Customer Reviews

Blues Blues Christmas 2 1926-1958

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Volume Two continues the 'mostly' Blues songs that compiled Volume One. This set includes Blind Lemon Jefferson 'Christmas Eve Blues', Lightin' Hopkins 'Merry Christmas', Sr. Rosetta Tharpe 'Silent Night' and 'When They Ring the Golden Bell', Blind Blake 'Lonesome Christmas Blues', and Chuck Berry 'Run Rudolph Run' and 'Merry Christmas Baby'. Lesser known real Blues singers include Jesse Thomas 'Christmas Celebration', Lil Son Jackson 'New Years Re[v]olution', Smokey Hogg 'My Christmas Baby', Little Willie Littefield 'Merry Xmas'. Nice surprises include Heavenly Gospel Singers 'When Was Jesus Born', Moonglows 'Hey Santa Claus', Alphabetical Four 'Go Where I Send Thee', and Orioles 'What Are You Doing New Years Eve'. It seems nearly all of the songs will probably be unfamiliar, despite their common sounding titles, but more familiar compared to Volume One. Only two of the forty-four songs are instrumentals. Liner notes list a brief background to most of the artists. Primarily, its shortcomings are the couple of sermons--literally a preacher preaching. Overall, a good mix of (despite many none Blues) songs.

Since neither the blurb above, nor the other reviews show the contents of this excellent 2-disc companion set to Volume 1, I have included them for your information:

Disc 1: 1. (Christmas) Sleigh Ride - Loyd Glenn; 2. Christmas Eve Blues - Blind Lemon Jefferson; 3. When Was Jesus Born? - The Heavenly Gospel Singers; 4. Santa Claus Boogie - The Voices; 5. Merry Christmas - Lightnin' Hopkins; 6. Hey Santa Claus - The MoonGlows; 7. Lonesome Christmas (Part 1) - Lowell Fulson; 8. Lonesome Christmas Blues - Blind Blake; 9. Gonna Have A Merry Xmas - The Nic Nacs with Mickey Champion; 10. Christmas Morn' - Rev. Charles Watkins; 11. Xmas Celebration - Jesse "Babyface" Thomas; 12. Jingle Bells - Leo Watson; 13. It's Christmas Time Again - cecil Gant; 14. I'll Be Home For Christmas - The Pilgrim Travellers; 15. Christmas - What Does It Mean To You? - Rev. Emmett Dickinson;16. There Was No Room At The Hotel - The Lucy Smith Jubilee Singers; 17. Silent Night, Holy Night - Sister Rosetta Tharpe; 18. New Year's Resolution - Lil' Son Jackson; 19. Christmas Tree Blues - Charley Jordan & Verdi Lee; 20. Merry Christmas Baby - Lional Hampton & His Orchestra; 21. It's Christmas Time - Bubber Johnson; 22. Run, Rudolph, Run - Chuck Berry;

Disc 2: 1. God Gave Us Christmas - Oscar McLollie & His Honey Jumpers; 2. Christmas Party Shuffle - Lowell Fulson; 3. Winter Time Blues - Lester Williams; 4. Mr. Santa Boogie - The Marshall Brothers; 5. Sweet Little Jesus Boy - Wings Over Jordan; 6. Swingin Them Jingle Bells - Fats Waller; 7. Seeking For Me - The Lucy Smith Jubilee Singers; 8. My Christmas Baby - Smokey (Andrew) Hogg; 9. Christmas Blues - Gatemouth Moore; 10. Oh Holy Night - The Orioles; 11. Go Where I Send Thee - The Alphabetical Four; 12. No Christmas Blues - Mary Harris; 13. Merry Xmas - Little Willie Littlefield; 14. Begin A New Life On Christmas Day - Part 1 - Rev. A. W. Nix; 15. Christmas Time Blues - Casey Bill Weldon; 16. Merry Christmas Baby - Johnny Moore's Three Blazers; 17. When They Ring The Golden Bell - Sister Rosetta Tharpe; 18. Silent Night, Holy Night - The Elkins-Payne Jubilee Singers; 19. Christmas Time Blues - Guitar Slim & Jelly Belly; 20. Santa Claus Baby - The Voices; 21. Merry Christmas Baby - Chuck Berry; 22. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - The Orioles

The set is accompanied by a full-colour multi-page booklet with informative liner notes by Blues historian Jeff Harris, as well as a full discography of the contents. As with those in Volume 1, many of the artists here are members of The Blues Hall Of Fame and some, like Chuck Berry, are also in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Also similar to Volume 1, several of the selections were hit singles.

This is an amazing sequel to Volume 1 which came out a couple of years ago. The people at Document Records have really done their homework and come up with a double disc of exceptional rarities from the roaring Twenties through the fabulous Fifties. Hardcore blues masters like Blind Blake and Gatemouth Moore alongside rockers Chuck Berry and Lowell Fulson. And some good old fashioned from the pulpit recorded preaching, just in case you would even dream about sinning at this special time of year. 44 ghosts from Christmas past will take you back and set you right.