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As a founding member of Philadelphia's MFSB, vibraphonist Vincent Montana, Jr. played on countless hits by The O'Jays, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, The Three Degrees, Billy Paul, and others. But Montana had a bigger vision: a full-fledged disco orchestra combining the soulful Philly sound with the infectious dance rhythms of Latin America. The result was The Salsoul Orchestra, formed for the groundbreaking disco/dance label Salsoul Records by Montana and his MFSB bandmates. Between 1975 and 1978, Montana produced, arranged, and conducted eight albums for The Salsoul Orchestra, including LPs from singers Charo and Carol Williams. The most successful of them all - and indeed, the most successful album in Salsoul Records' entire catalogue - was 1976's Christmas Jollies.
The Second Disc has teamed with SoulMusic Records this holiday season for the definitive celebration of the yuletide perennial. Christmas Jollies I + II: The Extra Jolly Edition, coming TOMORROW, October 27 on 3 CDs, brings together the original Christmas Jollies plus "Father of the Disco Mix" Tom Moulton's complete 1992 remix and producer Patrick Adams' rare follow-up, Christmas Jollies II. But that's not all. The Extra Jolly Edition adds nearly a dozen bonus single versions and remixes (most of which are new to CD) spread across all three CDs.
Recorded at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios, Christmas Jollies (heard on CD 1 in its original 1976 mix) is a lush, orchestral salute to the holiday that practically insists you get up and dance! Produced, arranged, and conducted by Vincent Montana, Jr., it features the Philadelphia soul sound of the original MFSB, including Norman Harris, The Trammps' Earl Young, Larry Washington, Don Renaldo's Horns and Strings, and The Sweethearts of Sigma, as well as vocalist Denise Montana who leads the now-standard "Merry Christmas All."
Christmas Jollies became the U.S.' biggest-selling Christmas album of 1976 and 1977, spinning off favorites including "The Little Drummer Boy" (a favorite of Parliament-Funkadelic's George Clinton!) and the epic "Christmas Medley" and inspiring a 1981 sequel. With Montana no longer at Salsoul, New York-based producer Patrick Adams was enlisted. Christmas Jollies II (included on CD 2) took a more R&B-flavored approach to its classic carols, with guest vocals from Salsoul recording artist Jocelyn Brown of Inner Life, Marian Rolle, and Wendell Morrison.
After a hiatus, Salsoul Records relaunched in 1992. The revived label enlisted the renowned Tom Moulton, to work his magic on Christmas Jollies for the CD era. The result brought a more club-oriented sound to the original album, and it's Moulton's mix that has been primarily available in the U.S. and U.K. for the last three decades. CD 3 of The Extra Jolly Edition presents Moulton's mix in its 1992 2LP sequence which hasn't yet appeared on CD.
The 3CD collection, designed by Paul Bevoir and remastered by Nick Robbins, includes a deluxe 24-page full-color booklet with photos, memorabilia, and a comprehensive essay from TSD's Joe Marchese drawing on new and archival quotes from Vincent Montana, Jr., Denise Montana, Patrick Adams, The Salsoul Orchestra's Bobby Eli, and others.
Christmas Jollies I + II: The Extra Jolly Edition finally gives the long-overdue deluxe treatment to one of the greatest - and most joyous - Christmas albums of all time as well as its sequel and latter-day remix. Look for it from SoulMusic, Cherry Red, and TSD tomorrow, October 27. You'll find order links and the full track listing below. 'Tis the season to dance!
The Salsoul Orchestra, Christmas Jollies I + II: The Extra Jolly Edition (SoulMusic/Cherry Red/Second Disc Records SMCR5213T, 2023) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Cherry Red)
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CD 1: Christmas Jollies: Expanded Edition
The Original Album (Salsoul LP SZS-5507, 1976)
- The Little Drummer Boy
- Sleigh Ride
- Silent Night
- Merry Christmas All
- Christmas Time
- There's Someone Who's Knocking
- Christmas Medley
- New Year's Medley
Bonus Tracks
- We Wish You a Merry Christmas (7" Version) (Salsoul single SZ 2052, 1976)
- The Little Drummer Boy (7" Version) (Salsoul single SZ 2077, 1978)
- Christmas Time (7" Version) (Salsoul single SZ 2077, 1978)
- Christmas Time (a.k.a. Christmas Medley) (7" Version) (Epic U.K. single EPC-A 1883, 1981)
- New Year's Medley (Single Version) (Epic U.K. 12-inch single A 13 1883, 1981)
- Christmas Time (a.k.a. Christmas Medley) (12" Version) (Epic U.K. 12-inch single A 1883, 1981)
CD 2: Christmas Jollies II: Expanded Edition
The Original Album (Salsoul LP SA 8547, 1981)
- You're All I Want for Christmas
- Deck the Halls
- Joy to the World
- The Salsoul Christmas Suite
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
- Joyful Spirit
Bonus Tracks
- Deck the Halls (7" Version) (Salsoul single S7 2155, 1981)
- The Salsoul Christmas Suite (7" Version) (Salsoul single S7 2155, 1981)
CD 3: Christmas Jollies (A Tom Moulton Mix): Expanded Edition
The Original Album (Salsoul LP 20-2041-1, 1993)
- Christmas Medley
- The Little Drummer Boy
- New Year's Medley
- Sleigh Ride
- Christmas Time
- Merry Christmas All
- There's Someone Who's Knocking
- Silent Night
- New Year's Americana Suite
Bonus Tracks
- Christmas Medley (Part I) (Salsoul Japan single SS 2237, 1979)
- Christmas Medley (Part II) (Salsoul Japan single SS 2237, 1979)
- The Little Drummer Boy (DANK Remix) (digital single 2013, previously unissued in physical format)
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So I love Salsoul (and Tom Moulton) but hate most Christmas music. Who's heard this stuff... worth having or I can safely skip it?
Definitely worth having I had the original vinyl back in '76.
One of the best Christmas albums ever! So good. Such happy and uptempo music. I am truly anxious to get my copy.
What exactly were the differences between the original 1976 version and Tom Moulton's 1992?
Did the Tom Moulton remix represent some kind of improvement on the original?
I have both versions, and honestly I don't see much difference between the two.
Thank you!
Hi Gabriel, Tom’s remix is radically different. He went back to the multitrack tapes, altered the length of many of the songs, brought some instruments and vocals up while de-emphasizing others, isolated certain elements, etc. I’m confident that if you listen to them back-to-back, you’d notice almost immediately. Tom also added a much more “club-like,” modern ambiance to the tracks that’s absent from the originals. Both versions have their champions, which is great; I thought it was important to present them both in full context on this new release.
Thank you Joe.
I wonder why is not included on the remixed Tom Moulton Album the track "Christmas Time". In fact, it was included on versions of the album from 1993 onwards.
"Christmas Time" *is* included on the Tom Moulton album (Disc 3) as Track 5, between "Sleigh Ride" and "Merry Christmas, All."
Oh, my apologies. The excitement caused by this release made me overlook that track! I already placed my order.
Thank you Joe.