Never Mind The Baubles: Xmas '77 With The Sex Pistols

Did you see 'Never Mind The Baubles' on Boxing Day on BBC2? It's a one hour documentary about the Sex Pistols' last UK gig on Christmas Day in 1977 in aid of striking firemen in Huddersfield. An afternoon gig for the children of the town and the evening was for the adults filmed by Julien Temple. You'd never guess from this film that the band imploded a matter of weeks later in San Francisco.

It's as much a film about Christmas's past and the '70s as it is about the Pistols. The mainly black and white footage looking back onto what I always recall as a black and white world, the politics and the strikes and the furore around four lads in their early 20s who were now the scourge of the country. I recall the television news articles at the time showing churches and local politicians demanding that the Pistols weren't allowed to play in their town. This is, of course, well documented in Julien Temple's film, 'The Filth and The Fury'. It seems astonishing these days that a bunch of scruffy lads with guitars could be public enemy Number 1 but that's what happened.

So what on earth were they doing on Christmas Day hosting a party and playing a gig for a bunch of Yorkshire kids?

From the more recent interviews with John, Steve and Paul about the gig, it seems they were just grateful that someone, somewhere was letting them play. It's great to see the kids jumping round in Pistols shirts and John cutting the Christmas cake and handing it round to the kids. He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself. And then getting on stage and playing those classic songs and, as Steve says at one point in astonishment, not swearing during 'Bodies' (there are a lot of 'fucks' in that song). And John commenting that he'd had a word with Sid to tone down his rock star attitude.

From the sound of it they played blistering set, a rock band at the top of their game pulling out all the stops. Who could have guessed it would all fall part so soon afterwards.

I wonder what young people thought of the film as it transported us all into that far off country called the 1970s? It wasn't that long ago and everything seemed to be so different then. Or was it? Strikes, poverty, people living on the breadline? Some things don't change, sadly. To some people that film is probably history but to me it's my past.

It's a thoughtful and a delightful film that should be repeated every Christmas. Well done Julien and well done to BBC2 for showing it at Christmas. And thank you to the Sex Pistols of course!

Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake at Sadler's Wells

My final pre-Christmas treat was, as has become traditional in recent years, a trip to Sadler's Wells to see the annual Christmas production of a Matthew Bourne show. This year it was the turn of 'Swan Lake' again which is one of my favourites. I'd originally booked tickets for Saturday night but had to change them to the Sunday matinee when Kim Wilde announced her Shepherd's Bush Christmas party (well, I had to didn't I?).

I've seen the production four times before and was lucky enough to have seen the lead performers in those productions. Jonathan Ollivier as The Swan/Stranger, Simon Williams as The Prince, Kerry Biggin as The Girlfriend and Michela Meazza as the cold Queen. Despite having seen it before I still forgot some of the scenes and it was nice to be reminded of them, such as the ballet scene with the butterflies and the hunter (and the Girlfriend dropping her handbag!).

The storytelling is excellent and the dancing even better. One of my favourite scenes is when the Prince and the Swan first meet at the Lake and, from discord, gradually start dancing together over a long scene in which we see the swans enjoy themselves with their own group dances. At the end of that scene the Prince and the Swan are in total harmony, a great uplifting and joyful moment to see them together.

If you haven't seen it yet then you really should - it's a great work of art that needs to be seen to be believed.

Flap flap flap!

Kim Wilde's Christmas Party at Shepherd's Bush Empire

The Saturday before Christmas was Kim Wilde night - it was, at last, time for her Christmas Party at Shepherd's Bush and I delighted at the illuminated sign outside announcing the event. This was the first time that Kim had played a full show in London in something like 20 years so I was definitely going to be there. She's played on the '80s revival tours but I don't want to see Kim doing 4-5 hits before being ushered off stage, I want a full gig and that's what she gave us, with nearly two hours on stage and lots of fun!

This was obviously not just much anticipated by me but anticipated by everyone - I got onto the first balcony around 7:30pm and all the seats were already taken.  I've been to Shepherd's Bush loads of times and have never seen that before. That's pulling power! So I decided to find a good spot at the back of the balcony with a good view and stay there.

Kim occupies a powerful spot in pop history - after Debbie Harry and before Madonna. She toured with Michael Jackson on one of his world tours so is no slouch when it comes to working an audience and the pop star life but she gave it all up in the '90s to raise her family and become an award-winning garden designer. Lucky for us she was lured back into pop stardom and she's released some great albums since then, including her latest, 'Wilde Winter Songbook'.

