Christmas is a time for remembering those less fortunate than ourselves.
Something that musicians have been doing for years, although cynics might say that they are appeasing their consciences by having the rest of us donate to worthy causes via buying copies of their charidee singles.
Unfortunately this tend to make for some pretty unappetising musical fare – in fact, the Geldof/Ure-penned Band Aid single is the best of a genre which has lapsed towards releases as dull as they are worthy, although the Military Wives’ effort towers above those of LadBaby, currently aided and abetted by Elton John and Ed Sheeran in aiming for a record-breaking fourth Xmas number one and proving that a direct donation to charity would be a better option for all concerned.
A successor of sorts to ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ was a compilation album put together by the now-defunct Xfm radio station, 21 years ago. The indie-oriented broadcaster roped in a host of big names (in underground terms) to record a mix of original festive tune and Xmas covers. More a cult classic than a moneyspinner, it’s now reappeared on CD and vinyl, which might make a nice belated present, although now, two decades later, it’s rather easier to obtain, including as a download, which will contribute rather more to charity than streaming.
Among the big(ish) names are Low, whose ‘Just Like Christmas’ is now a staple of other more mainstream Xmas compilations, while there’s an appearance by radio presenter Lauren Laverne, from just after her stint as vocalist in Kenickie.
Other acts you’ll know of include Eels, more gloriously raucous than on their greatest hit ‘Susan’s House’, and a pre-megastardom Snow Patrol, whose ‘When I Get Home For Christmas’ has the same world-weary chugging pace as their later stadium anthems. And there’s the Latin genius of El Vez with his take on ‘Feliz Lavedad’.
Teenage Fanclub’s short and very sweet instrumental ‘Christmas Eve’ is something of an undiscovered gem, while you also get Saint Etienne’s ‘My Christmas Prayer’, a wall of sound contrast to the band’s usual infectious disco pop.
All in all, money well spent, especially as it’s still in aid of the War Child charity, which couldn’t be more apt, then or now.
‘It’s A Cool Cool Christmas’ is out again now on vinyl and download. This article originally failed to appear in the Blackpo0ol Gazette.