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/"

[Coffee]

Ride a white Christmas

[Billy Blagg]

Well, if it's not the Bopping Elf himself on something of a festive rarity. Mooted for release as a Christmas single in 1975, it was eventually pulled just as T-Rextasy started to wane. With that curious Glam / Soul hybrid that was permeating his output by then, had it been released it might just have provided Bolan with one last top-ten hit. Meanwhile, our Marc implores us to: "Get out your silk jeans and your space shoes"

And you know I would, but mine are still at the Dry Cleaners. I really must find that ticket...

[claypole]

"Johnny Bowtie has been my favourite so far, really captures my feelings towards Christmas"

[Kaiser Zoso]

"Any image thrown out is welcome, just help me get past Johnny bow tie ffs"

[Coffee]

Tracy from HR must be approaching retirement by now.

[Billy Blagg]

The Orchids? Again, Blagg? Won't it mess with your latent OCD to have the same group on the same calendar? Well, au contraire mon ami because this isn't the same Orchids.

Nearly 3,400 miles from Coventry comes this US version of the group of the same name with a lovely Christmas song just right for Friday party night. I can't tell you much of interest about this group but what do you care? It's 2' 30" 's worth of opportunity to shuffle along with Tracy from HR. Thank me later.

[easthammer]

I have been catching up again. I think Jonny's Bow Tie was much too tight as it crushed his vocal cords. Mr Scrooge did have redeeming qualities The Plain White Ts number was all white (sic) Ruperts Reggae didn't send me to the Doctors which is just as well as I wouldn't get in until next year! When a Child is Born: Blimey O'Reilly I would like to hear just O'Connor sing this to compare it with the Mathis classic. This version didn't convince me that the duo were well paired Thanks Billy .

[Billy Blagg]

"They tried to bury me but they planted a seed" A brilliant quote from the wonderful 'Nothing Compares', Kathryn Ferguson's documentary film about Sinead O' Connor which was made available on Netflix this year. It's well worth watching.

Sadly, O'Connor died in July of this year, and though the documentary only scratches the surface of what a complex, fascinating and brave individual she was, it does underline her astonishing musical legacy and made me go back and listen to some things I'd missed.

In Calendar terms, I'm pleased to report that Sinead was on the very first edition of this nonsense back in 2007 and I'd link to the day (12) but, because the page was created on MySpace - Can you imagine such a thing? - you can only see the whole page and not the one day (Not that that should stop you, mind). The song posted there was her version of 'Silent Night'. I've listened to many versions since then (you can imagine!) but Sinead's breathless, sparse and haunting rendition is still my favourite by some distance. If you've not listened to it yet, then you must.

'When a Child is Born' isn't a song that's appeared on the Calendar before and I suppose it should, so this version with Sinead accompanied by Danny O'Reilly from the Coronas and the full weight of the RTE Orchestra is probably the way to go, particularly as I can match it up on Spotify. If the lush orchestration isn't for you though - and I could fully understand why - several live versions on YouTube highlight Sinead's beautiful voice with sparse accompaniment. Many of those are taken on mobiles and capture the warmth and humour of someone who was taken far too early.

[Billy Blagg]

"We've not had any Christmas Reggae for a while, so here's a great track from 1972 from New York-born Rupert. If this doesn't have you looking for the nutcrackers and trying to pick the end off the Sellotape then you probably need to see a doctor.

[Billy Blagg]

Plain White T's had a successful 2007 in the UK with a No:2 single 'Hey Dear Delilah' and a No: 3 album 'Every Second Counts'. In 1999, they released an EP called 'I'm Dreaming of a Plain White Christmas' which is a good title and I salute them for it. Feel free to seek that out, though this track isn't on it. Instead, this offering from the Illinois four-piece outfit is a track from a Christmas sampler called 'All Wrapped Up' that features artists from the Hollywood Records label. Christmas won't be the same without you.

