Merry Christmas To Everyone

                   Well here is that special time of year once again. 

                  I would like to thank everyone who has visited the blog a Very Merry Christmas. 

                   I hope you all enjoy your time and I will be back to posting in the new year. 

             Merry Christmas to Everyone

Erasure - Crackers International EP

Crackers International is an EP released by Erasure in 1988, in between the albums The Innocents and Wild!.

The EP appeared in several different versions. The original UK release by Mute Records consisted of four original, self-produced tracks.

In the UK, where at the time EPs were eligible for the singles chart, it became one of Erasure's most successful releases, matching the number two peak of 1986's 'Sometimes'.

In the U.S., Crackers International was still considered an EP, although two remixes were added (bringing the tracklist count to six) when Sire Records released it. In the U.S., where EPs chart on the Billboard 200, it hit number seventy-three. The song 'Stop!' was also released as its own stand-alone single in the U.S., just barely making an appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 (number ninety-seven). On the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart 'Stop!' / 'Knocking On Your Door' peaked at number four as a double-sided entry.

Additionally, a version of the EP was released in the UK by Mute Records in a very limited-edition, seasonal pressing, titled Crackers International Part 2. Released originally in 12 inch vinyl with extended versions of 'Stop!' and 'Knocking On Your Door', both remixed by Mark Saunders, it also added the Christmas standard 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'. It was subsequently released as a 3-inch compact disc containing the original 7" versions of 'Stop!' and 'Knocking On Your Door'.

Click the link below to download the following:
Video
Single Version

Mark Saunders Remix
Knocking On Your Door - Bonus Track
Knocking On Your Door - Mark Saunders Remix
She Wont Be Home - Lonely Christmas - Bonus Track
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Bonus Track
The Hardest Part - Bonus Track

http://www.mediafire.com/?3kb4v42v7644s

Bing Crosby - White Christmas

And so to the grand daddy of the christmas songs.

'White Christmas' is an Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.

Accounts vary as to when and where Berlin wrote the song. One story is that he wrote it in 1940, in warm Tucson, Arizona.

The first public performance of the song was by Bing Crosby, on his NBC radio show The Kraft Music Hall on Christmas Day, 1941; the recording is not believed to have survived. He subsequently recorded the song with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers for Decca Records in just 18 minutes on May 29, 1942, and it was released on July 30 as part of an album of six 78-rpm songs from the film Holiday Inn.

At first, Crosby did not see anything special about the song. He just said "I don't think we have any problems with that one, Irving."

The song initially performed poorly and was overshadowed by the film's first hit song: 'Be Careful, It's my Heart'. By the end of October 1942, however, 'White Christmas' topped the 'Your Hit Parade' chart. It remained in that position until well into the new year. (It has often been noted that the mix of melancholy — "just like the ones I used to know" — with comforting images of home — "where the treetops glisten" — resonated especially strongly with listeners during World War II. The Armed Forces Network was flooded with requests for the song.)

In 1942 alone, Crosby's recording spent eleven weeks on top of the Billboard charts. The original version also hit number one on the Harlem Hit Parade for three weeks, Crosby's first-ever appearance on the black-oriented chart. Re-released by Decca, the single returned to the number 1 spot during the holiday seasons of 1945 and 1946 (on the chart dated January 4, 1947), thus becoming the only single with three separate runs at the top of the U.S. charts. The recording became a chart perennial, reappearing annually on the pop chart twenty separate times before Billboard magazine created a distinct Christmas chart for seasonal releases.

Following its prominence in the musical Holiday Inn, the composition won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1942. In the film, Bing Crosby sings 'White Christmas' as a duet with actress Marjorie Reynolds, though her voice was dubbed by Martha Mears. This now-familiar scene was not the moviemakers' initial plan; in the script as originally conceived, Reynolds, not Crosby, was to sing the song.

The version of 'White Christmas' most often heard today is not the original 1942 Crosby recording, as the master had become damaged due to frequent use. Crosby re-recorded the track on March 18, 1947, accompanied again by the Trotter Orchestra and the Darby Singers, with every effort made to reproduce the original recording session. There are subtle differences in the orchestration, most notably the addition of a celesta and flutes to brighten up the introduction.

Crosby was dismissive of his role in the song's success, saying later that "a jackdaw with a cleft palate could have sung it successfully." But Crosby was associated with it for the rest of his career. Another Crosby vehicle — the 1954 musical White Christmas — was the highest-grossing film of 1954.

There has been some confusion and considerable debate on whether Crosby's record is or is not the best-selling single in the world, due to a lack of information on sales of 'White Christmas,' because Crosby's recording was released before the advent of the modern-day US and UK singles charts. However, after careful research, Guinness World Records in 2007 concluded that, worldwide, Crosby's recording of 'White Christmas' has, in their estimation, sold at least 50 million copies, and that Elton John's recording of 'Candle in the Wind 1997' has sold 33 million, making Crosby's recording the best-selling single of all time. However, an update in the 2009 edition of the book decided to further help settle the controversy amicably by naming both John's and Crosby's songs to be "winners" by stating that John's recording is the "best-selling single since UK and US singles charts began in the 1950s," while maintaining that "the best-selling single of all time was released before the first pop charts," and that this distinction belongs to 'White Christmas,' which it says "was listed as the world's best-selling single in the first-ever Guinness Book of Records (published in 1955) and - remarkably - still retains the title more than 50 years later."

Click the link below to download the following:
Film Version
TV Performance
Single Version
Let's Start The New Year Right - 1954 B-Side
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - 1977 B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?jbp9e8xo7i8o1

Slade - Merry Christmas Everybody

'Merry Xmas Everybody' is a 1973 song by the English rock band Slade. Written by lead vocalist and guitarist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler, it was the band's sixth number-one single in the UK. It earned the UK Christmas Number One slot in December 1973, beating another Christmas-themed song, Wizzard's 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday', which reached fourth place. By mid-January it was still at number one; it stayed in the UK Singles Chart well into February 1974.
Based on melodies from discarded songs written six years before, 'Merry Xmas Everybody' was Slade's best-selling single, released at the peak of their popularity, and sold over a million copies upon its first release. It is Slade's last number-one single, but by far their most successful. It has been released during every decade since 1973, and has been covered by numerous artists. In a 2007 poll, 'Merry Xmas Everybody' was voted the UK's most popular Christmas song.

