Early Presents!!

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I first heard AKIM & The Teddy Vann Production Company’s Christmas-Number-One-In-An-Alternate-Universe on the excellent festive offering, “A John Waters Christmas”

Although he’s pretty much regarded as the odd but harmless bachelor uncle of America now, the guy can still bring the weird. 

The record also includes outsider God Tiny Tim’s brutal essaying of “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer”, alongside more standard fare, such as “First Snow” by indie lounge poppers (and Pre Sea And Cake-ers) The Coctails. Seeek it out!

I also heartily recommend his other comp “A Date With John Waters”, if only for the most sexually explicit version of “Ca Plane Pour Moi” these ears have ever heard. 

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There are few occasions when a cover is better than the original- and when the original is by The Band, the go to guys for surpassive covers, you know it’s gotta be good.

Full disclosure, I haven’t heard the Band’s version. Not surprising, as i’m of the opinion they sucked bigtime after the first two records, and you couldn’t pay me to listen to them. 

There is brief clip of it on the Bill Murray Kwanzaa classic “Scrooged”.

But it appears to be a solo Robbie Robertson joint. And as good a writer as he was, the guy just ain’t go the pipes or the chops.

This attempt- as beautiful, as tasteful as i’d like to think messrs Danko, Helm, Manuel etc would make it- is by Manchester (i think) band Screen Prints.

There’s really no info out there about Screen Prints. Strange in this day and age, but apt for a band like them. there’s an (out of print?) comp called “Perfect City”, which is, well perfect. seek it out.

Anyone any other suggestions for alt. holiday classics?

Enjoy your Turducken.