[You're Getting Reggae for Christmas] -- Per my recent research, 1982 saw more than a few releases of Christmas material. Everything from singles (such as David Bowie & Bing Crosby's release of "Peace on Earth - Little Drummer Boy"), to EPs (such as Christmas in B'Dilli Bay by Kid Creole & The Coconuts), to full LPs in jazz, country, and other genres. Last weekend, I featured George Winston's December. But this weekend, with much of the US experiencing a winter storm, I'm opting for a warmer release.
Forty years ago, The Joe Gibbs Family Of Artists released Reggae Christmas on, appropriately enough, the Joe Gibbs Music label. For the LP release, side A is a nearly 12-minute medley of 14 songs, with some of the songs represented by only a few bars. Side B has five complete Christmas classics. Although Joe Gibbs (October 14, 1942 – February 22, 2008) was largely a producer, specifically one of Jamaica's top record producers in the 1970's, the primary artist on this record is listed as Joe Gibbs & The Professionals. The record also features performances by Cornell Campbell, Culture, Dennis Brown, Enos McLeod, George Nooks, Jacob Miller, Joe Gibbs, June Lodge, Marcia Aitken, Sly & Robbie, The Mighty Diamonds, and Trinity (4) -- all of whom, I'm assuming, were staples of Joe Gibbs' arsenal (the so-called "Family of Artists").
Here's the breakdown of the tracks on Reggae Christmas:
A Reggae Christmas Medley (11:28)
a Joy To The World
b Deck The Halls
c Christmas Is Coming
d O Come Let Us Adore Him
e O Come All Ye Faithful
f Jingle Bells
g Hark The Herald Angels Sing
h Santa Claus is Coming To Town
i I'm Dreaming Of A Black Christmas
j Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
k Christmas Breeze
l The First Noel
m Joy To The World
n We Wish You A Merry Christmas
B1 On The Twelve Day Of Ismas (6:15)
B2 We Three Kings (3:54)
B3 Deck The Halls (2:11)
B4 Winter Wonderland (3:28)
B5 Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem (3:36)
Flashback: Reggae Christmas (1982)
That's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.
I'll see you in seven!
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