Jenny Don't & The Spurs: A Western Holiday (Doomtown Sound, DTS-020, USA, 45 rpm, gold And red splatter vinyl)
I remember having seen a punk band called Don't about two years ago in the local club OCCII, here in Amsterdam. Led by front woman Jenny Don't, the band put down an energetic set. What I didn't know, and only just discovered, is that basically the same people are also playing in another band, Jenny Don't & The Spurs. A total different cup of tea, as Jenny Don't & The Spurs play traditional country. Think Hank Williams and The Carter Family. And now Jenny Don't & The Spurs have released a holiday single, 'A Western Holiday'. They are from Portland, Oregon, which is indeed in the western part of the US, so yes, it is indeed a western holiday that they celebrate over there. Although that is probably not what they mean with the title.
Most of the classic country Christmas songs are sad songs ('Blue Christmas', 'Will Santa Come To Shanty Town', 'An Old Christmas Card', 'Pretty Paper' and 'If We Make It Through December' to name just a few) and Jenny Don't knows that: 'Holiday Tears' and 'Santa, Please Bring Him Home' are all about loss and feeling lonely at Christmas. Although the music does not sound that sad at all. Both songs are upbeat, quite melodic, and invite you to tap along with your cowboy boots (with spurs). Add a great looking and very seasonal cover and red-gold splattered vinyl, and we have another 45 you need in your Christmas music collection!
And before you start listening to these two great country Christmas songs, I am just going to list the band members with the bands they have played in, to proof we have a very unusual combination here: some of the most active people from the hardcore and punk scene from Portland in the last 20 to 30 years playing country music that goes even further back. Jenny Don't played in Ladies Of The Night and Don't. There is Kelly Halliburton on bass who played in 16 Volt, Axiom, Burning Leather, Celebrity Graves, Cluster Bomb Unit, Dead Moon, Defiance , Deprived, Detestation, Don't, Endrophobia, Final Massakre, Holocausto Pomada, Masskontroll, Murder Disco Experience, P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S., Pierced Arrows, Resist, Severed Head Of State, Suicide Blitz and War Machine. And we have the oldest guy on the block, drummer Sam Henry, who already played in the late 1970s in legendary punk band The Wipers, and also played in Don't, Napalm Beach, Poison Idea, Snow Bud And The Flower People and The Rats. Guitarist and steel guitarist Christopher March seems to be the rookie in the band, as Discogs does not list any previous bands for him. You can listen to the two songs on the band's Bandcamp, and you can also order the single there.
So far, this year has seen three UK indie bands releasing a Christmas 45: of course Glasgow's Bis, one of the three Snowflakes singles, and also London three piece Girl Ray and Durham quartet Martha: although the single of this last band is more a winter-themed single than a Christmas single.
Girl Ray: (I Wish I Were Giving You A Gift) This Christmas / I'll Be Home For Christmas
(Moshi Moshi, moshi275, 45rpm, red vinyl)
Girl Ray was one of the band's on Snowflakes shortlist for this year's Christmas single, as I loved the band's debut 45 'Trouble', that was released in November 2016. At the time the single was released, the three members of Girl Ray were only 18 years old. In the end, I did not contact the band, and I have to say I was very pleased to find out they released a Christmas single after all. And not only that, but they even stuck to the Snowflakes Singles Club format – without knowing it probably – with an original Christmas song on the A-side of their single and a cover on the B-side. The single was released on December 8 by their label Moshi Moshi Records, one of the most active and, if you ask me, best UK indie labels, and comes in a funny sleeve, picturing the three girls on the beach, in what looks like the midst of the English Summer (so it's not too sunny), making a little dance with Santa hats on their heads. A litte background about Girl Ray. The band is based in North London, and was formed by schoolfriends singer and guitarist Poppy Hankin and drummer Iris McConnell. After writing songs and trying out all kind of stuff together, without really going anywhere, things really starting rolling after the two where joined by another school friend Sophie Moss on bass. The band, the name cleverly inspied by avantgarde photographer Man Ray, released a first (digital) single 'Ghosty' and followed it up with the above mentioned 'Trouble' and a full length album this year.
The Christmas single was in the works for some time, and it seems the title "(I Wish I Were Giving You A Gift) This Christmas" was there before the actual song, because in an interview earlier this year the band already fantasized how great it would be to record a Christmas song with exactly that title. Well, in true DIY fashion (if you want something to be done, do it yourself) they decided to make this great idea happen, and this 45 is the proof of the pudding. According to the press release, '(I Wish I Were Giving You A Gift) This Christmas' is a song about loneliness and longing at Christmas and it ''finds the North London trio embracing a seasonally sonic palette of children's choir, sleigh bells, and the hidden whinny of a kidnapped reindeer'. The press release is complety right here, and this means the song also really sounds like a Christmas song;. Girl Ray is not a band that is all about writing simple catchy melodies. Judging their debut album, the much praised 'Earl Grey' the band has a lot of different ideas, and their songs, although firmly rooted in the UK indie pop tradition, go in all sort of directions. The same is the case of '(I Wish I Were Giving You A Gift) This Christmas'. It's the kind of song that you first have to get used to, with all the tempo changes, different instruments used (piano, sax), but after a few listens, you will start to love it, and can't wait to play it again, because in a way, it keeps sounding fresh. The vocals sound very British, at least to my ears, with adds only to the charm of the song. And just wait till the children's voices join in, singing the main wish the song expresses 'I need a friend tonight'. A melancholic song, yes, but a sad one, no.
The B-side has Girl Ray's take on the classic 'I'll Be Home This Christmas'. This song, sung by all the Christmas greats like Bing Crosby (who recorded the original version), Perry Como and Frank Sinatra, was written during World War II, and is another song about longing, longing to be home with your loved ones. 'if only in my dreams'. So both sides seem to have a common theme. Girl Ray plays the song on what sounds like a very old casio. It sounds like it was recorded in a bedroom; what it probably also was. And what better place to record a song about longing to be home, at home?
The single is still available in most of the good independent record shops all around the world (Moshi Moshi usually has a good distribution) or directly from the label.
Check their video:
The complete single, including the B-side, is also found on the band's Bandcamp.