The single was certified UK Platinum by BPI in December 1980.
According to the Fan Club Newsletter for January and February 1974, the album was rewarded a Silver Disc for pre-order sales, even before the single's release. Within the first week of release, the single had sold 500,000 copies.
Also, according to the same newsletter, 'Merry Xmas Everybody' was in such big demand that Polydor records had to make special arrangements to have 250,000 discs sent from Los Angeles, as well as 30,000 copies a day they were receiving from Germany.

By 1973 Slade were one of the most popular bands in Britain, having achieved two number one singles—'Cum On Feel The Noize' and 'Skweeze Me Pleeze Me'—in three months. These singles had both entered the charts straight at number one, a rare feat at the time as this was the first occurrence since The Beatles hit number one in 1969 with Get Back.

The band and their record company, Polydor, decided to produce a Christmas hit. For inspiration Slade members Noddy Holder and Jim Lea looked at previous material they had written. Lea recalled a melody and verse he came up with while showering, and Holder recalled a song he had discarded in 1967, which he had written when the band were named the N'Betweeners. It was entitled 'Buy Me a Rocking Chair', and was Holder's first solo work. Holder used the melody of this song for the chorus, and Lea's melody became the verse. After an evening out drinking, Holder worked through the night at his mother's house in Walsall to write the lyrics, which he completed in one draft. In a 2007 interview with the Daily Mail, he spoke about the song's creation:

"We'd decided to write a Christmas song and I wanted to make it reflect a British family Christmas. Economically, the country was up the creek. The miners had been on strike, along with the grave-diggers, the bakers and almost everybody else. I think people wanted something to cheer them up – and so did I. That's why I came up with the line 'Look To The Future Now It's Only Just Begun'. Once I got the line 'Does Your Granny Always Tell You That The Old Ones Are The Best', I knew I'd got a right cracker on my hands."

The song was recorded in the late summer of 1973, during Slade's east coast US tour. Despite its association with the British working class, it was actually recorded at the Record Plant in New York, where, in an adjoining studio, musician John Lennon was working on his album Mind Games. Lennon planned to use a harmonium, which Slade's producer Chas Chandler decided the song needed. 'Merry Xmas Everybody' took five days to finish, but the band disliked the first completed version. It ended up being rerecorded, with the corridor outside used to record the chorus, as it provided an appropriate echo.

Before its release, 'Merry Xmas Everybody' received about half a million advance orders. 350,000 copies were bought upon its release on 7 December 1973. On 15 December it became the third song by Slade to enter the UK Singles Chart at number one (all in 1973) and the sixth number one of their career, and became the fastest selling single in the UK. Polydor, Slade's record label, were forced to use their French pressing plant to keep up with the demand, and the song eventually went on to sell over one million copies, becoming the Christmas number one of 1973, beating another Christmas-themed song, 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' by Wizzard. 'Merry Xmas Everybody' remained number one until mid-January, and stayed in the charts for a total of nine weeks. That it remained in the charts after Christmas caused confusion for Holder, who wondered why people continued to buy it.

For the fan club newsletter in 1979, Jim Lea spoke of the b-side 'Don't Blame Me', 'Don't Blame Me' was a time-filler, I think that it was created as that. When it was used as a b-side, we didn't even know it was being used, it was chosen by the offices. We were in America recording the Christmas single, there was a rush to choose what to put on the back of it, and that track happened to be used."

No promotional video was created for the single. Bassist/co-writer Lea stated that no film was needed for the single as the band absolutely blitzed the T.V. over Christmas, appearing on shows as bizarre as 'The Lee Dawson Christmas Show'. Lea remembered that on the Tuesday that the single went straight to number one in the charts, the band were filming the 'Lift Off' TV show in Manchester. Apparently the band drove around the streets of the city to check that they were number one before arriving at the studios. When they arrived, Roy Wood's girlfriend of the time Ayshea Brough, said that the next few weeks would be interesting to see who had the Christmas number one out of Slade, Wizzard and Elton John. Slade then surprised her by saying that they were there already.

Click the lin below to download the following:
TV Performance
Single Version
1985 12 inch Extended Version
Don't Blame Me - Original B-Side
Come On Feel The Noize - 2006 Re-release B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?i2ekplg2dkpap

New Order - Happy Xmas From The Hacienda - Flexi disc

Limited edition of 4400 given away at the Hacienda Christmas Eve 1982.

Nowhere on the flexi does it say that it is New Order performing the songs, but it has been confirmed later that it actually is New Order. The tracks were recorded the year before for a local TV special.

The tracks were a cover of Beethoven's Ode To Joy and a xmas flavoured piece called Rocking Carol.

The flexi was given away in a brown bag stamped with 'FAC51 HACIENDA'.

The bag also contained a party hat, a whistle, a coiled streamer, and a yellow and navy blue piece candy (shaped like a rock).

Click the link below to download the following:
Rocking Carol - Side A
Ode To Joy - Side B

http://www.mediafire.com/?g2fwy6fge5rig

Johnny Mathis - When A Child Is Born (Soleado)

'When a Child is Born' is a popular Christmas song. The original melody was 'Soleado', a tune from 1972 by Ciro Dammicco (alias Zacar), composer for Italy's Daniel Santecruz Ensemble.

The English language lyrics were written a few years later by Fred Jay. They do not make specific mention of Christmas but the importance they attach to looking forward to the birth of one particular child somewhere, anywhere, suggests a reference to the birth of Jesus Christ, and the citing of "a tiny star" that "lights up way up high" may allude to the Star of Bethlehem. Fred Jay's lyrics have been sung by many artists over the years.

Johnny Mathis released his version of the song in 1976. Reaching number 1 in the IK Singles Charts Mathis version of the song has proved to be the most successfull.

