Billy Blagg's 17th Annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Songs

[Billy Blagg]

"The place where this year, to save you from tears, you'll give it to someone special. Home page at: https://www.billyblaggsannualadventcalendarofchristmassongs.co.uk/ 17th Annual Page at: https://blaggadventcalendarchristmassongs2023.blogspot.com/"

[Bonds78]

"Mr Blagg. Thanks for including this. I first saw Springsteen in 82 and had to wait till 2007 to see him do this track with me in attendance. As always, great work on your part, this has become a staple of my Christmas and it may please you to know that my daughter has a massive playlist created from your Spotify content."

[Coffee]

"Nice one, Mr Blagg! Normally I intensely dislike the twee Christmas songs - White Christmas, Rudolf the Rednosed Reindeer and, yes, Santa Claus is Coming to Town. But there's something about Springsteen that draws you in and makes you want to listen even to the crappiest of the crap and give it a whopping 5 out of 10. This one gets a 5.5. Thanks as always, Billy."

[Billy Blagg]

I saw Springsteen in Hyde Park in the summer and it reminded me that this track has never been on the Calendar and it really should be by now.

The song itself has only ever appeared once too, and that was the auspicious version by Joseph Spence (If you missed that one you should check it out at https://blaggadventcalendarchristmasson ... -town.html) so I think a more orthodox version is probably due.

Considering I've always said I'd walk a long way to see Springsteen live even if I wouldn't always walk to the back garden to listen to an album, it might seem odd to see I've decided to stick with the official audio version rather than pile through the live recordings available on YouTube, but I figure if you want to look then you can make the time for it. I'm not doing all the heavy lifting here!

[Kaiser Zoso]

Barnet!

[Billy Blagg]

Not the same song as Maria's, of course... or is it?

For Vince Vance aka Andy Stone aka Andrew John Franichevich Jnr is currently suing Carey for copywrite infringements as he believes his AIWFCIY - released in 1989 and so pre-dating Carey's by five years - contains certain chord sequences and a 'unique linguistic structure' that has been stolen from the song he composed with his writing partner Troy Powers.

Although it flew under the radar here in the UK, the Valiants song was a big hit on the Billboard Country chart for Vance and was actually in the charts on re-release just 9 months before Mariah released her festive opus. Stone & Powers are claiming $20m in damages and, as they are being represented by attorney Gerard P. Fox, who also represented the clients who sued Taylor Swift for infringement in the 'Shake It Off' case that ended in an undisclosed settlement, they may be feeling encouraged in getting a decent payday.

What do I think? Who cares? I'm just here to spin the hits. But I can say without any hesitation at all that I prefer the Vance song - the sax break is spine-tingling - and absolutely adore Lisa Layne's vocal and would much rather share an ASDA hot buttered Christmas Tree crumpet with Ms Layne than Maria any day of Advent.

In support of Vince, I've also decided to style my hair in a Vince Vance style for Christmas. Say 'Hi' if you see me about.

[Billy Blagg]

'A Christmas Gift For You from Phillies Records' was released 60 years ago on November 22nd 1963. Producer Phil Spector believed it would cement his status as a pioneering producer and become his magnum opus, as well as catapulting his roster of recording artists into stardom. It did eventually, but not in the way he envisaged.

For 22/11/63 is an infamous date in history, as the album's release coincided with the assassination of President Kennedy. America and large parts of the world went into mourning and nobody wanted Christmas songs, however well-crafted. Chart placings were disappointing, and though the songs were regularly played on the radio over successive Christmases, there was a sense that the album was unappreciated.

It was the Beatles - who had broken up by then - that brought the album the critical and commercial success it undoubtedly deserved when they re-released it as 'Phil Spector's Christmas album' on the Apple label in 1972.

Phil Spector's fall from grace later in life is well-documented. When he died, still in prison, back in 2021, I mentioned on that year's Calendar how hard it was to eulogise the work of a man who had revolutionised music production and was responsible for some of the greatest records ever made but who was, nonetheless a murderer, so I'm going to say no more on Spector but just praise this stunning version of 'White Christmas' by the incomparable Darlene Love and, controversially claim that this is second only to Otis Redding's version of the many, many versions of the song available.

Debate that after dinner on Christmas Day.

[Coffee]

"Blimey. He's certainly gone boldly into that. Engage deflector shields, Mr Zulu."

[Billy Blagg]

It's the first Advent Sunday of the year, so time for the first Carol, and what better way to celebrate than with a track from William Shatner's Christmas album 'Shatner Claus' - seriously, I'm not making this up! - better still, this is a Carol that has never previously featured on the Calendar. I'll let you decide if it was worth waiting for or not. The hymn has monastic origins and there is evidence of it being sung in Latin in the 8th and 9th Century before it was given an English translation in 1851 and featured in Hymns Ancient & Modern.

How wonderful that Bill should be boldly going where men went long before.

[easthammer]

"Just caught up with the first two offerings. Have to say that I thought the Primitives provided a basic song (as their name implies) but quite ok. As for the first number I was at first a little surprised to see that the Heybridge Swifts Manager and Southend Player was featuring, until closer inspection that it wasn't Tilson but Tilston. Still, it was an interesting if not quite my cup of T Thanks, Billy"

[Mike Oxsaw]

"...""time to get up into the loft and start moving the excess rolls of carpet to find the tree and the boxes of baubles, and that God-awful moose head* you swear you'll throw out every January but never do. "" As close a recall as anyone has ever gotten to me as a married man with 2 young kids. A true and unexpected reminisce about happier times in my life. I thank you. * - it wasn't a moose head, but it was certainly something the kids forbade me forever to throw out."

