[Dixielandjazz] Hanukkah in Santa Monica

[Bill Haesler]

 Gary Kiser asked about:
Tom Lehrer and
> Hanukkah in Santa Monica
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LslsgH3-UFU
> Does anyone know anything about this recording? I don't believe it is on his three LPs.

Dear Gary,
"(I'm Spending) Hanukkah In Santa Monica" was recorded on 26 October 1999 at Sound On Sound Recording, New York, NY.
A new recording produced by pianist Rob Fisher.
(I have the band personnel if you want it.)
The song was written by Lehrer for Garrison Keillor's short-lived Saturday radio show, 'The American Radio Company'.
It was sung on that show in December 1990 and December 1992 by Ivy Austin backed by Rob Fisher and His Coffee Club Orchestra.
According to the notes on my 3-CD boxed set ('The Remains Of Tom Lehrer'. Warner Archives Rhino R2 79831) Garrison pointed out "that there just aren't any popular Hanukkah songs, because no Gentile songwriter ever thought about writing one, and the great Jewish songwriters were busy writing Christmas songs." 
The wonderful CD set containing 74 songs and released in 2000 also includes a magnificent 80-page hardcover booklet that contains the lyrics for 46 Lehrer songs, including this one.
Very kind regards,
Bill. 
Who saw a young Tom Lehrer on stage during his 3-month 1959 Australian-New Zealand tour.