Click the link below to download the following:
Performance
Single Version
Every Time You Touch Me (I Get High) - B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?utxqy42cjxqbk

Boney M - Little Drummer Boy

'The Little Drummer Boy' originally known as 'Carol of the Drum' is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer/teacher Katherine K. Davis in 1941.

In the lyrics the singer relates how, as a poor young boy, he was summoned by the Magi to the nativity where, without a gift for the infant Jesus, he played his drum with the Virgin Mary's approval, remembering "I played my best for him" and "He smiled at me".

Boney M released their version of the song in 1981. The single was also included on their Christmas Album.

'Little Drummer Boy' peaked at number 20 in the German charts and was the last song to feature dancer Bobby Farrell.

Click the link below to download the following:
Single Version
Boney M on 45 - B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?n6v95sc5633st

Nova - Christmas Forever

And so for a bit of cheesy christmas pop.

'Christmas Forever' is a single released in 1981 by the Dutch band Nova.

Released on the MacProPoc Records Label the single failed to make it into the charts.

Credited to E.O. MacDonald and H. Promes, this is as much about the record and duo as I know.

Still a pleasent enough record to lift the spirits at christmas.

Enjoy.

Click the link below to download the following:
Single Version
My Dream - B-side

http://www.mediafire.com/?3zj32y4a63nah

Bon Jovi - Please Come Home For Christmas

'Please Come Home for Christmas' is a Christmas song, released in 1960, by the American blues singer and pianist Charles Brown. Hitting Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in December 1961, the tune Brown co-wrote with Gene Redd peaked at position number 76.

It appeared on the Christmas Singles chart for nine seasons, hitting number 1 in 1972. It includes a number of characteristics of Christmas music, such as multiple references in the lyrics to the Christmas season and Christmas traditions, and the use of a Church bell type sound, created using a piano, at the start of the song. It is sometimes referred to as Bells Will Be Ringing.

Bon Jovi covered and released their version of the song in 1994.  Released as a stand alone single it failed to set the charts alight in the UK or US but it did manage to make it to number 6 in the Irish charts.

Click the link below to download the following:
Video
Single Version
I Wish Everyday Could Be Like Christmas - B-Side
Back Door Santa - Extra Track
Blue Christmas - Bonus Track

http://www.mediafire.com/?cgmq741xh4v94

Pop Quiz - Christmas 1981

Here is the Christmas episode broadcast on 29th December 1981. the teams are

Team 1:
Midge Ure - Paula Yates - Barry Gibb

Team 2:
Cliff Richard - David Grant - Rick Parfitt

Click the link below to download the Episode in 3 parts

http://www.mediafire.com/?8mo9r9h87q1x0 Part One




Part Two




Part Three

Wings - Mull Of Kintyre

'Mull of Kintyre' is a song written by Paul McCartney and Denny Laine and performed by Wings. The song was written in tribute to the picturesque Kintyre peninsula in Scotland, where McCartney has owned High Park Farm since 1966, and its headland or Mull of Kintyre.

The song was Wings' biggest hit in the United Kingdom where it became Christmas number one, and was the first single to sell over two million copies in the UK.

'Mull of Kintyre' was recorded in August 1977 in London, during a break in recording the London Town album caused by Linda McCartney's advanced pregnancy, which led to the departure of Jimmy McCulloch and Joe English from Wings.

Bagpipes from Kintyre's local Campbeltown Pipe Band were included as a prominent part of the recording. 'Mull of Kintyre' and 'Girls' School' (a rocker that had been previously recorded for London Town) were released as a double A-sided single on 11 November 1977, independently of the album. It was also included on the Wings compilation Wings Greatest in 1978, and the UK/Canada version of McCartney's 1987 compilation album, All the Best!.

The song's broad appeal was maximised by its pre-Christmas release and it became a Christmas number one single in the UK, spending 9 weeks at the top of the charts. It also became a massive international hit, dominating the charts in Australia and many other countries over the holiday period. It went on to become the first single to sell over two million copies in the UK and becoming the UK's best-selling single of all-time (eclipsing The Beatles' own 'She Loves You') until overtaken by Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' in 1984 (which also featured McCartney on the B-Side).

The song remains the UK's best-selling completely non-charity single. (Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' has sold more in its two releases, but the profits of the 1991 release went to charity.)

The millionth copy of the disk sold in the UK included a special certificate. It was sold to David Ackroyd, who was presented with a gold disk of the single by Laine.

However, one place where the song was not a hit was the United States, where the flipside 'Girls' School' received more airplay and reached number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 while 'Mull of Kintyre' only managed to reach number 45 on the Easy Listening chart. As a consequence, McCartney has not played 'Mull of Kintyre' during his subsequent concert tours of America, only adding it back on forays into Canada.

Click the link below to download the following:
Video
Single Version
Girls School - B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?4b79q4mqoytmw

The Jets - Christmas With The Jets

'Christmas with The Jets' is the second studio album by The Jets.

It was released in 1986 and includes nine out of ten original Christmas recordings written by Sean Kelly of Foxboro, Massachusetts for The Jets.

'Christmas in My Heart' was released as an airplay-only single (although a physical release was made available in Japan), and therefore never charted.



Tracklisting:
01 - This Christmas
02 - Christmas in My Heart
03 - All Alone on Christmas
04 - On Christmas Night
05 - I'm Home for Christmas
06 - Somewhere Out There
07 - Love So Rare
08 - Christmas Is My Favorite Time of Year
09 - You Make It Christmas
10 - This Christmas, This Year

Click the link below to download the album:

http://www.mediafire.com/?sywcgbbii93qd

The Pretenders - 2000 Miles

'2000 Miles' is a song by The Pretenders released in 1983 as the preceding single to their 1984 album, 'Learning to Crawl'.

In the US, it was released as both 7 inch 45 as the B-side of the single 'Middle of the Road' and a 12 inch remix.

It was most popular in the UK, where it charted at number 15.

