From blues to gospel, from field recordings to street sermons, here are 52 vintage snapshots of an African-American Christmas. These range from deeply sorrowful to lighthearted to just plain bizarre: Christmas Blues Gatemouth Moore; Hello Santa Claus Cecil Gant; Happy New Year Darling Lonnie Johnson; Christmas & New Year's Blues Tampa Red; at the Christmas Ball Bessie Smith; the Christmas Song Leadbelly; Happy New Year Lightnin' Hopkins, plus Amos Milburn, Little Esther, Leroy Carr and more!
26 Wrong Way to Celebrate Xmas - Reverend Edward w. Clayborn
- Disc 2 -
1 Santa Claus - Bo Carter
2 Christmas Time Blues (Beggin' Santa Claus) - Black Ace
3 Happy New Year Blues - Mary Harris
4 Christmas Christmas Blues - Charlie Jordan
5 Happy New Year, Baby - Johnny Otis Orchestra
6 Faraway Christmas Blues - Little Esther, Johnny Otis, Mel Walker
7 Christmas Morning Blues - Sonny Boy Williamson [II]
8 Christmas in Jail - Leroy Carr
9 Christmas Mornin' Blues - Kansas City Kitty & Georgia Tom
10 Did You Spend Christmas Day in Jail? - Reverend J.M. Gates
11 Death Might Be Your Santa Claus - Reverend J.M. Gates
12 Happy New Year Blues - Blind Lemon Jefferson
13 New Year's Eve Blues - Smokey Hogg
14 Christmas Blues - Larry Darnell
15 When Was Jesus Born - the Sons of Heaven
16 I Want a Present for Christmas - Doc Bagby, J.B. Summers
17 Boogie Woogie Santa Claus - Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra, Sonny Parker
18 New Year's Resolution Blues - Roy Milton & His Solid Senders
19 Sonny Boy's Christmas Blues - Sonny Boy Williamson [II]
20 Let Me Hang My Stockings in Your Christmas Tree - Roosevelt Sykes
21 Santa Claus Crave - Elzadie Robinson
22 Santa Claus - Walter Davis
23 Christmas Morning Blues - Victoria Spivey
24 Christmas Time Blues - Boll Weavil
25 Empty Stocking Blues - Floyd Dixon, Johnny Moore's Three Blazers
26 Boogie Woogie Santa Claus - Mabel Scott, Les Welch & His Orchestra
From blues to gospel, from field recordings to street sermons, here are 52 vintage snapshots of an African-American Christmas. These range from deeply sorrowful to lighthearted to just plain bizarre: Christmas Blues Gatemouth Moore; Hello Santa Claus Cecil Gant; Happy New Year Darling Lonnie Johnson; Christmas & New Year's Blues Tampa Red; at the Christmas Ball Bessie Smith; the Christmas Song Leadbelly; Happy New Year Lightnin' Hopkins, plus Amos Milburn, Little Esther, Leroy Carr and more!
