Christmas Music Worth Listening To

[JohnS]

Another vote for Jimmy Ponder's Guitar Christmas. With Don Braden and John Hicks, can't be bad!

[Big Beat Steve]

Charles Brown with Johnny Moore's Three Blazers - Merry Christmas baby - Exclusive (rerecorded many times)

Lloyd Glenn - Sleigh ride - Exclusive

Lowell Fulson - Lonesome Christmas pts 1 & 2 - Swingtime

Charles Brown - Please come home for Christmas - King

Amos Milburn - Christmas comes but once a year - King

Charles Brown - It's Christmas time/Christmas finds me lonely wanting you - King

Then there is the "White Christmas" version by the RAVENS which makes a nice change compared to the usual suspects' warblings

And of course those Cool Yule/Hipsters Holiday compilations and the "Mr Santa's Boogie" LP on Savoy.

And finally, I admit I haven't head Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby" in a while either so it is not played out THAT much anymore for me.

Edited November 28, 2008 by Big Beat Steve

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

And there's

Gene Ammons & Tom Archia - Swingin' for Christmas - Aristocrat (Cadet)

Gene Ammons - The Christmas song (from "Night lights") - Prestige

Pharoah Sanders - The Christmas song (from "Prayer before dawn") - Theresa

And I've just ordered a copy of

Ramsey Lewis - More sounds of Christmas - Argo from Da Barstids - don't know if it'll get here by Christmas, though.

MG

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

And, how could we forget

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rfeI2ws51pk

MG

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Then there is the "White Christmas" version by the RAVENS which makes a nice change compared to the usual suspects' warblings

Haven't heard this one, but I'll always love the usual suspects' version.

And finally, I admit I haven't head Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby" in a while either so it is not played out THAT much anymore for me.

Try Etta Jones' version on "Christmas with Houston Person and friends".

MG

[Big Beat Steve]

And there's

Gene Ammons & Tom Archia - Swingin' for Christmas - Aristocrat (Cadet)

Was about to post this (one of my all-time Xmas musical musts) but refrained from it because the thread starter "didn't want no blowin' "

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

And there's

Gene Ammons & Tom Archia - Swingin' for Christmas - Aristocrat (Cadet)

Was about to post this (one of my all-time Xmas musical musts) but refrained from it because the thread starter "didn't want no blowin' "

MG

[Alexander]

My all time favorite Christmas album:

[BruceH]

Cool Yule - w. Louis Armstrong, Big John Greer, Leo Watson, Babs, Gonzales, et al.

Nice compilation!

One that I've been playing for ages is The Stash Christmas Album: 16 Blues and Jazz Classics. It includes Louis Armstrong, Lightning Hopkins, Paul Whiteman, Fats Waller, Lionel Hampton, etc.

The Phil Spector Christmas Album is of course a classic, as is A Charlie Brown Christmas.

I've also got a James Brown Christmas album called "Santa's Got A Brand New Bag."

And thanks to this board I got the Kenny Burrell one a couple of years ago.

[A Lark Ascending]

This thread reminded me to get the June Christy!

This record is not a Christmas disc but it does end with a gorgeous version of 'In the Bleak Midwinter' that emerges out of a mist of Impressionistic improvising:

My favourite Xmas song; and just vote top of the Xmas carol pops in a poll od Britain's choirmasters.

This 2CD is marvellous too, the perfect antidote to Cliff, Noddy and Roy:

