Here is a Christmas celebration attended by some of the greatest names in Rhythm and Blues. From the late 40s to the early 50s the biggest names in Blues including B.B. King, Amos Milburn, Charles Brown, Jimmy Witherspoon, Lowell Fulton, Roy Milton. The Drifters, Joe Turner and Chuck Berry sing their Christmas favourites. Being the blues of course many of the songs emphasise how lonely Christmas can be without the one you love whilst others celebrate the holiday season with joyful songs and new versions of standards like, "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town". Many of these records constantly reappeared on the R&B sales charts every year. Some like Charles Brown's original million-selling "Merry Christmas Baby" were still selling well into the soul era. Depending on your mood you can preselect these titles, pour a large Brandy and wallow in the depressive elements of a lonely Christmas or roll back the carpet put another nickel in the jukebox and have a Rockin' Christmas celebration. Either way works.
A**K
CHRISTMAS CHEER FOR R&B FANATICS!
As a somewhat obsessed collector of seasonal songs by Crosby, Mathis, Andy Williams etc. of the Forties through to the Sixties, I found this nostalgic roundup of 40’s and 50’s holly decked rhythm and blues platters a challenge. Having said that, it made a change to hear two versions of WHITE CHRISTMAS by The Ravens and Drifters; RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER (The Cadillacs); SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN (The Harmony Grits), as well as Christmas offerings from such luminaries as Joe Turner (CHRISTMAS DATE BOOGIE), Chuck Berry (RUN RUDOLPH RUN), Charles Brown (MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY), Louis Jordan (MAY EVERY DAY BE CHRISTMAS) and B.B. King (CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION). Maybe such interpretations might prove to be too extreme for many but obviously these versions were part and parcel of the holiday season and it’s to Jasmine’s credit they are once again available in this twenty-seven package. Any indicated Billboard chart placing refers to the R&B Charts. Great sound remastering and appropriate notes make this an interesting package.
J**Y
Very pleased
As described
TrustPilot
1天前
2 周前
