The Phil Spector Christmas Album

Various Artists
The Phil Spector Christmas Album (aka Phil Spector Presents A Christmas Gift To You)
Chrysalis CDL1625
£2.70 + p&p




Hurrah! Had to opt for a 1987 pressing to get the sleeve I wanted, but here it is, in time for Christmas (although I had the CD anyway), the finest seasonal LP of all-time.

Various Artists - Rockin' Christmas: The 60s

Various Artists
Rockin' Christmas - The 60s
Rhino RNLP067
99p + P&P




Alternative Christmas compilation of 60s nuggets, including offerings from The Sonics, The Trashmen, The Turtles, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and, proving there's life after the 'Monster Mash' (assuming 'life' to mean 'releasing another single that sounds virtually identical'), Bobby Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers. And not a Cliff Richard song in sight.

XTC - Ball And Chain

XTC

Ball And Chain
Virgin VS 482-12
95p



As a product of the PMH I couldn't really not buy this, and even more so for the sleeve and the memories evoked. The three houses - very close to where my Nan lived - were the last ones left standing on Westcott Street, Swindon as the resident of the middle dwelling dug his heels in and refused to move while all surrounding buildings were knocked down pending re-development. Somehow this was all resolved sometime in the early/mid-80s. If they'd remained the demolished streets would probably now have conservation status.

Belle & Sebastian - Dog On Wheels

Belle & Sebastian

Dog On Wheels
Jeepster JPR12 001
£6





The charity shops of Ely have clearly worked out that there's a vinyl renaissance taking place. As much as I'd have liked to have added a Booker T & The MGs best of to my collection I couldn't justify the £9.99 they were asking for it. Even this, Belle & Sebastian's second release, was a surprisingly (but to be fair, accurately) priced £6.

The Beach Boys - Christmas Album

The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys Christmas Album
Capitol CAP1014
99p + P&P



It struck me in early November that I should be trawling eBay for festive vinyl. Sadly I haven't acquired 24 albums and so will not be posting my purchases up in advent calendar form, but first up of the three I have picked up (this could rise to four if a suitably cheap copy of Phil Spector's album comes up, although it has to have the original sleeve which seems to be the main obstacle) is The Beach Boys Christmas Album. Undoubtedly inspired by Spector's - a rivalry that arguably contributed to Brian Wilson's studio-bound obsessions - the CD of this has been receiving annual airings for some years. The added bonus to having it on vinyl is the ease with which we can now avoid the more traditional side two.

Human League - Holiday 80

Human League
Holiday 80
Virgin
£1


Was disappointed to find that 'Being Boiled' was a re-recording (thankfully I have the original on 7"). And as for the cover of Gary Glitter's 'Rock ’n’ Roll' and it's hilarious segueing (or more accurately, the slowing down of the drum machine) into Iggy Pop's 'Nightclubbing', well, I think it's fair to say they won't be reprising that on any 'Here & Now' tours ....

The Last of the Teenage Idols – Satellite Head Gone Soft

The Last of the Teenage Idols

Satellite Head Gone Soft

Razor RAZ47
99p + P&P

Filed between David Kusworth 'Bounty Hunters' and John Lennon 'Walls And Bridges'.

A classic case of a band that you either know or you don't, and if in the former group you probably have happy memories of them!

Formed after the demise of his previous group the Babysitters by London legend Buttz, The Last Of The Teenage Idols were regulars at the Marquee roughly between 1987 and 1992 (in fact bassist Shuff still lurks around the area). This, their one album, is guaranteed to raise a smile and in 'Gina', carried forward from the Babysitters era (though they never recorded it as far as I know) you have a hit that never was.