Christmas music

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#themusicologist [787] the 5 Keys – It’s Christmas time

the majestic 5 Keys, one of the GREAT vocal groups, dropping christmas bombs.

Con-Zu….I LOVE you, eternally….ALWAYS in my heart, soul and on my mind.xx

musicology #0637

Frank Cosmo – Merry Christmas

themusicologist has been on, (what we call here on the streets of London), a ‘long ting’ these last few weeks refining the project but I’m back in the saddle for a christmas Jamboree..

(keep it locked as I’m planning on delivering a little musicologistChristmasSpecial sometime between now and Christmas Day !!)

regular musicologists will be aware that it’s traditional for me to throw down a christmas selection so keeping that tradition alive hold this piece of 1963 Christmas Ska courtesy of Frank Cosmo and the Beverley’s All Stars featuring what sounds like Charlie Organnaire blowing on the harmonica…

musicology #0613

ChristmasComing #6

Gatemouth Moore – Christmas Blues

Today’s cut is courtesy of little known prewar blues icon, powerhouse singer and influential composer Arnold Dwight “Gatemouth” Moore, who turned his back on the world of ‘popular’ music in the late 40’s to serve as a minister, (preceeding the host of Gospel singers who went the ‘other way’ in the years that followed). Superb downtempo festive cut from the man whose nom de plume was a reference to the strength of his voice.

musicology #0612

ChristmasComing #5

The Cats & The Fiddle – Hep Cats Holiday

sticking with the pre war selection hold this piece from early vocal group the Cats & The Fiddle…

musicology #0611

ChristmasComing #4

Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters – Jingle Bells

This year I’m keeping a bit quiet on the verbosity and leaving it to the music to do the talking I am VERY busy at the moment and, believe it or not, the musicologist takes up a LOT of my time. Not that I’m complaining as sharing the music that I, genuinely, love is a pleasure for me so I have decided that rather than not lay a cut down due to my responsibilities and commitments to the project, my focus should, at least, be delivering on the music front which, after all, is where the real value is and what satisfies my need, want and desire to communicate and connect by utilising the universal language.

Phew..after all that…today’s cut is courtesy of musicologys answer to Father Christmas none other than Bing Crosby backed in great style by the Andrews Sisters..(yet another one of themusicologists most prized slices of the christmas pie..

musicology #0609

ChristmasComing #2

(Horace Andy – Christmas Time)

Round two of the Christmas selection…..Horace Hinds step up to the M.I.C and serve us up a slice of the Christmas pie..

musicology #453

TheManWithTheBag #3

(Butterbeans & Susie – Papa Ain’t No Santa Claus)

Top ranking slice of the Christmas pie courtesy of three swingin’ Cats, Butterbeans & Susie, (Jodie Edwards and Susie Hawthorne), a long standing and much loved Vaudeville duo who teamed up in 1916 !! and Jazz pianist Eddie Heywood….who went on to play with such luminaries as Billie Holiday, Benny ‘King’ Carter and Coleman Hawkins as wel as performing in his own right. Recorded in New York City, (ahhh…New York…what memories), on Wednesday August 13th 1930 and released on an OKeh 78.

musicology #272

sleighbellsring #20

(Leadbelly – On A Christmas Day)

Christmas day cut from Undisputed King of the 12 String guitar, social commentator and bluesman supreme Huddie Ledbetter A.K.A  ‘Leadbelly’….another cat, (along with the Mighty Sparrow), we will be hearing more from in 2009 on themusicologist.

musicology #270

sleighbellsring #18

(Loius Armstrong – Zat You Santa Claus)

Time for a slice from the cat who almost single handedly changed the universal language’s direction adding a new vocabulary with which to connect and communicate. hugely influential for the music that we know and love today..words like Genius, Legend and Virtuoso don’t do the man justice but they’re all we have.

Gifts I’m preparin’
For some Christmas sharin’
But I pause because
Hangin’ my stockin’
I can hear a knockin’
‘Zat you, Santa Claus

Sure is dark out
Not the slighest spark out
Pardon my clackin’ jaws
Uh, who there, Who is it
Uh, stoppin’ for a visit
‘Zat you, Santa Claus

Are you bringin’ a present for me
Something pleasantly pleasant for me
That’s what I’ve been waitin’ for
Would you mind slippin’ it under the door

Four winds are howlin’
Or maybe that be growlin’
My legs feel like straws
Oh my, my, me, my
Kindly would you reply
‘Zat you, Santa Claus
Yeah

Oh hangin’ my stockin’
I can hear a knockin’
‘Zat you, Santa Claus

Yeah, say now
Hey there, who is it
Stoppin’ for a visit
‘Zat you, Santa Claus

Whoa there Santa you gave me a scare
Now stop teasin’ ’cause I know you’re there
We don’t believe in no goblins today
But I can’t explain why I’m shakin’ this way

Well I see old Santa in the keyhole
I’ll give to the cause
One peek and I’ll try there
Uh-oh there’s an eye there
‘Zat you, Santa Claus

Please, please
I pity my knees
Say that’s you Santa Claus
That’s him alright

musicology #269

sleighbellsring #17

(Destiny’s Child – Carol Of The Bells)

Quality.

musicology #268

sleighbellsring #16

(Johnny Moore’s Blazers – Christmas Eve Baby)

Woke up this morning with the smell, sound and sight of Christmas in my nose, ears and eyes…what JOY. So with that in mind today I am going to post as many cuts as I can manage in between preparing for Santa’s visit tonight.