I found a good place to stand at the back with an excellent view of the stage and waited for the show to start. Up first was Nik Kershaw, someone I never really paid much attention to back in the '80s but he gave good show and played some songs I knew, including 'The One and Only' that I didn't know he'd written. He strutted round the front of the stage giving us good rock star and enjoying himself. He fronted Kim's band and played a crowd-pleasing set that got everyone into the right mood.

Only fifteen minutes after Nik left the stage the lights lowered and we were treated to a series of photos on the video screens at the back of the stage of Kim through the years, from being a baby onwards. Then her band came on and then there she was, Kim Wilde at last in her first full gig in London in forever. It was great seeing her centre-stage, leading her band and in full control. The band were very tight and played off each other nicely and included Kim's brother, Ricky on guitar, and niece, Scarlett singing backing vocals (and in the smallest mini-mini skirt). She had a great light show supported by five video screens at the back that kept the visuals alive throughout the show.

Kim launched into a great set of her '80s classics and, as she reminded us, she loved the '80s! We had the big hits of 'View From A Bridge', 'Chequered Love' and 'Water On Glass' before she went disco-tastic on us with 'If I Can't Have you'. Then 'Love In A Natural Way' and a moody 'Cambodia' before we had a short acoustic set with just Kim, Ricky and Scarlett. Something went wrong with Ricky's guitar so he borrowed Nik Kershaw's guitar and we had 'Four Lettered Word', 'Love Blonde' and 'Wonderful Life'. On came the guitarist to play along to the delightful ' Hey Mr Snowman' and then the full band joined again for 'New Life' and 'Hope', all from the new album.

Then Kim introduced her dad, Marty Wilde, to join them on stage to sing the lovely 'White Winter Hymnal'. That meant we had three generations of Wilde's on stage at the same time and all singing. Kim was clearly proud of her dad and introduced him as one of the original pop stars.

Kim introduced the next song by saying that 'they' also had a new Christmas album out before launching into a great version of Erasure's 'A Little Respect' (that she covered on her own 'Snapshots' album). She dedicated the next song to us, the audience, for making ' an old girl very happy' and gave us 'You Came' followed by a stomping 'You Keep Me Hangin' On'. At the end of that she strode off stage while the band kept playing and Scarlett kept singing only to re-appear wearing bunny ears and with hands full of antlers to hand out to the audience. Then she introduced Rick Astley to join her singing 'Winter Wonderland' from the new album.

We then had the biggest surprise of the evening when Kim introduced two songs by saying they weren't hers but that we've all grown up listening to them - 'Merry Christmas Everybody' by SLADE and 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' by Wizzard. They were amazing versions and Kim clearly was having the time of her life singing them. By that time Nik Kershaw was back on stage playing guitar and dancing Santas appeared on the video screens at the back of the stage. During 'I Wish' the snow started flying from the roof over the audience and, with the spotlights swirling, they made it look like it was storming around the place. The show closed with her new version of 'Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree' with Nik Kershaw.

But that wasn't all. After a minute of darkness the stage lit again and the band came back with the introduction to 'Kids In America', with Kim in tight leather jacket giving us an extended and heavy version of her first hit single written by Marty and Ricky and wow, what a version! By now everyone was standing so I didn't get a great view of the stage but the sound was fantastic. Wow! After 'merry christmas's and 'thank yous' Kim hinted that she might see us next year. I certainly hope so!

And that was it for Kim's party. Kim was on stage for nearly two hours, running round, striding across the stage, exhorting us to sing along (and we did) and giving us everything we could want and more. It was quite possibly the best and most satisfying gig of the year - I loved it!

Come back soon Kim Wilde, my Pop Star of choice!

Advent #24 - Three Advent Gifts

On the last day of advent I must give you three songs to match those delivered by the Three Wise Men.

SLADE's 'Merry Xmas Everybody' is a classic example of the Christmas single and is still regularly played everywhere 40 years after it first went to Number 1. It regularly charts each Christmas due to downloads and is current Number 51 (I think) in the UK chart. Of course, I first bought it in 1973.

This has Dave in his SuperYob outfit and guitar and Don wearing Noddy's mirrored top hat (like on the front of his book), and Nod and Jim giving it some welly. It wouldn't be Christmas without Sir Noddy yelling out, "IT'S CHRISTMAAAAAASSSS".



For a slight change of pace here's Viv Albertine's 'Home Sweet Home (At Christmas)' she released a few years back as a seasonal version of 'Confessions Of A MILF'. I (naturally) downloaded it (obv). She's also released 'It's A Christmas, Single' but no new Christmas record this year.



