"THE LITTLE MERMAID COLLECTION" 1990, 2000 Read-Along Triple Pack CD

The legendary Roy Dotrice narrated three Read-Alongs in 1990, all adapted from Walt Disney's classic "The Little Mermaid".

In the year 2000, all three stories were packaged in a bundle called "Disney's The Little Mermaid Collection - Triple Story Pack".

While some copies of these stories exist on YouTube, they're usually being read by the uploader. Finding the original audio has been tricky... until now!

All three stories are presented here, with full voice work from the cast of the film, and parts of Alan Menken's iconic score!

These are great tales for any fan of Ariel and her dreams of becoming "part of our world"... Enjoy!

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192kbps VBR

*NOTE: Ads may be running on the YouTube upload,
as the music within has been Copyright Claimed.*

"GARFIELD: THE KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR" - 1984 Kid Stuff Read-Along Record

Happy New Year, Sanctum Dwellers! Hopefully you're ready to tackle 2022 as confidently as Garfield tackles a dragon in his 1984 Read-Along "Garfield: The Knight In Shining Armor"!

This cute little 7-minute tale is intended for very young audiences, and teaches the lesson that appearances are deceiving!

As a little kid, I wore the Hell out of this record. I've always had a soft spot for the jaunty little opening and closing theme. Both sides of the record contained the same story, so I'd just flip it over and over.

However because of this, this is one of my most worn-out records. Under Design digitized both sides as best they could, and then I painstakingly cobbled together a Frankenstein'd version using the cleanest bits from each side, removing the heavy skips (of which there were at least a half-dozen), and taking out as much static as I could. You won't find a better copy of this tale anywhere, probably ever, unless I can find a sealed copy in the future.

** UPDATE: Jon from GenXGrownUp informed me that he also had a copy of this story, and supplied me with a digitization! I've included it in the downloads below. Thanks, Jon! **

If you're a lifelong "Garfield" fan and want to hear Lorenzo Music's take on the tubby tabby, in perhaps a story you've never heard before, then this one's for you. Enjoy!

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YouTube

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192kbps CBR

"ANNIE'S CHRISTMAS" - 1982, 1992 CBS / Sony Storybook CD

Even though Christmas is over, I did still promise a Holiday upload every Friday this December, so let's have one more rare story before 2022 begins!

"Annie's Christmas" is a 30-minute story featuring everyone's favorite redheaded orphan, and was originally released by CBS Records in 1982. What we have here is the cleaned-up 1992 re-release on CD by Sony Music Special products.

While I'm personally not a big fan of "Annie", I am a sucker for anything narrated by William Woodson!

Please note that this story is not the same as the later-released animated TV special.

This is the last upload of 2021; I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you've enjoyed all of the oddities and obscurities shared here throughout the year! Happy New Year, everyone!

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YouTube

256kbps VBR

"WALT DISNEY'S STORY OF 101 DALMATIANS" - 1982 Disneyland Read-Along Record

Hello, Sanctum Dwellers! I hope everyone enjoyed their Holiday weekend!

Today I'm sharing a Disney Read-Along that actually has been shared by others online, but in some ways, not entirely.

This is Disneyland Records' "Walt Disney's Story of 101 Dalmatians", release in 1982 on record and cassette. This is, to my knowledge, one of (if not the) loudest Read-Along Disney ever produced; both the cassette and vinyl copies are known for major clipping issues.

Under Design and myself did the best we could to make sure this digitization didn't blow anyone's ears out!

MouseVinyl has the 1965 Robie Lester - narrated record, but even though it carries the same catalog number (305), they are not the same album. This one is narrated by Pongo and tells the tale of the movie, while Robie's tells an original story about Lucky the puppy wanting to become a TV star.

As stated earlier, there exits other copies of this online. However some have "tape hiss", some have the "Cruella DeVil" song cut off early, some were recorded using a video camera, and some have the aforementioned clipping issues. I'm hoping that this copy finds a nice balance among the others, or at least just gives listeners yet another option to enjoy.