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Martha: The Winter Fuel Allowance Ineligibility Blues / Fix My Brain
(Fortuna Pop, fpop171, UK, 45 rpm, 300 copies, randomly coloured vinyl)
Martha, came to my attention a few years ago, after the band just started out, as they were described as an anarchist vegan straight edge band. For the uninitiated – anarchist means 'no government and no authority', vegan means 'no meat, no diary, no eggs and no other animal products' and straight edge means 'no drugs, no alcohol, no cigarettes and no other intoxicants'. Indeed, that are a lot of 'no's'. Most bands that follow this ideology and lifestyle play music that is sometimes fast, sometimes heavy, but always loud. But not Martha, as their main inspirations are pop punk, indie pop, pop rock and well, pop. So they are a bit of an anomality, and anomalities are always interesting. Especially anomalities that you share a common lifestyle with. As I am also very much a 'no'-person. I checked out some of their music, and it sounded nice, while the bands also had a lot of intelligent things to say, always a pre in my book. Music is important, but the perfect song not only has great melodies, but also lyrics that inspire or touch you. Anyway, I kept following the band from a distance, and it was a happy surprise to find out they released a Christmas single this year. Well, not really a Christmas single, as there is not a single mention of Christmas on neither the A-side or the B-side. But the single comes in a seasonal cover, with a picture that seems to be taken on Christmas Day, probably somewhere in the 1970s, and if you look well, you clearly see a Santa Claus and the word 'Christmas'. The A-side of the single has 'Winter' in the title, and is about the winter, so all in all, it's – just – enough to pass the 'Christmas single'-test.
'The Winter Fuel Allowance Ineligibility Blues' is not a new song, as it was previously released on the compilation 'It Came From Plan-It-X'. But as this compilation is long sold out and label Plan-It-X has ceased operations, so there is enough reason to re-release this song for the winter season on a fresh 7”. And so did Nathan Stephens-Griffin, Naomi Griffin, Daniel Ellis, and JC Cairns, the four that make up the band. It is a truely democratic band, so all band members share lead vocals, JC Cairns doing most vocal duties on 'The Winter Fuel Allowance Ineligibility Blues' – great title, by the way.
In essence, the song is a love song. It talks about being faced by poverty and hardship 'being battered by the cruelty of this Tory Government', to put it in the words of the band, with, among many other things, a gas bill that is overdue. But then there is still love. That inspires. And pulls you through. And how do you express how much you love the person that is responsible for all these good things in your life? Very simple. 'You know I love you because the heating is on when you come around'. Yes, you put the heating on, as you don't want that special person to catch a cold. That goes without saying. The song is fastpaced, urgent, catchy, with jangling guitars and even some oeh-oeh-oeh backup vocals. The B-side is a cover of The Marked Men's 'Fix My Brain', and has no connection to Christmas or winter whatsoever. The single is, as Martha puts it on their Bandcamp, pressed on 'weirdo random mixed up vinyl'. I haven't received mine copy yet (it is in the mail), so I can't tell what this exactly means, but I think you get the idea.
As a sad side note, this Martha single is the last release for Fortuna POP. Above, I praised Moshi Moshi as one of the finest British indie labels, but the same could be said about Fortuna POP. Unfortunately, the label choose to throw the towel in the ring, after 171 releases. The single is sold out at Martha's bandcamp, but when you go out to buy the Girl Ray single at this fine indie record shop down the road, you can pick up a copy of this single, too. And if you were lucky enough to get a Bis single through the mail last month (or bought it in that same record shop at that time), you can create your own UK indie Christmas on your turntable.
If not, you can always listen to the Martha tracks on their Bandcamp.
This post will introduce Christmas singles by three bands/artists who officially belong to the heavy weights of this earth, although you wouldn't guess so for two of the three, listening to their Christmas singles. We are talking here about the third Christmas single of Tarja and Christmas singles by Italian gothic metal band Lacuna Coil and the British hardrock veterans of Thunder.
In my post of November 24 I wrote about the first two singles Tarja released, 'O Come O Come Emmanuel' and 'O Tannenbaum', both taken from her album 'From Spirits And Ghosts – Score For A Dark Christmas', and I also mentioned a third single be expected somewhere in December. Well, this third single has now been released, on December 8, and it turned out a very special one. Instead of just taking a song from the album and put two different versions on the single, as Tarja did with her first two Christmas singles, she something special, with the help of many prominent artists from the scene that made Tarja big, the gothic/symphonic metal scene. Together they recorded the 'Barbuda relief and recovery charity version' of 'Feliz Navidad', one of the (many) high lights of Tarja's album.
Barbuda is a small Carribean island with 1500 residents, and is part of the state of Antigua and Barbuda. Tarja recorded her album in Antigua, where she also has a home. She writes on her website that she had just finished recording the album when the hurricane Irma hit Barbuda, which completely ravaged the island. To help the inhabitants rebuilt the island, Tarja decided to call some of her friends and ask them to help her out with recording a benefit version of 'Feliz Navidad'. This version is now released on a 7" (and digitally), with all proceeds going to rebuilding the island. Tarja's label Ear Music promised to double the amount of money raised. A very worthwhile effort by a great singer, so I can not recommended enough to get this single – on vinyl or digital.
On the B-side of the vinyl version is the album version of 'Feliz Navidad'. Tarja's version is very different from the original version José Feliciano recorded in 1970, a version that, when it came out, was not really a hit, but now is one of the 25 most played Christmas songs over the world. Just as the original version, Tarja's version has lyrics in Spanish and in English. Feliciano included some English lines, as he was afraid that when the lyrics would be all-Spanish, radio station in the US would not play the record. That turned out a smart move, and has certainly helped to make this song the Christmas classic that it now is. Because, let's face it, how many Christmas classics do you know that are completely sung in Spanish? I'm thinking hard, but I can't come up with any.
Tarja's version is moody, much slower than the original, and instead of inviting you to sing-a-long and party, Tarja's version invites you to sit down, relax and listen to the music. The charity version is even longer than the five minutes the album version lasts, and features, in order of appearance Michael Monroe (former vocalist of Finnish glamrock band Hanoi Rocks), Doro Pesch (former vocalist of German 80s metal band Warlock, and the-grand-old lady of German metal), Tony Kakko (vocalist of Finnish power metal band Sonata Arctica), Elize Ryd (vocalist of Swedish metal band Amaranthe), Marko Saaresto (vocalist of Finnish alt.rock band Poets Of The Fall), Timo Kotipelto (singer of Finnish power metal band Stratovarius), Simone Simons (singer of Dutch symphonic metal band Epica), Cristina Scabbia (singer of Italian gothic metal band Lacuna Coil), Joe Lynn Turner (former vocalist of Rainbow), Floor Jansen (another compatriot of me, formerly singer of Dutch gothic metal band After Forever, now singer of Nightwish, the band that started the career of Tarja), Hansi Kürsch (singer of German power metal band Blind Guardian) and last, but definitely not least, Sharon Den Adel (the third Dutch singer involved in this project, singer of Within Temptation). All these vocalist sing a line (well, in fact, they all sing the same line , 'We Want to wish you merry Christmas'), in good old 'Band Aid'-fashion. Tarja handles the vocals in the first part of the song, and all join together in grand finale.
