Christmas

Christmas - Christmas - 1970 - Paragon

Formed in Oshawa, Ontario by guitarist Bob Bryden amid the ruins of psych-rock outfit Reign Ghost, whose two Allied Records releases fetch hefty sums in collectors' circles, Christmas initially recorded this music as record industry bait for one of those budget throwaway top-hits collections. As Bryden recalls, "(This was) originally to be a '12 Top Hits' album done anonymously, but we jammed and they released the jams and scrapped the 'cover version' idea." Allegedly issued without the band's knowledge, Christmas has a laconic, post-acid feel to it, with the spectre of the Grateful Dead - especially the stoner noodling on their classic 'Dark Star' - everywhere on the record. Side one is the more disciplined of the two sides, giving itself to more standard song structures of varying quality ranging from somnambulant to soothing. Bryden's crisp guitar work starts to emerge on the final track, 'Oasis', a carefree instrumental that sets the stage for side two and its sprawling side-long jam, the almost interminable and ridiculously named 'Jungle Fabulous'. Not for the restless, this one. The band signed to the larger Daffodil imprint soon after, and issued their proper debut album, the heavier, less-indulgent Heritage the following year. And though Christmas and Heritage found favour with the critics, with little airplay outside Toronto, not too mention the unfortunate habit of being misfiled in shops in the other Xmas section, both discs died early deaths. Now phenomenally rare with mint copies changing hands for upwards of $2500, Christmas saw the digital light of day in 2001 when Pacemaker gave it the straight reissue treatment, from the original masters (tape hiss and all) and with original front and back cover art intact. © Michael Panontin, © 2006-2009 · canuckistanmusic.com · All Rights Reserved

The band from Ontario, recorded this album to fulfill a record contract deal, after Bob Bryden's previous group, Reign Ghost split up. The album has some west-coast flavoured guitar work, and vocal harmonies. The marathon track , "Jungle Fabulous" is a strangely compelling tripped out psychedelic acid rock track, with Eastern influences, and has a hypnotic quality. Christmas released other albums, including "First And Live", and "Heritage", both from 1970. Another album called "Lies To Live By" was released in 1974 by the band, calling themselves The Spirit of Christmas. A limited edition cassette entitled "Christmas Live At Massey Hall" was released in 1990. More detailed info on the band and it's origins can be found @ CHRISTMAS/BLOG N.B: Sound quality on the album is only fair, but the album posted here was reissued on CD without any remastering

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

A1 Just Suppose - Bob Bryden 4:24
A2 Your Hymble Suitor - Bob Bryden 4:15
A3 Sorry I Bore You Victoria - Bob Bryden 2:57
A4 Oasis - Bryden, Bulger, Raizenne, Richter 6:05
B1 Jungle Fabulous - Bryden, Bulger, Raizenne, Richter 20:39

BAND

Guitar - Robert Bulger
Guitar, Voice - Bob Bryden
Bass - Tyler Raizenne
Drums - Rich Richter
Voice - Gary , Wolf