Happy New Year!

 Accept no substitute

Merry Christmas!

Thank you to everyone who has supported this crazy enterprise again this year. The texts, emails, messages etc. are really appreciated. 

Just before I climb back up in the loft. I will be back here on New Years' Day for one last song for the 15th Calendar. Now go and have fun.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Day 25 - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - The Ronettes

We've all seen some of our Rock 'n' Roll heroes fall from grace over the decades; it used to be drugs back in the day, but latterly we've seen some dabbling with fascism, some have revealed dubious sexual predilections, some have even done dodgy TV adverts. But murder? 

Phil Spector died in a prison-run medical facility in January of this year from COVID complications and its hard to eulogise a man who'd been found guilty of second-degree murder back in 2009 and who was serving a 19 year to life sentence. 

Nevertheless, Phil Spector's unique vision of what a pop record could sound like revolutionised the '60s charts on both sides of the Atlantic. His production on tracks such as  'River Deep, Mountain High' for Ike & Tina Turner and 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling' for the Righteous Brothers were nothing short of astonishing. It was his album 'A Christmas Gift For You'  though that was his meisterwerk. And it was HIS album; the artists that Spector used to record his vision were little more than an extension of his tools. 

Released in 1963 on the same day that John F Kennedy was assassinated, the album failed to gain traction with a U.S public reeling from the death of their president. It fared better in the UK on radio plays but sales were still relatively low.  The Beatles were huge fans though and when the Fabs renamed it as 'Phil Spector's Christmas Album' and re-released it on their Apple label in 1972 the status of the album changed completely. The re-titled LP reached its highest chart placing that year and its status hasn't diminished over the decades. It's now considered a classic and the general consensus is that if you only ever own one Christmas album then this is the one to have.

For me, I can't ever remember a Christmas when this wasn't playing and even if I live another 20 years (unlikely I know) I will play it at least once every December. It really is a phenomenal piece of work.

So, in the spirit of the season and with a nod to Dickens himself, I give an appreciative bow to the Ghost of Christmas Past and the man Phil Spector once was rather than the one he became.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

A Festive Wave From Puss-Puss

 

Photo: B.Blagg

Day 24 - Home To You (This Christmas) - Sigrid

There are those out there who dislike it when an artist or band repackage an already successful album or track for the Christmas market, seeing a cynical attempt to get you to part with you cash. Me? I like a trier. So when Sigrid updated her own 2019 track 'Home To You' adding some new lyrics and a twinkling 'Jingle Bells' piano I was sold. 

Now to be fair to the Norwegian songstress, this track may already have invaded our consciousness - who didn't swallow something hard and jagged when they heard it on the closing sequences of last summer's Olympics? - but the fact is the song hasn't charted and still hasn't found mainstream success so I think it's fair to  go for the big one.

And go for it she has, it's full of seasonal charm, beautiful sentiments and personally, I now realise it's always sounded like a Christmas record and it will buoy my heavy heart as I drag a Santa sleigh's worth of memories around the West End later. 

For the rest of you, if you don't know what to say and don't know what to do, then just go  home and count your blessings. 

Have a peaceful day.

Day 23 - This Must Be Christmas - Kodaline

An unintentional two for one deal here as you can either just listen to Alt Irish rockers Kodaline's 'This Must Be Christmas' - a song full of the pathos and ennui you expect this time of year - or watch the video too, a very different beast and nothing to do with the song, telling the story of someone who loses their job at Christmas and goes off to drown their sorrows, only to find things are not what they - or indeed you - think they are.

Pour another whiskey for the road / 'Cos that's the only spirit I know / Singin' oh this must be Christmas / 'Cos I'm sick of the songs that the radio plays / But I'm drinkin' and singin' along anyways

I've just come back from the hotel bar after a few brandies so don't ask me for advice.

Day 22 - Could've Been Summer - Maggie Chapman

'Could've Been Summer'  comes from an unnamed sampler Christmas album I have.

 Unusually for me, I have no idea where the album came from originally, or why it's in my iTunes library. I've been unable to find anything about Ms. Chapman either; the track isn't (wasn't!) on YouTube or Spotify and a Google search revealed precious little bar the fact the song was originally released as a single in 2013 followed by a debut album a year after and nothing since. I did find a small bio on Allmusic which gave an email address for contact but even then a request to load the track onto YouTube bounced back.

It's a shame as 'Could've been Summer' is a lovely, heartfelt song about a failed relationship that the singer wishes had finished in Summer so that she could have had more time to get back on her feet again. Bless her for even thinking that's a thing.

This deserves to be heard more though and failing all else I've taken it upon myself to load my own video - regulars here at the Calendar will recognise a familiar theme - and if Ms. Chapman wants to contact me then she knows where I am.

Day 21 - Getting Ready For Christmas Day - Paul Simon

With the 50th Anniversary of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' earlier this year (Gulp!) Paul Simon seemed to be on TV and radio a lot more than might be expected, so I thought it was time for this from the 2011 'So Beautiful or So What' album.  

He's certainly in a pretty joyous mood though the music contrasts starkly with the lyrics but anyone who can produce a rhyming couplet of 'From early November to the last week of December / I got money matters weighing me down / Oh the music may be merry , but it's only temporary / I know Santa Claus is coming to town' is OK in my book.