Tarja filmed a video for the album version of 'Feliz Navidad'. In most of her videos Tarja is always looking quite serious and sometimes even a bit scary, but not in this one: she gives us her most beautiful smile!
The charity version does not come with a video, but you can listen to the song on Spotify and with an eye on the list of participants, check which of the vocalist is your favorite. Or just enjoy the music.
Not a guitar to be heard on Tarja's 'Feliz Navidad', but Lacuna Coil's single 'Naughty Christmas' makes up for that. 'Naughty Christmas' is a genuine metal song, and every metalhead's favorite Christmas figure, Krampus, is the star of this song. There is a connection with Tarja's third Christmas single, as Lacuna Coil's Cristina Scabbia was one of the singers featured on 'Feliz Navidad'.
Lacuno Coil formed in 1994, in Milan, Italy, as Sleep Of Right, by vocalist Andrea Ferro and bassist/composer Marco Coti Zelati. Around 1995 Cristina Scabbia joined the band, first as background vocalist, but later she became one of the lead vocalists. In 1997 the band changed its name to Ethereal and signed to Centuria Media, one of the biggest metal labels in the world. When it turned out there was already a Greek band by the name of Ethereal, the band settled for Lacuna Coil. After initial success in Europe, around 2004-2005, the band also made a major breakthrough in the USA, and their 2002 album 'Comalies' became the best-selling album in the history of their label. Over the next few years, Lacuna Coil would have several albums in the upper ranks of the Billboard 200 album chart - quite an accomplishment for a metal band from Italy. In the last few years, the sound of the band became less melodic and heavier.
'Naughty Christmas' was already recorded last year, and was also released digitally as a stand-alone single in December 2016. The song features three different vocal styles: a brutal male one, the personification of Krampus ('(I'm on my way / Naughty children be afraid / One at a time / I'll take you all away'), an annoying kid's voice, ('But I have been so bad / Santa will not bring me gifts and... / Krampus might come / What is this noise on the backyard?'), sometimes joined by more annoying kid's voices ('Na na na na na na-naughty Christmas') and the melodic female vocals of Cristina Scabbia in the role of the storyteller ('Watch out / The animal / Coming to get all the children / Faster / You've got to hide'). The music is both melodic and heavy and there are enough sleigh bells to give the song, despite all the heavy guitars and vocal brutality, a genuine Christmas feel.
'Naughty Christmas' is now also pressed on a single sided vinyl 7", as a special release for Lacuna Coil's current European tour. Only 300 copies are pressed, all signed by the band. As the tour has 30 shows, I guess all singles will be gone by the end of the tour, which is in a few days. So not much chance for us Christmas collectors to get a copy, unfortunately...
Still, we can enjoy the lyric video on Youtube:
Thunder: Christmas Day / Love Walked In (2017 Version) (earMusic, 0212390EMU, Germany, 45 rpm)
The third single in this overview of the heavier side of Christmas does have guitars, but Thunder's song 'Christmas Day' is the opposite of a heavy song. It's a heartfelt ballad, and the only guitars used are acoustic, and that is almost all that is heard, apart from some subtile drums and keys, and the voice of singer Danny Bowes. Thunder was formed in 1989 by three members of Terraplane, Danny Bowes, Luke Morley (guitar) and Gary 'Harry' James. All three founding members are still members of Thunder, 28 years later. The band was very successful in the early 1990s, with several UK top 10 albums and more than 10 hits in the UK singles charts. In 2015, they made a return to the UK album top 10 with their tenth studio album, released on earMusic (the same label that puts out Tarja's records).
Thunder played several Christmas shows since 2011, so the fact that the band decided to record a Christmas single was maybe to expected. 'Christmas Day' is a lament of a man waiting for his loved one to call him, but at the same time knowing he will be alone at Christmas this year. Bowes sings it with a very emotional voice, that, to be honest, I had to get used to – putting emotions in vocals is of course great, but one should not over do it.
'Christmas Day' is released on many different formats, including a 10” and a 7”. The 7” doesn't come with a picture sleeve, as the 10” comes, but the vinyl is housed in a golden sleeve. The 7” (and also the other formats) can be ordered through earMusic.
The band also made a video, that shows Bowes singing the song amids a crowd of (mostly young, hip and handsome) party heads, of whom many to try to comfort him, althought without really paying attention to his grief it seems, as they are too busy partying. The wild party going on in the video totally desonates with the mindset of Bowes, and with the music the band is playing. But it works to get the general mood of the song through.
TWIZTID: Ain't Been Right / Sad Christmas Song
(Majik Ninja Entertainment, MNE 60, US, 45 rpm, transculent green vinyl, 500 copies)
The connection between hiphop and Christmas goes back to the early days of hiphop (or rap music as it was still called in those days), the late 1970s and early 1980s. The first rap record that was released on a major label in the United States was a Christmas song. We are of course talking about Kurtis Blow and 'Christmas Rap' here. And, believe it or not, 'Christmas Rapping' (not a cover) by Dizzi Heights (or Dizzy Heights, the spelling differed between pressings), was the first UK rap record. Both songs had more in common than the fact that they were 'firsts' and that they both had 'Christmas' and 'Rap' in the title. Musically, both songs were rooted in disco. The record labels in these early days of hiphop were afraid that this new style of 'singing' was already weird enough for most of the record buying public. Disco was at least a familiar music style and was also popular by the white audience. And as Christmas music had a long tradition of novelty songs, the majors saw this as a safe way to test if the record buying public was ready for this new style of music. It turned out the English were, as 'Christmas Rap' managed to enter the UK singles charts and reached number 30. For the American record buying public, it took a little bit longer. 'Christmas Rapping' charted for the first time in the US in 1993, in the R&B Charts. But by that time, hiphop had already become widely accepted. Dizzi Heights was not as successful as Kurtis Blow with his Christmas single, as it did not chart at all. It is now almost 40 years since 'Christmas Rapping' was put out, and over the years, hiphop has become one of the most popular music styles – even in many others styles of music, the influence of hiphop is very much present and I am not only talking about R&B and soul here.
