I had a request for a few Christmas song-poems, and I spent part of this last weekend searching my holding for just that sort of record. While I didn't check the song-poem albums in my collection, I did look through the vast majority of my 45s, and I found.... that for the most part I've already shared most of my Christmas related song-poems over the years, either here, or, in one case, in a large post of Christmas song-poems at WFMU. Three are still way too many unshared religious song-poems (almost all of them Christian), but few of them are specifically about Christmas.
I found two. Or rather, I found one song-poem 45 and one vanity record on the Film City label. Today is the song-poem, and in a week or so I'll offer up the Film City delight.
From the vapid, post-Rodd Keith, cheapo synth strings era of the Preview label (and not at all long before the demise of the label), we have Gene Marshall singing "Little Joey to Santa Claus". Note how very few lyrics there are in this nearly three minute track, stretched out by an interminable instrumental break and a repeating of about half the lyrics a second time.
Alas, as we all know, Little Joey grew up to learn to play Trombone before becoming a criminal and ending up in prison with Shifty Henry, Sad Sack and Elvis Presley. Oh, and that cutie known as Number Three. Perhaps if Santa had only brought him those roller skates.
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This record actually has TWO Christmas songs on it. On the flip side, Barbara Foster (AKA Bobbie Blake). It's called "A Joyous Christmas", but it does not suggest anything joyful to me. I find her vocal performance really sweet at a few moments, but that's about it. Your mileage may vary.
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Please note that I've tried my best to honor a request. If you have a request, let me know - if I can fill it, I will!
