Blues Unlimited #137 - Blues for Christmas!
Series: Blues Unlimited
From: Steve Franz
Length: 01:58:59
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- Blues Unlimited #137 - Blues for Christmas!
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- Steve Franz
What better way to celebrate Christmas than with the Blues! Of course! Oscar McLollie wants you to "Dig That Crazy Santa Claus," while Blind Blake is having those "Lonesome Christmas Blues." Meanwhile, Bessie Smith may be "At the Christmas Ball," but as the Rev. Edward W. Clayborn might ask, is this "The Wrong Way to Celebrate Christmas"? The Revs. A.W. Nix and J.M. Gates have cheerful but cautionary tales about Christmas, while Charley Jordan is busy putting the finishing touches on his Holiday feast. The Black Ace (and a host of others) simply want their baby back for Christmas, Tampa Red has the Christmas AND New Year's Blues (trying to cover all the bases, so to speak), while Jesse Thomas has his "Christmas Celebration" all planned out. Gus Jenkins is fondly remembering last Christmas, while Titus Turner is looking forward to "Christmas Morning," Freddie King is busy hearing Jingle Bells, and Sonny Boy Williamson gets in trouble (what else?) while going on a rampage around the house looking for his Christmas presents. Al King is lamenting the departure of Christmas after having spent too much (who's ever had that problem?), while Nappy Brown lets us know that "Santa Claus Is Back in Town," and Eddie C. Campbell thinks that Santa may just be messin' with the kid! All that and more on this spectacular Holiday-themed episode of Blues Unlimited!
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Related Pieces
Piece Description
What better way to celebrate Christmas than with the Blues! Of course! Oscar McLollie wants you to "Dig That Crazy Santa Claus," while Blind Blake is having those "Lonesome Christmas Blues." Meanwhile, Bessie Smith may be "At the Christmas Ball," but as the Rev. Edward W. Clayborn might ask, is this "The Wrong Way to Celebrate Christmas"? The Revs. A.W. Nix and J.M. Gates have cheerful but cautionary tales about Christmas, while Charley Jordan is busy putting the finishing touches on his Holiday feast. The Black Ace (and a host of others) simply want their baby back for Christmas, Tampa Red has the Christmas AND New Year's Blues (trying to cover all the bases, so to speak), while Jesse Thomas has his "Christmas Celebration" all planned out. Gus Jenkins is fondly remembering last Christmas, while Titus Turner is looking forward to "Christmas Morning," Freddie King is busy hearing Jingle Bells, and Sonny Boy Williamson gets in trouble (what else?) while going on a rampage around the house looking for his Christmas presents. Al King is lamenting the departure of Christmas after having spent too much (who's ever had that problem?), while Nappy Brown lets us know that "Santa Claus Is Back in Town," and Eddie C. Campbell thinks that Santa may just be messin' with the kid! All that and more on this spectacular Holiday-themed episode of Blues Unlimited!
Broadcast History
First local broadcast over KXCI on December 14, 2011
Timing and Cues
Hour 1: 00:00 - 56:33
In Cue: "Welcome to Blues Unlimited..."
Out Cue (at 55:33): "...coming up right after this break."
Break (60 second music bed): 55:33 - 56:33
Hour 2: 56:33 - 1:58:59
In Cue: "Welcome back to the show..."
Out Cue (at 1:55:36): "...next time, right here on Blues Unlimited."
Note: from 1:55:36 to 1:58:59, a song by the Cotton Top Mountain Sanctified Singers, "Christ Was Born On Christmas Morn," closes the show.
Additional Notes:
This episode of Blues Unlimited is compliant with SOUNDEXCHANGE reporting requirements.
Although each episode of Blues Unlimited is designed to be a self-contained "evergreen" show, to be run at any time you choose, we specifically suggest running this episode during the Holiday Season.
