(blues) VA - Gin For Christmas - Promo EP - 2016, [Document Records], MP3, 256 kbps

Of all the religious and traditional special occasions to be celebrated each year, none could have been more represented on record than Christmas; from cylinders made towards the end of the 19th century, to the downloads of the 21st. Furthermore, the thousands of recordings made and the millions of records sold, span an impressively wide range of genres; from Gospel to Blues, from Jazz to Calypso, from Old Time Country to Rockabilly, from Classical to Rock and more in-between. Some are enough to make Santa and Rudolph want to forget the whole thing and turn back to the relative peace and tranquillity of the North Pole. Some are works of sheer brilliance, hitting the festive spot, whether they be spiritual, romantic or just the thing to make a party swing.
On October 30, 1889 banjoist Will Lyle made history by recording "Jingle Bells" - the very first Christmas record. Although no known copies of this recording survive, one of the earliest vocal examples of "Jingle Bells" does survive on an Edison brown wax cylinder entitled, "The Sleigh Ride Party."
Here, then, is a tiny, micro-pinch from the huge pile of Christmas recordings made over the last one hundred and twenty seven years. It is a Christmas stocking filler for you, from Document and a "thank you" for subscribing to and supporting Document Records and its work. With a catalogue of over one thousand titles and over twenty-five thousand recordings of Blues, Gospel, Jazz, Old-Timey and much more, it would be easy to think that our work is done but far from it, there is so much more to do. As Santa would tell you, there are plenty more sacks to fill.
Lionel Hampton is better known for his cool, jazz playing on vibes but here he shows some of his mastery of the drum kit with Gin For Christmas. This real treat also showcases one of Ziggy Elman's most breath-taking performances as a trumpet player. Elman had played as a key section man and soloist for Benny Goodman and later worked with Joe Venuti, Tommy Dorsey, Dinah Shore and Bing Crosby, among others but this is arguably one of his best performances on record.
For any blues fan Lonnie Johnson needs little if any introduction. He made his first recordings in 1925 and subsequently recorded as a solo artist and with many of the great names in blues and jazz, including Victoria Spivey, Eddie Lang and Joe "King" Oliver.
Lonnie had visited the themes of Christmas and New Year before the 1960 recording, presented here. Most notably were; the classic 'Christmas Blues', which he recorded in 1927 with Victoria Spivey and his solo performance of Happy New Year Darling, recorded in 1947 (Both recordings appear on Document DOCD-32-20-09 'Blues, Blues Christmas Vol 1.,) On this occasion, Lonnie returns to his New Year theme, which he first recorded fourteen years later.
As Christmas and New Year recordings gained in popularity and in some cases, significant commercial success, vocal groups of the 1950's and early '60s were among many who tried their luck with their festive offerings. The Brooklyn based Shells, were such a group. Formed in 1957 The Shells presented typical New York doo-wop stylings, with the use of a prominent bass, piercing falsetto, and strong vocal riffing in support of an often romantic lead. No sooner had the group formed than they began to record for the small and obscure Johnson Records label. Although record sales appear to have been encouraging enough for the group to continue to record throughout the remainder of the 1950s, it wasn't until 1960 that The Shells received their first taste of success. There recording of "Baby Oh Baby" was given a rare second chance when record collector archivists / reissue producers Donn Fileti and Wayne Stierle reissued the track resulting in a pop chart position at number 21. With this nominal success they continued to record into the 1960s with (It's A) Happy New Year being among the best of their releases.
It is with a severe sense of deja vu that the Candy Mountain Boys, led by Robert White, report that It's 'A Hillbilly Christmas (Every Saturday), though where this takes place remains a mystery. Robert White was born in Alabama, though he grew up on a farm between Memphis and Chattanooga, Tenn. Later, he moved Detroit in the pursuit of work and it was here, in 1956, that he formed his band the Candy Mountain Boys. Their first paying gig was at the grand opening of a service station. They played on the roof, proving that the Beatles were not the first in their choice of unique venues. Three years later they recorded for the Detroit based record company, H-Q Records with the first recording being the sparkling and amusing 'Hillbilly Christmas'.
Cheers,
Document Records.
Copyright: 2016 Document Records.