Christmas Jollies I+II - The Extra Jollie Edition

Christmas Jollies is a definitive 3CD celebration of one of the greatest and best-selling Christmas albums of all time. The album was produced, arranged, and conducted by the legendary Vincent Montana, Jr. (MFSB, Goody Goody) and is now available as a joint release from SoulMusic Records and The Second Disc.

This 3CD set includes 36 tracks, featuring the original 1976 mix of "Christmas Jollies," Tom Moulton’s complete 1992 remix, and producer Patrick Adams’ rare follow-up, Christmas Jollies II. Additionally, there are 11 bonus single versions and remixes included.

Key tracks on the album include the holiday perennial "Merry Christmas All" sung by Denise Montana, "The Little Drummer Boy," "You’re All I Want For Christmas" performed by Inner Life’s Jocelyn Brown, and epic Christmas and New Year’s medleys.

Christmas Jollies features the Philadelphia soul sound of the original MFSB, including Norman Harris, The Trammps’ Earl Young, Larry Washington, Don Renaldo’s Horns and Strings, and The Sweethearts of Sigma.

The deluxe 24-page booklet includes photos, memorabilia, and a comprehensive essay by The Second Disc’s Joe Marchese drawing on new and archival quotes from Denise Montana, Vince Montana, Patrick Adams, The Salsoul Orchestra’s Bobby Eli, and others.

As a founding member of Philadelphia’s MFSB, vibraphonist Vincent Montana, Jr. played on countless hits by The O’Jays, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, The Three Degrees, Billy Paul, and others. He had a bigger vision - a full-fledged disco orchestra combining the soulful Philly sound with the infectious dance rhythms of Latin America.

The result was The Salsoul Orchestra, formed for the groundbreaking disco/dance label Salsoul Records by Montana and his MFSB bandmates. Christmas Jollies is a lush, orchestral salute to the holiday that became the US’ biggest-selling Christmas album of 1976 and 1977.

It inspired a 1981 sequel produced by Patrick Adams, featuring guest vocals from Salsoul recording artist Jocelyn Brown of Inner Life, Marian Rolle, and Wendell Morrison. After a hiatus, Salsoul Records relaunched in 1992 and enlisted the renowned Tom Moulton, “Father of the Disco Mix”, to work on Christmas Jollies.

The result was a more club-oriented sound to the original album, and Moulton’s mix has been primarily available for the last three decades. The Extra Jolly Edition presents Moulton’s mix in its 1992 2LP sequence which hasn’t yet appeared on CD.