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YouTube

192kbps CBR

*NOTE: Ads may be running on the YouTube upload,
as the music within has been Copyright Claimed.*

"A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS" - 1977 Buena Vista Read-Along Record

It just isn't Christmas without this story... and here's a version that's rarely heard.

Everyone knows the classic TV special by now, but there have been numerous adaptations over the years. This version, released in 1977 via Disney and Buena Vista (under the specialized "Charlie Brown Records" line), has never been fully digitized until now.

Oddly enough, MouseVinyl seems to have all of the other releases in the "Charlie Brown Records" series, except this one. Well, I guess it's up to me to fill in that gap; and it wasn't easy...

My copy was in rough shape, as I repeatedly listened to it during Christmastime as a kid. And before that, my mother would listen to it. I set out looking for a pristine copy to digitize... and the only sealed copy I came across was in Italy. It took almost 2 MONTHS to finally arrive at my doorstep.

I sent it away to the great folks at Under Design and they came back with this crisp, beautiful copy shared here.

To me, this is a perfect story to enjoy on Christmas Eve. I know I've enjoyed it for close to 40 years, and I hope you will, too. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

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YouTube

192kbps CBR

 

*NOTE: Ads may be running on the YouTube upload,
as the music within has been Copyright Claimed.*

 

"THE OWL THAT DIDN'T GIVE A HOOT" - 1970's Peter Pan Read-Along Record

Here's yet another Read-Along Record that I simply can't find any info about: "The Owl That Didn't Give A Hoot", released via Peter Pan Records.

This thing is so obscure that I can't even figure out what year it was released in. The UPC on the back was used multiple times by Peter Pan for various Read-Alongs, all released between 1971 and 1977, so I'm going to assume this is a 1970's release.

Written and Produced by Arthur Korb, this record tells the story of an Owl having trouble finding his "hoot". Korb was pretty active at Peter Pan, producing numerous albums and writing loads of songs, as well as crafting tunes for albums under the Power Records label. Having such a busy career, again I'm really surprised I can't find concrete info about "Owl".

I chalk this up as yet another forgotten record from the height of Peter Pan's popularity. Again, many Thanks to Under Design for helping me archive this rare story!

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YouTube

192kbps CBR

"THE CHRISTMAS TALE OF ALFIE THE ELF" - 1980 Pennywhistle Read-Along Record

If you want to hear a truly obscure, long-forgotten Christmas album, look no further than this humble little tale, "Alfie the Elf".

This story about an extremely tall Elf (which predates the Will Ferrell classic by several decades) whom finds and rescues Santa is... well, it's odd. But that's not to say it's bad, and it definitely has some interesting roots!

The words and music from "Alfie" were written by Dallas McKennon, a legendary voice actor who worked for over 5 decades, voicing everyone from Gumby, to Archie, to loads of Disney characters. In fact, if you look at the artwork within "Alfie"'s pages, you'll see that they used Dallas' likeness; from the long, hooked nose to the huge white beard!

If you're wondering who exactly "Pennywhistle Productions" is, I don't have a clue. I can't find any detailed information on them, and according to Discogs, "Alfie" is the only album they ever released.

"Alfie" is a very hard record to obtain, let alone in decent shape. I had a heck of a time cleaning this up, even after Under Design's stellar digitizing work. I apologize for the hefty amount of static; perhaps in the future I can find a copy in better condition.

Regardless, the end result is a now forever-archived copy of the story of one of Christmas' lesser-known heroes. Enjoy the Christmas Jamboree!

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Internet Archive

YouTube

192kbps CBR

"THE CHIPMUNK STORY" - 1984 Kid Stuff Read-Along Record

Why not follow up a "Chipmunk" Read-Along with another one from the same year?

