Still in 1949, we move on to another underappreciated Christmas song from a singer/songwriter.
Here's Joe Graydon on Coral Records with "On This Christmas Eve":
I think that's a really nice song and Joe Graydon was a really good singer, but neither really got their due, although I understand Joe was a popular TV host in California in the 1950s.
The flipside of this particular record was Joe's take on "You're All I Want for Christmas":
That's a solid two-sided platter!
"Billboard" liked it:
Incidentally!
I was first aware of "On This Christmas Eve" from the wonderful version by the Mills Brothers on Decca Records (Coral's parent label), also from 1949:
And the flipside of that record was Hoagy Carmichael's "My Christmas Song for You":
We heard Hoagy's recording with Martha Mears back in 1945.
I think that Mills Brothers record is just great! "Billboard" did too:
I could listen to the Mills Brothers all day!
Back to Joe Graydon, if you did one of those word association things with me and said "Joe Graydon," I would say "Gordon Jenkins!"
That's because Joe was the vocal soloist on the Jenkins hit version of "Again" on Decca Records in 1949:
I think that's a great song and this is a lovely version! Gordon Jenkins records are just classy!
Things get interesting 10 years later when Joe Graydon cut a doo-wop version of "Again" for Hamilton Records:
I kind of dig it!
Before we go, Joe's son, Jay Graydon, is also in the music biz and justly proud of his dad. Jay released this update of "On This Christmas Eve" in 2008:
Not really my thing, but I like the sentiment!
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