A Near-Purrrrrrfect Woman Reaches The End Of Her 9 Lives

Sultry sex kitten Eartha Kitt passed away today. Renown for her 1953 version of Santa Baby, Kitt portrayed Catwoman on the mid-60s TV show Batman, replacing Julie Newmar.

Once called the "most exciting woman in the world" by Orson Welles, Kitt earned her first certified Gold record with the 1984 disco hit Where Is My Man. She also won Daytime Emmy and Annie Awards and was nominated for Emmy and Tony Awards during her distinguished career.

Kitt wrote three autobiographies – Thursday's Child (1956), Alone with Me (1976), and I'm Still Here: Confessions of a Sex Kitten (1989). In 1960, she was presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

A Christmas Gift For You

My latest acquisition is a 1964 sealed LP, A Christmas Gift For You From Philles Records. It's a Phil Spector-produced album featuring his entire Philles Records roster, including Darlene Love, The Ronettes, The Crystals, and Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans.

The back-up musicians read like a Who's Who in the music business at the time:

Horns - "Teenage" Steve Douglas, Jay Migliori, Roy Caton & Lou Blackburn
Guitars - Tom "Arbuckle" Tedesco, Bill Pitman, Irv Rubins & Nino Tempo
Pianos - Leon Russell, Don Randi & Al Delory
Bass - Ray Pohlman & Jimmy Bond
Drums - Hal Blaine
Percussion - Frank Knapp, Sonny Bono & Jack "Specs" Nitzsche
Strings - Jimmy Vidor Strings

Some interesting notes about the album and jacket cover:

- On the back cover, the "The" in Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans is both capitalized and not capitalized in several places.
- Sleigh Ride is listed on the jacket and album as 3:45. It's actually closer to 2:45.
- No time is listed for Silent Night on the jacket. On the LP, the time is 2:35.
- Marshmellow World is spelled with an "e" on the front cover and album. On the back cover, it's spelled with an "a".

I hope you enjoy these mid-60s classic Christmas tunes! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Side One

White Christmas - Darlene Love
Frosty The Snowman - The Ronettes
The Bells of St. Mary's - Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - The Crystals
Sleigh Ride - The Ronettes
Marshmellow World - Darlene Love

Side Two

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - The Ronettes
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - The Crystals
Winter Wonderland - Darlene Love
Parade of The Wooden Soldiers - The Crystals
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
Here Comes Santa Claus - Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans
Silent Night - Phil Spector and Artists

'Twas The Night Before Christmas...well almost

Over the years, I've collected many records, both LPs and 45s. In my collection, I have a few Christmas albums. My favorite is a 1964 MGM release of Great Children's Stories (CH-517) featuring 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, The Little Fir Tree, and The Night The Animals Talked.

I am particularly fond of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas. The voice of the mouse belongs to popular character actor Bob Hastings. Hastings is best known for playing Lt. Elroy Carpenter on McHale's Navy, one of two Tommy Kelsey's on All In The Family, and General Hospital's Capt. Burt Ramsey. His younger brother, Don, has been a fixture on As The World Turns since October 1960, the month after I was born.

I hope you enjoy this album as much as I do.

'Lil Tommy Back Where He Belongs

Tommy Edwards returns to WLS-FM later this month, filling in for Dick Biondi. 'Lil Tommy will be on the air Monday, December 29, Tuesday, December 30, Friday, January 2, and Monday, January 5 from 7 to 11 p.m. (CST). I wonder if 'Ol Uncle Lar will make a surprise visit via the telephone?

Bob Barry Sighting

Milwaukee radio extraordinaire Bob Barry takes over the microphone at My 95.7 WRIT-FM from 3 to 7 p.m. (2 to 6 in Arizona) Saturday. The legendary deejay will share Christmas stories and interviews. BB is a must-listen.