Billy Blagg's 18th Annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Songs

[Billy Blagg]

Bloody hell! They've tarted this place up, haven't they? I remember back in the day when this was The Ironworks and Alex V, me and Major Wager were working from out of a wooden shed at the bottom of Alex's garden. Now look at it! It's even a .co.uk. How exciting is this? 

Anyway, as long as this site survives in some form and I've got breath in my body, there will always be an Advent Calendar, and it returns for its 18th run starting December 1st. It's the usual guff: one song each day of Advent up until the 25th. No repeats, all genres, some crackers, a few chestnuts, a good few turkeys, some stuff to make your heart sing and some to make you long for January.

As usual, there is a landing page at:
https://www.billyblaggsannualadventcale ... ngs.co.uk/ 
This page has links to all previous Calendars and every corresponding Spotify page.
There will also be a 2024 Calendar page at 
https://blaggadventcalendarchristmasson ... gspot.com/

Stop moaning now. Remember Comfort & Joy.

[Mex Martillo]

It grow on me. Thought that sounded like electric bagpipes towards the end. Some sort of synethiser thing? I liked that. A jolly wee tune to start.

[One Sunny Day]

Absolute banger to start off the   season 

[Mike Oxsaw]

Excellent start to the season.

[Billy Blagg]

As regulars here know Day One on the Calendar normally involves something of a more seasonal offering rather than an outright Christmas record, to help ease those who refuse to have anything to do with the Yuletide spirit until at least the 16th of the month.

But those same regulars will also know that another utterly pointless self-imposed Calendar rule is that Sundays have to be a Carol, so I'm starting off this year with one that hasn't appeared here before but also something that won't tax too many: a UK No. 4 hit back in 1975.

This used to be something of a staple on the radio years ago, but it doesn't get so much airplay now. It's odd to think that there will be Millennials and Gen Z'ers out there playing this via Virgin mobile, while ordering their Christmas wine from Virgin and booking their holiday to the US on Boxing Day via Virgin airlines, paying via their Virgin savings, oblivious to the fact that Richard Branson's company virtually owes its very existence to this bloke. 

For real Nerds - and, yea I'm looking at you! - the flip side of the single** was a twee, but utterly charming Christmassy effort called 'On Horseback'  that also appeared as a hidden track on Oldfield's 'Ommadawn' album. 

** For reference, going forward I'm not going to explain terms like 'vinyl', 'flip side', '45' or similar. Speak to your Grandad. He wants to hear from you.

[Billy Blagg]

Honoured! Even in the halcyon days I never got pinned to the top. 

[stubbo-admin]

Thanks Billy....we'll pin the thread to the top for the festive period given it's popularity.

[Billy Blagg]

Thanks for the support, fellow WHO'ers. It really is appreciated. 

Just before it all starts again on Sunday, I thought I'd confirm that I will always post on the Calendar here on WHO every day. I owe this place a 25-year-old second career and I won't abandon it, but, if you can also occasionally visit the websites (listed above) it would also be appreciated. It does cost me to run those and hits help get it to the top of the Search Engine.

Things have not been helped on Search by the fact that the second decade of the 21st century sees us with a U.S. magician called Bill Blagg and a Billy Bragg tribute act called Billy Blagg - can someone tell me why the fuck you'd go to see a Bragg tribute when you can see the man himself? This Blagg has even got my old abandoned billyblagg.com web name!  - and it's getting harder to get the Advent Calendar on the first page. Perhaps if you do want to recommend the page to a non-Who'er then ask them to search for Billy Blagg Advent as that will always come up on top.

OK that's about it. I've nearly finished listening to thousands of God-awful Christmas records and I think I have a reasonable idea of how the first few days might go. Or do I?

See you on the December 1st. 

[only1billybonds]

Thanks as always Mr Blagg, the xmas build up always begins with your first offering.

[Trilby55]

Thanks Billy .

[Monsieur merde de cheval]

 All hail the Blagg 
comforting 

[norwaytips]

Good to see that you’re keeping the tradition going Blagg. ⚒

[Mex Martillo]

Nice one Billy.
Glad to see you found your way to co.uk and keep the tradition going.
Top man.

[Mike Oxsaw]

Ye-a-a-a-a-y!!!

Ho! Ho & thrice Ho!

[MaryMillingtonsGhost]

Top man Billy!

Looking forward to your eclectic choices mate

[kylay]

Well now we know the site is officially back.

Waiting with bated breath, Billy!

[Mr Anon]

god bless you BB, one of this sites last bastions for something to come back for.