1. Christ Was Born On Christmas Morn - Frankie ‘Halfpint’Jaxon

2. Christmas Morning Blues - Titus Turner

3. Hep Cat’s Holiday - The Cats & The Fiddle

4. Christmas Blues - Ralph Willis

5. Junior’s A Jap Girls Christmas For His Santa Claus - Willie Blackwell

6. Papa Ain’t No Santa Claus - Butterbeans & Susie

7. Trim Your Tree - Jimmy Butler

8. Christmas Blues - Gatemouth Moore

9. Bring That Cadillac Back - Henry Crafton w/ Doc Bagby Orchestra

10. Christmas Man Blues - Bertha ‘Chippie’ Hill

11. Hello Santa Claus - Cecil Grant

12. Christmas And No Santa Claus - Bumble Bee

13. Love For Christmas - Felix Gross

14. Happy New Year Darling - Lonnie Johnson

15. Christmas And New Year’s Blues - Tampa Red

16. Let’s Make Christmas Merry, Baby - Amos Milburn

17. Christmas Spirit - Julie Lee And Her Boy Friends

18. At The Christmas Ball - Bessie Smith

19. How Will You Spend Christmas - Rev. A.W. Nix

20. Xmas Blues - Harmon Ray

21. How I Hate To See Christmas Come Around - Jimmy Witherspoon

22. Christmas Date Boogie - Joe Turner with Pete Johnson & His Orchestra

23. Christmas Boogie - Sugar Chile Robinson

24. The Christmas Song - Leadbelly

25. Happy New Year - Lightnin’ Hopkins

26. The wrong Way To Celebrate Christmas - Rev. Edward Clayborn

27. Santa Claus - Bo Carter

28. Christmas Time - Black Ace

29. Happy New Year Blues - Mary Harris

30. Christmas Christmas Blues - Charlie Jordan

31. Happy New Year, Baby - Johnny Otis Orchestra

32. Faraway Christmas Blues - Little Esther & Mel Walkerwith Johnny Otis

33. Christmas Morning Blues - Sonny Boy Williamson 1

34. Christmas In Jail - Leroy Carr

35. Christmas Mornin’ Blues - Kansas City Kitty

36. Did You Spend Christmas Day In Jail ? - Rev. J.M. Gates

37. Death Might Be Your Santa Claus - Rev. J.M. Gates

38. Happy New Year Blues - Blind Lemon Jefferson

39. New Year’s Eve Blues - Smokey Hogg

40. Christmas Blues - Larry Darnell

41. When Was Jesus Born - Sons Of Heaven

42. I Want A Present For Christmas - J.B. Summers Doc. Bagby’s Orchestra

43. Boogie-Woogie Santa Claus - Sonny Parker with Lionel Hampton Orchestra

44. New Year’s Resolution Blues - Roy Milton Solid Senders

45. Sonny Boy’s Christmas Blues - Sonny Boy Williamson 2, His Harmonica & Houserockers

46. Let Me Hang My Stocking In Your Christmas Tree - Roosevelt Sykes

47. The Santa Claus Crave - Elzadie Robinson

48. Santa Claus - Walter Davis

49. Christmas Morning Blues - Victoria Spivey

50. Christmas Time Blues - Boll Weavil

51. Empty Stocking Blues - Floyd Dixon

52. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus - Mabel Scott with Les Welch & His Orchestra

[JohnS]

No one has mentioned Duke Pearson's Merry Ole Soul.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

No one has mentioned Duke Pearson's Merry Ole Soul.

Indeed, I've kept on remembering it when I've been nowhere near a computer. Then forgetting it again

MG

[save0904]

Bugge Wesseltoft - It's Snowing On My Piano

One of my all-time favorite solo piano and christmas records.

[WorldB3]

This thread reminded me to get the June Christy!

This record is not a Christmas disc but it does end with a gorgeous version of 'In the Bleak Midwinter' that emerges out of a mist of Impressionistic improvising:

My favourite Xmas song; and just vote top of the Xmas carol pops in a poll od Britain's choirmasters.

This 2CD is marvellous too, the perfect antidote to Cliff, Noddy and Roy:

1. Christ Was Born On Christmas Morn - Frankie ‘Halfpint’Jaxon

2. Christmas Morning Blues - Titus Turner

3. Hep Cat’s Holiday - The Cats & The Fiddle

4. Christmas Blues - Ralph Willis

5. Junior’s A Jap Girls Christmas For His Santa Claus - Willie Blackwell

6. Papa Ain’t No Santa Claus - Butterbeans & Susie

7. Trim Your Tree - Jimmy Butler

8. Christmas Blues - Gatemouth Moore

9. Bring That Cadillac Back - Henry Crafton w/ Doc Bagby Orchestra

10. Christmas Man Blues - Bertha ‘Chippie’ Hill

11. Hello Santa Claus - Cecil Grant

12. Christmas And No Santa Claus - Bumble Bee

13. Love For Christmas - Felix Gross

14. Happy New Year Darling - Lonnie Johnson

15. Christmas And New Year’s Blues - Tampa Red

16. Let’s Make Christmas Merry, Baby - Amos Milburn

17. Christmas Spirit - Julie Lee And Her Boy Friends

18. At The Christmas Ball - Bessie Smith

19. How Will You Spend Christmas - Rev. A.W. Nix

20. Xmas Blues - Harmon Ray

21. How I Hate To See Christmas Come Around - Jimmy Witherspoon

22. Christmas Date Boogie - Joe Turner with Pete Johnson & His Orchestra

23. Christmas Boogie - Sugar Chile Robinson

24. The Christmas Song - Leadbelly

25. Happy New Year - Lightnin’ Hopkins

26. The wrong Way To Celebrate Christmas - Rev. Edward Clayborn

27. Santa Claus - Bo Carter

28. Christmas Time - Black Ace

29. Happy New Year Blues - Mary Harris

30. Christmas Christmas Blues - Charlie Jordan

31. Happy New Year, Baby - Johnny Otis Orchestra

32. Faraway Christmas Blues - Little Esther & Mel Walkerwith Johnny Otis

33. Christmas Morning Blues - Sonny Boy Williamson 1

34. Christmas In Jail - Leroy Carr

35. Christmas Mornin’ Blues - Kansas City Kitty

36. Did You Spend Christmas Day In Jail ? - Rev. J.M. Gates

37. Death Might Be Your Santa Claus - Rev. J.M. Gates

38. Happy New Year Blues - Blind Lemon Jefferson

39. New Year’s Eve Blues - Smokey Hogg

40. Christmas Blues - Larry Darnell

41. When Was Jesus Born - Sons Of Heaven

42. I Want A Present For Christmas - J.B. Summers Doc. Bagby’s Orchestra

43. Boogie-Woogie Santa Claus - Sonny Parker with Lionel Hampton Orchestra

44. New Year’s Resolution Blues - Roy Milton Solid Senders

45. Sonny Boy’s Christmas Blues - Sonny Boy Williamson 2, His Harmonica & Houserockers

46. Let Me Hang My Stocking In Your Christmas Tree - Roosevelt Sykes

47. The Santa Claus Crave - Elzadie Robinson

48. Santa Claus - Walter Davis

49. Christmas Morning Blues - Victoria Spivey

50. Christmas Time Blues - Boll Weavil

51. Empty Stocking Blues - Floyd Dixon

52. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus - Mabel Scott with Les Welch & His Orchestra

Yes, that John Taylor is lovely. Another record this year for the short list of best of 08.

That document records comp looks great, I am going to head over to emusic and see if they still have it.

[BruceH]

My all time favorite Christmas album:

I'm really tempted to buy this.

[Brownian Motion]

Another vote for the John Fahey, and for the Oscar Peterson, which is surprisingly enjoyable.

Also, Marcus Roberts' "Prayer for Peace" is an unexpected pleasure. Roberts is not a favorite of mine, but he hits this solo piano holiday album out of the park.

I second Fahey and Roberts. I like this one-

and this one-

[A Lark Ascending]

Two that sound amazing if you can find a moment of peace in the still of late night/early morning:

If you like British slanted folky stuff (though there's some unusual Americana in here) the 4CD will keep you happy:

Tracks on the CDs MIDWINTER:

1. Gower Wassail (first part) - Phil Tanner

2. Stopping by Woods - Robert Frost

3. -into- A Roving on A Winter's Night - Steve Tilston & Maggie Boyle

4. The River - Grace Notes

5. Skater's Waltz - John Fahey

6. - including Excerpt by Arthur Ransome - Jim Lawton

7. & Excerpt from The Prelude - Jim Lawton

8. Christmas in now drawing near at hand - Lal Waterson

9. The Spirit of Christmas - Steve Ashley with Tinderbox

10. - from Hamlet Act 1 - Gary Watson

11. Christmas Is A-Comin' - Leadbelly

12. Xmas Island - Richard Farina, with Blind Boy Grunt & Eric von Schmidt

13. The Humstrum - David Strawbridge / Tim Laycock

14. Sound your instruments of Joy - Mabe Choir

15. Wassail - John Kirkpatrick et al

16. Snow Falls - Albion Band with John Tams

17. Wintergrace - Jean Ritchie

18. Cherry Tree Carol - Shirley Collins

19. Red & Green Christmas - Nadia Cattouse

20. Emmanuel - The Watersons

21. Song to Mithras - Peter Bellamy

22. The Meadowhall Carol - Coope Boyes & Simpson

23. God bless the birthday boy - The McCalmans

24. Moving on song - Ewan McColl

25. Christmas Eve can kill you - Helen Watson & Suzie Adams

26. Workhouse boy - The Halliard

27. Snow is on the ground - Jeff Warner

28. -into- Snow is on the ground (excerpt) - Eleazor Tillet

29. Christmas comes but once a year - Enoch Kent

30. Jack Frost & The Hooded Crow - Dave Pegg

31. - The night before Christmas - Mike Hockenhull

32. The Christmas Tree - Charlie Fretwell

COMFORT & JOY:

1. READING: Luke 2:1 - Nigel Schofield

2. into - While Shepherds - Scan Tester

3. Christmas must be tonight - Johnny Coppin

4. - On the morning of Christ's Nativity - Jim Lawton

5. Into -For unto us a child - John McCutcheon

6. Shepherds Arise - Copper Family

7. - READING: Luke 2:8 - Nigel Schofield

8. into -Sherburne - Sacred Harp Convention 1959

9. Hark Hark What News - Singers at The Black Bull

10. into - READING : Luke 2:7 - Nigel Schofield

11. Once in royal David's city - Martyn Wyndham Read

12. The Three Harks - Coope Boyes & Simpson

13. Wexford Carol - Maggie Boyle

14. I sing of a maiden - Shirley Collins

15. Lullay My Liking - Young Tradition

16. Silent Night - Chloe Coburn / Bernie Parry

17. The first Nowell - BaccaPella

18. - READING: Matthew 2:1 - Nigel Schofield

19. Into -Follow that star - St Agnes Fountain

20. Star in the east (Brightest and Best) - Debra Cowan / John Roberts

21. Astrologers' Journey - Johnny Coppin

22. - Journey of the Magi - T S Eliot

23. Follow the star - Maggie Boyle / Gary Boyle

24. Herod & The Cock - Nowell Sing We Clear

25. Into -READING: Matt 2:18 - Nigel Schofield

26. Coventry Carol - Joan Baez

27. The Carnal & The Crane - New Scorpion Band

28. Go tell it on the mountain - Mahalia Jackson

29. On Christmas Day - May Bradley

30. Jesu Joy of Man's desiring - Druidstone

PEACE & GOODWILL:

