#738 (Weeks of 12/24/11 - 1/6/12)

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

THIS WEEK'S SELECTIONS PROVIDED BY ANDREW BOHAN

"Silent Night"/"I'll Be Home For Christmas"
by The Pilgrim Travelers
on Specialty XSP-856/SP-856
released in 1953

Above: Picture of The Pilgrim Travelers cropped from a 1948 Specialty sales clipping.

From The Billboard 2/6/54: During 1953 the Pilgrim Travelers racked up an estimated gross of $100,000 playing 173 dates at ball parks and auditoriums, drawing approximately 110,000 people. The group played to 10,000 at Columbus, Ga.; 5,000 at Dallas; 3,600 at Oakland, Ca.; and 5,200 at Birmingham, with tickets scaled at $1.25.

Above: Specialty Records clipping from The Billboard dated 7/14/51. Six of the twelve listed names are spiritual singers.

Above: Label image of Specialty XSP-856 released in early December 1953. The Pilgrim Travelers had previously released the flip, "I'll Be Home For Christmas," on Specialy 837 in 1952. The Pilgrim Travelers, who were hugely popular from 1948 to the early 1950's, were with Specialty from 1948 to 1956.

Listen to this week's selections by The Pilgrim Travelers on Specialty XSP-856/SP-856 from 1953:
[Audio restoration by Dave Saviet.]

A. Stream RealAudio (DO NOT USE...LISTEN USING DOWNLOAD REALAUDIO)...             1. Silent Night           2. I'll Be Home For Christmas             BOTH played in sequence      B. Download RealAudio...             1. Silent Night           2. I'll Be Home For Christmas      C. Stream/Download Media Player...             1. Silent Night           2. I'll Be Home For Christmas

The Billboard Review 12/12/53

     [To download audio files, right-click on link and then select "Save (Link) Target As..."]

THANK YOU to all who have helped with "Record Of The Week" during 2011, including the following:

Götz Alsmann Todd Baptista Andrew Bohan Galen Gart

Marv Goldberg Ferdie Gonzalez J.C. Marion George Moonoogian

Lou Rallo Paul Ressler Dave Saviet Joe Weismann

Your assistance is truly appreciated!

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