First up is a cut from Johnny Moore’s Blazers. Not sure of the exact year or even whether it’s Charles Brown on vocal duties what I am sure of however is it’s quality…..

musicology #267

sleighbellsring #15

(Owen Gray – Collins Greetings)

Was just about to lay down a doo wop slice of the christmas pie until this one floated out of the speakers…

Instinctively I would say it’s a Duke Reid piece of Rocksteady, I have it by someone else.., (I think it’s a cut of ‘People Get Ready’ by Alton Ellis ), but as it’s Owen Gray it could also be a Coxsone production. Whoever produced it…well done and thank you.

musicology #266

sleighbellsring #14

(James Brown – Santa Claus Is Definately Here To Stay)

Only TWO more, (full), days to go, ONE if, like me, you consider Christmas Eve to be the day of reckoning …..so hang on to your hats as we slide into the home straight with the next three cuts.

First up is James Brown delivering his and Songwriter/Arranger/all round musicologist..Nat Jones’ 1970 message of Christmas. One of my favourite slices of the Christmas pie..the combination of music, lyrics and production soothe like only sweet music can.

Had to transcribe the lyrics on this one…Quality…

“Aint no use in saying there ain’t no Santa Claus,
’cause Santa Claus is definately here to stay…in the mind,
ain’t no use in saying there ain’t no money in the bank for toys,
’cause it was put up a long time ago for a rainy day,

ain’t no use in saying you don’t love all your brats,
cause I’m, watching you as you hustle tham off to play,
keep the family strong with a little faith, love and hope,
and you can always get along,

ain’t no use, ohhhh now, in crying about spilt milk in the past,
because all the cats had a feast,
aint no use in worrying about who’s doing you wrong,
just leave them there and go away in peace,

ain’t no use in saying what you gonna do and what you ain’t gonna do,
because with your power you doing your best,
so release yourself from all that strain,
and take that money out the bank,
and just give your, give yourself a rest,
take some of that money in the bank and give yourself a play?
cause Santa Claus is definately here to stay,

ain’t no use, ain’t no use, hehehehe, ain’t no use,
ain’t no use in sayin’ “ahh I would like to get rid of them all”,
cause you know you’re only fooling yourself,
so grab one hand on the wheel and the other around your kids,
and go on and laugh yourself to death,

aint no use in saying “I wouldnt, I wouldn’t give a nickel for them all”,
when you know you wouldnt take nuthin’ for either one,
so gone on tell the truth ’cause if you don’t you a lying son of a gun,
’cause you wouldnt take nuthin’ for them all,

aint no use, ohhh now, haha,
you know I probably wont be there this christmas,
but if I do I still want to say merry christmas to you and especially you,

I wanna say merry christmas to all the people who can’t find themself,
lets try to get together live in peace love one another,
and treat each and man like he’s your brother
with a little love, and kindness………

musicology #265

sleighbellsring #13

(Horace Andy – Christmas Time)

Ranking slice of the Christmas pie from the ‘Golden Age’ of Studio 1 featuring the vocal talents of none other than Horace Andy.

musicology #264

sleighbellsring #12

(The 5 Keys – It’s Christmas Time)

Ok…it’s not a ‘classic’ I’ll grant you that but Jerry Butler takes some following… so with that in mind, hold this 1951 cut on the Aladdin label from one of the greatest vocal groups to ever grace the M.I.C.

Rudy West singing lead on this one backed up by Maryland Pierce (second tenor), Ripley Ingram (octave tenor), Dickie Smith (baritone/second tenor), Bernie West (bass), and guitarist Joe Jones.

musicology #263

sleighbellsring #11

(Jerry Butler – O Holy Night)

A Christmas classic from the ‘Ice Man’. 1960 cut on the Vee Jay label. What a voice…..

musicology #257

sleighbellsring #5

(Riff Ruffin – Xmas Baby)

Apologies for not posting up yesterday’s cut until this morning. Thought I had until one o’ youse  ‘tipped me the wink’.

Today’s 1956 cut is one from the Rhythm & Blues canon…ranking slice. A must for all the Christmas HEP cats out there around the globe.