Considered a Christmas song, it has also been released on various compilation albums. While most people believe 2,000 miles is the distance between two long distance lovers who miss each other over the holidays, it is actually meant to be for James Honeyman-Scott, the group's original guitar player.

Click the link below to download the following:
Video
Single Version
Fast Or Slow (The Laws The Law) - B-Side
Money (Live) - B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?wqra7ybrkcota

Mud - Lonely This Christmas

'Lonely This Christmas' was a popular single by the English glam rock band Mud, that topped the UK singles chart in 1974 and reached Christmas number one.

The song is noted for a memorable performance on Top of the Pops in which guitarist Rob Davis was covered in tinsel and wore Christmas baubles as earrings, while vocalist Les Gray sang to a ventriloquist's dummy.

In 1985 the single was released as a 12 inch with an extra track.

Click the link below to download the following:
Performance
Single Version
I Can't Stand It - B-Side
The Cat Crept In - 1985 12 inch Extra Track

http://www.mediafire.com/?jcaecm3ejvj0v

Elton John - Step Into Christmas

'Step into Christmas' is a Christmas song by Elton John (Music by Elton John, Lyrics by Bernie Taupin) released in 1973.

It was originally released as a stand-alone single in 1973 with the B-Side 'Ho! Ho! Ho! (Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas), peaking at number 23 in the UK.

Due to Billboard magazine's editorial policy it was held off the Hot 100. It did, however, make number 1 on a specially designated Christmas chart, and it appeared in the Cashbox Top 100 charts. It was later included as a bonus track on the 1995 remastered reissue of the album Caribou, even though it was released in the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road days.

According to liner notes about the song by Elton John and Bernie Taupin (in 'Rare Masters' and 'Elton John's Christmas Party'), the track and its b-side, both produced by Gus Dudgeon, were recorded during a quickie session at Morgan Studios in London, owned by drummer Barry Morgan, who had played on several of Elton's early albums. 'Step Into Christmas' was mixed to sound like one of producer Phil Spector's record, using lots of compression and imitating his trademark "wall of sound" technique. This was according to both Elton and Taupin intentional, an homage of sorts to Christmas songs by Spector-produced groups such as The Ronettes. In 2009, 'Step into Christmas' was the 9th most played Christmas song in the UK.

Click the lin below to download the following:
Video
Single Version
Ho Ho Ho (Who'd Be A Turkey At Christmas - B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?o9usv32akpj0w

The Jets - Christmas In My Heart

'Christmas In My Heart' was released as the first and only single from The Jets' Christmas album 'Christmas with The Jets'.

The song peaked at number 20 in Japan in December 1986.

Click the link below to download the following:
Single Version
This Christmas - B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?km4w4jrw9c4q8

Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' is a popular Christmas song, first released in 1973 by the English glam rock band Wizzard.

It reached number four in the UK singles chart. The song was famously beaten to Christmas number one by Slade's 'Merry Xmas Everybody' which remained there for nine consecutive weeks, from December 1973 to February 1974. As with most Wizzard songs it was written and produced by Roy Wood.

The song features the lead vocals of frontman Roy Wood but also contains backing vocals by "The Suedettes" as well as the choir of The Stockland Green Bilateral School First Year (arranged by pianist Bill Hunt, who was the brother-in-law of the school Maths teacher), with additional noises being produced by "Miss Snob and Class 3C", as credited on the sleeve.

The single was actually recorded in the August so to create a wintry feeling, engineer Steve Brown decorated the studio with Christmas decorations and turned the air conditioning down to its coldest setting. Singer Roy Wood wore a woollen hat found in Lost Property.

The first issue of the single was on Warner Brothers, as they had signed with them at the end of 1973, but this single proved to be the last EMI single, so the single was immediately issued on Harvest with the same picture sleeve.

Although Wood had arranged for the members of the Stockland Green school choir to sing at the Top Of The Pops television recording, their place was taken by children provided by a local London stage school.

With the failure of its first release to reach number 1 in 1973 - it was kept from number one by Slade's 'Merry Christmas Everybody' - it was re-released in 1981 (only reaching number 41) and then again in 1984, this time with an additional extended 12" version and getting as far as number 23.

As downloads as well as physical sales became eligible for the weekly Top 75 as from January 2007, and with the help of additional exposure thanks to an Argos television advertisement later in the year using an excerpt of the song for a soundtrack, it was one of several Christmas oldies to chart again in November and December 2007. This time it reached number 16, despite the absence of a physical release in the shops. In December 2008 it reappeared in the chart at number 31. In December 2009, the song had returned to the chart, at number 45. In December 2010 the song charted again at number 46 in the UK charts

Click the link below to download the following:
Video
Single Version
Rob Roys Nightmare - B-Side
http://www.mediafire.com/?65oo2jpo1youa

Queen - A Winter's Tale

'A Winter's Tale' is a song by Queen, from the album Made in Heaven, released in 1995 after Freddie Mercury's death in 1991. It was written after the Innuendo sessions, inspired as Mercury was staring out the windows of their recording studio, at Lake Geneva. The song has a psychedelic, dreamy feel, and describes what Mercury saw outside the windows.

It was said to have been recorded two weeks before Mercury's death. He wrote, composed, and did the vocals and keyboards for it. In the documentary "Queen - Champions of the World", it was stated that this was if not the first then an extremely rare style of recording for Freddie, as it was all performed in one take live in the studio. It was stated in the film that Freddie had always insisted upon music being completed prior to the vocal arrangement beginning, but acknowledged that he had little time left and there was not enough time to work on it differently.

The song was released as the second single from the album. In the UK the single was also available in a special limited edition green paper CD case which resembled Christmas wrapper.

The single made it to number 6 on the UK Singles Chart.

Click the link below to download the following:
Single Version
Cosy Firside Mix
Than God It's Christmas - B-Side
Rock In Rio Blues (Live) - B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?wc2pca0du3vqg

Boney - Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord

'Mary's Boy Child - Oh My Lord' is a 1978 Christmas single for Boney M., a cover of Harry Belafonte's 1956 hit, put in medley with the new song 'Oh My Lord' (Farian / Jay).

