Last Month of the Year - Vera Hall original

I've collected a few versions of this Christmas song over the years and would like to finally get it entered in the database. I'm just not sure of the authorship, but I know there are people here who know a lot more than I do about Vera Hall and her work, and her recording sessions with Alan Lomax.

GEMA has a work code 521164-001 crediting Hall with the music and Ruby Tartt and Alan Lomax as lyricists. That doesn't seem correct, but should I enter it that way to go with the PRO?

I'm also having trouble finding a first release or recording for this song, though I did find this info.

I suspect that Vera Hall's version of this song is a variant of a traditional song. Both the Selah Jubilee Singers and Heavenly Gospel Singers recorded versions in the 1940s and neither credited songwriters. The Heavenly Gospel Singers recorded it in 1941 and it was released early in 1942.

Off hand, I don't know if there were earlier recordings.

I notice that Chris Isaac's version credits this song as traditional while the Kingston Trio version credits Hall, Lomax, etc.

My money is still on traditional.

Thanks Murray.

I originally thought traditional, then saw a lot of people crediting Vera Hall, so became unsure.

I'll enter it as a traditional. Thanks for the heads up on the Selah Jubilee Singers and Heavenly Gospel Singers. I wasn't aware of those recordings, and it will be great to have them in the database.

Glad to help. Here are links for these two early versions.

Selah Jubilee Singers

When Was Jesus Born

Manor 8008

https://archive.org/details/78_when-was-jesus-born_selah-jubilee-singers_gbia029…

Heavenly Gospel Singers

When Was Jesus Born?

Bluebird B 8907

https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/objects/detail/64984/Bluebird_B-8907

Both versions have been added to the database. Thanks for the help!