Christmas at the Patti

The Flying Aces

Martin and George Ace, a husband and wife duo, backed by members of Help Yourself. Martin Ace had previously played in Dream and Man with Deke Leonard, who had been playing with Help Yourself since he had been fired by Man earlier in the year. The song had been written earlier that day, and was only performed on this one night. Although opening the album, they were the penultimate act on the night.

Ducks Deluxe

The first recording of pub rock band Ducks Deluxe ever released. The band had been formed earlier in the year by former Help Yourself roadie Sean Tyla, and bassist Ken Whaley. Whaley had already left by the time of this recording and would rejoin Help Yourself about 6 weeks later.

The Jets

There have been numerous bands called The Jets. This version had been a Swansea band 1964-65, and was later known as "The Smokeless Zone" who had played the Top Ten Club in Hamburg where Tony Sheridan played with them. Having had minimal rehearsal time, they chose two standards.

Plum Crazy with Dave Edmunds

Plum Crazy were a later (1968–69) reincarnation of the Jets, with Mickey Gee replacing Leonard. They were joined by Dave Edmunds. Because of the fluidity of groups in South Wales, this line up could equally have been called Love Sculpture with Plum Hollis.

Help Yourself with Deke Leonard and BJ Cole

Help Yourself had toured with Man on the Good Clean Fun tour of Switzerland. When Man fired Leonard, earlier that year, he moved into Help Yourself's house, and they played on his first solo album Iceberg. Malcolm Morley then suffered depression, so Leonard temporarily joined, as a replacement, but stayed when Morley returned. On this evening, they were joined by legendary pedal steel guitar player B J Cole. The two tracks are "testament to the band's own magnificent powers of improvisation, too seldom heard on its regular albums".

Man with Dave Edmunds and Stan Pfeiffer

Man's line up had recently undergone a major upheaval. After the successful Greasy Truckers Party (Recorded February 1972) and Live at the Padget Rooms, Penarth (Recorded April 1972) Martin Ace had left and Deke Leonard had been fired (although both were invited to this party). Clive John had rejoined, bringing with him Phil Ryan and Will Youatt, who had been playing together as Iorwerth Pritchard and the Neutrons. This new line up had just released Be Good to Yourself at Least Once a Day, and were joined by Dave Edmunds and Stan Phifer.

Track listing

1. The Flying Aces - "Welcome to the Party" (Martin Ace, George Ace) 2.20
2. Ducks Deluxe - "Boogaloo Babe" (Sean Tyla) 2.45
3. The Jets - "My Way" (Jerry Capehart, Eddie Cochran) – 4:05
4. The Jets - "Jambalaya" (Hank Williams) – 4.31

1. Plum Crazy with Dave Edmunds - "Jingle Bells" (James Lord Pierpont) – 0:31
2. Plum Crazy with Dave Edmunds - "Run, Run, Rudolph" (Johnny Marks, Marvin Brodie) – 2:17
3. Help Yourself with Deke Leonard and BJ Cole - "Mona" (Ellas McDaniel) – 11:40

1. Help Yourself with Deke Leonard and BJ Cole - "Eddie Waring" (Leonard) – 14:03

1. Man with Dave Edmunds and Stan Pfeiffer - "Life on the Road" (Jones, Williams, Youatt, Ryan, John) – 6.30
2. Man with Dave Edmunds and Stan Pfeiffer - "Shuffle (improvisation)" (Jones, Williams, Youatt, Ryan, John) – 5.00

Credits

Release history

Double 10" LP (1973) United Artists: UDX/205/6
CD (1997) Point PNTVP110CD
Double 10" LP (2001) Akarma (Italy) AK2020/2
CD re-mix (2007) Esoteric ECLEC 2018

Reviews

There are 2 Allmusic reviews of this album:-
The first, by Dave Thompson, is of the 10" vinyl and gave it four out of five stars. [1]
The second, by Jo-Ann Greene, is of the CD re-release and gave it four and a half stars out of five. [2]
Head Heritage publish Valve's review [3]