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Charles Brown Merry Christmas Baby Swing Time 238 A+ 1950
Here is the original 1946 Charles Brown Classic \"Merry Christmas Baby.\" This is the 2nd pressing, on a nice, minty 78, that was re-released on Swingtime. Swingtime bought the masters from the original \"Exclusive\" record company, when Exclusive went Bankrupt. I wanted to post this record last year @ Christmas time, but never got a chance to, so, better late, than never! One, of a many, all time faves! Please Enjoy!
Charles Brown is a unmatched entertainer who has been a consistent attraction for more than a half century. He is one of the most influential artists of our time and his contributions are seemingly endless. A former high school science teacher is one of the true giants of American music.
Born in Texas City, Texas in 1920, began his love of music early on as he studied classical piano and was active in the local music scene as a teenager. Attending Prairie View A & M College in Texas and working in the school band as he earned his degree in education, which led to his hiring as a science teacher at George Washington Carver High School in Baytown, Texas in 1942. He soon went to California and remained unsure of his future until he entered an amateur show at the Lincoln Theater in 1944 and walked off with the first prize. This convinced him that his future was in music. Offered a spot in the small combo known as Johnny Moore's Three Blazers, with guitarist Moore and bassist Eddie Williams, their style, mimiced the King Cole Trio, but their sound that had more of a blues sound than a jazz feel. They played a number of small clubs in the Los Angeles area getting recognition, and soon were given the opportunity to record for the local Philo label. The first release was #111 - \"Baby Don't You Cry\" / \"Blazer's Blues\". This was quickly followed up by #112 - \"Driftin' Blues\" / \"Groovy\".
The recording of \"Driftin' Blues\" was a landmark in the evolution of American music. It was a huge seller, so much, it put the Blazers, Brown, and Philo (soon to be renamed Aladdin), at the front of a musical movement that within a decade would transform the entire landscape of American entertainment. \"Driftin'\" remained on the R & B best sellers charts for an amazing six months, those that were there recall the dominance of the recording over the Southern California club scene on Central Avenue that year. With the spectacular success of the song, the Three Blazers were now an entertainment phenomenom in Southern California. Records continued - \"You Are My First Love\" / \"Racetrack Blues\" on #129 and \"Till The Real Thing Comes Along\" / \"Rocks In My Bed\" on #130. Aladdin #183 in early 1947 is a re-release of \"Driftin' Blues\" coupled with a re-release of \"Till The Real Thing Comes Along\". \"Baby Don't You Cry\" and \"You Are My First Love\" are #184. In 1946 the trio wins awards from the trade publications Cashbox and Billboard as the top R & B trio of the year.
The Blazers now went on to record for Leon Rene's Exclusive label, releasing such tunes as \"Sunny Road\", \"Moonrise\", \"Lost In The Night\", \"Be Fair With Me\", and \"Merry Christmas Baby\". Brown is replaced by Billy Valentine, and Charles Brown now returns to the Aladdin label to record. His first release as a solo is #3020 - \"Ooh Sugar\" and \"Get Yourself Another Fool\". \"Trouble Blues\" and \"Honey Keep Your Mind On Me\" follows on #3024. The next outing is released as by The Charles Brown Trio on #3030 - \"Please Be Kind\" and \"In The Evening When The Sun Goes Down\". The last Brown recording of 1949 is #3039 - \"Homesick Blues\" and \"Let's have A Ball\".
In January of 1950, his new Aladdin record #3044 - \"Tormented\" jumps out and becomes a major seller on the West coast. Brown also does well at the box office as he combines with Dizzy Gillespie for an unusual double bill at the newly re-opened paradise Theater in Detroit. That October the Swing Time label buys Charles Brown masters from his days with the Three Blazers on the shuttered Exclusive label. This proves the power of the attraction of Brown. In November Aladdin releases an LP by Brown called \"Mood Music\". Also on the label is #3066 - \"Again\" and \"I've made Up My Mind\". The Club Oasis is home to The Charles Brown band for two weeks in December. Charles, along with Roy Brown and the Joe Morris Blues Cavalcade is a huge draw in Atlanta over the holidays. Swing Time re-releases the holiday perennial \"Merry Christmas Baby\" on #238.
Turntable used: Audio Technica AT-LP120 USB Direct Drive inputted straight into the sound card using the built-in pre-amp from the turntable.
