ATTN: PARTY PLANNING COMITTEE

For all of you party planners running around like headless chickens, a reminder is in order. Spread the Good Word's Bloody Christmas mixes are still online. They used to be downloads, but they're now streaming (click on the "download" links below the song lists). Though they are streaming, I'm sure someone you know is savvy enough to run them through your sound system.

The Mixes:
Spread The Good Word Bloody Holiday Mix 9
Spread The Good Word Bloody Holiday Mix 8
Spread The Good Word Bloody Holiday Mix 7
Spread The Good Word Bloody Holiday Mix 6
Spread The Good Word Bloody Holiday Mix 5
Spread The Good Word Bloody Holiday Mix 4
Spread The Good Word Bloody Holiday Mix 3
Spread The Good Word Bloody Holiday Mix 2
Spread The Good Word Bloody Holiday Mix 1
From the Reverend
Reverend Tom Frost - A Bloody Life (streaming) at YouTube
Reverend Tom Frost - Much more at YouTube
Visit:
Reverend Tom Frost at BandCamp

JOYFUL? CHECK. TRIUMPHANT? CHECK.

Santa must have been pretty lethal to have given the late Lux Interior the bug. Here's the proof. Two Christmas mix tapes, both posted here several times in the past but it wouldn't be slack fest without repeating the seasonal repost cop out. RIP Lux. Long live Ivy.

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Listen:
Jeezus Fuck, It's Christmas!!! - A Lux Interior Christmas Tape at Boss Radio 66 37 cuts in two zips.
The second mix:
Christmas Beauty and Soul - A Lux Interior Christmas Tape at Boss Radio 66 26 mp3s in one zip.

CAN 2,218 COPIES BE A CASH-IN?

I gotta say, unless there's a good reason, Christmas records ought to be limited to 45s. A full album of Christmas tunes just seems too much like a cash-in. And if the Christmas songs are limited to a 45, all the better if they're original songs. I mean, c'mon, if we're even going to hope for new Christmas classics, there's going to have to be new material, and a steady supply because most aren't going to make the cut. While some might cite the Waitresses' "Christmas Wrapping" or Run DMC's "Christmas In Hollis" as modern Christmas classics, even those are a bit worn. I've got my own not-yet-worn playlist, and it includes Jon Spencer's 1992 Subpop Singles Club 45 (limited to 2,218 copies), "Big Yule Log Boogie" b/w "My Christmas Wish". Hell yeah.

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Listen:
Jon Spencer - Big Yule Log Boogie mp3 at I Am Fuel You Are Friends
Jon Spencer - My Christmas Wish mp3 at I Am Fuel You Are Friends

IT'S THE EGGNOG BABE.

I'd forgotten all about this one. Obviously, you can see it's the Hives with Cyndi Lauper. Ho-hum, right? Go on thinking that. Go on, play it for your granny without listening to it first. Ho-hum it up. I wish I could be there.

There are some colorful lyrics in this one, made more potent with the big production. It really is like a Spector Wall of Sound thing. Loud.

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Listen:
The Hives and Cyndi Lauper - A Christmas Duel mp3 at Blogbdon

CHRISTMAS CAROL THIS

Let's just get this out of the way. Ninety percent of Christmas is just total crap. You might argue with that figure, but you know that it's drifted far off course. It's just an excuse to spend a lot of money on unneeded crap, and eat more food than your body is designed to handle. Are we fucking nuts? 

We all have our varying beliefs, and I can totally see why many devout Christians take offense at their day of reflection and worship being appropriated for financial gain. How'd you like it? Let's say you, Joe Blow, it's your birthday. We are going to mark the day, nay, the season, by buying so much worthless crap, and eating so much total junk, that we'll forget who you even are. 

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Listen:
The Sonics - Don't Believe In Christmas mp3 at Clayton Counts

THERE IS NO ESCAPE

Here's a mixed bag of Christmas themed reggae cuts. I tried to avoid the overly corny covers that were overt cash-ins (most of them heavy with synthesizers). The few familiar songs are at least interesting to hear ("Santa Claus is Ska-ing to Town", "Santa Claus Dub"). I think some of these are originals, I'm not sure. Gotta say, I'm diggin' the Lord Stitt cut. (Stitt was one of the very first DJs, recording before the big DJ explosion ushered in by U Roy, followed by I Roy, Dennis Alcapone, Dillinger, Dr. Alimantado, et al.) Christmas themed reggae covers aren't really my bag but, hey, it's better than Bing Crosby. Along those lines, I had to add the song "Reggae Christmas" because it's funny, obviously a parody. With a generic reggae riddim it includes lines like "Reggae, is totally unrelated to Christmas", It's lame and brilliant at the same time, perfect for those like myself that have a mild aversion to reggae Christmas songs. Avert these.

