Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The Ramsey Lewis Trio - Mary's Boy Child (Cadet 5662)


Mary's Boy Child


The Ramsey Lewis Trio came roaring up out of Chicago in the early sixties and brought their unique style of cool Jazz into the mainstream of popular culture. They busted things wide open when their swingin' cover of (the recently deceased) Dobie Gray's The "In" Crowd climbed higher on the charts than the original ever did, parking itself at #2 R&B for three weeks in the Summer of 1965 (only kept from the top slot by the Godfather's monster, Papa's Got A Brand New Bag).

The Trio would continue to chart for the rest of the decade with their hip renditions of current hits. This movin' and groovin' take on a traditional Christmas song we have here was released as the flip of My Cherie Amour in 1970 (go figure). It's hard to say enough about the importance of a group that has given us both Young-Holt Unlimited and Earth, Wind & Fire, and has remained current right into the present day. The Great Performer marches on!


...and now, as the usual insanity around here is about to be taken to the next level, please allow me to extend my wishes to you and your family for a happy and a healthy Holiday Season. I hope Santa treats you good!



4 Comments:

Blogger Funky16Corners said...

Merry Christmas Red!
I wonder if the author of that cut is actually Jester Hairston who wrote "Amen"?

7:06 AM  
Blogger Red Kelly said...

Good lookin' out, Larry - according to Wikipedia;

"Hairston wrote the song "Mary's Boy Child" in 1956, possibly the only popular Christmas song written by an African-American..."

Thanks, and Ho-Ho-Ho!!

4:09 PM  
Blogger TravelingMermaid said...

Merry Christmas & the best of New Years to you & yours, Red!

2:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is an amazing vinyl.

4:49 AM  

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