Various Artists – Blues, Blues Christmas Vol. 1 – 1925 – 1955 (2005)

The idea of Christmas themed blues and gospel numbers stretches back to the very dawn of the recorded genres. “Hooray for Christmas” exclaims Bessie Smith to kick off her soon to be classic “At The Christmas Ball”, which inaugurated the Christmas blues tradition when it was recorded in November 1925 for Columbia. A year later, circa December 1926, the gospel Christmas tradition was launched when the Elkins-Payne Jubilee Singers recorded “Silent Night, Holy Night” for Paramount Records. After these recordings it was off to the races with numerous Christmas blues numbers recorded by singers of all stripes, a pace that continued as blues evolved into R&B and then rock and roll. For some reason there’s far fewer gospel Christmas songs although there were plenty of Christmas sermons in the 1920’s and 1930’s when recorded sermons rivalled blues in popularity among black audiences.

Going hand in hand with Christmas is quite a number of New Year’s songs, a good vehicle for juxtaposing the problems of the past year with the glimmer of hope that the upcoming year will bring better fortune. Whether these artists sung these numbers as part of their regular repertoire is unclear but it’s almost certainly the case that many of these songs were recorded at the prompting of the record companies. Like any business they were always looking for a new angle or gimmick to sell records and advertised these boldly, often with full-page ads, in black newspapers like the Chicago Defender.

Perhaps you think this is a bit cynical but then you probably still believe in Santa Clause and good will towards men! Well, sit back, tip a glass of holiday cheer and enjoy our survey of yuletide classics spanning the 1920’s through the 1950’s, a simpler, more wholesome time – right! (by thedocumentrecordsstore.com)

Christmas and the blues might seem at first like a strange combination, given that the music of the holiday season is usually joyful, hopeful, and bright, but no other time of the year is so good at showing you what you don’t have, and what you can’t get, and if you have the blues at Christmas, well, it’s going to be a pretty heavy dose. This generous two-disc set from Document Records features 52 tracks of vintage African-American Christmas-themed blues and gospel pieces (with a couple of street sermons thrown in) recorded between 1925 and 1955, ranging from down-and-out laments and jailhouse moans to surprising (and occasionally risqué) requests for what Santa can bring down the chimney. Highlights on the first disc include the opening track, the joyous “Christ Was Born on Christmas Morn,” recorded in 1925 by comedian and female impersonator Frankie “Half Pint” Jaxon; Harry Crafton’s “Bring That Cadillac Back” (a Cadillac might not be the best gift if your girlfriend likes to ramble) from 1947; Tampa Red’s amazing, ringing slide guitar tone on “Christmas and New Year’s Blues” from 1936; and the bizarre, disturbing field recording of “Junior’s a Jap Girl’s Christmas for His Santa Claus,” sung by Willie Blackwell for Alan Lomax in Arkansas in 1942. Other high points include the charming “Christmas Boogie,” recorded in 1950 by piano prodigy (he was only ten years old when this recording was made) Frankie “Sugar Chile” Robinson and the intense, bottled-up street-corner sermon “The Wrong Way to Celebrate Xmas,” recorded by Rev. Edward Clayborn in 1928. The second disc yields even more holiday gems, including the bottleneck guitar attack of Black Ace (Babe Karo Lemon Turner) on 1937’s “Christmas Time Blues (Beggin’ Santa Claus)”; Leroy Carr’s stark and brilliant “Christmas in Jail” from 1929; a breezy, bouncing “When Jesus Was Born” by gospel harmony quartet the Sons of Heaven (who were really the Selah Jubilee Singers doing a little moonlighting — which they did often, also recording as the Jubilators, the Southern Harmonaires, and the Larks) from 1948; and the sparse, stunning “Christmas Time Blues” by the mysterious Boll Weavil (Willie McNeil), also from 1948. A marvelous collection, Blues, Blues Christmas is a refreshing addition to the more standard holiday material that prevails during the season. (by Steve Leggett)

Personnel:
see booklet

Tracklist:
CD 1:
01. Frankie ‘Half-Pint’ Jaxon: Christ Was Born On Christmas Morn 3.25
02. Titus Turner: Christmas Morning Blues 2.31
03. The Cats & The Fiddle: Hep Cat’s Holiday 2.31
04. Ralph Willis: Christmas Blues 2.36
05. Willie Blackwell: Junior’s A Jap Girl’s Christmas For His Santa Claus 4.55
06. Butterbeans & Susie: Papa Ain’t No Santa Claus (And Mama Ain’t No Christmas Tree) 3.16
07. Jimmy Butler: Trim Your Tree 1.54
08. Gatemouth Moore: Christmas Blues 2.54
09. Harry Crafton with Doc Bagby Orchestra: Bring That Cadillac Back 2.38
10. Bertha ‘Chippie’ Hill: Christmas Man Blues 2.57
11. Cecil Gant: Hello Santa Claus 2.52
12. Bumble Bee Slim: Christmas And No Santa Claus 3.04
13. Felix Gross: Love For Christmas 2.35
14. Lonnie Johnson: Happy New Year Darling 2.36
15. Tampa Red: Christmas & New Year’s Blues 3.22
16. Amos Milburn: Let’s Make Christmas Merry, Baby 2.52
17. Julie Lee & Her Boyfriends: Christmas Spirit 2.45
18. Bessie Smith: At The Christmas Ball 3.23
19. Rev. A. W. Nix: How Will You Spend Christmas 3.20
20. Harmon Ray: Xmas Blues 2.40
21. Jimmy Witherspoon: How I Hate To See Xmas Come Around 3.01
22. Joe Turner With Pete Johnson & His Orchestra: Christmas Date Boogie 2.32
23. Sugar Chile Robinson: Christmas Boogie 2.12
24. Leadbelly: The Christmas Song 2.41
25. Lighnin’ Hopkins: Happy New Year 3.12
26. Rev. Edward Clayborn: The Wrong Way To Celebrate Xmas 2.25