Kurtis Blow's classic on Youtube:
Dizzi Height's not-so-classic on Youtube:
The connection between Christmas music did not end with Kurtis Blow and Dizzi Heights. On the contrary, many rappers have tried their hands on Christmas song. The classic hiphop Christmas song is, without any doubt, Run DMC's 'Christmas In Hollis'. It was first released on the 1987 compilation 'A Very Special Christmas', the first edition of this popular compilation series. 'Christmas In Hollis' was also released as a single, in the UK in 1987 (in a gatefold sleeve with the same Keith Haring artwork as the album had) and reached number 56 in the UK singles charts in December 1987. The song saw it's first US single release one year later, when it was teamed up with another fine Christmas rap song, female rapper Sweet Tee's 'Let The Jingle Bells Rock'. Both songs were also included on one of the first Christmas hiphop compilations, 'Christmas Rap', that was already released ithe previous year. It was well into the 1990s before Run DMC's 'Christmas In Hollis' would chart in the US R&B Singles Charts– although only for one week (#80 on January, 9, 1999). The popularity of Run DMC's 'Christmas In Hollis' is not only illustrated by the 8,5 million views of the video of the song on Youtube, but also by the re-release of the 7” for Record Store Day Black Friday 2014 (where it came with a playable Christmas card) and a re-release on a picture disc 12” two years later, again on the occassion of Record Store Day Black Friday.
The Run DMC's 'Christmas In Hollis' video never gets boring:
No video for Sweet Tee, but the song is cool and deserves to be heard:
This Record Store Day Black Friday also saw the release of a hiphop 7”, although I don't think this one will get the same legendary status as the Kurtis Blow and Run DMC's singles. Although that does't mean it is bad. Twiztid is already around for 20 years, and consists of Jamie Spaniolo (aka Jamie Madrox) and Paul Methric (aka Monoxide). The duo is based in Detroit, Michigan, and has already released seven albums over the years – of which some have reached the Billboard Album Top 10. After their formation, Twiztid signed to Psychopathic Records, the label of the Insane Clown Posse, probably the most well-known and succesful band in the horrorcore genre (who, by the way, re-released their 1994 Christmas EP 'Xmas' on 7” for RSD Black Friday last year). Twiztid became one of the most succesful groups on the label. Their records also received a lot of praise from critics. That Twiztid had something with Christmas was already clear in 2011, when they released their Christmas EP (on a CDr) 'A Cutthroat Christmas'. The EP was re-released on vinyl in 2016. By that time, Twiztid had left Psychopathic records and formed their own label, Majik Ninja Entertainment. Their 2017 Christmas single, 'Ain't Been Right', is also released on that label. The single reprises one song of the 2011 Christmas EP, 'Sad Christmas Song'. A-side 'Ain't Been Right' is a new song.
Twiztid is a band that is not only influenced by hiphop, but definitely also by rock. Kiss is mentioned as one of their influences: and that's not only because of the similar black-white facepaint Twiztid uses. The rock influences are clearly present on 'Ain't Been Right', not only because of the guitars that feature promiment in the backing track (the start of the songs even sounds like a rock ballad), but also because of the sung refrain. I have to say I can't really figure out what the song is about: their rapping goes a bit too fast for me. B-side 'Sad Christmas Song' features their pal Blaze Ya Dead Homie, who was also featured on their very first 1997 demo, that got them signed to Psychopathic. This song has a more 'traditional' hiphop sound. It doesn't exactly paint a pleasurable picture of Christmas. It is about the Christmas of the people who are giving through a tough time, those who 'got no money, got no job and got no reason to be celebrating', who 'seem to be in a hopeless situation. 'Christmas blues', as they sum it up in two words. With a lot of swearing, killings and pistols shots, this is not exactly a 'let all people live in peace and harmony Christmas'-song. But well, it isn't called horrorcore for nothing, is it? The single was released in an edition of 500 copies, all on transculent green vinyl. It's something different than most of the other Christmas 45s this year, and just for that, I like it. But the music is good, too, so I will be playing it a few times this Christmas.
BROS: A Very BROS Christmas Vol. I (Dine Alone, DAV201, Canada, 45 rpm, black or green/red-vinyl)
Knowing that the poplular late 1980s British boy band Bros ('When Will I Be Famous?', 'I Owe You Nothing', these songs should ring a bell) reformed in 2017 and seeing a 7” called 'A Very BROS Christmas Vol. I' released by a band called BROS for Record Store Day's Black Friday celebration, one might think that the brothers Luke And Matt Goss decided to follow up their 1988 Christmas hit 'Silent Night' (#2 in the UK singles chart), to compete again for the UK Christmas number one. I do have a copy of 'the 'Silent Night' 7” in my collection, but to be honest, that is more because of the beautiful designed sleeve (with three golden silhouettes - there were still three bros in those days - under a golden star with a dark blue background) than because of their interpretation of 'Silent Night', that was a bit too polished for my taste.
Of course, the fact that 'A Very BROS Christmas, Vol. I' was a Canadian RSD Black Friday release was a sign that this was maybe a different Bros. And for those still in doubt, just take a look on the cover: instead of two clean cut guys in their late 40s /early 50s two 20-something types are pictured, both far from clean cut... one has a moustache, and the other sports a beard, and, well, I am pretty sure these guys are not going to the hairdresser, or should I say barber, every week, looking at their haircuts. What they do have in common with the other Bros is that two brothers are involved (hence the name, as you guessed), Ewan and Shamus Currie. Ewan is the front man for platinum-selling Canadian band rock band The Sheepdogs, and Shamus is the keyboard player of the band. As they are platinum selling, they must be very big in Canada and probably also the States, but to be honest, I had never heard of The Sheepdogs. Which, of course, says more about me than about the band.
The two brothers released a debut album as BROS in October 2016, that also carried the name BROS and had the same sleeve photo as their Christmas single, minus the Santa/Elf hats and the green/red background. As that would not have made sense for a non-Christmas album. The Sheepdogs appear to be a straightforward rock band, but for their BROS project, the Cumming brothers took their inspirations from all over the pop music spectrum, not only rock bands (their bio mentions Badfinger) but also South American musicians like Gilberto Gil and psychedelic band Os Mutantes. Not that I really hear these influences back on their Christmas single. The two Christmas originals, 'It's Christmas Day' and 'These Things Comfort Me' are definitely more pop than rock.
A-side 'It's Christmas Day' is a Beatlesque feel good song, with vocal harmonies and some gang vocals – literally. The instrumentation is simple but effective: just acoustic guitars, sleigh bells and some keys playing fine catchy melodies, including a variation on 'Jingle Bells' in the instrumental break halfway through the song. The lyrics paint a nice picture of Christmas, with snow on your boots and once you are inside, you'll find yourself roasting chestnust and singing old fashioned melodies, and 'old Jack Frost' who 'is whistling out a warning'. But no problem, as 'the gang is all here to keep the cold away'. A wish for peace for earth this Christmas makes it complete. A lovely Christmas song.
