Song:It's Christmas Time
Album:Singles: The Definitive 45s Collection Vol. 1: 1952-1961
Most jazz fans should be familiar with the interplanetary sounds of Herman "Sun Ra" Blount. But back in the 50s he produced all kinds of music including this doo wop Christmas single. All of Sun Ra's 50s singles are on this 2CD comp. After WWII, Blount moved from his home in Birmingham, AL to Chicago. He worked in bands led by Wynonie Harris, Fletcher Henderson and Coleman Hawkins. Blount's fascination with Egyptology led to the 1952 name change to Sun Ra. Eventually he formed what would become the Sun Ra Arkestra with sax players John Gilmore and Marshall Allen. Those two were in his band for forty years. Blount met a teen named Alton Abraham who became his manager. They started El Saturn Records in 1957. They not only released Sun Ra singles. But they also released singles by The Cosmic Rays, The Lintels, The Clock Stoppers and The Metros. The best known of these singles is It's Christmas Time by the anonymous doo wop group The Qualities. Happy New Year To You is the B side. The vocal arrangement is straight doo wop. But the instrumental backing is unusual featuring Sun Ra on harmonium. It sounds like a Christmas song from outer space. The record was recorded in 1957 but released in 1960. The record was thought to be lost until Norton Records found it and released it in 2011. It appears on a couple of Sun Ra comps. The popular band Yo La Tengo recorded a cover of It's Christmas Time. They are big Sun Ra fans. Here's a video of It's Christmas Time by The Qualities. Thanks to Anton Spice of The Vinyl Factory for the info about this record.
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