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Pipe Organ Music

This is a collection of some of my pipe organ LPs that I have converted to MP3. Many of these have not been released on CD; therefore, I am offering these as a way to keep this culture alive. If you own the copyrights to these and object to their presence here, email me and I will remove them ASAP.

The audio quality is not top-notch; I apologize for that. My turntable had some noise issues, as well as the fact that these LPs are not mint condition.

These are all MP3 files of different bitrates, depending on when I converted them. Click to listen or right-click and select ‘Save Target As’ to download.

Buddy Cole: Pipes and Chimes of Christmas

This album, Columbia CL 1224, has not been re-released as far as I know. This was recorded on the Joe Kearns ex-Warner Brothers Studio Wurlitzer, Opus 2022, as opposed to Cole’s other recordings, which were made on his own Wurlitzer/Robert Morton hybrid.

Side 1:

1. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

2. Deck the Halls

3. What Child is This?

4. The First Noel

5. Jingle Bells

6. O Tannenbaum

7. Good King Wenceslas

8. Coventry Carol

Side 2:

1. Joy to the World

2. O Little Town of Bethlehem

3. Adeste Fideles

4. Away in a Manger

5. We Three Kings

6. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

7. Silent Night

Paul Carson: Christmas Favorites

Paul Carson was a theater organist who played background music for various radio shows, as well as a solo organ program called Bridge to Dreamland. He also recorded several sacred albums on the Alma label; this is Alma C-1807, which has not been re-released either.

Side 1:

1. The First Noel

2. We Three Kings

3. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

4. Silent Night

5. O Holy Night

6. Adeste Fideles

7. O Little Town of Bethlehem

Side 2:

1. White Christmas

2. Jingle Bells

3. Santa Claus is Coming to Town

4. Christmas in Killarney

5. Tinker Toy

6. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

7. March of the Toys

8. Deck the Halls

9. Good King Wenceslas

Eddie Dunstedter: The Bells of Christmas + Happy Holidays (Single Song)

Eddie Dunstedter was another radio-era theater organist. His style on this album is somewhat unique. In fact, he uses the pizzicato coupler on We Three Kings. This LP, Capitol ST 1264, has not been released on CD.

Side 1:

1. The First Noel

2. March of the Three Kings

3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

4. Greensleeves (What Child is This?)

5. Medley:

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Away in a Manger

6. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

Side 2:

1. O Holy Night

2. Medley:

We Three Kings

Bring Your Torches, Jeanette Isabella

3. Medley:

Deck the Halls

Joy to the World

4. Adeste Fideles

5. O Tannenbaum

6. Medley:

Coventry Carol

Vom Himmel Hoch

7. Silent Night

Happy Holidays - Taken from a multi-artist Christmas LP

Jesse Crawford: In a Monastery Garden

This album, recorded on the Simonton Grande Wurlitzer, features many light classical and inspirational songs, played in Crawford’s “frustrated vocalist” style; it has not been re-released. This is a very relaxing album, good for winding down at the end of the day; it’s also great on the way to church!

Side 1:

1. In a Monastery Garden

2. Ave Maria (Bach-Gounod)

3. The Lost Chord

4. Evening Prayer

5. The Holy City

6. The Rosary

Side 2:

1. The Bells of St. Mary’s

2. The Lord’s Prayer

3. Ave Maria (Schubert)

4. The Psalms

5. Agnus Dei

6. Largo from Xerxes (Handel)

John Kiley: Gigantic Pipe Organ

John Kiley was a theater organist, as well as a sports organist, playing at many ballparks. In fact, it was said (jokingly) that he was the only person to have played for the Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, and Boston Red Sox, all in the same year. This album was recorded on the old Boston Metropolitan Theater’s 4/26 Wurlitzer, released on a budget label, and has not been re-released since.

Side 1:

1. Poor Johnny One Note

2. Where or When

3. Wish You Were Here

4. If This Isn’t Love

5. My Funny Valentine

6. Falling in Love With You

Side 2:

1. Dark Eyes

2. At Dawning

3. Roaming in the Gloaming

4. Mighty Like a Rose

5. Tell Me Pretty Maiden

6. Oh Promise Me

Leonard Leigh: The Mighty Wurlitzer Remembers the Good Old Songs

Leonard Leigh had an interesting style, as the following selections illustrate. He didn’t seem to use the trems very often, which is common practice today.

Side 1:

1. The Oceana Roll

2. Every Little Movement

3. My Beautiful Lady

4. Chinatown, My Chinatown

5. Cuddle Up a Little Closer

6. Alexander’s Ragtime Band

Side 2:

1. Red Wing

2. I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles

3. Hindustan

4. Balling the Jack

5. Love’s Own Sweet Song

6. Allah’s Holiday

Leonard MacClain: Theatre Organ in Hi-Fi

Leonard “Melody Mac” MacClain was a famous theater organist with a prodigious memory. He could play almost any song he’d heard from memory, making his own accompaniment and chords as he went along. In fact, he used to offer a prize on his radio show to any caller who could stump him with a tune. Needless to say, very few people were paid!

This is the first of two albums of his that I have; the second one is below.

Side 1:

1. Serenade from The Student Prince

2. Tenderly

3. Knightsbridge March

4. My Romance

5. Moonlight in Vermont

6. Warsaw Concerto

Side 2:

1. Diane - Charmaine Medley

2. Moonlight on the Ganges

3. Beyond the Sea