Various Artists - A Midnight Christmas Mess Vol. 1

The first installment of holiday rarities from the New York label Midnight. Some of these tracks are exclusive to this compilation while others (such as Plan 9 and Yard Trauma) can be found elsewhere as singles, although not ones you're likely to come across often. One of the great things about this album is that almost all of these tracks are originals, which I love because honestly I'm getting really sick of "White Christmas" and "Jingle Bells". This compilation offers up a wide variety ranging from catchy but mellow power-pop to fuzzy garage rock freakouts, thrown in with a little rockabilly and (in the case of Screamin' Jay Hawkins) some holiday blues. Pictured here is the original 1984 LP as well as a rare test pressing.

SIDE A

1. Wednesday Week - Christmastime Here (Could Never Be Like That)

2. The Point - On Comet

3. The Cheepskates - Christmastime With You

4. Justin Love - Here's What I Want On A Christmas Day

5. Johnny Rabb - Christmas Dance

6. Johnny Rabb - Gotta Get Lucky For X-Mas

7. Dogmatics - X-Mas Time (It Sure Doesn't Feel Like It)

SIDE B

1. The Cheepskates - Last Minute Rush (Surf Instrumental)

2. Plan 9 - Merry Christmas

3. Yard Trauma - Christmas Tyme (Baby)

4. Nadroj & The Wolrats - Forget It

5. Suburban Nightmares - Schizophrenic X-Mas

6. Tryfles - Gloria (In Excelsis Deo)

7. Screamin' Jay Hawkins - It's X-Mas (A Time For Giving)

8. The Droogs - Silent Night

The Showcase Showdown - Merry Christmas (I Fucked Your Snowman)

If I remember right, I used to have a record of these guys singing terrible drunken karaoke with Blanks 77. I don't know what ever happened to that but I'm certainly not losing any sleep over it. It doesn't appear that their sense of humor has matured much on this 7". On the a-side they're doing rude things with other peoples' snowmen. On the b-side is a song called "Ho Ho Ho Chi Minh". A little childish but still fun; just a bunch of punks being silly (which is something punks will do from time to time.)

Released in 1995 on Tario Records (red and yellow vinyl editions)

THE SHOWCASE SHOWDOWN - MERRY CHRISTMAS (I FUCKED YOUR SNOWMAN)

Shannon & The Clams - Ruin Christmas

Here it is, my favorite holiday record of 2010! I was quite pleased to find this bad boy under the Christmas tree this year.  Maybe its their cover of Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You or their rendition of Baltimore soul extraordinaire Paul "Fat Daddy" Johnson's eponymous holiday stomper (two songs not yet covered on any record in my whole collection!) It could be the Clams' Christmas wishlist (puberty, guns & spices, to name a few) or maybe it's Shannon's vocals which could warm the heart of the frostiest snow miser! Whatever it is I find so appealing about this 7" one thing is clear to me, Shannon & The Clams are invited to "ruin" my Christmas every year!

No uploads this time, you gotta go out and buy this one while its still available. Order it through 1-2-3-4 Go! Records. 

The Roofdogs - Having A Rave Up

Speaking of bands in disguise, here's a 45 from The Roofdogs (aka The Mono Men!) The cassette version of this was the first album released by Estrus Records back in 1987 and came packaged inside a doggy bag (with buscuit). The vinyl edition came in 1991, first pressed on burgundy then a second pressing on black. Dave Crider, the founder of Estrus, plays guitar for the Mono Men and their canine counterparts. 

THE ROOFDOGS - CHRISTMAS

The Yobs - Christmas Album

This is the "start here" album for anyone interested in a punk rock Christmas. By now its probably not news to anyone that The Yobs are actually British punk outfit The Boys. A struggling relationship between the band and their label (NEMS) led them to release several albums of christmas themed punk rock under this alias. Considered by some to be merely a comedy record, its actually a fantastic punk album. Originally released in 1980 on Safari, its also been re-issued by Great Expectations in 1989 and Get Back in 2001.

THE YOBS - SILVER BELLS

Various Artists - Experiments In Destiny

An amazing gatefold double-LP released in 1980 by Bomp! Records.  Artists that appear on this album include Stiv Bators, The Real Kids, Paul Collins, The Sonics, The Weirdos, The Last, and the list goes on. For our purposes we'll focus on Side 1 Track 4: Blake Xolton & The Martians doing a song simply called "Merry Christmas". I knew nothing about Xolton when I picked up this record but all you ever need to know can be found on his website Xolton.com.  Backing vocals on this track are credited to Charlotte Caffey of the Go-Go's.


BLAKE XOLTON & THE MARTIANS - MERRY CHRISTMAS

Bad News - Cashing In On Christmas

A year before This Is Spinal Tap was released, Bad News made their debut on the BBC comedy series The Comic Strip Presents... This spoof heavy metal band featured vocals and lead guitar by Adrian Edmondson (also known as Vivian Basterd of The Young Ones.) Actually the entire band was really the Young Ones in disguise (with the exception of drummer Spider Webb, played by Peter Richardson who turned down the role of Mike on the Young Ones series.)  This single and all the songs on their self titled LP are produced by Queen guitarist Brian May.

Released in 1987 on EMI

BAD NEWS - CASHING IN ON CHRISTMAS

Split - GG Allin & Algae Afterbirth

GG Allin is at his most disgusting with his very own rendition of The 12 Days of Christmas.  On the flipside is Algae Afterbirth singing "Santa Is Dead."  Apparently this guy used to perform in a diaper and sing songs from a baby's perspective. I guess thats exactly the sort of thing you'd find on the back of a GG Allin single. Don't play this one at your office christmas party.

Released in 1990 on Black & Blue Records

GG ALLIN - GG ALLIN'S XMAS SONG

ALGAE AFTERBIRTH - SANTA IS DEAD

Sparks - Thank God It's Not Christmas

I'm sure they don't really mean that.  This track can be found on their 1974 album Kimono My House. I guess it's more what you'd call an anti-Christmas song, but it's all the same to me.

SPARKS - THANK GOD IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS

Untamed Youth - Santa's Gonna Shut 'Em Down

You've gotta love this cover artwork by Coop!  Here's two from The Untamed Youth. Looks like Santa's switched out his sleigh for a hod rod!

Released in 1989 on Norton Records

THE UNTAMED YOUTH - SANTA'S GONNA SHUT 'EM DOWN


THE UNTAMED YOUTH - SANTA'S MIDNIGHT RUN