The first track from this week’s collection of festive futility is definitely
rated NSFW – you have been warned.
We’re kicking off (thanks to a timely reminder from my good
friend the Squire) with the thoroughly offensive Jim Davidson and his equally
offensive version of White Christmas –
knowing how vile the wife beating racist is it should be no surprise to learn
that he recorded his version in character as Chalky White, a crass portrayal of
a West Indian. When he performed his Chalky material on BBC One’s Seaside
Special in 1977 there was public uproar, with The Stage
criticising Davidson for his ‘crude racist jokes’, yet this 45 was issued in
1980. This nasty piece of plastic even features a de rigueur children’s choir. What must the head of that
particular school (thankfully uncredited on the disc) have been thinking? This
is beyond contemptible.
Recorded in 1990, O Holy Night by Steve Mauldin has been doing the rounds for years
now. Steve is an arranger and conductor, and the original version was arranged
for – and recorded by – The Christ Church Choir and their lead vocalist Guy
Penrod. That particular recording was issued, on Sing Noel, by
Star Song Records. Steve’s version was recorded in the studio as a bit of a
laugh, just to see if he could match the range of Penrod. Clearly he couldn’t.
It’s never been officially released, and this has been dubbed from a YouTube
video – but it’s one of those things that just had to be heard!
Finally today we have both sides of Leappo The Frog’s 45, Christmas
in Frogville and Look Before You
Leap. The flip has nothing to do with
Christmas, I’m simply including it here for completists (I’m not going top
provide you with the other side of the Jim Davidson disc: if you want it go
find it yourself!) Issued by Del-Ray Records of Delaware. Co-author Jimmy
Stayton was a rockabilly singer who issued four of 45s under his own name in
the early 60s. Do yourself a favour and hop over to Dead Wax, where I
originally found this clunker.
BTW, it has been suggested that I include some tracks from
Ringo Starr’s Christmas album, I Wanna be Santa Claus… but in all fairness that particular album is heaps
better than Billy Idol’s genuinely dreadful Happy Holidays. So Ringo gets a pass this year – I may not be so
kind in 2017!
Enjoy!
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