Re: Harmonium?!

Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2003 03:35:44 -0400
Newsgroups: rec.music.progressive
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The "Dreams, Fantasies and Nightmares" blurb:
Led by Bob Bryden, who had earlier played in the Toronto, Ontario-based
Reign Ghost, Christmas played in Oshawa, Ontario, between 1970-74. In the
later years they were known as Spirit Of Christmas. When they formed on
Christmas Day in 1969 their average age was just 17.
Christmas is best described as a progressive underground band. They were
originally known as Black Christmas. The first album consists of three
Bryden compositions characterized by lovely vocals and guitar work and two
instrumentals composed by the whole band. One of these, the ambitious Jungle
Fabulous, accounts for all of side 2. This album is their rarest artefact.
Heritage consists of heavy progressive underground rock and has its moments,
particularly on Zephyr Song, April Mountain, which has some fine guitar
work, and the title track. All the songs on the album were written and
arranged by Bryden.
Lies To Live By is really their finest moment and arguably one of the best
albums to come out of Canada in the 1970s. Very imaginative progressive
rock. Almost every track is excellent and this album is strongly
recommended.
Christmas (and Spirit Of Christmas)
Personnel:
BOB BRYDEN gtr, vcls, keyb'ds A B
ROBERT BULGER lead gtr A B
TYLER RAIZENNE bs A B
RICH RICHTER drms A
HELGE RICHTER drms B
PRESTON WYNNE lead vcls B
ALBUMS:
1(A) CHRISTMAS (Paragon 18) 1970 R4
2(A) HERITAGE (Daffodil 16002) 1970 R3
3(B) LIES TO LIVE BY (Daffodil 10047) 1974 R2
NB: (1), (2) and (3) all counterfeited on vinyl in Europe in the eighties.
(2) reissued on CD (Laser's Edge LE-1009) 1993, with their first 45 as bonus
tracks, and again (Unidisc AGEK 2166) with three bonus tracks. (3) also
reissued on CD (Laser's Edge LE 1) 19?? and again (Unidisc AGEK 2167) 199?.
Cassette:
1 CHRISTMAS LIVE AT MASSEY HALL ( ) 1990
NB: This limited edition cassette, made circa 1990, contains a live concert
from 23rd September, 1971 in Toronto, Ontario and also both sides of the
first Christmas 45 (Daffodil 1002) and the 'A' side of their last 45
(Daffodil 1056). Also on album (RTA 777) 199? R1 and on CD (Unidisc AGEK
2168) 199?.
45s:
1 Don't Give It Away/Farewell Sweet Lovin' (Daffodil 1002) 1970
2 Point Blank/Goin' To Oklahoma (Daffodil 1008) 1971
3 I'm A Song (Sing Me)/A Part Of Our Heritage (Daffodil 1010) 1971
4 Graveyard Face/Stay Dead Lazarus (Daffodil 1056) 1974