This is "The Chipmunk Story", a Read-Along Record from 1984 that tells the story of how Alvin, Simon, and Theodore entered David Seville's life. Much like the "Santa Harry" and "Chipmunks' Cruise" Read-Alongs, this is adapted from an episode of the "Chipmunks" animated series.

It's cute, and it has snippets of "Witch Doctor". A great listen for any "Chipmunk" fan. Enjoy!

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Internet Archive

YouTube

192kbps CBR

"THE CHIPMUNKS IN: SANTA HARRY" - 1984 Kid Stuff Read-Along Record

 

Hello everyone! I know I've been gone for quite some time, but that doesn't mean I've forgotten about the blog... and it definitely doesn't mean I've run out of rare media to share!

Just like last year, I'm going to devote every Friday in December to sharing an obscure Holiday-themed album with all of you! And to kick things off, I have a super-clean copy of Kid Stuff Records' 1984 Read-Along "The Chimpunks in: Santa Harry"!

For those not old enough to remember, "Harry" was a recurring villain in the 1980's "Chipmunks" TV show. He'd use costumes and aliases to attempt to trick Alvin and the others - or basically anyone in general - into getting their money. He was your basic sleazy con artist, and one of his most memorable appearances was in the episode "Santa Harry", which aired in 1983.

This Kid Stuff Read-Along is basically a point-by-point re-telling of that episode, albeit without the well-known "Chipmunks" opening theme (unlike other Read-Alongs of that era, such as "The Chipmunks' Cruise").

This one's a real treat for any "Chipmunks" fan; enjoy and let's get the Holiday Season started!

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Internet Archive

YouTube

192kbps CBR

 

"DICK TRACY" Disney Audio Action Adventures - 1990 Cassettes

 

For the past few weeks I've been on a big "Dick Tracy" kick. So much so that I decided to go back and re-visit my digital rips of the 1990 Disney / Buena Vista read-along cassette series!

I originally ripped over a decade go ago for Children's Records and More, but the rips came straight from the Aux output on my Walkman and that particular blog no longer hosts any files... so I decided to give these tales another attempt at archival.

While there are a few rips up on YouTube, they're not exceptionally clear, or they have major clipping issues. I wanted to avoid that; this two-parter is one of the best fully-dramatized stories 1990's Disney ever produced, and I wanted to make sure the best possible copies could be made available.

So here they are, "Big Boy Turns Up The Heat", and "Everything Comes Up Blank", both narrated by the incomparable William Woodson, and featuring some legendary voice actors such as Jim Cummings, Tony Pope, and Corey Burton.

Enjoy!

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Internet Archive

YouTube

192kbps MP3

"THE BERENSTAIN BEARS - HOW TO GET ALONG WITH YOUR FELLOW BEAR" - 1982 Kid Stuff Records Read-Along

Here's another incredibly short Kid Stuff Read-Along, which is less like a story and more like a series of lessons in manners.

"The Berenstain Bears: How To Get Along With Your Fellow Bear" is along the lines of the "Raggedy Ann & Andy" Christmas Read-Along in terms of tone and quality. In fact, it features the same narrator as both that record and "The Care Bears Help Out", so be prepared for even more sugary-sweet voice work!

While the overall message of the record is commendable: be nice to others, share, be helpful, etc. some of its wording wouldn't fit well in today's social climate. I mean, should you really force yourself to smile and/or be nice to someone who is continually mean to you?

Also, aside from the usage of "bear" in place of "man" or "person" is really the only thing tying this Read-Along to the "Berenstain Bears" IP; this script could've been tweaked and used for pretty much any other character.

It's also incredibly short, clocking in at just a little over 5 minutes.

The message means well, and the record is pretty rare... but it's only for die-hard "Bears" fans.

Internet Archive

YouTube

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192kbps CBR

"BUGS BUNNY'S SPACE CARROT" - 1977, 1984 Kid Stuff Records Read-Along

Today's post is proof positive that amidst all the drama and issues within the "geek" community, the YouTube community, etc... connections and friendships can still be made.

