A music blog
Advent calendar: December 22—Freddie King, “Christmas Tears”
Freddie King, “Christmas Tears” (1961)
Federal F 12439
The three Kings—B.B., Albert, and Freddie—all left their mark on the Christmas blues. B.B. had “Christmas Celebration” and Albert’s “Santa Claus Wants Some Loving” is fun, but Freddie’s 1961 single is the real thing.
Advent calendar: December 21—The Choir and Orchestra of Clare College, Cambridge, “In the Bleak Midwinter”
The Choir and Orchestra of Clare College, Cambridge, arranged and directed by John Rutter, “In the Bleak Midwinter”
from Christmas from Clare
Argo ZRG 914
Because today is midwinter. Because it is my favorite carol and is not yet overly familiar on this side of the Atlantic. Because John Rutter could make a jingle for potato chips seem ethereal.
Advent calendar: December 20—Kenny Burrell, “Mary’s Little Boy Chile”
Kenny Burrell, “Mary’s Little Boy Chile” (1966)
from Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas
Cadet LP-779
I knew only Harry Belafonte’s version until I came across Burrell’s light and Latin cover of this song. Based on these two versions, you’d think it was a Caribbean folk song, but it was actually written by Jester Hairston, an actor, songwriter, and choral director who had roles in a Tarzan movie, the Amos ’n’ Andy radio and television series, and Being John Malkovich (!), conducted choral groups in Hollywood, and wrote hundreds of spirituals.
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Advent calendar: December 19—Peggy Lee, “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
Peggy Lee, “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” (1960)
from Christmas Carousel
Capitol T 1423
Really a children’s Christmas album, with kids chorus and five family-focused songs by Peg herself (just a few years after she wrote the score for Lady and the Tramp) with some classics thrown in for good measure. As ever with Lee, the results are at the highest level—and Billy May’s arrangements prove once again he could do so much more write hot swingers—but the mixture of old and new, young and old may explain why it hasn’t become a holiday perennial.
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Advent calendar: December 18—James Brown, “Santa Claus Is Definitely Here to Stay”
James Brown, “Santa Claus Is Definitely Here to Stay” (1970)
King 45-6340
With that title, you’d think this would be an upbeat song, but no: James lets himself, the song, and his audience off the hook for any forced cheer when he sings in the second line, “Santa Claus is definitely here to stay—in the mind.” That’s a big loophole, one that’s necessary for a song whose true refrain is a more resigned than pessimistic “Ain’t no use … ain’t no use.”
I don’t know how long Brown used the little “Sound of Success” logo on his records, but if this downbeat number is any indication, I doubt it lasted through 1971.
And then there are the morsels of Brownian wisdom that passeth mortal understanding: “Just put one in other hand and grab the other one and go on your driving trip.” Indeed, I think I will.
