As a heat wave grips a large portion of the U.S. and the news seems to be lacking in upbeat stories, Real Gone is looking to Christmas to brighten some spirits. The label has started a "Christmas in July" sale, and its centerpiece is a new-to-CD reissue of 1961's Seasons Greetings by The Fantastic Strings of Felix Slatkin. Slatkin, born right before Christmas on December 22, 1915, studied the violin at an early age and joined the St. Louis Symphony at 17. He eventually moved to Los Angeles