It's Christmas and I'm Crying - Du Blonde

Here's a very 2023 Christmas song to end this year's blogging nonsense on. Amazed to see that the blog's just clocked up 700,000 hits. Hurrah! It's only taken 17 years...

Whatever you're up have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Funky Christmas - Various funky folk...

Struggled to find a new funky Christmas mix this year but I did stumble on this album from 1976 that should do the trick. Enjoy!

A Stupid Xmas - The Sensible Gray Cells

 

I've been meaning to post this for a couple of weeks now but as we're just a week away from the big day I'd better get on with it. It's a instant new Christmas classic from Captain Sensible and chums, with a video filmed in my home town too! Apologies in advance if this track gets stuck in your brain for the next few weeks...it makes a change from Slade though eh? 

December (Bongo Mix) - Kate Bush

Apparently recorded for a 1979 ABBA Snowtime Special here's the rarely heard Bongo Mix of Bush's festive classic December to jingle your bells. Next year Kate embarks on 360 date world tour unveiling 40 new songs planned for a triple album release...you never know...if could happen.   

Just Friends - Charlie Parker with Strings

Didn't pick up many CDs over the weekend but I did find Charlie Parker with Strings on CD for £1. Bargain. If you're in the market for a copy HMV are currently knocking 'em out for just £3.99!

And if you like your jazz a little faster try this for size...

Benjamin Zephaniah RIP

Exactly a week after losing one 65 year old poet we lose another, this time fellow Brummie Benjamin Zephaniah. His loss is far more of a shock that Shane's passing though. Benjamin looked a lot younger than his 65 years and, by all accounts, only his close family and friends knew he was ill. There's a campaign to get Fairytale of New York to Christmas number one right now, how about getting this folk banger into the charts too? 

Denny Laine RIP

Sad to hear of the passing of Denny Laine (apparently my mother used to watch him rehearse at Silver Blades Ice Rink back in the 60s!). On top of his solo career he played with a trio of great bands starting with The Moody Blues, then Ginger Baker's Air Force (I bet that was an experience)... 

...and finally Wings where he co-wrote the classic Mull Of Kintyre, which stayed at number one for a chart busting nine weeks (at a time when getting to number one really meant something). 

Nearly Daffodils - English Teacher

We might be a long way from daffodil season right now (if it rains much more I suspect we'll never see the poor yellow blighters ever again) but at least we've got this touching tribute from English Teacher. Great to see and hear proper smart indie music still being made, even if there'll soon be no bloody venues for bands like this to play in any more. RIP Bath Moles. 

If I Should Fall From Grace Of God - The Pogues

RIP Shane MacGowen, who I had the great pleasure of seeing live at one of The Pogues' last shows (Birmingham Academy December 18th 2010). As the old Irish saying goes 'We're here for a good time, not a long time' and whilst Shane's later years might not have been a riot you get the impression that he packed more into his 65 years than most of us. Here's a lesser known solo cut, enjoy!