B-side 'These Things Comfort Me' is more uptempo, with guitars and handclaps setting the pace and lyrics about feeling comfortable with friends and family at Christmas. Sounds a bit like an old recently discovered Beach Boys demo.
500 copies are pressed of this single, of which 100 are on half green / half red vinyl. These 100 are randomly inserted, and as the singles are packed in plastic, you'll never know what you'll find if you come home from the shop or find the record in your mailbox and you open up the record. A nice way to bring the excitement of opening your Christmas present into the game. My copy was black, but it just sounds as good, or maybe even better, as the half green / half red version, I am telling myself, in a bad effort to come to terms with this big disappointment. I wonder if my friend, for whom I also ordered a copy, will be more lucky. If he is, will I ever be able to forgive myself to have chosen the wrong copy of the two? Anyway, enough collectors talk, back to what interests you: where do I get a copy of this great record? The 7” was released by the band's label, Dine Alone Records, and apart from your local (Canadian) record shop, you can also get it through the website of Dine Alone Records () – lucky for us non-Canadians!
I had wanted to review a whole bunch of 45s in this post, but I just don't seem to find the time to sit down and write a bunch of reviews, so instead of waiting until I have more reviews ready, I decided to post the one that I have finished. Also because I haven't really seen this particular Christmas single featured on most of the cool Christmas blogs I'm keeping track of. And I think this one definitely deserves some attention, as there has been put a lot of effort in this release.
BIG BIG TRAIN: Merry Christmas (Plane Groovy / English Electric Recordings, PLGS07, United Kingdom, ?? rpm)
Progressive rock group Big Big Train was formed in 1990 in Bournemouth, England, so is already around for more than 25 years, and still includes the two founding members, bassist Andy Poole and guitarist Gregory Spawton. It's funny to know that the name Big Big Train was originally used in the early 1980's by the punk band of Gregory's brother Nigel. Through the 25 years of existence, the band went through many line-up changes, but the core of the band always has been Andy and Gregory. After having been a studio project for most of the 21st Century, Big Big Train returned to the stage in 2015, when they finally found a steady eight member line-up for live shows, including former XTC-guitarist Dave Gregory and former Spock's Beard drummer Nick D'Virgilio. Lead vocalist David Longdon, a member of the band since 2009, also plays flute and keyboards, while the band is completed by keyboard/double bass player Danny Manners, keyboard player Rikard Sjöblom and violinist Rachel Hall. It is also this line-up that recorded the Christmas single. An unique project for the band in two respects. It is the first time Big Big Train recorded a Christmas song and the first time the band released a 7” vinyl single. The single comes in a gatefold cover with beautiful (and I would say, typical progrrock) artwork.
The single is accompanied by a video, that stars actor Mark Benton, who, among other roles, played a man who, together with a friend, represented the UK at a Santa convention, in the television movie Northern Lights. And, as an important side note for a Doctor Who-fan like me, Mark Benton was also featured in the first episode of the new Doctor Who-series, Rose, playing a conspiracy theorist, for whom things did not end so well. In the video, Benton plays a clerk, who seems imprisoned in the routine of everyday life, his life is as a record on repeat, each day the same. In line with the lyrics of the song, memories of the Christmases of his childhood give him new life, and he decided to break away from the rut and make Christmas a celebration of life again. The video does a really good job to capture the true spirit of Christmas, I think.
As always with progrock bands, there is a complete story to be told, and everything, music, lyrics, artwork and video, is connected and helps to tell the story. The 5 minute long 'Merry Christmas' has all a Christmas song should have: sleigh bells, a children's choir (The Chapel Choir Choristers of Jesus College, Cambridge), church bells, even a brass band and the positive Christmas message of 'peace, joy, love and light' to the world. B-side Snowfalls clocks 6.30, so you really get value for money. And the best thing is that for every copy sold, a donation to the Night Stop homelessness charity will be made!
So order the 7" (or CD, as there is also a CD-version) at Burning Shed
Now that 2016 is out of the way, it is time to turn to the 2017 Christmas 7”'s!
Backstreet Girls: Christmas Boogie / A Merry Jingle (Universal Music Group, 602557441185, Norway, 45 rpm, limited to 500 copies)
Every year, several Christmas 7”'s are released as part of Record Store Day's Black Friday celebration. This year is no exception. More about that later. But what is rather unusual: this year's regular Record Store Day also brought a Christmas release. For the uniniated, Record Store Day usually takes place on the third Saturday of April. A bit early for a Christmas single. But not for the Norwegians, so it seems, as in Norway a genuine Christmas 45 was released for Record Store Day. Or, to be more exact, was re-released for Record Story Day. Originally, the single had been released in 1987, by a band called the Backstreet Girls.
This was typical a single where everything was different from what it seemed to be. The band was called the Backstreet Girls, but there was no girl to be found in the line-up. The single was called 'Christmas Boogie' / A Merry Jingle', but 'Christmas Boogie' was actually the song on the B-side of the single – or better, the AA-side, as the single was a double A-sider. A-side 'A Merry Jingle', a medley of 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' and 'Jingle Bells', that had first been recorded in 1979 by The Greedies, a band featuring Thin Lizzy singer Phil Lynott and members of The Sex Pistols. And AA-side 'Christmas Boogie' was more a dirty sounding rocker than a boogie song. A song that provokes images of men on motorbikes with leather jackets, sunglasses and serious beards, driving on dusty American highways. In Norway, that is.
Backstreet Girls was formed in 1984 in Oslo, Norway, by brothers Pål Kristensen (bass) and Tom Kristensen (vocals). Joined by guitarist Petter Baarli of the band Riff / Raff and, a little while later by his brother and Riff / Raff bandmate Bjørn Terje Baarli, the band started out playing local shows. Backstreet Girls, who probably took their name from the Rolling Stones song with that title, played boogie rock, inspired by bands like AC/DC and Status Quo, but injecting their sound with the energy of the Ramones. After trying out two different second guitarists in 1984 and 1985, they returned to a four member line-up. Backstreet Girls changed singers as fast as most other rock bands change drummers – the Christmas single was recorded with Bjørn Müller, who was already their fourth vocalist. 'Christmas Boogie / A Merry Jingle' was their debut for major Polygram, after they had released their first two albums on independent labels. Backstreet Girls would go on to become one of the most popular Norwegian rock bands, reason why 30 years after it's initial release Universal Music decided to re-release 'Christmas Boogie / A Merry Jingle' for RSD 2017, with the original artwork intact. The band is still active, with guitarist Petter Baarli as only remaining original member, although singer Bjørn Müller, who left the band in 1991, has joined the band again since 1995. The single has aged well, and still sounds powerful and fresh.
