Fifties rockin' Christmas gems from Québec

Marcel Martel from Drummondville, Québec, was a pioneer of the country and western genre. One of his daughters is a famous country and western singer, Renée Martel, who has a few Christmas albums of standards. Over the course of a 35-year career, he released nearly 200 records, frequently collaborating with his wife Noëlla Therrien, his daughter Renée, who also had a very long career, and fellow country singer Paul Brunelle.

Irène McNeil recorded a song with a similar name called 'Rock N' Roll Du Père Noël' in 1957, produced by French immigrant businesswoman Michèle Sandry, who also sang and recorded herself. Good luck finding those rarities. McNeil was also nicknamed 'Mademoiselle Rythme' ('Miss Rhythm'), the title of her first album. Listen to the entire album here, which features another Christmas song, 'Noël en Italie' ('Christmas in Italy').

Unlike Marcel Martel's 'Rock'n'roll du Père Noël', which he wrote himself, McNeil's 'Rock N' Roll Du Père Noël' is an adaptation of 'Boogie Woogie Santa Claus', first recorded by Mabel Scott and popularised by Patti Page in 1950. 'Mademoiselle Rythme' is said to be the first female rock and roll album released in Canada, an honour that goes to a French-speaker as well, which culturally was no small feat.

Just dropped is Germany's Monokini with a nice straightforward and minimalist cover of McNeil's 'Rock N' Roll Du Père Noël' - bonus!

Marcel Martel - Rock'n'roll du Pere Noël Irène McNeil - Rock N' Roll Du Père Noël Monokini - Rock N' Roll Du Père Noël