CD 2:
01. Bo Carter: Santa Claus 3.12
02. Black Ace: Christmas Time Blues (Beggin’ Santa Claus) 2,.44
03. Mary Harris: Happy New Year Blues 3.08
04. Charlie Jordan: Christmas Christmas Blues 3.23
05. Johnny Otis Orchestra: Happy New Year, Baby 2.43
06. Little Esther & Mel Walker With Johnny Otis: Faraway Christmas Blues 3.18
07. Sonny Boy Williamson I: Christmas Morning Blues 3.22
08. Leroy Carr: Christmas In Jail 3.10
09. Kansas City Kitty: Christmas Mornin’ Blues 3.08
10. Rev. J.M. Gates: Did You Spend Christmas Day In Jail 2.52
11. Rev. J.M. Gates: Death Might Be Your Santa Claus 2.59
12. Blind Lemon Jefferson: Happy New Year Blues 2.53
13. Smokey Hogg: New Year’s Eve Blues 2.40
14. Larry Darnell: Christmas Blues 2.52
15. Sons Of Heaven: When Was Jesus Born 2.39
16. J.B. Summers With Doc Bagby’s Orchestra: I Want A Present For Christmas 2.28
17. Sonny Parker With Lionel Hampton Orchestra: Boogie Woogie Santa Claus 2.41
18. Roy Milton Solid Serenaders: New Year’s Resolution Blues 2.27
19. Sonny Boy Williamson II & His Harmonica & Houserockers: Sonny Boy’s Christmas Blues 2.32
20. Roosevelt Sykes: Let Me Hang My Stockings In Your Christmas Tree 2.53
21. Elzadie Robinson: The Santa Claus Crave 3.18
22. Walter Davis: Santa Claus 3.00
23. Victoria Spivey: Christmas Morning Blues 3.24
24. Boll Weevil: Christmas Time Blues 3.09
25. Floyd Dixon: Empty Stocking Blues 3.01
26. Mabel Scott With Les Welch & His Orchestra: Boogie Woogie Santa Claus 2.13

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Eric Burdon & Jimmy Witherspoon – Guilty! (1971)

Guilty! (called Black & White Blues in re-releases) is a 1971 album by Eric Burdon and Jimmy Witherspoon. It was the first release by Burdon after he left his band War.

In September 1970, Jimi Hendrix died after a jam session with Eric Burdon & War at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London. After that, Burdon often broke down on stage. On 5 February 1971 he finally left the band in the middle of their European tour, allegedly due to exhaustion. After returning home and taking time off, the bulk of the album was recorded in summer with Witherspoon. The backing band, called Tovarish, consisted mainly of members from War.

“Going Down Slow” was recorded live in May 1971 in the San Quentin State Prison, with backing from Ike White and the San Quentin Prison Band. “Home Dream” was taken from Eric Burdon & War’s back catalog; the song’s title refers to the John Phillips Studios in Los Angeles. “Soledad” was released as a single.

The album was re-released as Black & White Blues in 1976. Remastered CD issues, also with the alternate album title, were made in 1995 by MCA and in 2003 by BMG.

The Italian e-zine Viceversa ranked Guilty! number 97 on their top 100 albums of all

This album originally came out in 1971 on Far Out Productions, an MGM label. It was titled “Guilty”. Eric Burdon of “The Animals” fame teamed up with the blues legend Jimmy Witherspoon. When I first heard this in 1971 I was blown away, and it’s still knocking me out. My favorite song is “Have Mercy Judge”. I was probably under the influence at the time but damn was that song powerful. Well I haven’t been under the influence since that time period and you know what? That song still kicks my …. The price of the cd is worth it for just that one song, but of course there is so much good music here. The band is good and the two blues men compliment each other nicely on vocals. If you like Eric, like I like Eric, you’ll say, oh my god, Have Mercy on me Eric I can’t stand it if it gets any better. Buy this cd and you’ll be driving to work in the morning singing, “Have mercy, I’m in a world of trouble, being held by the Highway Patrol”. (by elhud)

Recorded at Wally Heider’s and MGM studios in Hollywood, California through July 1971

Personnel:
Papa Dee Allen (congas)
Harold Brown (drums)
Eric Burdon (vocals)
B. B. Dickerson (bass)
Lonnie Jordan (keyboards)
Kim Kesterson (bass)
Bob Mercereau (harmonica)
Charles Miller (saxophone)
Lee Oskar (harmonica)
Terry Ryan (keyboards)
George Suranovich (drums)
Howard Scott (guitar)
John Sterling (guitar)
Jimmy Witherspoon (vocals)
+
Ike White and the San Quentin Prison Band (on 05.)

Tracklist:
01. I’ve Been Driftin’ / Once Upon A Time (Witherspoon/Burdon) 3.47
02. Steam Roller (Taylor) 4.23
03. The Laws Must Change (Mayall) 4.55
04. Have Mercy Judge (Berry) 3.47
05. Going Down Slow (Oden) 6.25
06. Soledad (Burdon/Sterling) 5.07
07. Home Dream (Burdon) 7.18
08. Headin’ For Home (Burdon/Kesterson/Sterling) 4.33
09. The Time Has Come (Witherspoon/Edwards) 5.55

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Alternate front + back cover