Tarja: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel / Ô Viens, Ô Viens, Emmanuel (Ear Music, 0212455EMU, Germany, 45 rpm, limited to 1000 copies)
Tarja: O Tannenbaum / O Christmas Tree (Ear Music, 0212454EMU, Germany, 45 rpm, limited to 1000 copies)
When I start thinking about bands or acts to ask for the Snowflakes Christmas Singles Club, I always make a shortlist. It's funny to see that two acts that were on my shortlist but who I eventually did not approach, actually release Christmas singles this season! And one of them, Finnish vocalist Tarja Turunen, even releases three singles! I did not contact her, as I felt she was 'too big' for a small indie label and also because she is signed by a quite big German label. Tarja, as she is simply known, came into the spotlight as singer of the very succesful Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. She started her solo career in 2006, after she left Nightwish at the end of 2005. She had already recorded a solo single in 2004, a Christmas single, titled 'Yhden Enkelin Unelma' ('One Angel's Dream'), with two songs, 'Kun Joulu On' ('When It's Christmas') and 'En Etsi Valtaa, Loistoa' ('I Don't Search For Power And Glory'), that sounded like classical Christmas hymns. It was a big hit in Finland, went Gold, and charted again when re-released in 2005. At the end of 2006, Tarja released her first solo album, 'Henkäys Ikuisuudesta', a Christmas album that was more pop orientated than her 2004 Christmas single, alhough it also had some more classical sounding songs. The album mostly had covers of well known Christmas song, some with Finnish lyrics, some with English lyrics (like Abba's 'Happy New Year', that was chosen as single of the album, and was partly sung in English and partly in Spanish). It also included two originals. It was a kickstart of her solo career, as the album went to number 2 in the Finnish album charts and sold more than 50.000 copies. Tarja's next album, 'My Winter Storm' continued the winter theme. The album had a variation of styles, and was another chart success, a number 1 in Finland, but also in countries like Russia, the Czech Republic and Austria it sold very well. Tarja's next album was the first that was not Christmas- or winter-related, but she returned to Christmas music in 2009, when she contributed three songs to the charity Christmas album 'Maailman Kauneimmat Joululaulut' ('The World's Most Beautiful Christmas Songs'). These three songs were also released on a CD-single, in Argentina, where Tarja was living at the time. After several year's without any Christmas related releases, Tarja released her first full-on classical album in 2015, a record that had twelve different variations of 'Ave Maria'. And now, in 2017, Tarja released her second Christmas album – a total different album than her first from 2006.
The album, that was officially released November 17 on her German label Ear Music (part of the Edel Music Group), is called 'From Spirits And Ghosts', and is subtitled 'Score For A Dark Christmas'. In a way, it is a return to her Nightwish years, as it mixes classical music with gothic influences. What is missing from the mix is the metal part. The loud guitars are replaced by big orchestral arrangements, done by Jim Dooley. Dooley is also responsible for the music of the Pushing Daisies television series, and has done orchestral arrangements for several previous albums of Tarja. Dooley knows perfectly how to come up with the right arrangements for Tarja's voice.
Some of the songs on 'From Spirits And Ghosts' are traditional Christmas carols/hymns, like 'We Three Kings' and 'Pie Jesu', but the album has also more secular Christmas songs like 'Have Yourself A Merry Christmas', album closer 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' and even 'Feliz Navidad'. The album also includes one original song, 'Together'. 'From Spirits And Ghosts' comes in a gothic-styled cover, with Tarja all dressed in black, looking quite scary, with a dark background with some burning candles – black candles, of course. According to Tarja, the album is meant to explore “the other side of Christmas. The Christmas of the lonely people and the missing ones. The Christmas for those that do not find joy in the blinking lights and the jingle bells”. Long, long ago, an album was accompanied by a single, to promote the album, and that was it. But not in 2017. This album can be ordered in several different package deals, including a t-shirt, posters, a signed Christmas card and even a graphic novel and a photo book. That's all nice, but unimporant compared to the decision of Ear Music to also release three 7” singles! At least, for a Christmas 45 addict like me. Each single has one song of the album, in two different version – the version on the album and an alternative version. Tarja looks quite different on the singles than on the album: dressed in white, with white hair, a bit like a ice queen. Which is a song by another legendary gothic metal band, by the way, Within Temptation, but now we are going off-topic here...
The first single of the three singles was already released on October 6, and had two versions of 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel'. The album opener and first single is perfectly representative of the album. It is definitely dark, but also has a outworldly beauty, a result of the combination of Tarja's flawless vocal delivery and mostly subtle orchestral arrangements. It's perfect fitted for a dark and cold Christmas night and one of the strongest versions I know of this song – one of the Christmas hymns that never was one of my favorites, but Tarja's version changed that. By the way, it is funny to know that this album was not recorded in the middle of a cold Finnish winter, but in the middle of the Caribbean Summer. To quote Tarja: “Producing a dark Christmas album in the middle of the summer is a very interesting process, especially if you are doing it by the turquoise Caribbean Sea. Significantly different from the snowy Christmas that I am used to in my home country Finland. Another proof that the darkness comes from deep within.” On the B-side of the single, Tarja proofs she knows her languages, and does a French version of the song: 'Ô Viens, Ô Viens, Emmanuel'. The video sees Tarja, ice queen-style, singing the song in a wintery landscape.
The second single of the album was released three weeks later, on October 27. A cover of 'O Tannenbaum'? One of those Christmas songs I never could take seriously, and that I never heard a version of that really made me think: wow, what a great song this is! Okay, the version They Might Be Giants recorded for their 1993 Christmas single was funny, but it did not make me change my opinion about this Christmas song. But that all has changed now. When you cover a song, you can just try to sound as the original. But that is rather useless, because it does not add anything to the song, and you will never be able to top the original in the first place. You can also try to cover a song in your own style – like if you are a punk band, play a song that is not a punk song as a punk song. That is already has a little bit more useful, but it's still not really original. And probably another punk band has already done it before. You can also try to re-interpret the song, play with a different arrangement, do a few subtile changes in the lyrics, and in that way, you still stay true the original, but you also make the song your own. Most of the best cover songs are done in that way. But you can also take it one step further, and re-invent the song. Actually make the song better. And that is exactly what Tarja and arranger Jim Dooley have done with 'O Tannenbaum'. It is definitely the best version I have ever heard of this song, and takes it to a complete new level. Altbought I can imagine it is not for everyone, also because of the almost Wagner-like orchestral break in the middle of the song. On her website, Tarja explains she wanted to do the version in German 'because it brings me beautiful memories from the time I was living and studying in Germany. I heard the song frequently back then.' She describes it as 'an intense and dark war battle that will blow you away'. And, yes, it did. For those of you who rather prefer an English language version of the song, just turn over the 7”, and there you find it. But really, this song needs the German language to make it all complete. After all, that was also the language it was originally written in. Knowing the history of the song, describing it as a dark war battle is even not that far from the truth. The song is based on a 16-th Century Silesian folk song, written by Melchior Frank, 'Ach Tannenbaum'. In 1819, inspired by this folk song, Joachim August Zarnack wrote a tragic love song, that contrasted the 'faithful' fir tree, that always stays green and firm, also in the hard times of winter, with a faithless lover. Five years later, Leipzig organist, teacher and composer Ernst Anschütz rewrote it, and added two new couplets. As in the 19th century the custom of the Christmas tree developed, the song became seen as a Christmas carol, and in the 20th Century, the 'true' of the leaves changed to 'green'. But Tarja's version brings it right back to its dark origins.