Ain't that the truth

[Coffee]

"""Excruciating lol"" is a massive understatement! Mr Scrooge is curiously catchy."

[Kaiser Zoso]

"Jesus, Blagg son — I could do a better job than Johnny ‘Bow Tie’ Barstow Excruciating lol"

[Mex Martillo]

"I cannot see it working with those Arsenal scarves. Maybe a rebranding with the hammers. Great sixties sound though. I like the complete lack of some marketing image do over. Must be some catch up, missed most since the 1st!"

[Billy Blagg]

The Orchids could probably lay claim to being Britain's first girl group.

Formed in the early 60s in Coventry and consisting of three 14-year-olds from Stoke Park Grammar School, Georgina Oliver, Pamela Jarman, and Valerie Jones found themselves with a Decca recording contract and in the orbit of people like Kinks manager Larry Page, who heard them at a talent contest and brought in top producer Shel Talmy - later to produce The Kinks, the Who and the Easybeats - to work with them. Sadly, despite accumulating an enthusiastic following, the Orchids never made the big time, but despite some marketing techniques that would be considered unsuitable today - getting the girls to only perform in their school uniforms - their small legacy has endured mainly because their records owe a lot to early Tamla and 'Wall of Sound' Spector.

There's another reason I've added this to the Calendar though. When I found it originally, I was a bit puzzled by the quality of the video considering its age, but then discovered it's a clip from a film called 'Just For You' and I have a strong memory of my mum taking me to see this film when I was a small lad. So this is dedicated to anyone who hasn't got their mum with them this Christmas. I'm thinking the Orchids should reform and tour with similarly returning Girls Aloud and The Sugarbabes next year.

Who wouldn't want a ticket for that?



In 2016, the Orchids met up again as part of the celebration of the Coventry Music Museum providing us with a wonderful visual reminder of the passing of fifty years. You can see this over at the blog: https://blaggadventcalendarchristmasson ... gspot.com/

[Billy Blagg]

Every now and then an artist emerges whose vision is so unique that it creates an entirely new musical paradigm. Stretching the realm of technique by introducing harmonic or rhythmic contexts far removed from the norm, they're often unappreciated in their time, but the passage of years can ultimately bring recognition for their genius. Ornette Coleman was one such artist. Now we have singer Johnny "Bowtie" Barstow. So says John Kelman back in 2005 on the allaboutjazz website.

I assume those passage of years haven't yet reached fruition. This comes from the album 'A Bowtie Christmas and More' and if you're 'unshackled by musical convention' and appreciate 'a truly emancipated harmonic approach' then you can enjoy other such Calendar favourites as 'O Come All Ye Faithful', 'Winter Wonderland' and 'Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer'. The Blagg Advent Calendar: "He listens so you don't have to"

[Billy Blagg]

"Thanks for the wishes all. Easthammer, I never got out to the party as I was too busy leaning over a sink or toilet. Feeling better today though. Thanks to Jaan Kenbrovin who C&P for me though there was a later update with Enoch Kent added to make it a triple so I've just amended the post to include it. I am trying to boost the blog though as FaceBook has banned me from posting links to it now as I'm apparently 'breaking policy' so feel free to get the site hits up."

[easthammer]

"P.S Hope you are better soon Billy, was it the party what caused it!"

[easthammer]

"P.S Hope you are better soon Billy, was it the party what caused it!"

[easthammer]

"Despite Belafonte's beautiful voice, I think I prefer the Boney M version for its more upbeat and joyous style, As for Enoch's take on things I think a few years back I would have been joining in with it, but I think I have begun to outlive my cynicism. Maybe a second childhood?"

[Jaan Kenbrovin]

"It's a Christmas shopping Saturday so time for one of Blagg's GOFGOF's (Get One Free, Get One Free) offers. This year I'm gong one better by adding another GOF. Hey! Times are hard, we need to help those without.