And another change of pace for The Futureheads' 'Christmas Was better In The 80s' (it wasn't but we did have better jumpers)



And just for good measure, here's a freeby in the form of Billy Idol's 'Yellin' At the Christmas Tree' in which the Tree wins!



Go on, enjoy! And Merry Christmas!

Advent #23 - 'Black Christmas'

Poly Styrene's second appearance in this video advent calendar, firstly singing 'City Of Christmas Ghosts' with Goldblade, and now her own single, 'Black Christmas'.

I'm dreaming of a black, black Christmas

Black smoke blows against a midnight sky

'Black Christmas' was released out of nowhere in 2010 with the news that an album would be released the following year. No drip-feed of news, just BLAM! and we have a new record from Poly. It was initially available as a free download from Poly's site which I downloaded immediately. That's Poly's daughter, Celeste, singing along in the video. I had the privilege of meeting Celeste at PolyFest earlier this year.

Advent #22 - 'Ring Out Solstice Bells'

Appropriate for the time of year, Jethro Tull's ' Ring Out Solstice Bells'.

Advent #21 - 'Il Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant'

And here we have Siouxsie & The Banshees going all Christmassy with 'Il Est Ne' - whoever would've thought it...? I like it!

Advent #20 - 'Joy'

'Joy' is the opening song to Tracey Thorn's 'Tinsel & Light' Christmas album. Its not an obvious Christmas song - where are the jingle bells and choirs? - but it sums up the season so well.

'Candide' at the Menier Chocolate Factory

As part of my pre-Christmas entertainments I got tickets to see 'Candide' at the Choccy Factory. I was sort of aware of Voltaire's book but not of Bernstein's musical version so it sounded like fun. And it was.

'Candide' is a tale of optimism gone sour. Our hero, Candide, has many trials and tribulations to overcome on the path to true love - whipped to within an inch of his life, killing two priests, going to the New World to make his fortune and finding out that his love is a lady of dubious morals. Throughout it all he looks on the bright side until the very end when his world comes crashing down. And then he realises you've got to get on with life and play the hand you've got. So he does. Brave Candide!

The Bernstein musical seems to have been played with by various hands over the years to make it work and add different bits here and there. Our hero travels from Westphalia to Paris to Buenos Aires before ending up in Venice, so he gets around a bit and that introduces different musical themes. In each continent he finds people he thought were dead to be alive but there's no time to tell the story of how they ended up not dead. Quelle coincidence! It's set in its time so we have lots of brocade and lace in the costumes, all slightly dowdy and lived in to make them real.

It's set 'in the round' so the audience is on all sides with the actors coming in from the corners. Now and then, some scenes/songs start off at the back of the auditorium that means we can't all see what's going on which is a bit annoying  - or maybe it's designed to get us all to come back but sit somewhere else to get a different take on the action? Who knows? Now that I've seen the audience participation bits I know where not to sit (and where to not get splashed with water when the boat gets shipwrecked).

It was great fun, with some great singing and dancing and I gawped at the speed of the thing with one scene blurring into the next and never knowing what was to follow. Scarlett Strallen was excellent as Cunegonde, our heroine, who happens to fall from one sugar daddy to the next with no great effort but some lovely songs, particularly 'Glitter and Be Gay' from which she wrung every laugh possible. I also liked Fra Fee's voice as Candide but he needs to work on some charisma. Another star was Jackie Clune as the 'Old Lady' with one buttock (you need to hear the story). Jackie brought a maturity and a level of daftness to the affair that was most welcome. Most of the cast took on several roles and that worked really well.

So many Choccy Factory productions have transferred to the West End - and a few to Broadway - so it'll be interesting to see what happens with this one.

Advent #19 - 'Snow'

OK, so it's not really a Christmas song as such but it is about snow so that counts. This is 'Snow' from 'White Christmas' by Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Trudy Stevens (singing for Vera-Ellen). Go on and have a listen!



Wouldn't It be nice if the record and film companies could agree to release a proper soundtrack to the film, with Rosemary singing with everyone else? Peggy Lee sings all Rosemary Clooney's parts on the soundtrack because Rosemary was signed to a different company. Rosemary, of course, recorded most of the songs herself. But it's not the same. 

Advent #18 - 'Father Christmas'

Time for a second showing of Ray Davies in this years' advent calendar, this time with The Kinks for 'Father Christmas'.

Advent #17 - 'Gaudete'

Here's a real Christmas classic, 'Gaudete' by Steeleye Span from 1973 (yes, another one of those great Christmas songs from 1973). I remember them walking onto the Top Of The Pops stage holding candles as the sound got louder and then walking off again as the sound vanished. It's dominated by Maddy Prior's voice.



