Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

alfalpha

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Description

My young friend Emma (11) wanted to give something special to her Mum for Christmas. So Emma started to sing...

...oh and Emma and I have to add that the vox recording isn't 100%, as we only had a shoddy condenser mic and not much time to do this (let alone keeping it secret from Mum until Xmas day!) Hopefully Emma will be back soon enough to help me submit another tune, with a better Vox take...Happy Holidays!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town was written by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, & first broadcast on Eddie Cantor's radio show in 1931.

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Song Stats

Hits: 1332
Comments: 20
Fans: 4
Plays: 158
Downloads: 191
Votes: 0
Uploaded: Dec 20, 2006 - 12:48:42 AM
Last Updated: Aug 13, 2007 - 12:33:10 AM Last Played: Nov 22, 2009 - 04:14:00 PM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Song Actions

Keywords:

Emma (1), Santa Claus (2), Big Band (16), Children (55), Christmas (185), Xmas (12), Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie (1)

Hardware:

iBook G4
Emma

Software:

GB2
JP4

Comments

jiguma	jiguma said 1072 days ago (December 20th, 2006)
	Ah a familiar accent! What a great pressie for Emma's mum from Santa Alf : ) Terrific big band sounds - have a brilliant day - see you soon. Happy Christmas to you and Jane and Emma - and we really hope that 2007 is successful and happy for you. Peace, Neil Check out my latest song called Lost In Translation (w Mike Watkins)

Electric Lobster	Electric Lobster said 1072 days ago (December 20th, 2006)
	Great Emma & Alf ! A charming jazzy tune - I like it very much (also I'm no big x-mas fan) :D Happy Christmas to you and your beloved ones ! Check out my latest song called Rain Rain [vox/ Linda Courtien]

alfalpha	alfalpha said 1072 days ago (December 20th, 2006)
	Herr Robster... ...many thanks for your kind words, thanks for all your comments & HD help during this year(!) ..despite the fact that you are not too keen on Xmas, I'll wish you a Frohliche Weinacht regardless, & the best for the New Year! Tchuss, Alf Check out my latest song called Mania- w/DavisAmerica-The 'Sprout' Remix

	said 1072 days ago (December 20th, 2006)
	OooH, Ya! Better watch out! Merry Christmas! Thank you for this FINE rendition!!! . - Harold

alfalpha	alfalpha said 1072 days ago (December 20th, 2006)
	..You better not cry! Many Thanks Harold! And all the best for the season! Cheers! Alf Check out my latest song called Mania- w/DavisAmerica-The 'Sprout' Remix

alfalpha	alfalpha said 1072 days ago (December 20th, 2006)
	Elfalpha big band? ...those Elves can certainly read charts well! I had my doubts, but they did a stellar job, what, with all that toy making on top of it! Thanks Neil! Happy Christmas to you & yours...here's to the New Year, & some great collabs! Cheers, Alf...(Elf...?) Check out my latest song called Mania- w/DavisAmerica-The 'Sprout' Remix

Macaudion	Macaudion said 1072 days ago (December 20th, 2006)
	You and Emma should be proud Aww man... that was so cute/fun/uplifting/engaging/ and needless to say, I was sufficiently entertained. Loved the begining! Loved the whole thing - Very cute little ditty! Well done! - Thanks! D Check out my latest song called 123 iGetU

alfalpha	alfalpha said 1072 days ago (December 21st, 2006)
	Many Thanks! Dion, what a privilege to have you come by for a listen & comment! thank you so much! Best for the Season! Alf Check out my latest song called Mania- w/DavisAmerica-The 'Sprout' Remix

Jim Bouchard

Jim Bouchard said 1072 days ago (December 20th, 2006)

Dang!
Just so I don't get accused of not being impartial, I have to quote from the comment I left on Allanah's Christmas song that is also covered by copyright: ".. I get afraid that if people start posting covers of Christmas songs that are still covered by copyright, that it will give the impression that it's okay to post covers in general here at MacJams. Did I miss some change in the site's policy? Or do the same rules not apply to all? Here's a relevant portion from the site's FAQ: 'Please note that all songs submitted to MacJams must be the original works of the submitting artist, or the artist must have permission to use any portion of the song and upload it to the Internet. We do not allow posting of any song which is a cover of another song for which permission of the original author has not been given. Complete requirements are contained in our Terms and Conditions'"
When questioned about this comment I responded this way: "...just to explain, I made that comment, and also similar comments, on all of the songs on the list that I was reasonably sure are still covered by copyright. A lot of the songs on the list are either older songs in the public domain or are original songs written by the person or persons posting them. I really do not mean to be confrontational, and I liked your singing of the song, but I am just concerned about the legal implications for the site. I hope you are having a happy holiday and sincerely extend to you my best wishes."
And as I said on other songs covered by copyright that have been posted, as a songwriter, I like to make sure that the songwriter gets proper credit. This song was written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. More info can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus_is_Coming_to_Town
Very well done and sweet! Good job Emma!

Check out my latest song called Weather or Not w/awigze

alfalpha

alfalpha said 1072 days ago (December 21st, 2006)

...thanks Jim...
...I had a feeling that you might comment about the copyright issue here! LOL!
Actually, I usually credit composers as a matter of course (as I have done for all the collabs with Caroline). I somehow missed doing so this time....dang...I'll fix that straight away. Thanks for reminding me! ;)
As to copyright. I believe that this song is in public domain, given that it was first broadcasted/recorded in 1931 for Eddie Cantor's show...(I checked this prior to uploading my arrangement). In Australia PD occurs after 50 years...I think in the States is the 70-75 mark? So I guess this (just) makes it?