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dig That Crazy Santa Claus | Oscar McLollie & His Honey Jumpers | Hey Lollie Lollie! The Modern Recordings 1953-1955. | Ace | 1954 | 02:31 |
| Lonesome Christmas Blues | Blind Blake | All The Published Sides. | JSP | 1929 | 03:40 |
| At The Christmas Ball | Bessie Smith | Blues, Blues Christmas 1925 - 1955. | Document | 1925 | 03:27 |
| Did You Spend Christmas Day In Jail? | The Rev. J.M. Gates | Are You Bound For Heaven Or Hell? The Best Of Rev. J.M. Gates. | Columbia/Legacy | 1929 | 02:57 |
| The Wrong Way To Celebrate Christmas | Rev. Edward W. Clayborn (The Guitar Evangelist) | Where Will You Be Christmas Day?. | Dust to Digital | 1928 | 02:34 |
| Death Might Be Your Christmas Gift | Rev. A. W. Nix | Complete Recorded Works Vol 1 1927-1928. | Document | 1927 | 03:01 |
| Christmas & New Years Blues | Tampa Red | The Bluebird Recordings 1934-1936. | RCA/Bluebird | 1934 | 03:25 |
| Papa Ain't No Santa Claus (And Mama Ain't No Christmas Tree) | Butterbeans & Susie | Where Will You Be Christmas Day?. | Dust to Digital | 1930 | 03:18 |
| Santa Claus | Walter Davis | Complete Recorded Works Vol 2 1935-1937. | Document | 1935 | 03:10 |
| Christmas Christmas Blues | Charley Jordan | The Essential. | Classic Blues | 1935 | 03:25 |
| Christmas Time Blues (Beggin' Santa Claus) | Black Ace | I'm The Boss Card In Your Hand. | Arhoolie | 1937 | 02:52 |
| Christmas Morning Blues | John Lee (Sonny Boy) Williamson | The Bluebird Recordngs 1938. | RCA/Bluebird | 1938 | 03:23 |
| Christmas Time Blues | Guitar Slim (Alec Seward) & Jelly Belly (Louis Hayes) | Carolina Blues. | Arhoolie | 4447 | 02:43 |
| My Christmas Baby | Smokey Hogg | Deep Ellum Rambler. | Ace | 1947 | 02:25 |
| Christmas Celebration | Jesse Thomas | Complete Recorded Works 1948-1958. | Document | 1951 | 02:35 |
| Merry Christmas | Lightnin' Hopkins | Blue Yule: Christmas Blues & R&B Classics. | Rhino | 1953 | 02:45 |
| I Want My Baby For Christmas | Jimmy Liggins & His Drops of Joy | Jimmy Liggins and His Drops of Joy. | Specialty | 1950 | 02:40 |
| Christmas Time Blues | Roy Milton & His Solid Senders | Blue Yule: Christmas Blues & R&B Classics. | Rhino | 1950 | 03:05 |
| Merry Christmas | Little Willie Littlefield | Boogie, Blues And Bounce: The Modern Recordings Vol. 2. | Ace | 1949 | 02:58 |
| Christmas Party Shuffle | Lowell Fulson | Classic Cuts: Lowell Fulson 1946-1953. | JSP | 1952 | 02:55 |
| Christmas Morning | Titus Turner | Blues, Blues Christmas 1925 - 1955. | Document | 1952 | 02:40 |
| I Remember Last Christmas | Gus Jenkins | Jericho Alley Vol 1: Blues in Los Angeles 1955-1959. | Flash | 1956 | 02:52 |
| Santa Claus | Sonny Boy Williamson (#2) | The Essential Sonny Boy Williamson. | MCA/Chess | 1960 | 02:45 |
| Christmas Day | Detroit Junior | Blue Yule: Christmas Blues & R&B Classics. | Rhino | 1960 | 02:15 |
| I Hear Jingle Bells | Freddie King | The Very Best of Freddy King, Vol. 1. | Collectables | 1961 | 02:39 |
| Merry Christmas Darling | Hop Wilson | Houston Ghetto Blues. | Bullseye Blues | 1961 | 03:10 |
| Christmas Time | Jimmy McCracklin | The Blue Horizon Story 1965-1970. | Blue Horizon | 1961 | 02:20 |
| Christmas Is Gone | Al King | Blues Master - The Complete Sahara & Shirley Recordings. | Forevermore | 1966 | 02:55 |
| Christmas Present Blues | Jimmy Reed | As Jimmy Is. | Roker | 6970 | 02:36 |
| Merry Christmas | Robert Nighthawk | Blues Southside Chicago. | Decca (UK) | 1964 | 01:57 |
| It's Christmas Time | Clifton Chenier | King of the Bayous. | Arhoolie | 1969 | 04:16 |
| Please Come Home For Christmas | Little Johnny Taylor | All Night Long They Play The Blues. | Galaxy | 1965 | 02:55 |
| Santa Claus Is Back In Town | Nappy Brown | Ichiban Blues At Christmas, Vol. 1. | Ichiban | 1991 | 02:48 |
| Santa's Messin' With The Kid | Eddie C. Campbell | Blue Yule: Christmas Blues & R&B Classics. | Rhino | 1977 | 03:23 |
| Christ Was Born On Christmas Morn | Cotton Top Mountain Sanctified Singers | Where Will You Be Christmas Day?. | Dust to Digital | 1929 | 03:24 |
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