A new version of 'Gaudete' has been issued this year by Erasure so watch out for it.

Heroes Are Normal Size Too

I've just found out that there is a 'fan' page on Facebook for Don Powell and had to click 'join'. As soon as I did I whizzed back in time to seeing Don for the first time back in 1973.

Isn't it odd how heroes can inspire and disappoint? Back then, SLADE were my heroes and Don was (and still is) the drummer with the band. They were loud and brash and in your face with some great songs and a fun attitude. It was the height of glam rock and glitter and sparkle was everywhere and Noddy had his mirrored top hat. I was excited to be seeing the pop group I'd only ever seen on telly, more often than not, on Top Of The Pops.

They were supported by the Sensational Alex Harvey Band so the first band I ever saw was SAHB. I can still remember Alex on stage being all theatrical in his stripy tee shirt and Zal strutting round in his make up and heavy guitar riffs. But, that night, it was SLADE I was waiting to see.

And on they came, my heroes striding onto the stage to pick up guitars and stroll to the mics and my jaw fell open. They weren't giants! They were about the same size as my Dad! Could this be SLADE? And then they let rip and yes, it was SLADE up there on the stage. I vividly recall my surprise at them being ordinary sized blokes rather than giants. That was an illusion knocked down right there. But they sparkled, they were loud and Nod swore. They never stopped, climbing up onto the silver-wrapped amps and Dave throwing glitter into the crowd at the front (he's still daft but doesn't throw glitter around these days).

I don't know where that memory came from but it was an important thing to learn. Heroes are normal size too. Even SLADE.

'The Thirteenth Tale' at the British Film Institute

Last week I went to an early screening of a new film to be shown on BBC2 over Christmas called 'The Thirteenth Tale'. It stars Vanessa Redgrave and Olivia Colman in a flashback-fest as Vanessa recounts her past to the present day biographer played by Olivia. The screenplay was written by Christopher Hampton based on the book by Diane Setterfield. It's a ghost story for Christmas ... or is it?

I won't spoil it for you but there are lots of twists and turns in the tale, set in a Yorkshire mansion in which twins grow up amid incest, madness and death. There was a Q&A after the screening with Christopher Hampton, James Kent (director) and Olivia Colman which was quite entertaining. The less entertaining bit was members of the cast taking photos of the screen on their phones and whooping at the drop of a hat - um, you might have got in for free but the rest of us paid, thank you!

'A Christmas Carol' at the Queen Elizabeth Hall

This evening I put my festive foot forward and headed to the Queen Elizabeth Hall for a reading of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'.

It's a great story and one I've read many times in the run up to Christmas and we all know Ebenezer Scrooge. To get us in the mood the foyer was decorated with gaudy Christmas lights and a small brass band playing carols and songs. There was mulled wine and mince pies at the bar (re-named the Queen Liz for some reason) and the place was packed. The only thing missing was a Christmas Tree (and the stage would have benefited from one, I think).

Griff Rhys Jones played Dickens who narrates the tale, with Bill Paterson as Scrooge, Tim Pigott-Smith as Marley, Phil Daniels as Bob Cratchit and Janine Duvitski as his wife as well as others, all playing multiple roles. Each reader stepped forward to their microphone as it came their turn to speak and, on a screen at the back of the stage, were projected old Victorian illustrations from the book as the story progressed. We found a cast list laid out like a Christmas card on our seats when we went in. I'll keep it as a memory of a lovely evening.

They all did terribly well and helped evoke the spirit of Christmas. Mr Scrooge, of course, understands the Christmas spirit more than most of us and becomes the embodiment of it. Bill Paterson was most excellent as Scrooge with a nice mix of whine and incredulity as he has his adventures with the ghosts. I also quite liked Freddie Fox as his namesake, Fred (Scrooge's nephew), who for once didn't annoy me. Janine and Phil were excellent as the Cratchits as was Griff as Mr Dickens.

It was adapted for a one and a half hours reading by Rosie Kellagher. That must have been a brave undertaking since it's known very well by so many people and, probably, by  most of the audience. At first I noticed, 'oh that bit's gone' and 'that scene's missed out' but then I gave in and went with it, enjoying what we were given. She did a jolly good job.

It was only on for one evening so you won't be able to see it but it would be a good tradition to start and read it every year. Next time (if there is a next time) they should read it in costume - and have a Tree on the stage.

