The Alligator Records Christmas Collection

• Artist: Various Artists
• Release Date: 1992
• Total Time: 51:22
• Type: Collection (various artists), Compilation (best of), Christmas
• Genre: Blues

Review

This entertaining CD serves a dual purpose, introducing listeners to many of the blues artists who have recorded for Alligator and giving consumers a rare Christmas blues record. The performers include Koko Taylor, Kenny Neal, Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials, Katie Webster (on a rollicking "Deck the Halls With Boogie Woogie"), William Clarke, Tinsley Ellis, Charles Brown ("Boogie Woogie Santa Claus"), Son Seals, Lonnie Brooks, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, Elvin Bishop, Saffire, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and Charlie Musselwhite. With the exception of Bishop's "The Little Drummer Boy" and Musselwhite's "Silent Night," all of the selections are originals by the artists. Although the musicians all play in the same general genre, this set has enough variety (and good feelings) to hold one's interest throughout. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Merry, Merry Christmas	Koko Taylor	Koko Taylor	(4:29)
Christmas Time in the Country	Kenny Neal, Bob "Rattlesnake" Greenlee	Kenny Neal	(4:34)
I'm Your Santa	Bruce Iglauer, Lil' Ed Williams		(2:55)
Deck the Halls With Boogie Woogie	Traditional	Katie Webster	(2:59)
Please Let Me Be Your Santa Claus	William Clarke	William Clarke	(4:31)
Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin'	Sir Mack Rice	Tinsley Ellis	(3:23)
Boogie Woogie Santa Claus	Mabel Scott	Charles Brown	(3:12)
Lonesome Christmas	Lloyd Glenn	Son Seals	(5:13)
Christmas on the Bayou	Lonnie Brooks	Lonnie Brooks	(4:46)
Santa Claus	Rick Estrin	Little Charlie & the Nightcats	(2:57)
The Little Drummer Boy	Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone	Elvin Bishop	(2:52)
One Parent Christmas	Gaye Adegbalola	Saffire -- The Uppity Blues Women	(3:35)
Christmas	Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown	Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown	(3:13)
Silent Night	Joseph Mohr, Franz Xaver Gruber	Charlie Musselwhite	(2:43)

Credits

Ron Harris (Guitar (Rhythm)), Greg Verginio (Guitar), Kenny Neal (Harmonica), Koko Taylor (Producer), Lonnie Brooks (Performer), Mike Boyette (Organ), Charlie Musselwhite (Producer), Calvin Louden (Guitar), Rory Young (Engineer), Vas-tie Jackson (Producer), Katie Webster (Vocals), Charlie Musselwhite (Harmonica), Jeremiah Riley (Organ), Kenny Neal (Guitar), Little Charlie & the Nightcats (Performer), Katie Webster (?), Koko Taylor (Vocals), Bob Newham (Drums), Warren King (Engineer), Tim Geelan (Engineer), Elvin Bishop (Producer), Tinsley Ellis (Vocals), Bruce Iglauer (Producer), Ken Johnson (Drums), Bill Thompson (Engineer), Earl May (Bass (Acoustic)), Johnny B. Gayden (Bass), Stu Blank (Piano), Tinsley Ellis (?), Lil' Ed Williams (Vocals), Tinsley Ellis (Guitar), Dr. Toby Mountain (Mastering), Son Seals (Performer), Charles Brown (Performer), Rick Bailey (Engineer), Katie Webster (Piano), Jay Peterson (Bass), Charlie Musselwhite (?), Charles Brown (Piano), Tom Giblin (Piano), Evan Palmerson (Bass), Rick Estrin (Harmonica), Dobie Strange (Drums), Gatemouth Brown (?), Bob "Rattlesnake" Greenlee (Producer), Ray Allison (Drums), Flaco Medina (Bass), Ameen Abdur-Rashied (Percussion), William Clarke (Vocals), Ann Rabson (Piano), Ed Earley (Trombone), Koko Taylor (Performer), Bill Thompson (Mixing), Frank Alexander (Drums), Son Seals (Vocals), Earlene Lewis (Bass (Acoustic)), Lil' Ed Williams (Guitar), Son Seals (Producer), Kenny Neal (?), Sidney James Wingfield (Organ), Jerry Murphy (Bass), Jim Bateman (Producer), James Ferguson (Bass), Criss Johnson (Guitar), Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials (Performer), William Clarke (?), Glenn Nishida (Engineer), Reynaldo Arvizu (Sax (Alto)), David Sims (Drums), Kenny Neal (Vocals), Koko Taylor (?), Rick Estrin (Vocals), Tim Geelan (Mixing), Earl Lewis (Bass), Tinsley Ellis (Producer), Sam Fishkin (Mixing), Elvin Bishop (Performer), Gaye Adegbalola (Guitar), Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (Performer), Ron Brooks (Guitar), Lonnie Brooks (Producer), Saffire -- The Uppity Blues Women (?), James Young (Bass), William Clarke (Harmonica), Fred Kaplan (Piano), Lonnie Brooks (Vocals), Katie Webster (Producer), Saffire -- The Uppity Blues Women (Performer), Lonnie Brooks (?), Robert Hoban (Keyboards), David Axelbaum (Mixing), Earl May (Bass), Harold Floyd (Bass), Kenny Neal (Performer), Bully Butler (Guitar), Matt Minde (Design), Chuck Burke (Drums), Rick Estrin (Producer), Larry Van (Drums), Kenny Neal (Producer), Jay Shilliday (Engineer), Noel Neal (Bass), Lonnie Brooks (Guitar), Barry Feldman (Producer), Ameen Abdur-Rashied (Bells), Elvin Bishop (?), Kenny Washington (Drums), Kevin Mitchell (Drums), Katie Webster (Performer), Elvin Bishop (Vocals), Criss Johnson (Producer), Gaye Adegbalola (Vocals), Charlie Baty (Guitar), Lucky Peterson (Keyboards), David Axelbaum (Engineer), Mike Garrett (Guitar), Kelly Littleton (Drums), Charlie Musselwhite (Performer), Charles Brown (Vocals), Elvin Bishop (Guitar), Randy Forrester (Piano), Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (Guitar), Ron Harris (Guitar), Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (Vocals), Tinsley Ellis (Performer), Harold Ousley (Sax (Tenor)), David Farrell (Engineer), David Farrell (Mixing), William Clarke (Performer), Son Seals (Guitar), Stan Chambers (Bass)