Tuesday, December 18, 2018

A Christmas Present From Atlanta's Past

Sister Ruby Records was an Atlanta label from the early 1990's, loosely associated with the late great Eat More Records store (RIP Craig Freireich). The label focused on local artists, and issued three Christmas comps that still find their way into my CD player every year.

Participants who went on to greater success include Shawn MullinsMichelle MaloneKelly Hogan (a lovely "Rockin Around The Christmas Tree" with the late Gregory Dean Smalley on guitar), the late Benjamin Smoke (aka Opal Foxx), and a blowsy combo from the far side of Lake Hartwell who were about to make the #1 album of 1995.

If you knew the ATL scene in the 80's and 90's, you will recognize veterans like Amy Pike, Anne Richmond Boston, Kristen Hall, Ray Dafrico, Tommy Rivers, and several folks who arose phoenix-like from the crack pipe crucible of The Coolies. You may remember bands like Big Fish Ensemble, The Vidalias, Engine, and The Doll Squad.

There are fine versions of Christmas tunes written by Mel Torme, José Feliciano, Buck Owens, Pete Townshend, Greg Lake, Steve Earle, The Ramones, Alex Chilton, Yoko Ono, John Lennon, and Joni Mitchell; the Heat Miser/Snow Miser song; and (my favorite) Uncle Green's "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", with a lovely little segue into "Space Oddity".  Here they are -- olden, golden, and emboldened to tackle these holiday chestnuts, as well as creating a few original Christmas songs.

13 comments:

  1. 01 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Uncle Green
    02 Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Kelly Hogan
    03 Run Rudolph Run - Tommy Rivers
    04 Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - The Continentals
    05 Christmas - Big Fish Ensemble
    06 Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight) - The Doll Squad
    07 Frosty The Snowman - The Lizard Men
    08 Heat Miser/Snow Miser - Radiant City
    09 Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy - The Vidalias
    10 Little Drummer Boy - Smoke
    11 Listen The Snow Is Falling - Engine
    12 Jesus Christ - #1 Family Mover
    13 Please Come Home For Christmas - The Mighty Fine Slabs
    14 Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - Michelle Malone
    15 River - Face Of Concern
    16 The Christmas Song - Shawn Mullins with David Patterson
    17 I'll Be Home For Christmas - Kristen Hall
    18 Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Anne Richmond Boston
    19 I Believe In Father Christmas - The Backyard Swings
    20 Nothing But A Child - Scott Roberts
    21 Christmas This Year - Hootie and the Blowfish
    22 Feliz Navidad - The Ottoman Empire

    https://tinyurl.com/y8t5bxgs

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  2. Nice share, Jonder! - Stinky

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  3. Love the tree jonder!
    Have a nice holiday season.
    - Timebender

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  4. Thanks jonder...a good year...I listed you near the top of the thank yous on my last post this year up now. Cheers!

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  5. I am happy to have you all as readers and friends. In the words of Peewee Herman, Feliz Na-bla-bla!

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  6. Joy Divison tree ... or what ?

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    Replies
    1. Well spotted: you win a pair of Joy Division oven gloves!

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    2. Yoy'll send me the Joy Division oven gloves ? I need your private e-mail address so that I can give you a post address. Thx

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    3. But how do I know that you're the same Anonymous?
      Follow this link to my email address: https://tinyurl.com/yb36f3de

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    4. Hey, that's a youtube video (not what I expected). I am the the same @nonymous, don"t worry. We know us from Twilightzone ... I want to have the oven gloves.

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  7. Man, sarcasm can get you into deep doo-doo.

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  8. Glad to see that Craig is still remembered:

    https://stompandstammer.com/support-our-troops/mojo-vinyl-pays-tribute-to-eat-more-records/

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    Replies
    1. And in the name of all things holy, you can now actually buy Joy Division oven gloves.

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