Crabs for Christmas

"Crabs for Christmas"
The label of Crabs for Christmas. On the top side, it says "Crabs for Christmas (David DeBoy)", "Outrageous Records, Inc. Time 3:31. 21217 A. Vocal." on the left, "Published by Old Bay Publishing ASCAP, copyright 1981" on the right, and "David DeBoy. Produced by J. Friedman and B. Hardesty. Engineer Victor Giordano." on the bottom.
Single by David DeBoy
Released1981 (1981)
StudioFlight Three Records
Genre
LabelOutrageous Records
Songwriter(s)David DeBoy

"Crabs for Christmas" is a Christmas song by American actor and playwright David DeBoy. Published in 1981 as a Baltimore-area Christmas song, it is about a person from Maryland living in Houston, asking Santa Claus for crab and a beer as a Christmas gift. While one radio station refused to air "Crabs for Christmas" due to its use of the Baltimore accent, it has become a Maryland holiday tradition.

Background and release

It wasn’t until 1979 or '80 when I heard this song on the radio called "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer". And it wasn't this beautifully orchestrated Christmas song with Bing Crosby or Bob Hope or anything. It sounded like a bunch of drunks in a basement and they were just recording for fun. And I thought, "I can do THAT. Yeah, I can do that."

DeBoy on his inspiration to write "Crabs for Christmas", 2023[1]

DeBoy, the brother of fellow actor Paul,[2] recorded "Crabs for Christmas" in 1980.[3] After previously writing songs about non-human objects, he sought to make a Christmas song, capitalizing on increased music purchases during that period. Despite abandoning the idea, he reconsidered it after hearing "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" by Elmo and Patsy. He felt it was relatable to informally recorded humorous songs.[1][2]

DeBoy made the song have a local theme to appeal to people from Baltimore, and he said he wrote it with a title-first approach, the same way he wrote plays. He founded Outrageous Records with his friend Brent Hardesty to release the song, after which he held a 10-hour taping session at Flight Three Records in Baltimore, with eight hours of recording and two of mixing.[1][2] DeBoy said he recorded "Crabs for Christmas" with "friends I grabbed by the arm".[4]

DeBoy, who was then 28 years old, released "Crabs for Christmas" in 1981 as a 7-inch single, under Outrageous Records and distributed by the Schwartz Brothers of Lanham. It first played on WFBR radio station on November 28.[1][2][3] DeBoy spent $5,000 (equivalent to $16,757 in 2023) to produce 10,000 45 RPM singles.[5]

"Crabs for Christmas" sold 10,000 copies by December 22, and DeBoy ordered the production of another 3,000. DeBoy said the record was made for Baltimore, saying "I don't know what I would have done if it had caught on [nationally]. I'm stretched thin now."[2] According to DeBoy, "Crabs for Christmas" was estimated to reach 12,000 sales by the end of the 1981 Christmas season.[4] Another 4,000 copies were sold in 2001, the song's 20th anniversary.[5]

Composition

"Crabs for Christmas" features a man from Baltimore with a stereotypical accent asking Santa Claus for crab and a beer as a Christmas gift at "a department store north of Houston".[3][2][4]

Reception

Writing for The Baltimore Sun, Lisa DeNike described "Crabs for Christmas" as "spicy and home-towney as Old Bay Seasoning and refreshing as a cold brew." While one radio station refused to air "Crabs for Christmas" due to DeBoy's use of the Baltimore accent, DeBoy responded that "most people think it's the greatest thing" and that "I don't think there's anything wrong with that accent".[3]

Personnel

Adapted from the single label[6] and The Baltimore Sun:[2]

Legacy

After the success of "Crabs for Christmas", DeBoy released "Downyocean"[a] (pronounced "down the ocean") with the people with whom he recorded "Crabs for Christmas", now known as the Fool Brothers, in 1982. On the B-side of "Downyocean" was "Meetcha at the Fair",[b] scheduled to be presented at the Baltimore City Fair.[1][7][8]

Inspired by a discussion with Marty Bass on the WJZ morning show, DeBoy made an album commemorating the 20th anniversary of "Crabs for Christmas", including remakes of it and "Meetcha at the Fair", in 2000.[1] In 2001, DeBoy joked that some believed "Crabs for Christmas" continuing to air on radio stations during Christmas "has contributed to the city's population decline".[9] He released Crabs for Christmas - Live, a CD of thirteen Baltimore-centric tracks to commemorate the song's thirtieth anniversary; this included "Crabs for Christmas", as well as tracks such as "Biggest Star in Hampden" and "Baltimore Vowels".[5]

DeBoy released a book, I Gave Baltimore Crabs! (for Christmas), about his musical activities. It chronicled his attempts to remake "Maryland, My Maryland", the former state anthem of Maryland that supported the Confederate States of America, and get it adopted as the new anthem. "Crabs for Christmas" remains a Maryland holiday tradition.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ Also capitalized "DownyOcean"[7] and known as "Down the Ocean"[1]
  2. ^ Also known as "City Fair"[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Worthington, Aliza (December 12, 2023). "The enduring Baltimore charm of David DeBoy's 'Crabs for Christmas,' more than 40 years after initial release". Baltimore Fishbowl. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Dawson, Jack (December 22, 1981). "A dish for Scrooge? 'Crabs for Christmas' is a Baltimore carol". The Baltimore Sun. pp. B1 – B2. Retrieved December 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d DeNike, Lisa (December 14, 1981). "His Christmas record won't make him crabby". The Evening Sun. p. B7. Retrieved December 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c "Crabby Christmas: Baltimore composer records Maryland-style carol". The Star Democrat. Associated Press. December 24, 1981. p. 3. Retrieved December 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c Kaltenbach, Chris (November 27, 2011). "30 Years of 'Crabs for Christmas': From Page One; In 1981, Baltimore's Love of Christmas, Crustaceans Became a Holiday Song". The Baltimore Sun. p. E1. ProQuest 906365835. Retrieved December 27, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  6. ^ DeBoy, David (1981). Crabs for Christmas (label). Old Bay Publishing.
  7. ^ a b Dawson, Jack (August 17, 1982). "'Meetcha at the Fair' is newest jingle". The Baltimore Sun. p. C3. Retrieved December 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Charles, Laura (May 16, 1982). "Bawlamerese put to music". The Baltimore Sun. p. E5. Retrieved December 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Our very own Bawlmer, hon, has been immortalized on CD". The Baltimore Sun. November 25, 2001. Retrieved December 26, 2024.

Further reading

  • DeBoy, David (2021). I Gave Baltimore Crabs! (for Christmas): How My Wacky Christmas Song Became a Maryland Holiday Tradition. Self-published. ISBN 9780578993362.
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