[Coffee]

"Nice one, Billy. That reminds me of something else... but CANNOT place it."

[Billy Blagg]

"Kylay: Your dad met Robert Frost? That is amazing. I think the man was doing your father a disservice dismissing his admiration for his poetry, you can appreciate quality like that at any age. Glad you liked it. Mex: It's actually two of my cats, mate. The one with the candy cane collar is Buzz and the one under the tree is Gus. Similar to the point they could be related but they're not. Instantly recognisable here in Blagg Acres though. Mex: I know men who could make it so but I'm too modest to ask ;)"

[Billy Blagg]

The Primitives were formed in 1984 in Coventry and had an international hit with the power pop / post-punk gem 'Crash' in 1988. After disbanding in 1992, The Primitives reformed in 2009 and still tour with three of the members from the 'Crash' line-up. Here singer Tracy Tracy asks the pertinent question 'What good is a fairy without wings?' in familiar style, adding just a smattering of bells to make the whole thing tantalisingly festive.

[Billy Blagg]

"The Primitives were formed in 1984 in Coventry and had an international hit with the power pop / post-punk gem 'Crash' in 1988. After disbanding in 1992, The Primitives reformed in 2009 and still tour with three of the members from the 'Crash' line-up. Here singer Tracy Tracy asks the pertinent question 'What good is a fairy without wings?' in familiar style, adding just a smattering of bells to make the whole thing tantalisingly festive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX5N4XBZEA0"

[Haz]

"Mods, ain't it about time that Billy's Advent extravaganza gets its own pin at the top of the page?! Make it so!"

[Mex Martillo]

"Nice start Billy, bit too country for me, but pretty cool that you loaded it up and all. Have to say it definitely captures a preChristmas feel. Is that your cat? Nice one Kylay. It's interesting how this site is never far from a personal experience on stuff like this."

[kylay]

"Great start to the season, Blagg. My late father as a young teenager had dinner with Frost. When he told him that he enjoyed his poetry, Frost made some quip to the effect of ""no child could truly appreciate my poetry."" He was always still a a fan though and so am I."

[Coffee]

"Excellent write up to start the calendar. As others have said, this is one of WHO's most valued threads and the effort you put into it is greatly appreciated."

[Billy Blagg]

"..... Day 1 - Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening - Robert Frost / Roving on a Winter's Night - Steve Tilston & Maggie Boyle (Not enough room on the Title area)

As if starting to search for Christmas songs almost as soon as the last over of the Cricket season has been bowled isn't madness enough, I also like to impose some utterly pointless rules here at the Calendar. Sundays, for instance, always need to be a Carol and the first day is always more seasonal than an outright Christmas song.

This gives all those who moan every year about it all 'starting too early' time to get up into the loft and start moving the excess rolls of carpet to find the tree and the boxes of baubles, and that God-awful moose head you swear you'll throw out every January but never do. Not that I think we need a sweetener this year; I've noticed even the TV studios that usually only get decorated on the 1st, were all given the make-over a week ago. Probably time to scrap the rule. But not just yet...

I have a box set called 'Midwinter - the folk music of Christmas & the Turning of the Year'; a four-disc set that starts with a superb reading by American poet Robert Frost of his beautiful 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening' which then segues into folk singer Steve Tilston's version of the traditional song 'Roving on a Winter's Night' sung with his then-wife Maggie Boyle. The traditional version can take many forms but the Tilston version is a sparse, bitter tale of lost and unrequited love; sad and haunting, it strikes just the right amount of chill for a freezing December night, enhanced as it is by Frost's equally bleak poem - What promises has he to keep and where does he have to go? Is he Snow? Or death? - meaning only this version and the segue will do for me. As soon as I play it, Christmas has started and I'm searching for the Eggnog and brewing the mulled wine.

Unable to find it anywhere else, I've loaded it up to YouTube myself with some personal pictures. So we're off and running then. Oh, and don't worry - the rest of the month are all bangers.

[Billy Blagg]

"Haz 6:13 Thu Nov 30 No mate, it was Christmas Day on the very first Calendar."

[frankfurt hammer]

Despite the sad news today…looking forward to this as usual. A real Christmas tradition now.

[Haz]

"Looking forward to this year's offering, Billy! I m thinking Dec 1st will be Fairytale of New York?!"

[Billy Blagg]

"RIP Shane MacGowan. A truly great talent and poet. I'm often asked what is my favourite Christmas song and without a doubt, it is 'Fairytale of New York'.Even without the personal aspect - it was the first Christmas with Lady Blagg in my life and 'Fairytale' was the musical background - the song is an astonishing work of Art that will last for all time. There are many other great songs to remember but it's December tomorrow and hopefully, we'll have the right No: 1 this Christmas. Rest well."

[Billy Blagg]

"Well, that's really nice! Thanks very much for the initial support, it really does mean a lot. I think most of you know the drill by now but just to remind you there is a Home page at: https://www.billyblaggsannualadventcalendarofchristmassongs.co.uk/ This is where you can gain access to all the previous Calendars and the corresponding Spotify pages. I review this annually so all links should be working and Spotify songs added if available (Sadly not always easy for the more obscure stuff). If you find something doesn't work let me know as I'm a weird bastard and I will spend ages trying to sort it. :) The 17th page will be available from the 1st December. Looking forward to seeing you all."

[kylay]

It ain't the Christmas season until Blagg kicks it off.