http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E1BO3Q/?tag=imwan-20

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.a ... m=lk_imwan

01 - (Christmas) Sleigh Ride......Lloyd Glenn
02 - Christmas Eve Blues......Blind Lemon Jefferson
03 - When Was Jesus Born......Heavenly Gospel Singers
04 - Santa Clause Boogie......The Voices
05 - Merry Christmas......Lightnin` Hopkins
06 - Hey Santa Claus......The MoonGlows
07 - Lonesome Christmas (part 1)......Lowell Fulson
08 - Lonesome Christmas Blues......Blind Blake
09 - Gonna Have A Merry Xmas......The Nic Nacs with Mickey Champion
10 - Christmas Morn'......Rev. Charles Watkins
11 - Xmas Celebration......Jesse 'Babyface' Thomas
12 - Jingle Bells......Leo Watson
13 - It's Christmas Time Again......Cecil Gant
14 - I'll Be Home For Chrismas......The Pilgrim Travellers
15 - Christmas What Does It Mean To You......Rev. Emmett Dickinson
16 - There Was No Room At The Hotel......Lucy Smith Jubilee Singers
17 - Silent Night, Holy Night......Sister Rosetta Tharpe
18 - New Year's Resolution......Lil Son Jackson
19 - Christmas Tree Blues......Charley Jordan & Verdi Lee
20 - Merry Christmas Baby......Lional Hampton Orchestra
21 - It's Christmas Time......Bubber Johnson
22 - Run Rudolph, Run......Chuck Berry
23 - God Gave Us Christmas......Oscar McLollie & His Honey Jumpers
24 - Christmas Party Shuffle......Lowell Fulson
25 - Winter Time Blues......Lester Williams
26 - Mr. Santa Boogie......The Marshall Brothers
27 - Sweet Little Jesus Boy......Wings Over Jordan
28 - Swingin Them Jingle Bells......Fats Waller
29 - Seeking For Me......Lucy Smith Jubilee Singers
30 - My Christmas Baby......Smokey (Andrew) Hogg
31 - Christmas Blues......Gatemouth Moore
32 - Oh Holy Night......The Orioles
33 - Go Where I Send Thee......Alphabetical Four
34 - No Chrsitmas blues......Mary Harris
35 - Merry Xmas......Little Willie Littlefield
36 - Begin A New Life On Christmas Day - Part 1......Rev A. W. Nix
37 - Christmas Time Blues......Casey Bill Weldon
38 - Merry Christmas Baby......Johnny Moore's Three Blazers
39 - When They Ring The Golden Bell......Sister Rosetta Tharpe
40 - Silent Night Holy Night......Elkins-Payne Jubilee Singers
41 - Christmas Time Blues......Guitar Slim and Jelly Belly
42 - Santa Claus Baby......The Voices
43 - Merry Christmas Baby......Chuck Berry
44 - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve......The Orioles

Second volume of the highly acclaimed series. 44 great tracks include blues, gospel, jazz, and doo-wop. Artists include Sister Rosetta Tharpe, The Orioles, Chuck Berry, Cecil Gant, Lightnin' Hopkins, Little Fulson, Marshall Brothers, Blind Blake, The Voices, Wings Over Jordan, and Bubber Johnson.

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I know it's just terribly wrong to be sitting here in the middle of August with that itchy "can't wait to open my Christmas presents" feeling about what might or might not be revealed in Christmas music "future releases;" but, dang it, I want a track listing for this one. I'm dying for a track listing. I can't wait to open my Christmas presents...........in August.

A couple of weeks ago, this listing for "Blues, Blues Christmas, Volume 2" showed up on Amazon. No other information given.

"Blues, Blues Christmas (1925-1955)" appeared on the scene in 2005. Document Records has long been known for their exceedingly complete collections of music from pre-war artists of blues, jazz, hokum, boogie woogie, etc. "Blues, Blues Christmas (1925-1955)" collected up all of these sides into one super duper 2 CD package. Classic stuff from the likes of Roosevelt Sykes, Bumblebee Slim, Chippie Hill, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Elzadie Robinson--52 tracks in all. Never mind that I had spent decades tracking down individual Document releases, each with but one of these Christmas selections on them, the release of "Blues, Blues Christmas (1925-1955)" was an EVENT to collectors like myself.

What could there possibly be left for "Volume 2," I ask myself?

"Blues, Blues Christmas (1925-1955)" sold through, by the way. Currently, you can only get it as a download.

"Blues, Blues Christmas, Volume 2" is scheduled for release on September 9. It is on Document Records. Billboard magazine confirms that much. But there is, as yet, no mention of it on the Document web site. And, hey, go figure, Document has a MySpace page, too--also without mention of "Volume 2." But, if "Blues, Blues Christmas, Volume 2" is anything like it's predecessor (without being simply a repackaging of the same tracks), well, that is one Christmas present I can not wait to open...as early as possible.

I'm not exactly sure what's happening with this one. A while back, CD Universe posted the parenthetical (1926-1958) which would clearly distinguish this one from "Blues Blues Christmas (1925-1955)." Secure in this knowledge, I pre-ordered the item.

Suddenly, they dropped the parenthetical and listed the original release year as 2005--which would clearly make this the original "Blues Blues Christmas". As a result, I cancelled my pre-order.

My best guess is that Document Records is having some problems getting the thing together and, I guess, they figured to satisfy the pre-orders of Collection 2 with Collection 1. If that's their plan, then I have to say it's a lousy one. On the other hand, I have been waiting for over a year now for the Automatics "Last Noel" CD, so doing something like that isn't a way to endear yourself to customers, either.

Perhaps I'm the only one who cares about this, but I was really looking forward to this release. I hope they straighten this all out. Soon. At the moment, I'm not the happiest of campers.

For the record, here is the response from CD Universe: "We have since receiving your email made the needed corrections as the item is actually volume 2."

Except the listing still says 2005.

I'm going to have to see a track listing before recommitting any funds.

Finally some news--or at least a cover--for this CD that was due out September 9, and I've updated the lead post accordingly. Amazon reports the item ships in 10 to 13 days of order. And I still want to see the track list.

Randy of Randy's Rodeo and Hip Christmas reports that, upon contacting the powers-that-be at Document, this release has been delayed until next year. The label has been undergoing a reorganization and move and just couldn't get all their ducks in a row in time for this year. No doubt, the global economic crisis was a big part of this. Indeed, the following is part of a message on Document's home page: But Randy reports that Document promises the new volume of "Blues, Blues Christmas" will be worth the wait.

CD Universe has posted a release date of July 14 for this long awaited CD. At the moment, there's even a substantial discount on pre-orders. Then again, I pre-ordered it last year and a lot of good that did me. Oh, well, hope springs eternal.

They're going to drive me insane with this one. CD Universe now shows a release date of August 11.

Never did get the Automatics Last Noel. Refuse to buy the downloads. Eventually gave up. Don't even care what it sounds like anymore. Screw the bastards.

Blues, Blues be warned; you're on very thin ice with me at the moment.

!!!%#@*!!#*!!!!!!!

Finally, we're making some progress on this one as we now have the track list (added to lead post) and a product page at Document.

Amazon and CD Universe still show the album as not yet available.

But (he said hopefully) maybe we'll get this by Christmas afterall.

Amazon is showing this in stock right now (Sunday night - 12/6)!!!!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E1BO3Q

Ken