Advent Calendar 2022

Harry Belafonte did it in two minutes and fifty-seven seconds. But Peters & Lee needed five minutes and five seconds to tell the story of the birth of Mary's Boy Child. Admittedly, Boney M took five minutes and ten seconds to get through it, but then it was as part of a medley so they were still quicker.

And who are Peters & Lee? A duo consisting of Lennie Peters and Dianne Lee, they are one of those acts I only really know about from reading the British pop and rock press for more than 40 years. My impression is that they were regarded as rather uncool: variety television fixtures that sang songs for mum and dad.

This version of Mary's Boy Child was issued as a 1976 single B-side, and I find it strangely compelling. Lennie Peters' low-key, somewhat frail vocals are quite attractive to me, and Dianne Lee provides a nice harmony. The slow pace doesn't make me impatient, rather it draws me in. There you go.

Listen to Mary's Boy Child.

Not available on Spotify, but the link takes you to the playlist for this year's Advent Calendar, where you can listen to the other selections so far.

The Spotify playlist for all the previous Advent Calendars is here. Note: The playlist is incomplete, as some of my calendar selections are just too obscure for Spotify.