In the video, the black and white Tarja's sing the song together.
The third single will be released in December – so we need a little bit of patience, also because it is not made public yet which of the 10 other songs of the album will be featured on this single. But that only makes it more exciting.
The Residents: Santa Dog 17 / Fire (Psychofon, PR016, Germany, 45 rpm)
So, the three Tarja Christmas singles were already a very nice surprise, and soon after I found out about Tarja and her singles, there came another nice surprise: the legendary American avantgarde collective The Residents was going to release a new version of their classic 'Santa Dog' for Christmas 2017. For those who think – 'The Residents? Never heard of', a small history lesson. We go way back in time, to 1972.
On December 20, 1972 packages were send out to about 300 adresses all over the United States. All these packages contained the same item, a 7” record. Or better, two 7” records, in one gatefold sleeve. Many packages arrived at the doorsteps of people from the art and music scenes. Frank Zappa was send a package. And even president Richard Nixon was send a package (He returned it unopened). The sender of these package was Residents, Uninc. After opening the package, the receiver found a silk-screened gatefold sleeve that resembled a (rather large) Christmas card of an insurance company. The title on the card, 'Santa Dog', was an anagram of 'Satan God'. On the outside of the card was a dog, dressed up as Santa, with bones all around him, plus a few Christmas decorations. The inside included the message 'Season's Greetings, Residents, Uninc', surrounded by 50s style drawings of accidents causing damage, with below each picture a description of the cause of the damage: fire, explosion, lightning and aircraft damage. The four descriptions returned on the labels of the two 7”'s, each label carrying one of the descriptions, that turned out to be the title of the songs, with below the title, a name of what probably was the band perfoming the song. Respectively Ivory And The Brain Eaters, Delta Nudes, The College Walkers and Arf And Omega. All bands nobody had ever heard of before, with rather weird names. But the weirdest part was yet to come, and that was the music. What to think of the first song, 'Fire', very repetitive with a very unusual sounding voice, that was not really singing, but also not really talking. With lyrics that went 'Santa Dog's a Jesus Fetus / Has no presents / Has no presence / In the future...', and 'A fleeting and a sleeting scene of snowness severed sleeves', which was repeated six times, and was followed by 'Bing, Bing, Bing, Bong, Bong, Bong, Snowness severed sleeves'. It also featured some xylophonic echoes of 'Jingle Bells', so there could be no understanding that this was really meant as a Christmas song. And the rest of the songs (if you could call them that) were even more strange: the melody of Jingle Bells, barking dogs, a cacafony of strange noises and voices, old movie samples, African sounding percussion, it was all there. According to its creators, the single was about 'a weiner dog in a Santa suit'. Absolutely the most avantgarde Christmas single ever made, at least, when it was orignally released in 1972.
The ones responsible for all this was this avantgarde collective / band called The Residents. 'Santa Dog' was the vinyl debut of band, that took their name from a rejection letter they received of Warner Bros. executive Hal Halverstadt, after they had send him a reel-to-reel tape with some of their music. As the band had not included a name with the return address, Halverstadt had simply put 'for the attention of the residents' on the enveloppe. At least, according to the official biography of the Residents. As with everything the band claims, the question is if it really happened that way, or if it is just a made up part that fit in well with the whole concept of the band. Another important element of the concept of the band was that the members kept their identity hidden. It was even not known how many members the Residents had. On photos, the members appeared dressed in top hat and tails, with helmets on their head, helmets that look like a big eye ball. It is believed that the members of the Residents originally hail from Shreveport, Louisa, and in 1966 moved to California, where they started to experiment with different art forms: tape loops, photography. In 1969 they were joined by British guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Phil Lithman (aka Snakefinger) and the German avant-gardist N. Senada, who had a big influence on the band, that started to focus more on making music and sound collages, that they recorded on tapes. In 1971 the Residents did their first live shows and in 1972, they moved to San Francisco and formed their label, Ralph Records. It was around this time the band also put out the Santa Dog single.
Although 'Santa Dog' was far from catchy or commecial, the first piece of the disk, 'Fire', has been covered quite some times. All by the Residents themselves. In 1978, six years after the initial release of the double 7”, the Residents released 'Santa Dog '78', with an updated version of the song 'Fire' on the A-side, and the original version of the song on the B-side. As the style of The Residents had changed substantially over the years, the band felt it would be a good idea to re-record 'Fire' as 'Santa Dog '78', in a version that would be more representative of their current style, and so they did. The record was packed in a card box sleeve, with four weird looking Santa Claus figures on the front cover (representing the four members of the Residents), a message on the back cover, pressed in an edition of 2700 copies and send out the their mailorder customers as a Christmas present. According to the text on the back, the Residents had decided to record the song again as 'a tribute to the innocence of their former days'. Although it would almost seems impossible, the 78 version of 'Fire' sounded even more weird than the 1972 version had, with nasal-sounding vocals, high-pitched backup vocals that were almost harder in the mix than the lead vocals, and all kind of strange sound effects. The '72 version of 'Lightning' on the B-side was mastered at 40 rpm, so when you played the B-side on 45 rmp, it played a little bit faster than the original version had.
The Residents would record several more versions of the song, in 1984, 1988, 1992, 1999 (all these were compiled on a 1999 CD with all available versions of 'Santa Dog' until then), 2000 and 2006, but none of these versions have been released as a 7”. But now, after vinyl made such a glorius come back in the last five years, the band felt it was time to record another version of 'Santa Dog' and to release it in the best way possible. On a 7” vinyl single. The make the circle complete, the single has the original version of the song, 'Fire' from the 1972 double 7”, on the back.
