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Austin Rhythm And Blues ChristmasAn Austin Rhythm And Blues Christmas (1983) was a warning shot across the bow of the music industry that Austin, Texas, was about to become a hipster mecca. Stevie Ray Vaughan had just released his first album, and South X Southwest wouldn't begin for four more years. But, most of the artists who participated in Austin Rhythm And Blues Christmas would go on to critical acclaim, if not commercial success, and the performances are solid and entertaining, if occasionally unexceptional.

Originally released on a local label called, logically enough, Austin Records, An Austin Rhythm And Blues Christmas was picked up by Epic after the label struck gold with the Fabulous Thunderbirds, whose two smokin' tracks are the best things here. Epic reissued the album on vinyl and CD in 1986 with new cover art, and later editions toss in one extra song, Willie Nelson's "Blue Christmas" from his 1979 album Pretty Paper.

If you lived in Austin at the time, all of these names would be familiar to you, especially the three hot ladies of the local blues scene, singers Angela Strehli and Lou Ann Barton and bass queen Sarah Brown. Together, they contribute five tracks to Austin Rhythm And Blues Christmas, with the standout being Barton's sultry take on Charles Brown's "Please Come Home For Christmas." Together with pianist Marcia Ball and a host of other Austin blues stars (including Thunderbird guitarist Jimmie Vaughan and Double Trouble keyboardist Reese Wynans), the trio would record the acclaimed album Dreams Come True (1990) for another local label, Antone's Records.

Austin Rhythm And Blues ChristmasThat leaves four tracks - two by velvet-voiced singer and beloved local disc jockey Paul Ray, a fine instrumental by Mark Kazanoff's Jazz Quartet, and one last song by a very young Charlie Sexton. Within a few years, Sexton would get his shot at the brass ring playing pumped up roots rock for MCA (remember "Beat's So Lonely"?). Later, he'd become Bob Dylan's guitarist-of-choice during his "Never Ending Tour" period. But here, Sexton was still a rockabilly wunderkind - roughly 15-years-old and doing his best Elvis impression on "Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me."

As I said, a few of the performances are unexceptional, and the production can be lackluster - probably due to the album's humble origins as a locally produced LP. But when it takes off - most notably during the Thunderbirds' frenzied assault on "Winter Wonderland" - An Austin Rhythm And Blues Christmas upholds the town's vaunted reputation as "The Live Music Capital of the World."

Postscript

It's worth noting that the man pictured on the original LP cover - Thomas Alexander, Jr. - did not play on the album. But, in 1988, he recorded and released his own 7-inch Christmas single, "Jr.'s Christmas Blues." It's his only known recording, but an adaptation of the 1983 cover shot appears on the record label - so we know it's him. It was also recorded at an Austin-area studio with local players.

Many years later, The Austin Blues Revue led by singer and guitarist Pete Monfre recorded a self-proclaimed follow-up the the 1983 album, this time titled An Austin Blue Christmas (2018). The album features saxophonist Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff, who played on the original, as well as Guy Forsyth, Malford Milligan, Derek O'Brien, and other ATX all-stars. It can be streamed or downloaded at Amazon, Apple Music, and all the usual places, but CD's are available only through the band's website. [top of page]

Albums Albums

SongsEssential Songs

  • Sweet Little Baby Boy (Angela Strehli)
  • Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me (Charlie Sexton)
  • (Rockin') Winter Wonderland (Fabulous Thunderbirds)
  • Merry Christmas Darling (Fabulous Thunderbirds)
  • The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) (Kaz Jazz Quartet)
  • Please Come Home For Christmas (Lou Ann Barton)
  • My Christmas Tree Is Hung With Tears (Sarah Brown)

Further ListeningFurther Listening

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