We sadly lost 96-year-old Harry Belafonte this year. Born Harry Bellanfanti and dubbed the 'king of Calypso' - even though his output also included blues, folk, gospel, world music and the American songbook - Belafonte can lay claim to being the first person to sell a million copies of an album with his 1956 'Calypso' LP. Even had Belafonte just remained a recording artist his legacy would have been impressive, but as an actor and more importantly, a Civil Rights activist, the singer can rightly claim an extraordinary legacy that prompted U.S. President Joe Biden to declare that ""Belafonte's accomplishments are legendary. He used his talent and voice to help redeem the soul of our nation" going on to say his "Compassion and respect for dignity will endure forever".

In terms of Christmas music, Belafonte can claim top spot for his festive classic 'Mary's Boy Child' that reached the No:1 spot in the UK charts in November 1957 and remained there for seven weeks. Written a year earlier by Jester Hairston, the song was originally composed as a calypso birthday tune before Christmas lyrics were added. Belafonte heard it and asked to record it.

The song remained a festive favourite and many recordings were made as it turned into something of a yuletide standard but it was Boney M who mashed it up superbly with 'Oh My Lord' and took it back to Number 1 in 1978, cementing it as a definitive Christmas song.

Meanwhile, back in 1962, traditional and folk singer Enoch Kent used the 'Boy Child' tune, called it 'Christmas Comes But Once A Year' and added his denouncement of the season. 'Mary's Boy Child' has never appeared on the Calendar before so here are both versions together with Kent's other opinion on it. Incidentally, Belafonte's song is over four-minutes long, itself something of a ground-breaking venture at a time when 45 RPM's rarely lasted over 2' 30"

[Coffee]

"Yuk! Hope you're better soon, Billy."

[Billy Blagg]

Sorry team. Got Norovirus so I've just posted over at the blog at:

https://blaggadventcalendarchristmasson ... gspot.com/

[easthammer]

"Just been catching up: O Come O Come Emmanuel is one of my favourite carols but not Shatner's version. Loved Darlene Love, and the Spector (sic) of Christmas past Couldn't hear the likeness to Carey's song but as you say Billy, who Careys? And the sax was great although not worthy of a post-coital fag! Well, not for this non-smoker. The Boss already features on my Christmas playlist list if only to keep my Sheffield United loving Son-in-Law happy (his favourite artist) after all it is the time of Peace-on-Earth Fortunately, I have stairs in my house so escaping from Daleks doesn't present a major problem. Nor did the off switch when listening to this one. The Bells as you say Billy were very much out there on that one ( I have a hunch that they could make you deaf - you know!) And I suspect that Honey & the Bees didn't make much Bees & Honey from that release. Thanks Billy keep them coming"

[Billy Blagg]

Yay! It's Friday and the first Christmas party night of the year and if this one is anything like the work Christmas parties I used to organise back in the 80s then by midnight this place will resemble the worst excesses of Roman bacchanalia. I'm certainly going to be out jingling my bells later on, so here are Honey & the Bees with this joyous slice of festive Northern Soul to get you in the mood in case you want to join me. A special word, by the way, to whoever was responsible for the bells on this. I hope he got a bonus.

[Billy Blagg]

Sixty years ago on November 23rd 1963 - the day after the Kennedy assassination - the very first episode of Dr Who aired. The series captured the imagination of children and adults alike becoming both a significant landmark in UK popular culture and something of a national institution, this continues well into the second decade of the 21st Century, when revealing the name of the next actor to play a newly regenerated Doctor is even announced on the main news.

The Dalek's first appearance was just before Christmas 1963 in a seven-part story called 'The Dead Planet' and by 1964 there was barely anyone in the country who didn't know what a Dalek was. What isn't as well-known is the fact the series also made a huge impact in L.A. prompting a young Belinda Carlisle and her friend Jane Wiedlin to join Margot Olavarria and Elissa Bello to form the punk band the Go-Go's and release this monstrosity

** ** Please don't email me to point out discrepancies in the above paragraph - it's just another example of my irrepressible festive humour.**