1961 Xmas Twist

.....Chronologically, the first Motown Christmas single is a recording I don't actually own-- yet. The only CD appearance I've managed to find is the limited run 6CD THE COMPLETE MOTOWN SINGLES VOLUME 1: 1959-1961 Hip-O-Select B0003631-02 (US) Jan/05. I was, however, able to hear this and its flipside on youtube.

• 02:44 "X-MAS TWIST" (Berry Gordy, Barney Ales)
• -N/A- b/w "WHITE HOUSE TWIST" (Brian Holland, Berry Gordy, Barney Ales)
• performed by The Twistin' Kings [Funk Brothers]
• original source: 7" Motown M1022 (US) November 27th, 1961
• as well as this: LP TWISTIN' THE WORLD AROUND Motown MLP 601 (US) Dec/61
• and my source: ...um, youtube

.....After finally getting a chance to hear this (youtube didn't exist when I bought all the Motown Christmas music I packed away years ago), I think I can guess why it doesn't show up on the various compilations I've seen. Compared to much of the rest of the label's material, it was a bit of a throwback. It more closely resembled the jazz and swing singles and 78's of the 1930's and early 1950's than the Miracles or the Supremes. If it seems odd that the Funk Brothers-- the nickname for Motown's house band-- doesn't quite sound like most Motown singles, bear in mind that this was a rush job ordered by label owner Berry Gordy to cash in on a dance craze. If there are any Motown fans out there who don't recognize the name Barney Ales, it's because he was the VP of Sales. The fact that he's got a writing credit on both sides (oh, and one of the songs on the album is actually called "Twisting Ales Style", as though the audience would know what that meant) gives you some indication that the objectives here were not to create a lasting product.

.....For more (and more authoritative) information on the Funk Brothers, I would recommend the book (and subsequent documentary film) "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown". Relevant to this song, I can only say that the line-ups for most Motown recordings of this period are almost never 100% confirmable. The Funk Brothers weren't exactly a band, per se, but a pool of musicians. At any given time during Motown's residency in Detroit (roughly until 1972, when most operations moved to California, creating "Mo-west") there were 8-12 musicians in the pool. Producers would form ad hoc groups by selecting 3-6 of them, sometimes recording several vocalists over the same Funk Brothers instrumental track and letting Gordy pick his favorite to be released as an A-side. Sometimes the other vocal takes would be used as B-sides or album tracks. The only personnel I could confirm (courtesy of Discogs) would be:

• Producer Berry Gordy
• Vocals (and probably saxophone) by Thomas "Beans" Bowles
• Piano by Joe Hunter
• Saxophone by Ron Wakefield

...but there are probably others. The entirety of the project is included on the album, which was recorded, packaged and shipped in the blink of an eye to maximize exposure in the gift-buying season. The other single even has a subsequent catalog number (M1023), despite shipping three weeks later. For more details I'll refer you to the excellent blog Motown Junkies, which specializes in the label's singles. The following link:

http://motownjunkies.wordpress.com/2010/04/23/138/

...should lead you to the page for "X-MAS TWIST", at the bottom of which you'll find a link to the page for the A-side. Enjoy.