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Blue Yule is an important compilation of blues men singing holiday tunes. This is not only not surprising, it is uniquely fitting that the Christmas season serve as a motif for the blues. Here are some great names: Louis Jordan, John Lee Hooker, Detroit Junior. My favorite track is Lightening Hopkins Happy New Year, but there is something here for everyone. The good folks at Rhino included extensive liner notes with this release. It is interesting how many of these songs were recorded in the early 1950s, too. Christmas kitsch has been setting the style for a long time, evidently. Not everything on this disc is heavy, either, but there is plenty of room to enjoy a blue, blue mood with Blue Yule.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the liner notes:

Compilation: James Austin
Research: Gary Peterson and David McLees
Remastering: Bob Fisher and Dan Hersch / Digiprep
Art Direction: Geoff Gans
Design: Richard Evans
Photos: Michael Ochs Archieve, Roy C. Ames
Project Assistance: Billy Vera, David Booth, Gordon, Skene, Greg Drust, Reggie Collins

Various Artists

Blue Yule

Artist link

Track List