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Listen:
Johnny Clarke- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus mp3 at Internet Archive
The Ethiopians - Ding Dong Bell mp3 at Internet Archive
The Maytals - Happy Christmas mp3 at Internet Archive 
King Stitt - Christmas Tree mp3 at Internet Archive
The Aggrovators - Santa Claus Dub mp3 at Internet Archive
Lee Perry and Sandra Robinson - Merry Christmas mp3 at Internet Archive
Granville Williams Orchestra - Santa Clause Is Ska-ing to Town mp3 at Internet Archive
TimDrum - Reggae Christmas (streaming) at YouTube

EVERY GENERATION HAS IT'S STANDARDS

I should have posted this last night but after setting out cookies and milk for the fat man I fell asleep. Though a day late, I can't let this holiday season go by without posting it. This is one of those you get it or you don't songs. Thankfully I do, probably because I heard it a million times. It was on just about every DJ's playlist during the holiday season at my old hang, the Pink Panther (RIP). For several years I had the Christmas Eve slot and it was always a riotous good time, one of those nights that they cover the pool table with plywood because they know there will be elevated dancing. Now that all the gift giving malarkey is over, pop a bottle and hug your squeeze.

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Listen:
The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl - Fairy Tale of New York mp3 at Internet Archive
Video:
The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl - Fairy Tale of New York at YouTube

TONIGHT AT THE SLACKFEST SIDE STAGE

If you're of a certain age, you probably recognize the horn intro to Run DMC's "Christmas in Hollis". MTV played the shit out of it back in the day, using it for holiday commercials and bumper music a thousand times a day. It might have been a year or two but it seems like much longer because it's so ingrained. Run DMC's choice of a sample from Clarence Carter's "Backdoor Santa" was somewhat of a deep pick, particularly because the sample itself, without being from a well recognized Christmas song, was still from a Christmas song. It's the most dominant sample in a song that also includes pieces of "Frosty the Snowman", "Jingle Bells", and "Joy to the World". For as little known as Carter's song was, they could have used a sample from any song and most people wouldn't have noticed one way or another. But had they done that, I wouldn't have been able to ramble on about their sample choice thirty years later. You gotta hand it to them, that blast of horns makes the song.

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Listen:
Run DMC - Christmas In Hollis mp3 at AM Then FM
Clarence Carter - Backdoor Santa mp3 at AM Than FM

WELL, IF IT AIN'T OL' SLACKFEST SPENCE.

It's time. I woke up this morning thinking about Joseph Spence and his rendition of "Santa Clause Is Coming To Town". If you haven't heard it let me tell you what's in store. Spence was a Bahamian singer, which doesn't tell you much. What if I were to tell you that he sounds like Tom Waits's drunk grandfather. If you know Tom Waits. you'll get it. And you'll wonder, as I have, what Tom Waits might have thought the first time he heard Spence. "Man, that guy stole my act!" would be the comical thought balloon. The only thing is, I'm convinced that Tom Wait's gruff voice isn't an act. I met him back in the later seventies and being that it was just him and a friend of mine in the conversation, there was no reason for him to keep up appearances. In other words, he was just as he is now, just a younger version. He's just a few years older than me but he sounded like a grizzled old barfly that had smoked a pack of Pall Malls in the half hour before I ran into him.

Looking through old posts for Spence's song, I was alarmed to find out that the link that I'd relied on so many times in the past no longer existed. Luckily I found another link, fortuitous because it was with another unusual holiday song, the Legendary Tiger Man's "Fuck Christmas, I Got The Blues". Who is the Legendary Tiger Man? I took a quick gander at his Bandcamp page. Interesting..., nope, not going down that road. Not tonight. I got shit to do. I am a very busy man. 

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Listen:
Joseph Spence - Santa Claus is Coming to Town mp3 at Beware of the Blog
The Legendary Tiger Man - Fuck Christmas, I Got The Blues mp3 at Beware of the Blog

GOD REST YE MERRY SLACKFESTERS

I know, you're thinking "Is there any end to Slackfest?" Yes, Virginia, there is an end to Slackfest. Just what do you think is celebrated on the twenty fifth of December? We have a few days to go and with the impending end of Slackfest and more holiday ditties to jam down your gullet, I was tempted to change course but, you know, most of these songs are only appropriate during the holiday season. Take these Jimmy Smith tunes. If these weren't posted for the holidays, when are you going to hear them? Besides, they're Jimmy Smith. As you well know, Jimmy Smith is cool and, as you will find out, these swing.

