We hover around the early 1950s with this 1952 version of "Jingle Bells" as recorded by bandleader/vocalist Edmundo Ros and his Rumba Band on the British Decca label:
That's a very catchy arrangement! I feel I must point out, however, that the chorus (who sound very British) sings "on a one-horse open sleigh" rather than "in." Is that a British thing?
I see this listed as "Jingle Bells Calypso" sometimes, but I think the label is telling us it's "Jingle Bells" but the dance style is Calypso.
Here's the flipside, which does actually include "Samba" as part of the title:
That's also a fun arrangement!
Edmundo Ros was a Venezuelan born bandleader who was based in England for a long time - he lived to be 100 years old!
He specialized in Latin rhythms and I always associate him with the Samba, as he had a hit in the U.S. in 1950 with "The Wedding Samba" as released on the London Records label:
You may recall that British Decca had split off from American Decca and issued its records on the States on the London label.
I can't seem to determine whether or not Edmundo's "Jingle Bells" record was released Stateside on London Records. If it wasn't, I wonder why? Is it too British, despite the Latin beat?
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