We live in dark times, and that is not only reflected by Tarja's record, but also by the Resident's 2017 version of 'Santa Dog'. The song starts out with spooky sounds, a howling dog, and a slow, industrial sounding rhythm. It reminds me in a way of a song by another avantgarde band, 'Die Liebe' by Laibach. The members of the Residents must be well into their sixties, or maybe even in their early 70s – so it is no surprise that the voice sounds like the voice an old man. Something that is probably done intentionally, as the Residents don't hide that they are not in their 20s anymore. Halfway through the song, after 'Santa' is repeated a few times, the atmosphere changes completely – the speed goes up, the industrial rhythms are replaced by (mechanical sounding) handclaps and it starts to swing. As far as a Residents song can swing, of course. Until a rather explosion is heard, and there is another change of atmosphere: the music now sounds melancholic and a voice tells the continuation of the story of Santa Dog. As always with this band, it is different from anything else you have heard.
You thought that Tarja was overdoing it with all the different package deals? Wait until you see the different options The Residents and their label Psychofon Records present to buy this new version of Santa Dog. A regular black edition, a limited edition in green vinyl (limited to 100 hand-stamped copies and 10 euro more expensive than the already expensive 16,99 euro of the regular edition), a limited edition in red vinyl (again hand-stamped and limited to 100), a collector's edition (that comes in a 10" box, and is limited to 200 copies) and a die hard edition, that is limited to 45 handnumbered copies - what it exactly is, is still a secret, and if you want to know, you must be willing to spend 99,99 euro on the 7". Expensive? Well, not if you compare it to the 2000 euro someone is asking for the 1972 original on Discogs...
Unfortunately, the 2017 version is not yet to be found on the internet, so we leave you with the B-side, 'Fire', the original Santa Dog.
The Legendary Stardust Cowboy: Twas The Night Before Christmas (Flexi Disc, Vollmond Flexis, VF-001, USA, 45 rpm, limited to 500 copies)
A flexi disc is of course not a vinyl disc. Still, I decided to write a few words about The Legendary Stardust Cowboy's flexi, as it is just too nice to not bring to your attention. The Legendary Stardust Cowboy (real name: Norman Carl Odam), who already used that name in 1961, when nobody knew him, is now truely a legend. He came into the public spotlight by the song 'Paralyzed', or well, song... anyway, since then, he build himself a career, and is even seen as one of the originators of the psychobilly style. The red flexi-disc, that is packed in a beautiful looking 7” sized Christmas card has The Legendary Stardust Cowboy's reading of the famous Christmas story 'Twas The Night Before Christmas', that was recorded for KMSU Radio on December 7, 2011. The song has some sounds played in the background by Kat Baumann, but is mostly the Cowboy's voice telling the story. The card comes with a nice Christmas message by Odam. It's limited to 500 copies, quite cheap and can be obtained from Vollmond Flexis. You can even order five copies with a discount, so you can send it as a Christmas card to your friends!
That are all Christmas singles, apart from the three Snowflakes Christmas Singles Club singles (Bis, The Limiñanas with Pascal Comelade and Seafang) that currently have been released.
But there is much more on its way.
Today, it's Black Friday, and as part of Record Store Day Black Friday a total of 4 Christmas 7"'s will be released. Two split singles of Paul McCartney, that both have his 1979 Christmas hit 'Wonderful Christmastime' on the A-side. The first, that comes on green vinyl, as The Decemberists doing 'Jesus Christ' on the B-side. The second has Norah Jones on the B-side, witb a live recording of 'Peace'. Both are released by Capitol Records. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats will also release a Christmas-themed 7", that has two cover songs: Baby, It's Cold Outside on side A, and 'Santa Baby' on side B. The single is released by legendary soul label Stax.
Fourth and last 7" is by Detroit horrcore duo Twiztid, who 'Ain't Been Right' on the A-side, and team up with Blaze Ya Dead Homie for a 'Sad Christmas Song' on the B-side. Released by Majik Ninja. Run over to your local record store to score these four fine singles!
Talking about Paul McCartney and special releases: what to think of a box set, that for the first time brings together all seven Christmas flexis The Beatles released from 1963 to 1969. But this time pressed on coloured vinyl, with all singles packed in a nice looking picture sleeve, and coming with a 16-page booklet! This perfect Christmas present for every music lover will be released on December 15 on Capitol. Also for sale in yor
Of the regular suspects, that release Christmas singles every year, the Norwegian Nordpolen Musikklubb will release a 4-track mostly instrumental EP this year, titled 'Snowflakes' (I like that title!) by piano player Sven Erik Libæk. Comes in a beautiful cover and is already out.
Jump Up Music will release the second volume of Christmas Inna Babylon Vol 2< by The Brooklyn Attractors. Don't know when this will be released, but I expect soon. Don't know yet what Kingfisher Bluez will release, but I am pretty sure there will be at least one new Kingfisher Bluez Christmas single this year!
What else do we have? Well, what about northern London indie trio Girl Ray, another band I considered asking for this year's Snowflakes Christmas Singles Club. But it turned out to be necessarily, as the three girls themselves decided to release a Christmas single, and kept well to the Snowflakes format, with an original on the A-side, '(I Wish I Were Giving You A Gift) This Christmas', and a cover, 'I'll Be Home For Christmas', on the B-side. Put out by one of the coolest UK indie labels, Moshi Moshi Records. Out December 8, but it can already be pre-ordered.
Another English indie band that brings out single that has some connection with Christmas is Martha. It's called 'The Winter Fuel Allowance Ineligibility Blues', but to be honest, apart from the title and the front cover, that has a Santa Claus picture if you look well, there is not really a connection to Christmas. It's the last single on indie label Fortuna Pop!, unfortunately. It's sold out with the band, but still to be found in several online shops.
Something completely else is the Christmas single by UK progrock band Big Big Train, that has 'Merry Christmas' on side A and 'Snowfalls' on side B. The single, put out on vinyl by Plane Groovy, comes in a beautiful gatefold sleeves, and is officially out on December 8. You can pre-order it through Burning Shed.
There is also a Japanese double-A single by Shun Ishiwaka, with one of the two songs, 'Christmas Song', being a, uh, Chrismas song. Although you wouldn't really guess from listening to this jazzy song. Put out by Octave and only to be found in Japan. The single was already released on September 27.
Last, we have a re-release of Emmylou Harris' 1975 Christmas single 'Light Of The Stable', but with a different B-side, her 1980 single 'Little Drummer Boy'. It is supposed to be released on Reprise Records in The Netherlands, but I haven't been able to track it down yet, so I don't know if it is already out.
That's was all as far as 2017 Christmas 7"'s goes for the moment. As soon as I have received some of the above mentioned Christmas 45s have arrived here, I'll come back to write a nice (hopefully) review.