The single was recorded in a hurry early November, included in the group's live set and rushed out at the end of the month, topping the UK charts for four weeks during its eight week stay in the charts, and becoming the second single for the group in the all-time best selling singles charts. The song was later included in the group's Christmas Album, 1981.

In the United States, the track reached number 85 in the Billboard Hot 100, Boney M's last of four singles to chart; despite its chart position, the medley is an airplay favorite in the United States during the Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday season on radio stations which change to temporary all-Christmas music formats.

A promotional gatefold single (15 816 AT) backed with 'Never Change Lovers in the Middle of the Night' (from Nightflight to Venus) was released shortly before the commercial single which had a new track on the B-side 'Dancing in the Streets'. Different edits were issued in various countries. In Spain and France, the 3rd verse (Now Joseph and his wife Mary came to Bethlehem that night ...) had been cut out, the French mix of 'Oh My Lord' was a different mix. A 4:29 edit surfaced on the 1980 compilation The Magic of Boney M. - 20 Golden Hits, possibly the originally intended single edit. The full-length 6:18 mix appeared as the B-side of the 12" single 'Dancing in the Streets'.

'Rivers of Babylon' / 'Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord' is a 1988 remix single by German band Boney M., issued to launch the group's reunion, having been split since their 10th anniversary, 1986. The double-A-side single contained new mixes of the band's two very most successful single releases ever. Although their remix album sold well, the single failed to chart.

After Christmas, Hansa Records flipped the single and released it with 'Dancing in the Streets' on the A-side. The non-album track was sung solely by the group's producer Frank Farian, singing the chorus in multi-dubbed falsetto vocals and singing the verse in his deep voice. The mix that came out on the B-side of 'Mary's Boy Child' in the UK and US was an early version with shriller falsetto vocals and no answer-back chorus vocals in the verses. Despite the lack of success, the track was chosen as the one to launch Boney M. in the USA which remained the only territory the group had yet to conquer. The group did a promotional tour in April 1979 and also lip-synced the track at important TV shows Soul Train but the single stalled at number 105 in the Pop charts and fared only slightly better in the R and B charts at number 75.

Click the lin below to download the following:
Video
Single Version
PWL 1988 Edit Version
Dancing In The Streets - B-Side
Dancing In The Streets - Live Performance
Dancing In The Streets - Long Version
Never Change Lovers In The Middle Of The Night - B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?4j80ecc27ekf3

Carpenters - Santa Claues Is Coming To Town

Well I wanted to do soething a little different this christmas and post some songs that I love from various years (not just the 80's). So here goes....

'Santa Claus is Coming to Town' (sometimes with Coming changed to Comin') is a Christmas song.

It was written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie, and was first sung on Eddie Cantor's radio show in November 1934.

It became an instant hit with orders for 100,000 copies of sheet music the next day and more than 400,000 copies sold by Christmas.

In 1974 The Carpenters released the song as their 19th single. Released fro the albu 'An Old Fashioned Christmas' the single ade it to number 35 on the UK singles Charts.

The B-Side to the single was 'Merry Christas Darling'.

'Merry Christmas, Darling' was written by Richard Carpenter & Frank Pooler and originally recorded in 1970. At the time, it was first available on a 7" single from A&M Records (1236) and later in 1974 reissued as A&M 1648 and in 1977 as A&M 1991.

The single went to number one on Billboard's Christmas singles chart in 1970, and did again in 1971 and 1973.

Billboard magazine did not display Christmas singles on the Hot 100 in 1970. This song just missed the top 40 in Cash Box.

Click the link below to download the following:
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Single Version
Merry Christmas Darling - B-Side (Same as single version from 1970)
Mr Guder - B-Side to Merry Christmas Darling

http://www.mediafire.com/?4gb8mlvljl431

Sheila E - Sister Fate

'Sister Fate' was the first single to be released from Sheila E.'s second album Romance 1600, released four weeks before the album.

The single contained an edit (removing an instrumental coda), an extended version, and an instrumental version of the track.

The 12" single included a previously-unreleased track, 'Save The People', which contained no input by Prince. The single was released in the US, Canada and Germany.

The single did not enter the US Billboard Pop Chart, but reached number 36 on the Billboard Black Chart.

Prince appeared in the Sister Fate video promoting the single, although his appearance was taken directly from the Raspberry Beret video, and did not contain any new footage.

Click the link below to download the following:
Video
Extended Version
Save The People - B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?bqq7t2ooc4sai

Madness - The Prince

'The Prince' is a song by British ska/pop band Madness. It was written by Lee Thompson, and was the band's first single. On 10 August 1979 the single was released through 2 Tone Records and peaked at number 16 in the UK singles chart, spending a total of 11 weeks in the charts.

'The Prince' is a tribute to Jamaican ska singer Prince Buster who highly influenced Madness (the band took their name from one of his songs, 'Madness', which they also covered on the b-side of 'The Prince').

As this was the band's first single, they were relatively unknown prior to the release. Due to this fact, no music video was filmed for the single. However, the band later bought the rights to a performance on Top of the Pops from September 6, 1979. This performance has since become associated with the single, and has featured on compilations featuring the band's music videos.

Click the link below to download the following:
Single Version
Madness - B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?ce65upi42v2aq

Howard Jones - Pearl In The Shell - Fan Club Single

The Howard Jones fanclub released three different live singles in the course of a few years.

This second single was recorded by Radio Clyde, but a date and
venue are not mentioned on the label.

The live tracks are 'Pearl in the shell' (originally released on Howard Jones' debut album 'Human's lib') and 'Things can only get better' (originally released on Howard Jones' second album 'Dream into action').

Click the link below to download the tracks:

http://www.mediafire.com/?11utbd64ink5p

Madness - One Step Beyond

'One Step Beyond' is a tune written by Jamaican ska singer Prince Buster as a B-side for his single 'Al Capone'.

It was made famous by British band Madness who covered it for their debut 1979 album, One Step Beyond..., also named after the song.

