EL PERRO DEL MAR
El Perro Del Mar
Like the angel atop your Christmas tree could sing and was the leader of a 60s French pop band, the gorgeous Sarah Assbring (I know) blends twinkling, echoing melodrama with a sweet-sherry voice to give lessons of love and loss that should become part of the National Curriculum and the one thing you don’t share this Christmas.
CHAS AND DAVE
From Tottenham To Tennessee
What can I say about these two that hasn' t been said before? Unfairly dubbed a 'novelty' act by some, the quintessential cockney pub band produce the soundtrack to a knees-up made in heaven. Festive fun for all the family - stick Rabbit on loud when it all gets too much with the in-laws.
FACES
A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...
Looking at Rod these days it's easy to forget just how cool he was back in the 70s. With Ron Wood and Ronnie Lane among its illustrious lineup, this rough and ready rock and roll band produced a joyously exuberant and often ragged sound. The ultimate alternative party album perhaps?
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Eskimo Vol.5
It’s been a while, but the fifth instalment in this essential series doesn’t disappoint. Head Eskimo’s and the trendiest Belgian’s we’ve ever heard of, the Glimmer Twins blend house, electro and boogie to create the pumping soundtrack to an igloo disco that’ll have you rubbing red noses with the beautiful people. Herb Alpert never sounded so good.
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Papa Ain’t No Santa Claus, Mama Ain’t No Christmas Tree
My only strictly-Christmas pick is a collection of folk, boogie-woogie and blues with a twisted take on Christmas that not even Tim Burton or the residents of Albert Square will come close to matching. The best excuse you’ll ever need to jive with your sherry-soaked Grandma.
MARVIN GAYE
Here My Dear
Lets face it, Christmas isn't always the happiest time of the year, so I thought I'd leave it to Marvin to lower the tone! Released to appease the divorce courts, the great man lays his heart and soul on the line on this 1978 release, but still manages to extract the sweetest soul from this most unlikely of sources. Stripped bare and beautiful.
ARVO PART
Te Deum
One of the most important living composers, Estonian-born Part's first works appeared in the 1950s, but I thought a bit of meditative minimalism from the 80s would suit the season perfectly. Although somewhat sombre at times, this is music that truly makes you glad to be alive.
LOU RAWLS
I Can't Make it Alone
The hippest crooner our ears have ever come across, Rawls had the swagger of a jazz-cat and the soul of the streets. When he got together with pioneering jazz producer David Axelrod his gritty R’n’B tones soared on a swell of strings to from Chicago to the Sunset Strip.
SAM COOKE
In The Beginning
Celebrate the birth of one little soul with the birth of Soul itself. Cooke would become one of the greatest male pop voices of all time, but it began when he and his little helpers took gospel out of the church and into bedroom with their sweet harmonies that tug the heart-strings and make you thankful for all you have.
HENRYK GORECKI
Symphony No.3
Although the basis of this work is a collection of Polish texts dealing with sorrow and loss, the end result is a hauntingly beautiful and startlingly emotive work guaranteed to moisten the eye and gladden the heart. Best served by candlelight with the volume up high...