In my most recent submission to Under Design, I sent in my childhood copy of the Kid Stuff Read-Along record "Bugs Bunny's Space Carrot". My copy was in absolutely terrible shape, and for years I'd been hunting a brand-new copy to buy and digitize, but to no avail. So I decided to throw caution to the wind, and digitize my copy.

Welp... it was awful. Under Design did everything they could, and it still came out horribly. There was no way I could share it here.

So I started searching to see if anyone else happened to have a copy of this story... and lo and behold, I stumbled across Jon at GenXGrownUp.

A few years ago, he digitized his own copy and shared it via GXGU's YouTube channel. The clarity was fantastic, and so I immediately reached out to him asking if he still had the raw audio (as his video outro obscured the tail-end of the story in the video). He messaged me back within minutes, and for the next half-hour or so we chatted about our shared love of old Read-Alongs and other vinyl oddities.

I took the raw audio, cleaned it up a tiny bit more, added the necessary metadata, and now "Bugs Bunny's Space Carrot" is available for all Sanctum Dwellers to download and enjoy!

I cannot stress enough how grateful I am to Jon for initially sharing this; and I'm overjoyed to know there are others out there like me who appreciate these stories. Please check out GenXGrownUp and give them your support... oh, and enjoy the Read-Along as well!

Internet Archive

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192kbps CBR

"THE CARE BEARS HELP OUT" - 1984 Kid Stuff Records Read-Along

Here's one of the sweetest, gentlest Read-Alongs in my entire collection: 1984's "The Care Bears Help Out".

As the title suggests, it stars those lovable, pudgy Care Bears as they help a little boy overcome his fears and anxieties that come with moving to a new house in a new neighborhood.

The narrator just drips sugar as she reads the story, taking her time and speaking thoughtfully and slowly to the listener. This record was 100% made for toddlers and very, very little kids.

It's adorable. Give it a listen!

Internet Archive

YouTube

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192kbps CBR

"POUND PUPPIES IN 'FUN FROM A TO Z'" - 1985 Peter Pan Read-Along

Here's a mid-1980's Read-Along from an IP you rarely hear about anymore: Tonka's "Pound Puppies" plush toy line!

I vividly remember listening to this story a lot as a kid, but going back to it, it's very poorly made. Not even the great Peter Fernandez's narration can save this from being a tedious tale.

I'd only suggest listening to this is you're nostalgic for the "Pound Puppies" toys, or more specifically, the Saturday Morning Cartoon of the same name. Still, a rarity nonetheless.

Internet Archive

YouTube

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192kbps CBR

"TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE COMPLETE ADVENTURE" 1989 Random House Cassette

In late 1988, Random House Publishing (in association with Archie Comics) published a special comic book that collected the original 3-issue "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures" miniseries into a single volume. Packaged with it was a 90-minute full-dramatized read-along cassette.

I listened to that cassette so much as a kid, I'm honestly surprised it survived and digitized so well!

I could go into more detail about the comic and/or cassette, but honestly they've already been extensively researched and talked about via more diehard TMNT fans:

https://tmntcomics.wordpress.com/category/random-house/ and
https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/The_Complete_Adventure! both have loads of info!

I recently came across a sealed copy of this (of which I will be cracking open to get the comic itself graded by CGC) and it inspired me to give my childhood copy the digital treatment. I hope you enjoy it!

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192kbps CBR

"SMURFING IN THE AIR" 1984 Kid Stuff Read-Along Record

Here's one of the hardest-to-find "Smurfs" Read-Along records, "Smurfing In The Air". It's one of the most famous short tales in the classic "Smurf" run of the 1980's, being reprinted in various formats such as in a paperback as well as a comic book.

This story features the same narrator and music as Kid Stuff's other "Smurf" Read-Along released in 1984, "Smurf's Daydream". If you enjoyed that story, you'll more than likely enjoy this one, as well.