Although Buster's version was mostly instrumental except for the song title shouted for a few times, the Madness version features a spoken intro by Chas Smash and a barely audible but insistent background chant of "here we go!".

The spoken line, "Don't watch that, watch this", in the intro is from another Prince Buster song, 'The Scorcher'.

According to Alan Winstanley, one of the producers, the released Madness version was a rough mix, created by taking the original 1 minute 10 second instrumental and repeating it, with the second half treated with an Eventide harmonizer to make it sound slightly different. Langer and Winstanley intended to do a full remix but found that the double-length rough mix had already been sent for mastering before they got the opportunity.

The song is often used to begin live performances by the band.

The single produced the band's first music video, directed by Chuck Statler. The video mainly features a performance on the Hope and Anchor stage in Islington, which was filmed on 7 October 1979. The video also features Chas Smash, performed the lead vocal chant, although he was not at the time a member of the band. Lead singer Suggs is present in the video in front of the band, holding a microphone, although he does not sing the lead vocals.

Click the link below to download the following:
Video
Single Version
Mistakes - B-Side
Nutty Theme - 12 inch Extra Track

http://www.mediafire.com/?0h9loicndr92k

Howard Jones - Pearl In The Shell

'Pearl in the Shell' is the fourth and final single released by musician Howard Jones from the album Human's Lib.

Released in May 1984, the song reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart. It features a saxophone solo by Davey Payne of Ian Dury's band The Blockheads.

Unlike Jones' previous singles, the 12 inch single edition did not feature an extended mix of the main track, though an extended mix later appeared on The 12 inch Album.

Instead, the track 'Total Conditioning' was an extended version of the song 'Conditioning' also taken from Human's Lib, featuring additional lyrics lifted from most of the other songs on that album.

Two Limited Edition singles were released featuring the same tracks as above. One was the standard 7 inch in a poster bag sleeve, the other was a shaped picture disc.

Click the link below to download the following:
Video

Single Version

Extended Remix

Law Of The Jungle - B-Side

Total Conditioning - 12 inch Extra Track

http://www.mediafire.com/?lh3gs4k6w91ak

Dead Or Alive - Misty Circles

'Misty Circles' is a song written and recorded by English New Wave/Dance band Dead or Alive. It was co-produced by the band and Zeus B. Held and released as the first single from Dead or Alive's album Sophisticated Boom Boom.

'Misty Circles' was the first song to be released by Dead or Alive after being signed to a major label, Epic Records. The band's prior single releases were issued independently.

Upon its release, 'Misty Circles' was not a success, peaking at number 100 on the UK Singles Chart.

In 1984, the song was placed on the B-side of 'You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)'. As both sides earned significant play in American nightclubs, they charted together as a double-sided hit on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart, peaking at number four.

The band performed it before a live audience on Razzmatazz, which features Pete Burns wearing a wardrobe similar to Boy George's, and thus created some temporary friction between the two singers in later years.

The single became the groups first entry on the UK Singles Chart, as well as their lowest peaking single.

The 'Dance Mix' and the b-side 'Selfish Side' were released on the 2007 remastered CD version of the Dead Or Alive album 'Sophisticated Boom Boom' the 'Dub Mix' has not been released on CD.

Click the link below to download the following:
Extended Version
Dance Mix
Dub Mix
Selfish side - B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?682mw0g2wav8o

Sylvester - Do You Wanna Funk

'Do Ya Wanna Funk' is a dance song recorded by American recording artist Sylvester.

The song was released in 1982 and it was produced by Patrick Cowley, who incidentally died the same year.

'Do Ya Wanna Funk' was mostly successful in Europe, especially Switzerland - number 12, Netherlands - number 17, Norway - number 8 and even the United Kingdom where it made number 32.

The song is heard briefly in the movie Trading Places, a comedy-drama movie starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd.

Click the link below to download the following:
Radio Edit
Remix
Instrumental Version

http://www.mediafire.com/?7z57m5yy6twto

Yazoo - Only You

'Only You' is a ballad written by musician Vince Clarke. He wrote it while with Depeche Mode, and offered it to them when he was leaving. They declined, and Clarke recorded it after forming the duo Yazoo with Alison Moyet.

It was an instant success in 1982, hitting number two in the UK, and charting in the U.S. (number sixty-seven, Billboard Hot 100), a feat only attained by one other Yazoo single (coincidentally, that single was 'Situation' the original UK B-side of 'Only You'). 'Only You' also made the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart at number thirty-eight.

A remix of 'Only You' made the UK Top 40 again in 1999, while reaching number sixteen on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

There was no video released when this single was originally released. Kute records released a live version to promote the single.

The music video for the new version was created using the Houdini 3D animation software package.

Although not a Christmas song, it has become a popular song to play at that time of year. This is probably due to the Flying Pickets version being the UK Christmas Number One in 1983.

Click the link below to download the following:
Mute Live Promo
1996 Video

Single Version

Situation - B-Side

Situation - Extended Version - 12 inch B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?vd8nwkkw8rhma

Bananarama - Robert De Nero's Waiting

'Robert De Niro's Waiting...' is a song written and recorded by English girl group Bananarama. It was the second single released from their self-titled second album in 1984.

The single is one of the group's strongest performing releases, peaking at number three in the UK singles chart (the single to date stands in a three-way tie as Bananarama's highest-charting UK hit). It made a brief appearance on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number ninety-five.

An extended version of the song was available on the 12 inch single. The B-side of both 7 inch and 12 inch singles was a song called 'Push!'. Also included on the 12" single, was an unlisted track; a different version 'Link' from Bananarama.

Bananarama re-recorded 'Robert De Niro's Waiting...' with Latin instrumentation on their 2001 album Exotica.

The Duncan Gibbins-directed music video for 'Robert de Niro's Waiting...' shows Bananarama walking around dark streets, possibly followed by mafia-style clothed men. When it gets to the bridge part of the song, Sarah is shown running along, looking behind her as if being followed: her backcombed hair bounces up and down, with strands flying across her face. The video ends with Bananarama back in their apartment, when the door bell rings. Keren answers the door, only to be confronted by the man who might have been chasing them, armed with a Mafia-style violin case. As she looks nervously at him, the case falls open to reveal a sign saying "Pizza Delivery", along with three pizzas. Both the man and Keren start laughing, and right at the end, Bananarama are shown in their apartment eating the pizza and laughing.

