Track was recorded over the summer
Billy F Gibbons is capping of 2021 with “Jingle Bell Blues,” a reworking of “Jingle Bells” with some significant modifications. Recorded in Nashville this past June, the singular track is available digitally as well as a lavishly packaged 45 RPM single, pressed on red translucent vinyl. The cover art depicts multiple Cadillac Fleetwood Broughams stacked to reflect the shape of a traditional Christmas tree while the obverse is adorned by a swanky stylized wire wheel.
The use of “singular” is intentional as only one track, “Jingle Bell Blues,” is offered. The flip side of the record is an etched surface that replicates the sidewall of a bias ply tire with raised letters spelling out the song title and Gibbons’ name. Lastly, and of special note, is the fact that the red vinyl version comes with a Billy F Gibbons center hole adapter making it easy to play on any standard turntable.
“I suppose it could have been produced with a small hole and we wouldn’t have had to deal with the adapter, but this is, at its essence, a jukebox record. It was even mixed with that in mind,” Gibbons says of the 7-inch. “Around Christmas, it always seems that there are five to ten holiday selections listed in the lower right corner of a typical jukebox in a typical juke joint, the song titles and artist names printed on wreath-bedecked title strips. Our hope is for ‘Jingle Bell Blues’ to be one of those records. Bing Crosby, David Bowie, Elvis, Brenda Lee, Jose Feliciano, Otis Redding, Mariah Carey, Nat King Cole, Gene Autry, and not forgetting Adam Sandler, need some company and we’d be thrilled to provide it in the spirit of the season.”
The song follows Gibbons’ most recent solo album, Hardware, available now via Concord Records.
