A great version of "Ghost Riders" by Frankie Laine. Good video from a movie clip, although very dark.  It features one of my favorite movie stars, Sam Elliott . . . near the beginning, right after Nicholas Cage is shown looking up at the sky.   

Gosh, that is awful, Oldiesman!

I remember seeing the movie, Marilyne. I have the Frankie Laine, Johnny Cash, and Dwayne Eddy. I played this one several times, It is a real treat to see the greats singing/playing together.

Mars - I like that one a lot.  They all look so young and healthy!   Willie, is the only one who is still living, and he was born in 1933, so he's a year older than I am.     
I just Googled  Duane Eddy, and see that he's also still with us.  Age 85.

The first of several hits for rock-and-roll group Johnny and the Hurricanes. This was a huge hit on both sides of the pond, peaking at #5 in the US and #3 in the UK.

Remember Gracie Fields?

Dolly Parton doing "Purple Rain". From her new album Rockstar, which was recorded mainly in response to her nomination and subsequent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Oh dear  - Dolly shouldn't have recorded this song.    "Purple Rain" belongs to Prince.  Sounds like she's trying to imitate him or maybe Tina Turner?     

She also recorded the classic CCR song "Long as I Can See the Light". Unfortunately John Fogerty doesn't have the vocal strength he used to have, but I guess that's not too surprising since he's 78 now.

A great rendition of this song. It was originally recorded by Tony Bennett in mid-1968 and later sung by Dick Van Dyke in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang later that year. This version was released in 2004 and features the great grandchildren of the famous Von Trapp family. Pink Martini is a crossover orchestra group from Portland, Oregon.

One of my earliest memories . . . this song and this version by Maxine Sullivan, in 1937.

Interesting arrangement. I'm not used to hearing the song done that way.

Here's an even older recording, from 1905. Henry Burr, who was one of the most popular and prolific singers of his time, was only 23 when he recorded this. He died in 1941 at the age of 59.

Michael, that swing version of Loch Lomond was a huge hit for Maxine Sullivan, in l937. She was a pop vocalist, who sang with other Big Bands from that era. 

One of my favorite Christmas songs from the great Johnny Mathis. This song started out as an Italian-language tune called "Le rose blu", originally recorded by Ciro Dammicco in 1972. Two years later, the melody was rearranged into a wordless choral piece known as "Soleado", and from there it took off, with many different vocal adaptations in various languages, including "Tränen lügen nicht" ("Tears Don't Lie"), which was a big hit for German singer Michael Holm. Following the success of that song, German producer Fred Jay (known for his work with Boney M) added English lyrics. Michael Holm also recorded this version, but Johnny Mathis' version was a bigger hit outside Germany.

A different presentation for Johnny Mathis.  Nice to watch him, and the musicians up close.  I liked it very much.

A lesser-known Christmas tune from the always talented Anne Murray. This was written and originally recorded by Canadian country/folk artist Rita MacNeil in 1988. Anne Murray recorded it in 1993. Rita returned the favor in 1997 by recording Anne's classic "Snowbird". Surprisingly it doesn't appear that anyone else has recorded this song in the 30 years since Anne did it. Rita MacNeil died in 2013 at the age of 69.

Rudolph, mambo-style. From 1954, with vocals by jazz drummer Alvin Stoller.

A forgotten Christmas tune from 1953. This was later recorded by Fred Waring and Lawrence Welk.

Here's a Christmas song that we all love and remember.   

A version of "Little Drummer Boy" that emphasizes the "drum" part of the title...

John Mellencamp's Cajun-inspired rendition of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" from the 1987, featuring his daughter Teddi who was 6 at the time. This video makes me feel old as his daughter is only a year older than me.

A hilarious version of "Blue Christmas", done in the style of Porky Pig. This was recorded for the morning show at a radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina. I first heard this at a Boy Scouts meeting when I was a kid.

Several years ago, the singer uploaded a comic video explaining the story behind this.

A fun one from 1992. This was the first song on A Very Special Christmas 2, the second in a series of Christmas albums produced to support the Special Olympics.

Here's another version of "Ole Man River".  Sung by William Warfield, in the 1951 movie, Show Boat.  The movie was in technicolor, but this scene is supposed to take place in heavy fog, which is why it looks fuzzy.  This is a wonderful movie, and well worth watching.

Stan Freberg's "politically correct" satirical version of "Old Man River" from 1957, also featuring the late great voice actor Daws Butler.

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