About this Record
Formed by the Dedrick siblings (Chris, Bruce, and Sandra Dedrick) in New York, The Free Design are widely revered among soft rock, sunshine pop, and crate-digging aficionados for their sophisticated vocal harmonies, baroque arrangements, and jazz-influenced chord progressions. Released in late 1968 on Enoch Light’s audiophile-focused Project 3 Total Sound label, this promotional 7-inch single showcases the group’s delightfully whimsical take on holiday music.
Mastered and cut from 35mm magnetic film—a hallmark of Project 3’s high-fidelity recording philosophy—this single is pressed in punchy monaural sound specifically designated ‘Promotional Not for Sale’ for radio station play. With Chris Dedrick’s inventive songwriting on the whimsical A-side and Arthur Dedrick’s arrangement on the flip, this scarce vintage 45 remains a perennial favorite among pop connoisseurs and seasonal crate diggers.
Tracklist & Notes
- Side A: Close Your Mouth (It’s Christmas) – 2:03 (Written by C. Dedrick)
- Side B: Christmas Is the Day – 3:34 (Written by A. Dedrick)
Notes: US original promotional pressing; white Project 3 Total Sound labels with ‘Monaural’ and ‘Promotional Not for Sale’ text.
「なんか汚いんだけど。ちゃんとしたジャケットすらないし、古びているしどこで拾ってきたんだろう。」
(Wife’s thought: Honestly, it looks kind of gross… It doesn’t even have a proper cover, just an old battered paper sleeve. Where on earth did he even pick this up? )
