Be Here Now: Johnny Rabb’s Christmas Dance @ the Polish American Association, 12/4/09

Have a Cool Yule with Johnny Rabb!

Nippertown rockabilly kingpin Johnny Rabb looooves Christmas. His annual Christmas in July parties are legendary, and when the real-deal holiday rolls around, Rabb is always at the head of the party pack.

His “Hi-Fi Christmas Dance” takes place at 7:30pm tonight at the Polish American Association in Cohoes, and you can bet that Rabb and lots of his musician buddies will be cranking out some roots-rockin’ holiday tunes and caroling around the ole wassail bowl.

One jumpin’ little tune that you’re certain to hear is “Christmas Dance,” that annual December favorite that Rabb recorded way back when at Art Snay’s Arabellum Studios with an all-star band that included guitarmeister Eddie Angel (who co-wrote the tune with Rabb), bassist Buck Malen, drummer Mark Foster and keyboardist David Maswick.

It’s difficult to believe, but “Christmas Dance” was first issued as a 45RPM single – yes, kiddies, vinyl – 25 years ago on Blotto Records. (Buck Malen also penned the flipside, “Lucky for Christmas,” and snapped the photo that adorned the black & white picture sleeve.)

So get ready to do a little rockin’ around the Christmas tree, and celebrate a quarter century of “Christmas Dance” with Johnny Rabb and Friends tonight.