Anyway, thanks for setting me straight Jim, & I'm chuffed that you stopped by for a listen...(just wait 'till I tell Emma that the great JB stopped by!)

Cheers Jim!

Check out my latest song called Mania- w/DavisAmerica-The 'Sprout' Remix

Jim Bouchard

Jim Bouchard said 1071 days ago (December 21st, 2006)

Dates differ, I guess...
according to Wikipedia, "In 1934 when Gillespie brought him the lyrics to Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Coots came up with the skeleton of the music in just 10 minutes. Later when Coots brought the song to his Publisher, Leo Feist Inc., they liked it but thought it was a kids' song and did not expect too much from it." I would be very surprised is copyright wasn't renewed on this song, actually, since it is sooo popular, and I am sure the estates of the writers(if they are not still alive) would want to renew it, I sure would! Since the site is hosted in the US, I would imagine copyright would be under US jurisdiction.
But why quibble over details! (other than making sure that the site doesn't get shut down by bureaucrats) It's a great version of a classic! Very cute!

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/27014">My latest song "Didn't It Rain?"</a>

Check out my latest song called Weather or Not w/awigze

rtcooper	rtcooper said 1071 days ago (December 21st, 2006)
	TOO Much Fun And When did Tommy Dorsey get back to Town! COOL, All Over FINE Fun. Cooper Check out my latest song called Intimate Anyway

alfalpha	alfalpha said 1071 days ago (December 21st, 2006)
	...When did Tommy Dorsey came to town? ...when Jimmy Dorsey, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington, Gil Evans & Glen Miller joined in for a jam session...! (Emma has some serious contacts...!) Many Thanks Cooper! Merry, 'Swingin'' Christmas! Cheers! Alf Check out my latest song called Mania- w/DavisAmerica-The 'Sprout' Remix

drakonis

drakonis said 1071 days ago (December 21st, 2006)

many thoughts
Alf, you didn't mention if you did the jazzy arrangement here (wouldn't surprise me if you did, being quite talented in that arena), but if so, you should give yourself credit in the description.... I really loved the jazzy arrangement of this otherwise saccarine-sweet tune. And Emma's voice was great, as were your adjustments/edits to make it all line up. Finally, I must agree with JimB, that I too am worried about members not paying closer attention to the explicit "no covers" rule on Macjams (members in general)... as I'd hate to have this place shut down due to a copyright infringement lawsuit that the admins cannot afford to fight. But those concerns aside, I think you did a wonderful recording/arranging job here, and I'm sure Emma's Mum will be delightfully stunned at such a gift! Also, Emma will love having this 20 years from now :-)
ttfn,
Drakonis

Check out my latest song called Lullaby for the Inner Child

alfalpha

alfalpha said 1071 days ago (December 21st, 2006)

heh, heh...
...what a great 21st present thgis would make!
Drak I did do the arrangement...over a couple of days...(thank God for JP4)
I addressed the copyright issue with Jim (see my reply to him)
I checked the date of first broadcast, which according to my sources (wickepedia), was 1931...so I figured, what the hey, I might as well add to the MJ carol list, given that theoretically it's 75 years hence...ah well, hopefully this submission will go unnoticed if the work doesn't fall into PD (it should by Emma's 21st..mwah, ha, ha!)

Thanks Drak! Thanks for your comments this year, as well as the 'banter' on the chat page ;) All the Best for the silly season!
Best,
Alf

Check out my latest song called Mania- w/DavisAmerica-The 'Sprout' Remix

nyakki	nyakki said 1065 days ago (December 27th, 2006)
	Great Remake I'm a big fan of Remakes. I hate Redos. Redo: Requires no imagination and do it EXACTLY like the other artist did. Examples: 99.9% of all "Remakes" Remake: Take the concept of the original and add your own style and personality to it and "Remake" it into a new song. Examples: This song. Great Remake. Nice Job. Check out my latest song called Maple Leaf Rag v2

alfalpha	alfalpha said 1065 days ago (December 27th, 2006)
	remake vs. redo... ...LOL! I try to remake things that have been redone..Thanks for stopping by Dana! Check out my latest song called Mania- w/DavisAmerica-The 'Sprout' Remix

Enrique Gil	Enrique Gil said 1016 days ago (February 15th, 2007)
	Merry Christmas in February! I will for sure download this one too....one of my all time christmas favorites....is that you singing? Check out my latest song called Simple Feelings

alfalpha	alfalpha said 1015 days ago (February 15th, 2007)
	Xmas in Feb... Enrique, HEH! Do you celebrate Christmas in Feb. in California?, judging by the weather patterns we see over in the States at the moment, you might as well be! The voice is my young friend Emma (she's 12 yrs old...) --- Variety is the spice of life...(we're only scratching the surface...) Check out my latest song called Mania- w/DavisAmerica-The 'Sprout' Remix

onesweetworld	onesweetworld said 362 days ago (November 29th, 2008)
	interesting Very cute song. Emma has a nice voice. My one gripe is...why was my cover deleted from macjams and yours is up? Not fair play at all. I'm a bit angry in fact. Check out my latest song called Hopes and Dreams

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Artist Info

Name: alfahlfah

I began piano lessons at the age of 7 & brass at 12. Studied music through school, then continued with music studies at university. I have played semi-professionally on-and-off over the last 2 decades in various bands/groups in many genres. Having... [see more]

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