Advent #16 - 'Baby, It's Cold Outside'

There are lots of versions of this song out there but my favourite is by Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews. Cerys was still in Catatonia when she recorded this with Tom so it was a bit of a departure for her but, as a Welsh lass, how she could say no to Tom?

This is a very un-Christmassy video, with Tom playing the prince of darkness seducing the virginal Cerys who soon turns the tables. I love Cerys's parting shot of, "it's bloody freezin' out there, in'it".

Advent #15 - 'Step Into Christmas'

Opening another door on the advent calendar and here we have Elton John's 'Step Into Christmas'. It wasn't a big hit back in the day but I've always liked it.

Advent #14 - 'You Ruined My Christmas'

Open the door to the 14th day on the Plastic Bag advent calendar and it's time for The Supreme Fabulettes and 'You Ruined My Christmas' (written and directed by Boy George). A bit of fun is fine at Christmas and, as the blurb goes, 'There just aren't enough all-male girl groups in the world'. Enjoy!

Kim Wilde & Rick Astley - 'Winter Wonderland'

We are being spoilt rotten by Kim Wilde - yet another video for a song from her new Christmas album, 'Wilde Winter Songbook'. This time it's her duet with Rick Astley. Watch and enjoy!

Advent #13 - 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday'

OK. It's time for one of the big hitters of Christmas in the beard shape of Wizzard's 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday'. 1973 was a great year for Christmas songs, including this one, which was beaten to the top spot by the mighty SLADE's 'Merry Christmas Everybody'. Roy Wood could certainly write a crackin' song and he pulled out all the stops with this classic.

Amanda Palmer at The United Nations

Amanda Palmer took part in the United Nations Day To End Violence Against Women on 25 November. It wasn't a showbiz and glitzy affair, it was serious stuff and here's Amanda's blog about it and a video of her reading:



I'm sort of proud of Amanda for doing this. At one level she's a pop star but she's not afraid to get involved with things like this and, by being invited to do it, shows that she's on the list of 'people who care'. She does care. She's been around for long enough to know what she's capable of and to understand her reach and capacity.

She reached out to me on that summer night in 2005 at Patti Smith's Meltdown and I responded. There is no need to reach out again, I'm there. 

Advent #12 - 'Postcard From London'

Ray Davies wrote a homage to London in the snow a few years ago and recorded it with ex-partner Chrissie Hynde. I fell in love with the song the first time I heard it - it has the same kind of magic all of Ray's London song have. It picks up on an old theme in Ray's writing with his sister Rosie emigrating to Australia and that's the kind of atmosphere the song evokes. The setting is finding an old postcard ... but listen for yourself:

Sinead O'Connor at the Royal Festival Hall

On Tuesday I went to see Sinead O'Connor at the Royal Festival Hall. The show was billed as 'Sinead O'Connor's Christmas Show' so I had no idea what to expect but it turned out to be a Sinead gig rather than anything particularly Christmassy.

I'm not really a Sinead O'Connor fan. If you'd asked me about her a few months back I would have said I actually only have two of her songs - 'Silent Night' and 'Nothing Compares 2 U' (on an 80s compilation). But then I found a shoe box full of tapes and discovered I'd actually bought her first two albums on cassette. To have two albums suggests I liked the first one enough to buy the second. So, when I saw the gig advertised I thought 'why not?'. And I'm pleased I did.

Strolling on stage in combat trousers and a khaki hoody she proceeded to swear within the first 30 seconds and then put on some sunglasses because she's shy and they help to hide the audience. And then she opened that gob of hers.

Obviously she's got a great voice and great control - anyone that's heard 'Nothing Compares 2 U' knows that - but it was the effortlessness, the abandon, the sheer what you see is what you get and tonight I might be good or bad-ness of it all was what surprised me. Some singers are just natural - they open their mouths and you get whatever they can give on that occasion - and Sinead is clearly one of those. I've said the same about Amanda Palmer, a great natural talent, not studied or manufactured, and even on a bad night (does AFP have bad nights?) is still worth listening to. Amanda sung 'Black Boys On Mopeds' - one of Sinead's songs - a few years ago at the British Library gig.

I wasn't familiar with most of the songs Sinead sang, sometimes playing guitar, so I could sit back and listen. The sound mix was a bit dirty in places but worked as an artist going out there and just playing. Raucous rock, skunking reggae and some songs with her voice and sometimes her voice and her backing singers (who were also her guitarists - she was backed by a five piece band). Her big global hit - 'Nothing Compares 2 U' - was played halfway through the set rather than as the encore which seems typical of Ms O'Connor but, in a way, it was also nice to get it out of the way so that she can play on without knowing that song lies ahead.