YouTube

Internet Archive

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192kbps CBR

"A CHRISTMAS CAROL" - 1977 Peter Pan Records Read-Along

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! To celebrate this joyous day of the year, here's the 24,376th adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol"!

Produced in 1977 by Peter Pan Records, this is about as straightforward an adaptation as you can get. If you thought "Mickey's Christmas Carol" was incredible with how they crammed the entire story into a half-hour, you'll be blown away by how this record squeezes the tale into a whopping eleven minutes... and that includes Peter Pan Records' trademark looooong pauses between pages!

Once again the initial digitization was provided by the awesome folks over and Under Design.

Happy Holidays, and ENJOY!

YouTube

Internet Archive

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192kbps CBR

"RAGGEDY ANN & ANDY CHRISTMAS FUN BOOK" 1981 Kid Stuff Read-Along Record

Depending on how you feel about Raggedy Ann & Andy, you could either find this record endearing or annoying.

The 1981 Read-Along set has a wonderful premise: Ann & Andy give the listener ideas for Christmas gifts that don't cost much (or any) money to show your loved ones that you care about them; things such as offering to do someone's chores for a week, or instructions on making homemade trinkets using items already around your house.

The execution, however, has a lot to be desired. The production on this record was so poor. Clipping can't be avoided, and the choices for Ann & Andy's voice-over artists are abysmal. The music is just a handful of notes pounded out on a piano for the duration of the record. The entire album feels like it was recorded in a single take (which, who knows, could be the truth).

If you or your little ones can power though these 7 minutes and get some cute Holiday gift ideas out of them, my hat is off to you!

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192kbps CBR

"THE STORY OF JINGLE BELLS" - 1987 Disneyland Records Read-Along Cassette

How does nobody have this available anywhere by now? It's absolutely adorable!

"The Story of Jingle Bells" was released by Disneyland Records & Tapes in 1987, and is the story of a horse named - you guessed it - Jingle Bells. The story exists as a vehicle to incorporate the classic Holiday tune, and includes the full song at the end (the exact same version Disney would also release on their "Sing-Along" VHS and DVD series).

It's a warm and fuzzy tale, with soothing narration and no major action outside of a horse race in the final third of the book. Absolutely perfect to sip some hot chocolate to while hanging out in the the living room with the kids on Christmas Eve. Give it a listen!

YouTube

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192kbps CBR

"FRIENDLY THE SNOWMAN" 1977 /1981 Peter Pan Read-Along Record

In honor of this festive season, every Friday this month I'll be sharing something related to Christmas! I'm starting off with one of my favorite Holiday records, 1977's "Friendly The Snowman", released by Peter Pan Records (and re-released in 1981).

My childhood copy was in absolutely horrible condition, and over the years it seems nobody anywhere has been able to digitize a copy that didn't sound like it was horribly scratched or covered in Vaseline. So I decided to bite the bullet and purchase a factory-sealed copy to digitize... and what resulted from this endeavor is the cleanest rip of this story ever to hit the Internet!

This charming little story is about a little boy named Michael who can't quite get the hang of ice skating, feels embarrassed to be around his brothers, and decides to build a snowman... and, yep, you guessed it, he comes to life and helps Michael overcome his fears of failure. It's simple, but it's sweet, and it's a very enjoyable tale.

The only gripe I had with this record growing up was something that ended up being a staple of Peter Pan Read-Alongs around this time period: extremely long pauses between pages. I mean exceptionally long. It almost felt like you could go to the bathroom after hearing the "turn the page" tone. So to help those who may have shared my pain, I'm including a "shortened" version of this record alongside the traditional rip, where I cut down the pauses between pages. It actually removed a solid 30+ seconds from the final MP3!

So without further ado, to kick off the Christmas season, here's "Friendly The Snowman"! Enjoy!

YouTube

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Soundcloud

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320kbps CBR