O Little Town of Bethlehem/Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Oh Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)/Sugar Plum Fairy Interlude/Waltz of the Flowers (Medley)
  3. What Child Is This/Joy to the World (Medley)
  4. White Christmas
  5. Sleigh Ride
  6. Away in a Manger/We Three Kings of Orient Are (Medley)
  7. March of the Toys/Toyland (Medley)
  8. O Holy Night
  9. The Skaters' Waltz
  10. The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a - Narrated by Peter Ustinov
  11. My Favorite Things
  12. Greensleeves

CD 2

  1. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer/Jingle Bells (Medley)
  2. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town/Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Medley)
  3. The Christmas Song
  4. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
  5. It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas
  6. The First Noel/It Came Upon the Midnight Clear/Oh Come, All Ye Faithful (Medley)
  7. Winter Wonderland/I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (Medley)
  8. White Christmas
  9. Silver Bells/Shake Me I Rattle (Squeeze Me I Cry) (Medley)
  10. Christmas Chopsticks
  11. Sleigh Ride
  12. Joy to the World/Silent Night, Holy Night/Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly (Medley)
  13. Greensleeves
  14. Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
  15. Ave Maria (Schubert)
  16. We Wish You a Merry Christmas
  17. Oh Come, All Ye Faithful
  18. What Child Is This
  19. The First Noel/Joy to the World (Medley)
  20. Silent Night, Holy Night
  21. Christmas Chimes
  22. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Angels We Have Heard on High (Medley)
  23. Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly/Jingle Bells (Medley)
  24. Away in a Manger
  25. We Three Kings of Orient Are
  26. O Little Town of Bethlehem
  27. O Holy Night
  28. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear/Away in a Manger (Medley)
  29. O Tannenbaum
  30. We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Reprise)
  31. It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas - Christmas Seals Promo Single Version (Introduction by Meredith Willson)

CD 1, Track 1 from The Music of Irving Berlin, Columbia Masterworks ML 4314, 1950
CD 1, Tracks 2-9 from Joy to the World: Music for Christmas, Columbia CS 8328, 1959
CD 1, Track 10 from Nutcracker Suite/Between Birthdays, Columbia Masterworks MS 6264, 1961
CD 1, Track 11 from Wonderland of Sound: Broadway's Greatest Hits, Columbia CS 8627, 1962
CD 1, Track 12 from Wonderland of Sound: The World's Greatest Waltzes, Columbia CS 8738, 1963
CD 2, Tracks 1-12 from Wonderland of Christmas, Columbia CS 8868, 1963
CD 2, Tracks 13-15 from The Romantic Strings of Andre Kostelanetz, Columbia Masterworks MS 6711, 1965
CD 2, Tracks 16-30 from We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Columbia Masterworks MS 6779, 1965
CD 2, Track 31 from Columbia promo single JZSP 116501, 1966

The Cast of Bonanza, The Complete Christmas at the Ponderosa (Second Disc Records/Real Gone Music RGM-0821, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Link TBD)

  1. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - The Ken Darby Singers
  2. Deck the Halls - Dan Blocker
  3. The Newborn King - Pernell Roberts
  4. The First Christmas Trees - Dan Blocker
  5. O Fir Tree Dear - Michael Landon
  6. Christmas is A-Comin' (May God Bless You) - Lorne Greene
  7. O Come All Ye Faithful - The Cartwrights (Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, Michael Landon and Singers)
  8. Jingle Bells - The Cartwrights (Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, Michael Landon and Singers)
  9. Santa Got Lost in Texas - Michael Landon
  10. Stuck in the Chimney - Lorne Greene
  11. Why We Light Candles on the Christmas Tree - Lorne Greene
  12. Merry Christmas, Neighbors - The Cartwrights (Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon)
  13. Merry Christmas and Goodnight (Silent Night) - The Cartwrights (Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon)
  14. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (A Visit from St. Nicholas) - Lorne Greene
  15. The Gift of the Magi - Lorne Greene
  16. (There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays - Lorne Greene
  17. Jingle Bells - Lorne Greene
  18. Christmas is A-Comin' (May God Bless You) - Lorne Greene
  19. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Lorne Greene
  20. The Holy Night (A Christmas Cantata) - Lorne Greene
  21. Must Be Santa - Lorne Greene
  22. One Solitary Life - Lorne Greene

Tracks 1-13 from The Cast of Bonanza, Christmas on the Ponderosa, RCA Victor LP LSP-2757, 1963
Tracks 14-20 from Lorne Greene, Have a Happy Holiday, RCA Victor LP LSP-3410, 1965
Tracks 21-22 from RCA Victor single 47-9037, 1966

Categories: News Formats: CD Genre: Classical/Opera, Country, Holiday, Popular Standards/Vocal Tags: Andre Kostelanetz, Lorne Greene, The Cast of Bonanza

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Comments

  1. Ernie says

    October 5, 2018 at 2:08 pm

    That Bonanza Christmas album is better than people give it credit for. It's like an episode of the show. You can't just listen to a track or two, there's a story there. And I'm so glad they included the Lorne Greene single!

