Artists
Album Info
Label: Palace
Title on cover is 'Have A Merry Christmas!', but on cover reverse and labels the exclamation point is missing.There are no artist names on the cover front or spine. On the back it says 'Fontanna His Orchestra And Chorus' but you may not hear them on this record.
On side 1 label it says 'Organ and Chimes' and indeed we hear organ and chimes music. Its runout (ST-33-3064) is also used on Jerry Maynard - Sing Along Christmas Carols and Jerry Maynard - Sing Along Christmas Carols (both on Palace), which is attributed to Jerry Maynard. Palace put the Maynard side on lots of their Christmas records.
On side 2 label it says that the artist is 'John Clayton His Orchestra And Chorus' (in contradiction to the cover). We hear choral music, but who is it? Its runout (MS 33 1972-1) is the same as side 2 of John Rawles And His Orchestra, Jerry Maynard - A Christmas Surprise Package on Masterseal, which is attributed to John Rawles And His Orchestra. But wait! That side has a totally different track list. This runout is also associated with side 2 of Fontanna And His Orchestra - Merry Christmas (also on Masterseal),which is attributed to Fontanna His Orchestra And Chorus. The track list there is close but not the same either. It has the same order -- just one song added and another removed. So, we've probably got Clayton here, but it will take someone familiar with these musicians to know who actually performed on this record for certain.
I guess this is a reason why Palace label is famous for copyright ignorance (and probably Masterseal - did they work together? Their records look a lot the same.). I hope the musicians got paid.