Various Artists - The Year Without A Santa Claus (Unofficial Soundtrack)

 

Can you BELIEVE this TV Christmas special is FIFTY YEARS OLD today?  Out of all the holiday specials released by producers Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass from the early '60s to the late '80, this show is, in my opinion, part of the great triumvirate of classic Rankin/Bass productions, along with 1964's Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer and 1969's Frosty The Snowman.  When I was young, I always looked forward to seeing this one the most (to be honest, I always found Frosty to be a little annoying, as the main character seemed borderline mentally impaired - and having Jimmy Durante as the narrator seemed sort of an odd choice to me...  Rudolph is redeemed by the presence of the great Yukon Cornelius and the Burl Ives snowman character).

This program is chock-full of beloved scenes and songs... probably none more memorable than the outstanding Snow Miser introduction and song, performed by the great Dick Shawn::

 

(that little cymbal 'stinger' that plays as Snow Miser sits in his chair has ALWAYS had a special place in my heart!)

Not to be outdone by his brother Heat Miser's entrance:  

I was going to put together a longer, more detailed writeup regarding this show's golden anniversary... (un)fortunately, People Magazine already beat me to it - I can add nothing further to this story, located here.

Unlike a couple of other Rankin/Bass Christmas specials (including Frosty, Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, and 'Twas The Night Before Christmas), no official soundtrack for this program was ever produced.  However, over the years, a number of bootleg versions of the tunes from this show, culled from the audio track, have been released.  Here's the lineup of songs provided here:

1. Leroy Anderson - Sleigh Ride (Instrumental)

2. The Wee Winter Singers - The Year Without A Santa Claus

3. Shirley Booth - I Could Be Santa Claus
4. Ron Marshall & Mickey Rooney - I Believe In Santa Claus
5. Ron Marshall (ft. The Wee Winter Singers) - It’s Gonna Snow Right Here In Dixie
6. Dick Shawn - The Snow Miser Song
7. George S. Irving - The Heat Miser Song
8. Christine Winter - Blue Christmas
9. The Wee Winter Singers - Here Comes Santa Claus

10. Mickey Rooney – There'll Be No Year Without A Santa Claus

11. The Wee Winter Singers - The Year Without A Santa Claus

So here for your listening pleasure is the unofficial soundtrack to The Year Without A Santa Claus, originally released in 1974.  Enjoy, and as always, let me know what you think.

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