She gave us a nice selection of songs and I particularly liked 'Queen Of Denmark', '4th & Vine', 'Fire On Babylon' and 'Last Day of Our Acquaintance' with the encore songs of 'V.I.P.' and 'Black Boys On Mopeds'. And 'Nothing Compares' of course.

I'm pleased that I've now seen Sinead play live and I'm pleased to discover that I have almost her whole back catalogue to explore. Thanks Sinead, you have a new fan!

Advent #11 - 'I Believe In Father Christmas'

One of my favourite Christmas songs is Greg Lake's ' I Believe In Father Christmas' and I bought the single way back then. I remember seeing the video for the song on Top Of The Pops and being disappointed it was set in the desert rather than in a snowy landscape. The theme of Prokofiev's 'Lieutenant Kije Suite' always evokes visions of riding through the snow and that's what I was expecting.

The quality of this video isn't great but it's the song that matters and the message rings true. You can also enjoy the well-groomed hair of Mr Lake.

Kim Wilde - 'Hey Mr Snowman'

Another great song from Kim's Christmas album, 'Wilde Winter Songbook', and another fun video. Here's 'Hey Mr Snowman', one of my favourites and soon to be one of yours!



We're being spoiled with all these videos of songs on the new record but I'm not complaining. Enjoy!

Advent #10 - 'We Three Kings'

You can't have Christmas without a traditional carol or two so imagine my joy when I heard 'We Three Kings' by Blondie. It was a free download in 2009 so I did and then bounced around the room singing along (as you do). Merry Christmas Debbie, Chris and Clem!

Advent #9 - 'It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas'

Back in 2009 those pesky Pet Shop Boys scheduled a big show at the the O2 Arena as the culmination of their 'Pandemonium' tour in the UK so we, naturally, had to go. It was just a few days before Christmas and the weather gods decided to dump a whole load of snow unexpectedly onto London which messed up the transport system. That's what Neil refers to in the introduction to the song - there was snow and slush and ice outside the arena as they played.

This is a great song and ought to be played a lot more. I always have to join in with the emphatic 'BING CROSBY!' line and love the memory of the dancing Christmas Trees in their red wellies. Great stuff. Watch the video and then download the song!

The UK Singles Chart - 8 December 2013

The entrance of SLADE's 'Everyday' into the singles chart a couple of weeks ago has re-kindled my interest in the singles chart for the first time in a decade or two. When I looked at it tonight I noted a number of Christmas singles:

98: It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Andy Williams
92: Christmas In LA - The Killers ft Dawes
79: Underneath The Tree - Kelly Clarkson
73: Everyday - SLADE
72: Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea
67: Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
62: Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
57: Merry Xmas Everybody - SLADE
56: Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin' Stevens
44: Last Christmas - Wham
37: I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard
34: One More Sleep - Leona Lewis
16: Fairytale Of New York - The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl
14: All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey

I've not included songs that simply happen to be associated with Christmas because they were hits at Christmas (like 'The Power Of Love') or the current Number 1 which is the music to a Christmas advert but isn't really a Christmas song.

It's disappointing that SLADE dropped four places with 'Everyday' (from 69 to 73) but it's nice to see 'Merry Xmas' crashing in at 57. And, of course, 'Fairytale of New York' is making its usual mark as a regular favourite.

Next week I will be watching out for 'City of Christmas Ghosts' by Goldblade and Poly Styrene. Wouldn't it be fab to see them in the chart?

Advent #8 - 'Make A Daft Noise For Christmas'

OK, so this might not be the most adult choice to make but I like The Goodies's 'Make A Daft Noise For Christmas' and here it is in all it's glory!



It's nice that they're all still working 35 years later. Bill on his nature TV programmes and Tim and Graham are regulars on Radio 4 panel games. Good on 'em, and make a daft noise!

Advent #7 - 'One'

A new song by Kim Wilde from her 'Wilde Winter Songbook' album. I particularly like the line about 'one by one out of the box they come' which makes me think about decorating the Christmas Tree. I have lots of carefully wrapped glass ornaments for the Tree.

I have several boxes full of ornaments wrapped in tissue paper and I know where each one comes from. That's part of the joy of Christmas - looking backwards to see where we came from to be able to imagine where we might be going.

'Saving Mr Banks'

I was taken to see the new Emma Thompson film, 'Saving Mr Banks', at the Ritzy in Brixton this evening. It tells the tale of Walt Disney persuading PL Travers to allow him to film 'Mary Poppins'. Obviously he was ultimately successful but it took 20 years.  Emma plays Mrs Travers and Tom Hanks is Disney and there's a great and warm cast supporting them. I particularly liked Paul Giamatti who played her driver in Los Angeles.