The Dump Truck of December

 As surprising edition to Lady Blagg's Kitsch Christmas Tree of Dreams. She'd be so proud.

Day 20 - Standing By My Christmas Tree - Cara Dillon

 "Quite possibly the world's most beautiful voice" Mojo Magazine

I saw Cara last week as part of her 'Upon a Winter's Night' tour and she played this song, that she wrote together with her husband Sam Lakeman, and dedicated it to 'anyone who is without someone they need this Christmas'.

On a day of struggle, at a difficult time I'd like to do the same.

Day 19 - O Come All Ye Faithful - Dionne Warwick

The last Carol of Advent and we finish with a slightly irritating Vegas-style rendition by one of pop's greatest and most recognisable voices and someone who will - incredibly - be singing at Southend Cliffs Pavilion next summer. 

I wonder if she's ever had Pie Mash and liquor?

Day 18 - Do You Hear What I Hear? - Gladys Knight & the Pips / Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra

It's the last Saturday shopping day of December so time for a Blagg GOFGOF (Get one free, Get one free) and what a treat this one is.

I grew up with the Andy Williams version of this song and always assumed it was a modern Carol of some sort; I was astonished to find out this year that it was actually written in October 1962 by husband and wife duo Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne as a cry for peace at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis, a time when there was a very real possibility that nobody would be celebrating any kind of Christmas ever again.

This new knowledge added an extra poignancy to a song I'd always kinda secretly liked so I wondered if there were any other versions out there being as I'm not a fan of the vocal histrionics of Whitney Houston (sorry!) and I stumbled upon this superb one by Gladys Knight. It actually gave me goosebumps the first time I heard it. 

But could I leave it there? Could I 'eck as like. 

A later search revealed the wonderfully named Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra from the also excellently monikered 'A Very Ping Pong Christmas: Funky Treats from Santa's Bag'.

I know! Thank me later, right?

Here's Gladys:

And here's Shawn Lee:

Regent Street, London, Christmas 1960

 

Day 17 - Christmas Will Really Be Christmas - Lou Rawls

Still labouring under the impression that it is 1988, that you'll all be at a Christmas party tonight, there will be some slow dancing and  a certain amount of touching will occur, here's a gorgeous, slow, sultry, Christmas groove thang from Lou's 1967 album 'Merry Christmas Ho Ho Ho'. 

You'll need to make your intentions clear fairly quickly though as it only lasts 2:38. My suggestion? Play the whole album.

Day 16 - I Hear Jingle Bells - Freddie King

To be perfectly honest I was going to put King's 'Christmas Tears' here but I was aware an Eric Clapton version 'Cryin' Christmas Tears' was - rather inevitably - on the 2018 Calendar and after flipping over (ask your Grandparents about THAT terminology) and finding the equally appropriate 'I Hear Jingle Bells' I decided to go with that instead. Then I found someone had combined the two on YouTube so job done.

American Blues legend Freddie King was - following a theme from previous songs this week - considered one of the 'Three Kings of the Blues Guitars'. 

It has to be better than Myrrh surely? 

Day 15 - Krampus - The Lathums

Here's a jolly, highly appropriate seasonal offering from The Lathums who hail from Wigan and have obviously been playing their dad's Smiths records.

The Florists are burning / And the end of the world is coming / But we will be OK / Your Christmas will be cancelled anyway / You might as well enjoy your time today

All set to a tune so joyous I immediately booked up to go out tonight. It's great stuff and will be going on my perennial Christmas Spotify list.

 

Merry Maurice

 

Photo B.Blagg Design G.Thorne

Day 14 - Christmas Will Be Just Another Lonely Day - Brenda Lee

Brenda 'Little Miss Dynamite' Lee had a 1958 hit with 'Rocking' Around the Christmas Tree' aged just 13. Although the song sold poorly on its initial release and didn't fare much better when re-released a year later, the song went on to have a longevity that far exceeded anyone's expectations. Brenda's version alone has since sold 25 million copies - and that was before anyone else covered it - ensuring writer Johnny Marks never had to worry too much about where the presents were going to come from any Christmas after. Not that he was probably that bothered; he'd already written a song for Gene Autry called 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer'. Brenda, now a sprightly 77-year-old, lives in Nashville with her husband of 55 years.

Now you think after all that I'd point you to the 1958 hit  but you know what a festive curmudgeon I am and I much prefer this 1963 bitter denouncement of the season. 

Day 13 - Christmas Coming - Alton Ellis

From the Queen of Country to Studio One in Trench Town, Jamaica to hear the man dubbed 'The Grandfather of Rocksteady'

Better get your Christmas breeze / Better get your rice and peas

Oooh yeah!

Day 12 - It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Tammy Wynette

This Sunday's Carol - making its first appearance on the Calendar - comes courtesy of the First Lady of Country Music with a track from her 1970 'Christmas with Tammy' album. It's exactly what you'd be expecting and all the more wonderful for it.

Of course, Ms Wynette made her talent first known at a Nativity service in her home town of Tremont, Mississippi when, dressed as an 8-year-old shepherd, she picked up the nearest sheep and, astonished the watching parents with a song of her own called 'Stand by your Lamb'

Ay-thank-yew (See what I did there?) 

Don't forget I'm here till Christmas Day, tell all your friends and - please! - try the fish.