Happy Boxing Day people! Hope your Christmas is going spiffingly festive so far. It's time, as always, for our annual End of Year Prizes for 2017. This is the time for us to hand out our awards to the great and good that we've loved in music, TV, film and books over the last 12 … Continue reading Alex’s End of Year Prizes 2017
ARTIST: Slade SONG: Merry Xmas Everybody ALBUM: Christmas Jukebox (1974, Polydor) So here it is, Merry Christmas! And never truer a word spoken than from Noddy Holder! https://youtu.be/pvUI3Cs3j80 Thank you all for reading and listening along with our Christmas Song Advent Calendar this year people - we hope you've enjoyed it - and the playlist … Continue reading Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2017: Day 25
ARTIST: Leona Lewis SONG: One More Sleep ALBUM: Christmas With Love (2013, Sony Music) Because, well - that's how long we've got left now people! Leona's single from her Christmas album she released in 2013 is still something of a hidden gem - but is none the worse for all that, and has potential to … Continue reading Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2017: Day 24
ARTIST: The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl SONG: Fairytale of New York ALBUM: If I Should Fall from Grace with God (1987, Warner Music) My Celtic heritage means that I couldn't not include this in my Christmas Song Advent Calendar this year - or every year for that matter. And this year, is especially important for … Continue reading Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2017: Day 23
ARTIST: Chris Rea SONG: Driving Home for Christmas ALBUM: New Light Through Old Windows - The Best of Chris Rea (1988, Elektra) Another one I associate eternally with Christmas growing up today's song. Chiefly, this reminds me of a weekend one Christmas - I must have been about 7 - when my dad was Santa … Continue reading Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2017: Day 22
ARTIST: The Killers feat. Toni Halliday SONG: A Great Big Sled ALBUM: A Great Big Sled (2006, Universal Island) Back in our NME reading days - i.e. when we were in Sixth Form - The Killers, and indeed Brandon Flowers, were a bit of an obsession for us. And for what seemed like every year … Continue reading Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2017: Day 21
ARTIST: David Bowie & Bing Crosby SONG: Little Drummer Boy (Peace on Earth) ALBUM: Bowie: The Singles Collection (1977, RCA) Believe it or not, the late great Bowie almost turned down the chance to record this adapted version of the popular carol with Bing for his holiday special in the late 1970s. Thank goodness that … Continue reading Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2017: Day 20
ARTIST: Enya SONG: White Is In The Winter Night ALBUM: ...And Winter Came (2008, Warner Music) Enya's Winter/Christmas themed album was long overdue when it appeared in 2008, but boy was it worth the wait. This is the sort of song you want to listen to sipping a mulled wine on an apricious December afternoon, … Continue reading Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2017: Day 19
ARTIST: Annie Lennox SONG: Angels from the Realms of Glory ALBUM: A Christmas Cornucopia (2010, La Lennoxa) Annie has been one of my all time favourite vocalists since I first heard Eurythmics blasting from the bedroom stereo of my sister Fi (of Dear Cat & Fi fame) as a kid. This truly magical version of … Continue reading Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2017: Day 18
ARTIST: John Lennon & Yoko Ono SONG: Happy Xmas (War is Over) ALBUM: Power to the People: The Hits (1971, EMI) This Christmas song holds a great deal of memories for me, in more ways than one. I knew that Christmas was approaching as a kid, when my mum started playing her (now well worn) … Continue reading Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2017: Day 17
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