The film flits between scenes in the LA rehearsal studios where the film is painfully born and the outback in Australia where Mrs Travers grew up with her alcoholic father and weak mother. We see scenes from her childhood and how her father encouraged her flights of fancy, see him gradually becoming more obviously an alcoholic until an accident that signals the end for him. We then meet her aunt with distinct Poppins tendencies...

I don't know how 'true' the film is, of how Mrs Travers gradually thawed from her prickly and demanding start to becoming more human and I don't really care. Disney is cast as the hero, sharing her story of a loved but flawed father and gradually wearing her down until she signs over the rights to the book. Both Emma and Tom Hanks were excellent and worked well together - I thoroughly enjoyed the fillum and would recommend it to anyone with a smidgen of imagination.

There are a few clips from 'Mary Poppins' in the film and they just served to underline how little time I have for Dick Van Dyke's cockerney Burt the chimney-sweep but he's part of the overall Poppins experience so that's that. I have two distinct memories of 'Mary Poppins':

1. Seeing the stage show in the West End and, at the end, Mr Banks going up to the bird lady on the steps of St Paul's with his tuppence and asking if she would do him the honour of feeding the birds on his behalf; and

2. Being in the audience for the first rehearsal of the 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony when Lord Voldemort and Cruella DeVille were menacing the children and then Mary Poppins floats down to save the day (lots of her actually - well, she is practically perfect after all). I remember exclaiming 'Poppins!' out loud when I saw her floating down with an open umbrella but I don't think anyone noticed...

I now have a third memory. 'Let's go fly a kite...'. 

Advent #6 - 'I'm Going Home'

Four or five years ago Justin Lee Collins did a documentary on Channel 4 about the Christmas No 1 over the years which ended with him trying to make a new Christmas No 1 record. He rounded up a load of folks from the classic '70s hit making machines and got them together to record 'I'm Going Home'. It was available to download immediately after the programme and I did. I've only just found this video of the recording of the song and wanted to share it as my Advent Calendar Number 5.



I play this endlessly every year - I think it's a damn good song! I've never seen this video from the programme before so I'm eager to share.

The song is sung by David Essex and with guitar and drums from Dave Hill and Don Powell of SLADE along with Jona Lewie and members of the Glitter Band, Showaddywaddy and Mud. It was written and produced by Rob Davis of Mud (yes, the one with huge ear-rings and flares) who also wrote Kylie's global hit 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head' (so he knows how to write a song).

I don't think this was ever released properly which is a shame because it really is a good song and it's great to see the old-time glamsters still going strong. Enjoy!

Advent #5 - 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'

I love Annie Lennox's version of 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' from 'A Christmas Cornucopia'. It's exactly as it should be sung - loud and uninhibited and joyful. I like the penny whistle and the 'traditional' drumming and it blends excellently with Annie's voice. The video is a triumph with Annie leading her band through the snow covered wood and into the village. It's a mix of old and new and it all works for me.

Advent Calendar #4 - 'Happy Christmas (War Is Over)'

And a move back to the olden days for the next advent calendar window to open. The early '70s produced a raft of great Christmas songs that we all listen to today and this is one of them, 'Happy Christmas (War Is Over)' by John and Yoko. Yoko is still campaigning so join her online to support the message that war is over (if you want it).

In the meantime, enjoy their Christmas anthem:

Theatre Is Still Evil

So, Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra are no more. I missed the news a couple of weeks ago but have now caught up. After a two year round the world adventure the project is over and the band go their separate ways. Amanda is moving into a house in New York State with Neil and then heading down to Australia for the winter to play some gigs and write her book. I'll miss the madness.

It's been a very strange ride with Amanda and her boys with some ups and downs but never any quiet. I remember Kickstarter and supporting the project, getting excited as the total crept up and went past the $1m mark. And then getting gifts of songs ever now and then - I remember listening to 'Do It With A Rock Star' on loop the day I downloaded it and it's still one of my favourite songs.

Going to the London art and rock shows at Village Underground and writing on a naked Amanda with a purple felt pen. Then, later, seeing the band at Koko and, later still, at the Roundhouse. I was so proud of the Roundhouse gig - a rock star jas arrived. And she sang naked to the Daily Mail.



The band may have gone with the project but the music is still here. Go on, listen to it and enjoy.

Thank you Amanda, Michael, Chad, Jherek and Thor - rockstars one and all!

Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra “Do It With a Rockstar” (FULL UNCENSORED - NSFW) from Amanda Palmer on Vimeo.

Advent Calendar #3 - 'She Hates Wrapping'

On day 3 of my advent calendar we have She Makes War performing 'She Hates Wrapping' - her version of The Waitresses great Christmas song, 'Christmas Wrapping'.

She Makes War is really Laura Kidd and I first came across her when she played bass in Viv Albertine's band at the Royal Festival Hall when Viv supported Siouxsie at Yoko Ono's Meltdown. She impressed greatly!

New Suzanne Vega Album in February 2014

I'm delighted to report that Suzanne Vega will release an album of new songs in February 2014. It's got the interesting name of 'Tales From The Realm Of The Queen of Pentacles' (and I've got no idea what that refers to).

Suzanne's last few, self-released, albums have been in the 'Close Up' series of re-recording some of her classic songs according to different themes. It's been great hearing how Suzanne interprets older music for this century and decade but it's much nicer to have brand new songs to listen to and explore.

Here's a short video of Suzanne talking about the new album:

Vivien Leigh in 'The Deep Blue Sea'

On Saturday afternoon I was taken to see a 'lost' Vivien Leigh film, 'The Deep Blue Sea'' at the British Film Institute on the Southbank. According to the curator of the Vivien Leigh series no organisation claims ownership of the film, it's not available on DVD and can't be re-mastered until the rights are clarified, so we saw an early print of the film, flaws and all. It was a bit jerky in places and, in others, the colour went odd, but it was perfectly viewable.

It's from a script for a play by Terrence Ratigan about a middle aged woman who falls for a younger man and leaves her safe husband (a judge) for the more hand-to-mouth life with the younger ex-RAF pilot. Vivien is the woman and Kenneth More (in his first film) is the young lover. It's, ultimately, a destructive relationship but it serves to free Hester (played by Vivien) from her husband. From trying suicide and weeping buckets she emerges as the strength in the relationship as she frees the young More from a relationship he's not equipped to handle.

I can see why it wasn't a big hit back in the day, it shows life in London after the war as a bit run-down and a bit dreary but it also shows a spark of life. There are very few smiles or real laughs in the film and it rather wears you down with the honesty of it all and, oddly, with Hester's integrity. She's left her husband to shack up with a younger bloke but when it all falls through she doesn't go crying back to her husband, she has the integrity to recognise that it all happened for a reason. That reason was that she wasn't happy with her former life so she would be foolish to go back to it. I can respect that and Vivien's portrayal of it.

I saw another Vivien Leigh film earlier last week, 'A Yank At Oxford', which was an altogether different kind of film. She played the young wife to an older book seller in Oxford and Robert Taylor played the yank in the title. That was a much younger Vivien in the '30s before she played Scarlet O'Hara with none of the subtlety of her 'Deep Blue Sea' performance. This was a dour Vivien with all the feeling she'd acquired over the previous decade or so.

I'm pleased I saw it.

Advent Calendar #2 - 'City of Christmas Ghosts'

Open today's door on the advent calendar and find Goldblade with Poly Styrene singing 'City of Christmas Ghosts'. I loved this song when it first came out in 2009 - it was Poly's first punky song in ages where she sings in what she thought of as her 'punk' voice. I think it's marvellous. And I love the DIY video of Poly and John Robb walking along the sea front at Brighton at night.

It was odd listening to this song for the first time at Christmas 2011 when Poly had left us earlier that year, particularly the line, "Raise a toast to the ghosts of the friends we lost last year". Poly had left us for higher places but left a great body of work behind for us to discover and enjoy. I always raise my glass for Poly.

The single is being re-released on 9 December to raise money for charity (including St Michael's Hospice that looked after Poly at the end) so please download it or buy the limited red or green vinyl single. There's also a Facebook page so spread the word please and join in the chorus, "La, La, La-la Christmas ghost!"



Namaste Poly.

Advent Calendar #1 - 'Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree'

Welcome to my Advent Calendar!

A few years ago I created my own Advent Calendar by posting different videos of Christmas songs each day in December up until Christmas Eve. I'm doing the same thing this year since there are new songs to share.

The first door you open on the calendar leads to 'Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree' by Kim Wilde from her new Christmas record, 'Wilde Winter Songbook'. Kim had a hit with this song back in 1989 with Mel Smith so it's nice to have an updated version, this time with Nik Kershaw. It takes the piss out of the video of her and Ricky slightly worse for wear singing on the train home last year after a party. It's great fun and I can't wait to see her sing it live just before Christmas.