Here's a nice instrumental LP that mixes holiday treacle with some deep soul.
At first, hearing George Conedy's organ puts me in mind of similar efforts from Booker T. and the MG's, but the overall sound here is understandably just a little bit more churchy - - and perhaps pleasantly less polished in places.
It's sincere, is what it is...
...AND it includes a smoky (if misspelled) version of Duke Pearson's 'Christo Redentor'.
The original album was issued on a gospel imprint of the Kent Records label out of L.A.
Judging by other matrix numbers near to this one, a guesstimate would place its release around 1972, give or take a year or so.
Back cover liner notes give a bit of info on George Conedy... ➤
(click on bio to ENLARGE text) ➤
Some web searching turns up very little else on Mr. Conedy, except for a page about
The Antelope Valley Inter-Denominational Crusade Choir.
Their information places him in the choir's backing band as recently as 1997, at their 2nd anniversary concert held at Highland High School in Palmdale, CA.
(Addendum, 7/2/08; Information has recently come through via a family member that George Conedy passed away "a few years ago".)
Musicians on this recording:
George Conedy - Hammond organ, piano
Horace “Hawk” Jones - bass
Elliott McKenzie - drums
Joe Youngblood - guitar
From George Conedy's 'Merry Soul Christmas' LP
(Kent Records, circa 1972?),
Listen to:
Come All Ye Faithful
Away In A Manger
We Three Kings
Christo Redento
Drummer Boy
Oh Little Town of Bethlehem
White Christmas
The Christmas Song
Silent Night
(click for audio)
- - OR download all 9 tracks in one 38.7 Mb zipfile.
(click to ENLARGE ⬆)
(click to ENLARGE ⬆)