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Listen:
Jimmy Smith - Jingle Bells mp3 at Panic Stream
Jimmy Smith - Santa Claus is Coming to Town mp3 at Review Stalker
Jimmy Smith - God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman mp3 at Panic Stream

SLACKFEST PARTY PACK

Wow, would you look at the time! Holy shit, with Christmas Eve falling on next Saturday night, tonight's probably the Christmas party night! Here's three more mixes, these from Boss Radio 66 (formerly Rock 'n' Soul Ichiban) who, if you know that WFMU crowd, definitely have discerning taste. Each of the mixes are single mp3s, roughly an hour long. That'll get you to the point in the party that people will be smashed enough that you can roll them a second time from the beginning and they'll be too busy lurking under the mistletoe to notice. The bonus? Burn 'em on a flash drive or CD and viola! Last minute Christmas gifts!

You've got the big names, Otis Redding and Carla Thomas, Ike and Tina Turner, Elvis, the Ventures, the Beach Boys, the Supremes, Buck Owens, and the who the fugzits? The Barbary Coasters, the Hepsters, Jose Gonzalez and the Husky Team. All sorts of head scratchers to break things up. Yee haw.

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Listen:
Merry Twistmas from Ichiban!!! - Three mixes at Boss Radio 66
If you don't need the playlists, here's links to the mixes:
Rock 'n' Soul Ichiban Christmas Mix 3 at Boss Radio 66 23 songs
Rock 'n' Soul Ichiban Christmas Mix 2 at Boss Radio 66 27 songs
Rock 'n' Soul Ichiban Christmas Mix 1 at Boss Radio 66 31 songs

ORIGINAL RAY'S LUX TAPE LINKS

Time to crank the Slackfest up to 11. So here's a Christmas mix made on cassette tape by Lux Interior from the Cramps. He made it for Kristian Hoffman, a former member of the Mumps who was later involved with No Wavers Lydia Lunch and James White and the Blacks, among others. The mix is 26 songs split into two separate zips, one for each side of the cassette.

But wait, there's more! Another Lux Interior curated Christmas mix posted a couple years later. Who would've guessed that Interior had that much spirit in him? I mean, Halloween is right up his alley, but Christmas?

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Listen:
Jeezus Fuck, It's Christmas!!! - A Lux Interior Christmas Tape at Boss Radio 66 37 cuts in two zips.
The second mix:
Christmas Beauty and Soul - A Lux Interior Christmas Tape at Boss Radio 66 26 mp3s in one zip.

LAST CALL FAT MAN!

It might be kind of late for "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" but it's still Christmas for a few hours so if Santa hasn't shown up, take it from gravel- voiced Bahamian singer Joseph Spence, he is coming to town. Granted, if you're in Australia or somewhere in the Far East, he's coming next year. For good measure, there's another version below from India by Jayram Acharya. That one is soaked in sitar, with all sorts of oddball percussion. It should have you WTFing well into the new year

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Listen:
Joseph Spence - Santa Claus is Coming to Town mp3 at Beware of the Blog
Jayran Acharya - Santa Clause Is Coming to Town mp3 at Radiodiffusion International
More Joseph Spence (streaming) at YouTube
Visit:
Joseph Spence at Wikipedia

IT'S GO POWER AT SLACKFEST TIME

Being someone without kids or immediate family under the same roof, the holiday season is something much more than gift giving, more than eggnog and Christmas caroling. It's more than a religious holiday and time off from work. It is the wonderful season of Slackfest. Hark, it's much easier to repost the Herald Angels. Soul Brother #1 falls under that category.

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Listen:
James Brown - Funky Christmas mp3 at SB Dave
James Brown - Go Power At Christmas Time mp3 at The Sound of Indie
James Brown - Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto mp3 at New Times
James Brown - Let's Unite the World at Christmas mp3 at Probe Is Turning-On the People
James Brown - Let's Make Christmas Mean Something This Year mp3 at Big Hair and Plastic Grass

C90 CHEER FROM THIS JOLLY FUCKER

I can't let the holidays go by without Lux Interior's Christmas mix tapes making an appearance. I guess it says something that he thought that much of the holidays, and friend Kristian Hoffman (who he made the tapes for), that he'd go though the hassle. Come to think of it, making mix tapes didn't seem like a chore back then. That's because you actually listened to the song, at the very least intently enough to anticipate the end so you could hit pause. Clicking away without listening is just not the same. Then again, back then time seemed more abundant. You weren't pulled away by "important" distractions like gaming, a thousand TV channels, streaming services, and a combination phone, camera, tracking device, shopping cart and vanity generator in your pocket.

