Just about all of the great and the good in the Pop and Rock World, and a few second stringers also, have felt it necessary to bring out a Christmas themed record.
It may be out of a genuine love of the Festive Season and all that it represents.
There may have been pressure from fans to release a bit of a one-off or a novelty at this time of the year.
Other motivations may be less honorable such as a blatant attempt at a cash grab or trying to perpetuate an income flow into the future. That anticipation of Royalties could make for a nice bit of forward planning towards a pension long after a mainstream livelihood in the music industry has ceased to be able to meet outgoings of a Rock Star existence.
In some cases a Christmas single may be a career defining piece of work but many would honestly hope that it is not the case.
In the ever prolonged build up to 25th December the airwaves and supermarket aisles in particular become saturated with seasonal offerings.
One radio station that shall remain un-named only seem to possess a dozen or so records and although on first tuning in this can be quite a happy experience it soon becomes predictable and, frankly, boring.
Once in a while strict adherence to that rigid playlist is forgotten, perhaps as an attempt by the presenter or back-room staff to try to avoid falling asleep out of the monotony. If this rare moment coincides with a return to the radio station in order to give it a second chance to redeem itself then a track that has not been heard for a long time or has simply slipped out of your memory bank may suddenly emerge and make the day most pleasurable.
That was the sensation that I enjoyed just today upon catching a broadcast of "Frosty The Snowman".
The song was written in 1950 by the duo of Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson and was first recorded by the multi-talented Gene Autry who was a contemporary singing star of the post war era as well as excelling as an actor and rodeo rider.
It was originally a winter rather than a specific Christmas song telling the story of a snowman brought back to life by a magical silk hat found by some children.
Autry's popularity in the Country and Western genre of music saw "Frosty" peak at number 4 in the Country Singles Chart and at 7 in the US Pop Chart.
Sensing the lucrative commercial value from the subject matter and the timing of its release many Agents representing top celebrity singers clamoured to get their man to release it and in the same year as the Autry version both Jimmy Durante and Nat King Cole could be heard across the nation and beyond.
The public must have suffered sensory overload from this rapid succession of the same song as neither Durante nor Nat King Cole bettered 7th place for their efforts.
Within a couple of decades other artists who hoped to make a Seasonal killing with "Frosty" included Perry Como (1957), Johnny Mathis (2003) and the third placed singer in the American Idol series of 2002, Kimberley Locke who also had a US Chart topping version of Jingle Bells in 2006 and so was perfectly qualified to have success with "Frosty" at the following Holiday.
There have of course been many, many other performers who have recorded and released this classic but for me the best, by a long way, rendition is the 1992 one by my favourite dream pop, ethereal wave and gothic rock band, The Cocteau Twins.
I was first drawn to their quite unique style in the mid 1980's with their album Victorialand although they had been on the scene since the late 1970's.
The characteristic trademark sounds from guitar, drum and bass are rich and melodious and go perfectly with the evocative vocal sound and multi-tonal range from lead singer Elizabeth Fraser.
I should explain these two aspects of her performing repertoire.
Fraser hits every note without fail and with a crystal clear sharpness but if you are looking to learn and sing along with the lyrics of many of the Twins' songs then you may struggle. She has her own language drawn from many sources and woven into a beautiful blend in many of the defining releases over the 18 years of music making. Just seek out the impressive back catalogue of The Cocteau Twins for yourself, turn down the lights and chill.
Of course, "Frosty" is given the full works by the band and Fraser in particular brings to the spirited but short-lived life of the snowman her own quirky and distinctive style. Here it is.
No comments:
Post a Comment