♪♫We've got that holiday feelin'♫♪

Today as I read a Facebook post from a friend sharing his own memory, it opened a flood gate of my own memories. He posted about listening to Christmas Albums (yes, you heard me correctly, ALBUMS, the vinyl kind that were played on turntables) while wrapping Christmas presents with his mom. He spoke about the "Firestone" albums. It instantly took me back to my Grandmother's living room and stacking the vinyl discs on the stereo to listen to as each one dropped at its appropriate time to provide hours of music. We had to be careful not to load the turntable to heavy or they would begin to drag with the weight and affect the sound and tempo. Over the years as vinyl records and stereo turntables have become obsolete, I have missed those songs on those albums. With all the digital technology we have, I have not been able to find several beloved songs from my childhood...until now. These records were artists' compilations, and they were produced by the tire companies Firestone and Goodyear and the huge chain of "dime stores" called Grants. I had forgotten that or filed it away in my memory banks until today when my friend sparked that memory, and I began to search. Two songs in particular I loved and wore out the grooves on the album as I played them over and over, one was a sweet ballad about a donkey who is sad because he is not beautiful and realizes he is special when he is chosen to carry Mary through Bethlehem. Ed Ames sang it, and I incorrectly thought it was called "I'm Not Beautiful" which may be the reason it has eluded my search all these years. The other was an upbeat tune by Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme called, "We've Got That Holiday Feelin'" in the style that only Steve and Eydie can deliver. Dork Alert! I even had this number choreographed with my imaginary partner so I would be ready when asked to do a television Christmas special. Today my search ended when I found the website, Christmas LP's on CD. I was like a kid in a candy store as I pulled up each album to check the discography for those two titles specifically, smiling ear to ear as I looked at those original album covers. I can't wait to order!! Now if I could just remember the dance routine to "We've Got That Holiday Feelin'" and find my Steve Lawrence, I'll have it made. Any takers?