Johnny Christmas and the Sunspots

Subject: RE: Johnny Christmas and the Sunspots
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 Aug 25 - 10:23 AM

You're welcome. Glad it found a good home :-)

Subject: RE: Johnny Christmas and the Sunspots
From: cnd
Date: 08 Aug 25 - 10:13 AM

PS - and thanks again for sharing it! Very kind

Subject: RE: Johnny Christmas and the Sunspots
From: cnd
Date: 08 Aug 25 - 10:13 AM

I'm not quite sure to tag it either but it is quite nice! Their cover of Mister and Mississippi is well-done, and their original vocal number (Lost Love) was solid as well. Overall, a nice folk-style pop release.

Subject: RE: Johnny Christmas and the Sunspots
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 07 Aug 25 - 11:51 AM

What did you think of it, cnd? As I said further up the thread, it was not my cup of tea but I would be interested in the views of someone more into that style. Skiffle? Early Rockabilly? I am not even sure what it is! :-D

Subject: RE: Johnny Christmas and the Sunspots
From: cnd
Date: 23 Jul 25 - 08:31 AM

Thanks for the message, and sorry for being slow to respond. I'm looking forward to getting this one spinning!

Subject: RE: Johnny Christmas and the Sunspots
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Jul 25 - 05:55 PM

PM sent, cnd. (In case you didn't notice :-) )

Subject: RE: Johnny Christmas and the Sunspots
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Jul 25 - 11:00 AM

I've closed it off - It is sailing across the Atlantic :-D

Subject: RE: Johnny Christmas and the Sunspots
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 21 Jul 25 - 02:34 PM

I thought so too, Joe. As I said, not my cup of tea, but well perfomed and a good example of early, errr, not sure but skiffle I guess?

Subject: RE: Johnny Christmas and the Sunspots
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Jul 25 - 02:28 PM

He, this is pretty good stuff.
Here's [I'm Gonna] Sing, Sing, Sing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrXomah_H70

Mr & Mrs Mississippi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOfc3-DCAKM

Subject: RE: Johnny Christmas and the Sunspots
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 21 Jul 25 - 01:06 PM

I'll give it a couple of days cnd and if there are no takers, it's yours ;-)

Subject: RE: Johnny Cristmas and the Sunspots
From: cnd
Date: 21 Jul 25 - 11:32 AM

If there's no takers on your side of the pond, I'll take it off your hands -- I'm in North Carolina.

Subject: RE: Johnny Cristmas and the Sunspots
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 21 Jul 25 - 10:33 AM

It is still cluttering our study

Anyone want it?

Subject: RE: Johnny Cristmas and the Sunspots
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 May 25 - 03:36 PM

What? No-one!

Surely Mudcat won't let me down:-)

Subject: Johnny Cristmas and the Sunspots
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 02 May 25 - 03:00 PM

I have acquired an EP (Remember them?) called "I'm gonna sing sing sing" by the above band. I know nothing at all about the band or the songs but have had a listen and it is pretty much what I would describe as skiffle. The songs are -

Mister and Mississippi
Black, brown and white
Lost love
Harmonica train blues
(I'm gonna) sing, sing, sing

The band comprises of -

Johnny Christmas. Vocal and guitar
Bob Neil. Ukelele-banjo and vocal
Robby Robinson. Harmonica, bongos
Al Smith. Drums
Alan Simmons. String bass
John (Tubby) Hill. Tea chest bass.

It was recorded on 15 March 1958 by Starlite Recores (Subsidiary of Esquire Records)

It is a good quality recording and the songs are very listenable if not exactly my cup of tea. I was pariculary impressed by the anti-racist theme of 'Black, brown and white' which I guess, in 1958, was pretty ground breaking.

Firstly, anyone remember them or know anything about Johnny or the band?

Secondly, would anyone be interested in the EP? I have had it on eBay but with no takers. Happy to post it free in the UK or at cost elsewhere.

Cheers

Dave