Click the link below to download the following:

Video

Single Version

Extended Version

Short Dub

Push - B-Side

Link - Unlisted B-Side - Includes Link II - Album Version

http://www.mediafire.com/?b5buqxsdjbv1k

Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes

'In Your Eyes' is a song by musician Peter Gabriel from his 1986 album So.

It reached number 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November, 1986.

It was not released as a single in the UK.

Gabriel later released an extended version of the song which was nearly 9 minutes in length (as compared to the original 5:29 version that appears on the album).

In 1989 the single was again released in the US where it made it to number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song was the finale of the Secret World Tour, and is the final track on the 1994 Secret World Live album, where it is over 11 minutes long and includes the extra lyrics from the Special Mix, in addition to solos by the the other singers and players.

It was included on the US version of his 2003 compilation Hit, but not on the European or Japanese versions.

In 2005, after 19 years of accumulated sales, the song brought Gabriel his first Gold single, certified in the U.S. by the RIAA.

The B-Side to this single was Biko. This has been released around the workd previously and also features on my blog so I decieded not to include it in this post as there was no difference in the track.

In 2002 Darren Hayes released his cover of the song on the CD single Version. I have to say that this is one of the better cover versions of the song I have heard as it gave the song something new with more emotion.

Click the link below to download the following:
Video
Radio Edit Version - 1989 Release
Special Mix Version
Say Anything Long Version

Darren Hayes Version

http://www.mediafire.com/?ha6sezzzoo5kx

Imagination - In The Heat Of The Night - Album

Well for my 1000 post I had put up 'In The Heat Of The Night' single. To kick start the next 1000 posts I decided to put up the album frmo Inagination.

So here goes.....

'In the Heat of the Night' is the second album by British soul/dance group Imagination, produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain and released in 1982.

In the Heat of the Night was Imagination's most successful album, reaching number 7 in the United Kingdom.

'Just an Illusion' was the group's highest charting single, peaking at number 2 (kept off the top spot by the Goombay Dance Band's 'Seven Tears'), and also making the top 10 in several other countries in Western Europe and Scandinavia. It was covered by Destiny's Child on their self-titled album and Mariah Carey sampled this song for her hit Get Your Number in her 2005 album The Emancipation of Mimi.

'Music and Lights' was another UK top 5 hit, and 'In the Heat of the Night' and 'Changes' also charted.

Tracklisting:
01 - In the Heat of the Night
02 - Heart 'N Soul
03 - Music and Lights
04 - All Night Loving
05 - Just an Illusion
06 - All I Want to Know
07 - One More Love
08 - Changes

Click the link below to download the album:

http://www.mediafire.com/?6629vmef6e9dp

1000th Post - Imagination - In The Heat Of The Night - Single

Well this is a bit of a milestone for me as I have worked out that this is my 1000th post that I have posted since the start of my blog over 2 years ago.

When I started this blog I never thought I would last this long in time let alone manage to make it to 1000 posts. I have to say that over the time the blog has given me a lot of pleasure as I rediscover songs and albums that I havent listened to in a long while.

So here is to this 1000th post and to the next 1000.

Well to round of the 1000 post I thought I would give you all another slice of Imagination, the group that started it all off for me.

Imagination released their 6th single entitled 'In The Heat Of The Night'. Taken from the album of the same name the song is sultry and one of my favourites.

In the UK the single made it to number 22 in the Singles Charts while making number 48 in the German charts. However it was in the Netherlands that the single faired better by reaching number 14.

Click the link below to download the following:
TOTP Performance
12 inch Version
Instrumental Version

http://www.mediafire.com/?lehiybfj2ey2h

New Order - Blue Monday

'Blue Monday' is a single released in 1983 by British band New Order, and later remixed in 1988 and 1995. The song has been widely remixed and covered since its original release, and became a popular anthem in the dance club scene.

At nearly seven-and-a-half minutes, 'Blue Monday' is one of the longest tracks ever to chart in the UK, and is the biggest-selling 12 inch single of all time. Despite selling well it was not eligible for an official gold disc because Factory Records was not a member of the British Phonographic Industry association. However, the Official UK Chart Company (UK Singles Chart) has estimated its total UK sales at over one million. In the all-time UK best-selling singles chart, published in 2002, 'Blue Monday' came 76th.

'Blue Monday' is often seen as one of the most important crossover tracks of the 1980s pop music scene. Synthpop had been a major force in British popular music for several years, but 'Blue Monday' was arguably the first British dance record to exhibit an obvious influence from the New York club scene, particularly the work of producers like Arthur Baker (who collaborated on New Order's follow-up single 'Confusion').

According to Bernard Sumner, 'Blue Monday' was influenced by four songs: the arrangement came from 'Dirty Talk', by Klein + M.B.O.; the signature bassline with octaves came from Sylvester's disco classic, 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)'; the house beat came from 'Our Love', by Donna Summer; and the long keyboard pad on the intro and outro was sampled from the Kraftwerk song 'Uranium', from the Radio-Activity album.

In an interview for Channel 4's countdown of the biggest selling UK singles, the band claimed to have written the song in response to crowd disappointment at the fact that they never played encores. This song, they say, allowed them to return to the stage, press play on a synthesiser and leave the stage again. An example of this happening appears on New Order's concert video Pumped Full of Drugs.

A popular misconception about 'Blue Monday' holds that the single's die-cut sleeve, created by Factory designer Peter Saville, cost so much to produce that Factory Records actually lost money on each copy sold. It is unlikely that Factory Records could have sustained the losses implied, and the sleeve was soon changed to a similar non-die-cut design that would cost no more than a regular sleeve. It is, however, probably true that New Order saw little profit from the single's success, since an investment in the Haçienda nightclub swallowed much of the money they made from their hit.

