BIRMINGHAM RECORD COLLECTORS
DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTING OF MUSIC, ITS PRESERVATION AND LASTING FRIENDSHIP
THIS MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE THE SECOND SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14TH 2:00 PM
HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209
NEXT MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE HELD THE SECOND SUNDAY, JANUARY 11TH AT 2:00 PM
HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209
THIS MONTH’S MEETING
We had a very successful ‘business meeting’ last month. Many things taken care of and preparations for the upcoming year were discussed. We look forward to 2026 and hope it is a great year for BRC.
Once again the holiday season has rolled around and everyone wanted to our two annual December meeting events. We will play our ‘Dirty Santa’ game and we will do our ‘Free For All’ once again. Bring a wrapped gift of some sort ($10-15) and have fun watching gifts being opened then possibly stolen. You never know what you may go home with at this game. And the ‘Free For All’ is where members bring vinyl, CD’s, DVD’s, etc that other members can browse through and take whatever they want for ‘FREE!’. After all, it is the giving season. If you just want to come and enjoy the refreshments, fellowship and fun and not bring a gift, that is fine. Just come!
SAD NEWS
Recently we lost two BRC members. Larry Parker passed away Nov 17. Larry of course was the singer for Larry & The Loafers, a popular band around the Southeast. They had the local hit ‘Panama City Blues’ in 1961. We also lost long-time member David ‘Cubby’ Culberson on Nov 10.
NOTHING LIKE THOSE CHRISTMAS SONGS
A few years back I did the following piece where the readers had to find titles of Christmas songs in it. I thought I would use it again this year. So see if you can find the songs that are part of it.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, so as you read this, see if you can find the twenty Christmas songs mentioned. I’m sure it will be easy seeing how we are all experts in the field of music, right. The songs are listed at the bottom but don’t look until you hunt them first!
This time of the year always makes us think of giving, family, joy, Christmas movies, friends, and even receiving. If you have family far away I hope you get to see them and catch up on what’s happening with them. Fortunately for me I’ll be home for Christmas since my family lives very close.
Many great memories come to us this time of the year also. One of my best is when my in-laws were having Christmas breakfast with us and as we sat eating, it started snowing unexpectedly and although it didn’t stay on the ground more than a day we were able to watch a white Christmas unfold. It was quite a winter wonderland and I could almost hear a noise up on the house top.
The Christmas song that I enjoy is whatever is on. They all make me happy and remember all the fun this time of the year brings. Whether it’s a traditional song or one that is rock, R&B, soul, or even those crazy rockabilly tunes that will make your jingle bell rock, I enjoy them all.
One thing I have never done is to take a sleigh ride. Just not enough snow for that around here and since travel is not what I do at Christmas I guess I never will. But that’s OK. Since Santa Claus is coming to town I don’t want to be away from the house and miss him. To be in another town and have to watch for him flying over and have to holler, ‘Hey, Santa Claus I’m down here’ may not work. And there’s nothing like Christmas in Dixie. But I can see where people north of here enjoy it in their own way. I ventured up to Iowa a few years ago during January and saw lots of snow and the people at parks designed for snow activities such as we have down here for water activities. It’s whatever a person is used to.
I can remember lots of gifts I have received over the years. My brother bought me a Beatles LP one Christmas, the Sgt Pepper’s LP. I usually got underwear from my grandparents and clothes from my parents. But they also bought me something to have fun with. A football, a baseball glove, or a basketball was always welcomed. I remember getting an electric football game as well – remember those? Toy trains were a popular gift back in the day. I don’t know if trains are still on a kids Christmas list these days.
Have you even started your shopping yet? I know it can be crowded, pushy, time consuming, and many other not so cheerful descriptions but if you start now maybe you can finish before most of the others get started. And with on-line shopping you can avoid a lot of the rush, rush of Christmas. I guess even when the crowds are there and you wish you had started shopping in October there’s nothing like seeing a child’s face when they see toyland in the department store. I do miss seeing the stores decorative Christmas scenes in their windows. That was always fun.
So as we all prepare for Christmas, I hope it is a wonderful Christmastime for you and your family. Have lots of pretty paper to wrap the gifts up in and get those Christmas cards in the mail. Many years ago I saw an old Christmas card at an antique store and wound up buying it and the others that came with it. I still enjoy looking at them. I wonder what the people who received them said and felt as they read them for the first time. So whether you head below the border and hear Feliz Navidad, head to the islands and hear Mele Kalikimaka, or just stay home I hope you have a Merry Christmas.
Did you find all 20 Christmas songs? Here they are:
1.It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
2.This Time of the Year
3.I’ll Be Home for Christmas
4.White Christmas
5.Winter Wonderland
6.Up On the House Top
7.The Christmas Song
8.Jingle Bell Rock
9.Sleigh Ride
10.Snow
11.Santa Claus is Coming to Town
12.Hey, Santa Claus
13.Christmas in Dixie
14.Toy Trains
15.Toyland
16.Wonderful Christmastime
17.Pretty Paper
18.An Old Christmas Card
19.Feliz Navidad
20.Mele Kalikimaka
See ya,
Charlie