    Reply
    • Avatar photoJoe Marchese says

      October 6, 2018 at 12:37 am

      Thanks, Ernie. I couldn't agree more! I think it's a wonderfully warm and nostalgic listening experience.

      Reply
  2. Rodney says

    October 5, 2018 at 9:18 pm

    Agree with Ernie, the Bonanza Christmas album is a real treat. I am not so happy with the cover there, as the original cover had a great Christmas picture of the Cartwright's with a Christmas tree, rather than this standard photo used here. It is great that the Lorne Greene Christmas album is also included.

    I cannot wait to get the Complete Christmas albums of Andre Kostelanetz in my hot little hands and spin that this Christmas season. Great stuff!

    Reply
    • Avatar photoJoe Marchese says

      October 5, 2018 at 10:28 pm

      Thanks, Rodney. Sorry you’re unhappy with the Ponderosa cover. It simply wasn’t an option to use the original cover for a number of reasons, mainly because a) we didn’t want this new release to be confused with the old, existing budget CD; and b) this truly is a new, “complete” package and we felt it should have its own identity. I think the cover is pretty wonderful, but I’m biased! 🙂 Rest assured that the original front and back covers of both albums are featured in the lengthy booklet, as well as other photo surprises I hope you’ll love.

      Reply
  3. Ed says

    October 7, 2018 at 9:56 pm

    Kostelanetz Christmas is the PRIZE this Christmas season. Along with Mathis and Conniff, Andre is quintessential Christmas music. No disrespect to Percy, but Andre is just as good or better without the notoriety. Day one purchase!

    Reply
  4. Simon Tardif says

    October 8, 2018 at 7:57 am

    I'm pretty excited about the Kostelanetz Christmas set (for which I've placed my pre-order). I love the cover for the new set. Was it based on an already existing album and modified for this new set or was it put together from visuals from the Columbia Records archives?

    Many thanks to everyone at Real Gone Music and The Second Disc for making this set happen.

    P.S. Although not a title prepared with The Second Disc, I'm also pretty excited about Real Gone releasing a complete John Klein Christmas set. Make sure to check it out.

    Reply
    • Avatar photoJoe Marchese says

      October 8, 2018 at 12:15 pm

      Thank you, Simon! The Kostelanetz cover design is original, and exclusive to this release. Both the design and photography are by the incomparable John Sellards. (And we're looking forward to the John Klein release, too!)

      Reply
      • Simon Tardif says

        October 8, 2018 at 12:31 pm

        Wow! Mr. Sellards has done a fabulous job. My only regret is that the set isn't available as a LP set because I would have purchased it just so I could frame the cover. That's how much I love it.

        Reply
  5. Anthony says

    October 8, 2018 at 11:15 am

    I wish the Ponderosa-Lorne Greene set had been 2 CDs... I also wish it was offered from a service other than amazon... If you don't have Prime, you end up paying out the ass with shipping.

    Reply
    • Avatar photoJoe Marchese says

      October 8, 2018 at 12:13 pm

      Hi Anthony! Like all Real Gone Music and Second Disc releases, THE COMPLETE CHRISTMAS ON THE PONDEROSA will be available through all retailers carrying CDs including Barnes and Noble, FYE, etc. It's also available directly through Real Gone's website. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  6. Shawn says

    October 12, 2018 at 9:42 pm

    Great to see Lorne Greene's version of Must Be Santa finally getting a CD release, I always remember when I was a kid hearing that on the radio at Christmas time but it was impossible finding it available to buy anywhere. I don't think anyone can beat his version of 'Twas the Night either...

    Reply
  7. Andy E Nemeth says

    December 17, 2018 at 7:57 pm

    Perhaps I’m a bit late to the party but I just want to congratulate Real Gone Music for releasing ‘The Complete Christmas On The Ponderosa’. As a big fan of Bonanza, I have all this material (except Lorne’s single) on vinyl but this digital release is most welcome. Also want to send out a big shout out to Joe Marchese for his excellent liner notes . . well done! Here’s wishing you kids a very Merry Christmas and all the best in the new year (looking forward to seeing what you have up your sleeve). Cheers!

    Reply
    • Avatar photoJoe Marchese says

      December 17, 2018 at 9:12 pm

      Thank you, Andy! We had a terrific time putting this release together, and couldn't be happier that you're enjoying it! Your kind words are very much appreciated. Merry Christmas!

      Reply

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