A music blog
Advent calendar: December 26—Dylan Thomas, “A Child’s Christmas in Wales”
Dylan Thomas, “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” (beginning; 1952)
from Dylan Thomas Reading “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” and Five Other Poems
Caedmon TC 1002
For Boxing Day, something from the UK: “It was snowing. It was always snowing at Christmas. December, in my memory, is white as Lapland, though there were no reindeers. But there were cats.”
Advent calendar: December 25—A Christmas Record
Various artists
A Christmas Record (1982)
ZE PB-6020
Few Christmas records cover a broader range of feelings or tell better stories than ZE Records on this 1982 anthology. Powered by the energy of punk and new wave and post-disco, the artists of ZE turned their considerable if quirky talents to reclaim the holiday record on their own terms. The wildly various results included “Hey Lord” by Suicide, James White’s “Christmas with Satan,” “Christmas on Riverside Drive” by August Darnell (AKA Kid Creole), and Was (Not Was) telling us about “Christmas Time in the Motor City.”
Almost all the songs were originals, but one of the stand-outs, Christina’s “Things Fall Apart” was an updated version of an earlier song featuring “new improved lyrics.” It’s has a flat, hard, bleak midwinter outlook that matched the holiday nihilism of my younger self. (That nihilism was complete unearned, by the way: no true nihilist would claim to have a favorite xmas song, even a depthlessly depressing one.)
With its largely spoken and well-wrought lyrics, “Things Fall Apart” is a perfect flipside for one of my all-time favorite holiday songs, “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses. With its cinematic details and happy ending, it’s a post-punk It’s a Wonderful Life.
Best of all, however, is Davitt Sigerson’s “It’s a Big Country,” which captures the connections and dislocations of family, travel, and modern holidays better than any song I know.
Merry Christmas!
Advent calendar: December 24—Lou Rawls, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
Lou Rawls, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (1963)
from Merry Christmas Ho! Ho! Ho!
Capitol SM-2790
Few singers could follow a throughly convincing, swinging version of “Merry Christmas, Baby” with an equally committed take on this classic. None but Rawls would dare interpose a bossa nova into the middle of it. Arranger H.B. Barnum and producer David Axelrod negotiate the changes with aplomb, and Lou proves he can sing just about anything.
Advent calendar: December 23: Buck Owens and His Buckaroos, “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy”
Buck Owens and His Buckaroos, “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy” (1967)
from Christmas with Buck Owens and His Buckaroos
Capitol ST 2396
For those who want a little Telecaster for Christmas. While this is basically a rewrite of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” all knock-offs should improve on the original with such élan.
Advent calendar: December 22—Freddie King, “Christmas Tears”
Freddie King, “Christmas Tears” (1961)
Federal F 12439
The three Kings—B.B., Albert, and Freddie—all left their mark on the Christmas blues. B.B. had “Christmas Celebration” and Albert’s “Santa Claus Wants Some Loving” is fun, but Freddie’s 1961 single is the real thing.