1. Fire & Wine - Steve Ashley

2. In the winter - Laura Hockenhull / John Dipper

3. Papa ain't no Santy Claus - Butterbeans & Susie

4. Winter flowers - Martha Tilston

5. Christmas in Prison - Fishken & Groves

6. Jogging along with my reindeer - John Kirkpatrick

7. Cardboard Christmas boxes - Alan Hull

8. Comfort & Joy - Clive Gregson

9. First Snow in Brooklyn - Jethro Tull

10. Lady Gay - Buell Kazee

11. Peace o'er the world (Bradda Anthem) - Coope, Boyes & Simpson?and- Freya, Fraser & Boyes

12. Oh What A Lovely War - Excerpt

13. Christmas 1914 - Mike Harding

14. Christmas isn't what it used to be - Tim Moon

15. Christmas - John Tams

16. Ghost of Christmas Past - Mandy Morton Band

17. Christmas morning - Loudon Wainwright III

18. Days of Holly & Mistletoe - Artisan

19. Huron Carol - Carol Duveneck

20. The King - Strawbs with Maddy Prior

21. The Christmas Hare - Muckram Wakes

22. Chariots - John Kirkpatrick

23. Remember Bethlehem - Kevin Loughran

THE OLD & THE NEW

1. Old Christmas / Shooting - Nowell Sing We Clear

2. Apple Tree Wassail - The Watersons

3. Gloucestershire Wassail - Albion Christmas Band

4. The Oxen - Maddy Prior

5. The Burning Babe - Mike Hockenhull

6. Bushes and Briars - Sandy Denny

7. Poor Ditching Boy - Richard Thompson

8. Reading Clock Almanac - Jim Lawton

9. Dunstan Lullaby - Coope Boyes & Simpson

10. Watts' Cradle Hymn - Maddy Prior

11. Boar's Head Carol - Teesside Fettlers

12. The Grinch - Boris Karloff

13. Hunting the Wren - Joe & Winifred Woods

14. Cutty Wren - Ian Campbell Folk Group

15. The Wren (The King) - Martin Carthy/ Dave Swarbrick

16. First Christmas away from Home - Artisan

17. Miner's dream of home - Fred Whiting

18. - excerpt - Symondsbury Mummers

19. Happy Christmas (War is Over) / We sing allelujah - Alan Rose et al

20. None but One - Jean Ritchie

21. Mari Llwyd - John Clough

22. Carol for the New Year - Nowell Sing We Clear

23. The Oxplough Song - Johnny Collins

24. Three Ships suite - Steve Tilston

25. Gower Wassail (reprise) - Phil Tanner

26. Midnight chimes

27. into: Bonus Track -

28. The January Man - Martin Carthy

And I love these three (though someone on this board or another once bought them on my recommendation and hated them!):

[A Lark Ascending]

I bet he loved that photo shot! Probably taken in early August!

[GA Russell]

Charles Brown Sings Christmas Songs (King).

(The cd issue was entitled Please Come Home For Christmas, and included four organ bonus tracks by Bill Doggett. The Charles Brown 45s mentioned by MG above are on this album. Alas, Amazon says that the cd is now out of print.)

[Hot Ptah]

And I love these three (though someone on this board or another once bought them on my recommendation and hated them!):

That was me. I bought the one in the middle. I found it totally beyond my listening experience, much as if I had purchased the music of a lost tribe in a deep tropical jungle. It wasn't so much that I hated it. I just found it incomprehensible.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I found it totally beyond my listening experience, much as if I had purchased the music of a lost tribe in a deep tropical jungle. It wasn't so much that I hated it. I just found it incomprehensible.

That's the way to listen! American music is like that to us Yurpeens, don't y'know?

MG

[A Lark Ascending]

That was me. I bought the one in the middle. I found it totally beyond my listening experience, much as if I had purchased the music of a lost tribe in a deep tropical jungle. It wasn't so much that I hated it. I just found it incomprehensible.

I thought it was you, Hot Ptah.

I know what you mean. Sometimes you hear music that has absolutely nothing you can get a grip on. Most criticism is written as if there's some ultimate hierarchy of importance/significance that we're trying to establish; yet, so often, it's the context from which you are listening that is most important. I think it's why so much jazz from Europe strikes Americans (and those who listen to mainly American music) as cold. The reference points are so different.

[A Lark Ascending]

This is fun - five different composers turning well known Xmas songs into orchestral confectionary. All very tuneful, major key (mainly) and full of Xmas cheer (no-one is suffering for their art here!). Sounds like movie music evoking Xmas or the sorts of thing the BBC uses when advertising its Xmas season.

[Brownian Motion]

I like this one. It's not Christmas music, but it is appropriate to the season.

[A Lark Ascending]

That was me. I bought the one in the middle. I found it totally beyond my listening experience, much as if I had purchased the music of a lost tribe in a deep tropical jungle. It wasn't so much that I hated it. I just found it incomprehensible.

Another thought - most Brits would find it equally incomprehensible. The cultural context of most English people owes more to American popular music - be it Bing, Frank, Elvis, Otis or Madonna - than to anything native.