Another notable feature of the sleeve is that it does not display either the group name nor song title in plain English anywhere. Instead the legend "FAC 73 BLUE MONDAY AND THE BEACH NEW ORDER" is represented in code by a series of coloured blocks. The key enabling this to be deciphered was printed on the back sleeve of the album, Power, Corruption & Lies. 'Blue Monday' is one of three New Order releases from this time period to employ the colour code. The sleeve's spine simply reads "FAC SEVENTY THREE".

A music video for a shortened version of the original song was created in 1983, featuring military clips with false colour, simple computer-generated graphics such as colour blocks and geometric lines, digitised video of band members at very low resolution and framerate, and a short appearance of the game Zaxxon (reportedly the Apple II port). The colour blocks were created using Peter Saville's colour coded alphabet.

The music video for 'Blue Monday '88' (the Quincy Jones re-recording and mix of the song), shortened by several minutes and featuring added vocal effects, appears on the Substance video collection released as a companion to the album of the same name. It features sketches by photographer William Wegman and his Weimaraner dog named Fay Ray doing balancing acts intercut with hand-drawn animation by Robert Breer. The band members are shown standing around doing various tasks, such as walking a wooden plank over a floor that is painted blue, holding wire-mesh constructed art and milk crates over their faces, being hit by tennis balls, and standing still while they flip through various flip books (tying into the hand-drawn animation sequences).

On the Australian show Rage, a video was shown containing footage taken from their Top of the Pops performance with the studio track dubbed over it. At other times, the aforementioned videos also get airings.

'Blue Monday' has been a hit several times in the UK. In 1983, it charted twice, initially reaching number 12, then re-entering the chart later in the year and climbing to number 9, helped by the fact that neither side of the single (the B-side 'The Beach' was an instrumental re-working of 'Blue Monday') was featured on the UK version of the group's subsequent album, Power, Corruption & Lies.

New Order appeared on the BBC's Top of the Pops, on 31 March 1983, to promote the song. It had long been the show's policy that artists would mime to a backing track, but New Order insisted on performing 'Blue Monday' live. The performance was dogged by technical problems, and was unrepresentative of the recording. In the words of drummer Stephen Morris, "Blue Monday was never the easiest song to perform, anyway, and everything went wrong. The synthesisers went awry. It sounded awful".

In 1985, 'Blue Monday' and 'Thieves Like Us' were officially released in Poland as a 7 inch single in different sleeve by Tonpress under license from Factory Records and sold over 50 000 copies and reached number 5 on end of year single chart.

In 1988, 'Blue Monday' was officially remixed by Quincy Jones and John Potoker under the title 'Blue Monday 88' (with the instrumental flip being titled 'Beach Buggy'). The single reached number 3 in the British charts, number 4 in the Australian charts, and topped the dance charts in the United States. A further official remix/reissue in 1995, with a mix by Hardfloor as the lead track, also made the British Top 20.

Click the link below to download the following:

Video

Original Version

1983 Extended Edit

Version Instrumental

Version Vocal

Extended Hardfloor Mix

1988 7 inch Version

1988 12 inch Mix

1988 Dub Version

1988 Single Mix

The Beach - B-Side

Beach Buggy - 1988 B-Side

Beach Buggy - 12 inch B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?gegwdqti8a8tj

Mandy Smith - I Just Can't Wait

'I Just Can't Wait' is a Pop-dance song written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman for Mandy Smith's debut studio album Mandy (1988).

The song was released as Mandy's debut single and the album's first single.

This song has a B-side, 'You're Never Alone', which also appeared on her debut album.

In the UK the single didn't fair very well as it made it to number 91 on The Singles Charts. However it faired better overseas by hitting number 1 in Japan, 14 in Germany and number 9 in Italy and Norwegian charts.

Click the link below to download the following:
Video
Single Version
12 inch Extended Mix
German 12 inch Mix
You're Never Alone ' B-Side

http://www.mediafire.com/?9gj80pc44zafs

Yazoo - Situation

'Situation' is the title of a 1982 single by the British synthpop band Yazoo.

The song was originally released in the UK as the B-side to Yazoo's debut single, 'Only You', which went to number two on the UK Singles Chart.

Released as a single in its own right in the U.S., the song peaked at number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, it became Yazoo's first song to top the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the late summer of 1982, and it remained at number one on this chart for four weeks, and even crossed over to the R&B chart, peaking at number 31 there.

The song features a memorable synthesizer hook by Vince Clarke (similar to the work he had done with his previous band, Depeche Mode) combined with the vocals by Alison Moyet (including her laughter, which has since been sampled in countless other songs including the international dance hit 'Macarena'). The song has been featured on various 1980s compilation albums, as well as an appearance in a commercial for Classic NES Series.

Its most famous version is the American 12-inch remix by François Kevorkian. This version was included on the U.S. version of Yazoo's album Upstairs at Eric's, and is the version of the song which receives the most radio airplay in the United States (where the song, despite its modest showing on the Hot 100, is still played on alternative, variety-hits, and dance-oriented radio stations).

It was covered by welsh singer Tom Jones in 1994 on his album The Lead and How To Swing It.

The song was featured in the 2002 film The Rules of Attraction.

In 1990 and again in 1999, the song was remixed by various noted DJs, including Peter Rauhofer and Richard "Humpty" Vission. The 1999 remixes were released to dance clubs, and this renewed interest in the song sent 'Situation' to Number 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart for a second time in October of that year.

Click the link below to download the following:
Single Remix
7-up's Revamp
Deadline Mix
Dub Version
Kevorkian Remix
Long Ultrasund Remix
Richard 'Humpty' Vission Visits The Dub Version
Space Dub
Special Dance Mix
Special US Dub - Vocal Edit
The Aggressive Attitude Version
Wicked Mix

State Farm - Madhouse Mix Edit - 1990 B-Side
Situation - Live At Dominion Theatre - Bonus Track
Don't Go - Live At Dominion Theatre - Bonus Track

http://www.mediafire.com/?ugt7wdw9uy617