The Ray Conniff Christmas Show
December 16, 2023 1:57 PM Subscribe
A different kind of Christmas television special from a different time entirely. The Ray Conniff Singers come together on television screens in 1965 for a solid 50 minutes of carol singing. The songs are all done in studio and performed in lip sync in the special, with actual studio sound for the talking segments. This is post Beatles-on-Sullivan, mid-Dissolution Of Folk Revival, and pre-psychedelic era. It's delicious in its earnestness and fashion choices made specifically to work with early color television.
Oh, and lots of sweaters...even on non holiday shoes and album covers.
posted by Czjewel at 3:06 PM on December 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Czjewel at 3:06 PM on December 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
Now that’s what I call a white Christmas!
I’ll see myself out…
But FR my dad had records like Ray Conniff and this music feels very much like stuff that was on the turntable way back in the ‘70s.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 6:26 PM on December 16, 2023 [5 favorites]
I’ll see myself out…
But FR my dad had records like Ray Conniff and this music feels very much like stuff that was on the turntable way back in the ‘70s.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 6:26 PM on December 16, 2023 [5 favorites]
My parents had a 1960s Ray Conniff singers Christmas album when I was little in the 70s and I still listen to a digital version of it today. I'll very much enjoy watching this later.
posted by dowcrag at 3:38 AM on December 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by dowcrag at 3:38 AM on December 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
My mother- and father-in-law were fans of the RCSs and would listen to them pretty regularly. My wife and I have joked about this forever. We will definitely watch this.
Also: Star Trek colors!
posted by neuron at 10:43 AM on December 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Also: Star Trek colors!
posted by neuron at 10:43 AM on December 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
This is the sort of thing my parents watched BACK IN THE DAY™.
This is the sort of thing that lead me to punk rock.
Yes, your mileage may vary.
posted by evilDoug at 2:56 PM on December 17, 2023
This is the sort of thing that lead me to punk rock.
Yes, your mileage may vary.
posted by evilDoug at 2:56 PM on December 17, 2023
In previous comments I've mentioned my love for their holiday records, how I characterize their sound as 'shimmery' but never knew there was video. And yes, so white, to contemporary eyes; and in the slower numbers, so much swaying back and forth. Thanks again hippybear!
posted by Rash at 6:49 AM on December 19, 2023
posted by Rash at 6:49 AM on December 19, 2023
but never knew there was video.
For some reason, YouTube is just THROWING all kinds of really arcane holiday specials at me this year, and I haven't gone looking for any of them. This one was a real surprise as I also didn't know they had ever done anything on television. But I could have completely dominated the month with "wow, this is a weird old holiday special" posts.
posted by hippybear at 12:47 PM on December 19, 2023
For some reason, YouTube is just THROWING all kinds of really arcane holiday specials at me this year, and I haven't gone looking for any of them. This one was a real surprise as I also didn't know they had ever done anything on television. But I could have completely dominated the month with "wow, this is a weird old holiday special" posts.
posted by hippybear at 12:47 PM on December 19, 2023
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posted by Czjewel at 2:10 PM on December 16, 2023