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Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all. I hope however you celebrate this time of year (or not) that you have a great festive period. It can be a great time of year for sure, but having had a few bummers for Yules, I am definitely sensitive to those for whom the holidays are not a fun time and actually very stressful. That being said, let’s fill our cups with our brand of poison and raise a toast to friends, family, colleagues and all those in the world that make up our lives.
As our newsletter is getting delivered down your chimney on Christmas day, I thought it appropriate to pick a couple of holiday records for you. One with an added tinge of sadness to it and one that delivers a surprising and satisfying take on Christmas favorites.
We’ll start with the latter record. It’s a compilation called Jingle Bell Jazz that was released on Columbia Records in 1962. Twelve holiday classics interpreted by twelve different Jazz greats. There’s Duke Ellington doing Jingle Bells, Dave Brubeck Quartet doing Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Chico Hamilton with Winter Wonderland, Paul Horn with a terrific We Three Kings Of Orient Are and The Manhattan Jazz All Stars with an interesting one titled If I Were A Bell. All winners. The type of jazz playing that makes you forget you are listening to a Christmas record. My favorite cut is the last one on the album. Miles Davis with Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern). This one is a little different and has a vocal by Bob Dorough, the dude most famous for the Schoolhouse Rock albums. Everyone knows Three Is The Perfect Number that De La Soul sampled. Anyway, he’s providing hip jazz patter over Miles and reminding the listener that not everyone has a merry Christmas. A cool and slightly melancholy way to end the record. I love a good compilation and have enjoyed this one over the years during the Christmas period. The quality of the performances from so many big names in the jazz field at the time raises it above the typical Christmas themed cash-in records that you see. Not that Columbia Records was opposed to making money, but with a wealth of talent at their disposal it seems that a bit more effort was made in the compiling of this collection. It was kept in print through a couple of reissues from Japan and then again in the 70s and 80s, albeit with a slight track change. Looking at Discogs, folks regard this one as desirable, as copies aren’t that cheap. Certainly not the typical dollar Christmas record. Seek it out if you are a Jazz fan and need a good soundtrack for the holiday dinner this year.
Click here for a link to listen to the album.
Next up, a record that has become synonymous with Christmas each year since its release back in the 80s. The Pogues with Fairytale Of New York. Made especially poignant of course this year due to the passing of Shane MacGowan. On this song, Shane and the boys are famously joined by Kirsty MacColl, who really makes the song so special. Fans of her amazing talent have been mourning her tragic loss since 2000, when she was killed by a speedboat whilst swimming in Mexico on holiday. Such a loss to her family and friends and the fans around the world who loved her. Myself included there. I think every rock dude and young man I knew had a crush on her. Fairtytale of New York might not have the most PC lyrics nowadays, but blow that. If you know what I am talking about, I think you’ll agree that there is no need to get excited and overreact. That lyric was not meant as a slight or insult to a community, I’m certain. I’ll leave it at that.
I have the 12” version of the single, which adds three other live cuts recorded at Glasgow’s Barrowlands Ballroom in 1987, including a decent take on Rod Stewart’s Maggie May. This version came out in 1991, whereas the original 1987 single has different B-sides. Obviously, the fan needs both formats. The single sold well and has always been in demand, but now with Shane leaving us I’m sure prices may increase. Still, this is one record you almost don’t need to own as you’ll hear it at least once on the radio each year and no Christmas knees-up is complete without at least one airing. So, this year raise your glass of eggnog or pint of Guinness Shane and Kirsty. Two stars reunited in the heavens.
Have a good one friends. Hopefully you’ll get some records from Santa and there’s nothing better to spend your Christmas money from Grandma on than records. We’ll be making sure the store is full to the brim with new and used records for you, so come and visit.
Cheers and catch up with you all next year- Dom