Rhythm & Blues Christmas/ Various - Rhythm and Blues ChristmasChristmas comes but once a year, but an Ace Christmas record comes but once in a lifetime. Indeed, in it's 30 years of existence, this is the very first festive release. There are very few other Christmas CDs catering for the R&B fan and certainly none as varied as this one. It is rich, varied and full of ho ho ho with a side of misery, so get it while stocks last. 9 tracks are new to CD, while 3 are previously unissued in any form.

and holds the position of the youngest faculty member at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music

He was one of the most impressive blues performers of his era who inspired many artists of later years like Bob Dylan

as well as the first chart incursions from the Motown stable by Barrett Strong and Marv Johnson

and became famous during the 1970s

but also demonstrating how his style and relevance to the blues endured across the decades

Protection by the Aldrobrandini

and a fine showcase for the complex and sophisticated harmonies which made them such a definitive doowop group

Jürgen Flimm

and it very much captures the spirit of the times

They tracks have also been selected so that a significant proportion of the artists regarded as pioneers

As the advent of the singer-songwriter offered another possible avenue for these refuseniks

and so will be included in the forthcoming 1948 collection