Aw hell, this was supposed to be about Lux Interior's most excellent taste in music. Here's the cover of one so you get an idea of what you're in for.

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Listen:
Jeezus Fuck, It's Christmas!!! - A Lux Interior Christmas Tape at Boss Radio 66 37 cuts in two zips.
Christmas Beauty and Soul - A Lux Interior Christmas Tape at Boss Radio 66 26 mp3s in one zip.

CANDY CANE HATERS CLUB

It's that time. As I do just about every year, I have to endorse the Sonics' take on Christmas. They don't believe in it. Cited reasons: "didn't get nothing last year" "fat man didn't show" and the worst, "mistletoe doesn't work". They clocked out on the whole thing decades before covid made a mess of things. That would have merited an extended version.

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Listen:
The Sonics - Don't Believe In Christmas mp3 at Clayton Counts
The Sonics - Santa Claus (streaming) at YouTube

'TIS THE SEASON FOR SLACKFEST

It's been three years since these have been posted (I think) so I'm taking slack whether it's granted or not. "Cut me some slack"? What's that all about anyway? I don't want some, I want all slack. I'm exaggerating of course. I will take partial slack for not saying anything about the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Christmas record.

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Listen:
Jon Spencer - Big Yule Log Boogie mp3 at I Am Fuel You Are Friends
Jon Spencer - My Christmas Wish mp3 at I Am Fuel You Are Friends

HOUSEBOUND AND HOT

Whoa dad! Another lazy holiday cop out repost. Screw it, only a few days left. There's a lot to get to. Everything below was posted two years ago..

Can't believe that this post at Rock 'n' Soul Ichiban has eluded me. Sitting there since 2014, three holiday mixes in three separate mp3s, each about the perfect length (1:10) to make a pre-fab CD mix to give someone. Because it's cooler than a zip drive, you still get to make a cover. 

The selections on these are pretty varied: country, soul, instrumental, surf,...you know, that group of people over there have good taste, so they're low on stinkers. At the very least you either have a soundtrack for three and a half hours of eggnog swilling, which actually sounds disgusting, or a host/hostess gift in a mix CD with your own custom cover. Yee haw, dig it.

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Listen:
Merry Twistmas from Ichiban!!! - Three mp3 mixes at Rock 'n' Soul Ichiban 81 songs in all. Originally posted here a year ago.

IT'S A C90 CHRISTMAS!

Yep, more holiday shake. This is a good one, Jeezus Fuck, It's Christmas!!!, a old school cassette mix tape by Lux Interior (from the Cramps), given to Kristian Hoffman (Mumps) back in the day, presented in two zips, one for each side of the 90 minute tape. Loads of good stuff, some you'll recognize and a lot you won't. A scan of the cassette cover with the titles is below. Being zips there's a little hassle involved so there's a streaming link as well. Every time the Cramps have come up in the past few years I've wondered what became of Ivy. Haven't heard a peep about her since Lux died. I'm kind of afraid of the answer. Here's hoping that she's doing well. Long live the Cramps and all that other cheerleading stuff.

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Listen:
Jeesuz Fuck, It's Christmas!!! - Mix tape by Lux Interior (streaming) at YouTube Individual songs posted so you can cherry pick.
Jeezus Fuck, It's Christmas!!! - Side One at Boss Radio 66 19 songs in a zip
Jeezus Fuck, It's Christmas!!! - Side Two at Boss Radio 66 17 songs in a zip

IT'S GO TIME SOMEWHERE

That photo of James Brown cracks me up, it's so damn corny. Not only does he have the Santa hat, but now he's pushed his funky skull through a wreath. What a nut! But you know the GFOS. You can dance to his farts. Seriously, his on base percentage is way the fuck up there. Not all them of them home runs. These funky jams are entirely worthy but are only relevant lyrically for a few weeks a year, at least for me. I just can't listen to Christmas songs in the off season, not even James Brown's. So yee haw. I'll just listen the shit out of 'em for the next week and a half.

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Listen:
James Brown - Funky Christmas mp3 at SB Dave
James Brown - Go Time At Christmas Time mp3 at The Sound of Indie
James Brown - Signs of Christmas mp3 at Black Squirrel Amusements