Ten years ago I had this crazy idea to re-enact the Christmas Truce matches played a hundred years earlier. My daughter was playing at Anchorians Football Club at the time so I floated the idea and the chairman Leigh Willis backed me to the hilt despite the misgivings of some others at the club. The result was a Boxing Day morning like no other and one that everyone really enjoyed. Looking back it was probably one of the best things I have ever done. The story of the truce of 1914 and the centenary matches are in the article below.
https://davidgpearce205.blog/2022/12/22/the-christmas-truce-1914/
This is genuinely one of my favourite ever posts because it was noticed by the lovely Isla St Clair herself. She said how much she enjoyed it and said that it had inspired her to write to the record company to regain the rights to the recordings. Judging by her website, which has free access to the entire album she succeeded! I really urge you to hear it for yourself after reading my original review.
https://davidgpearce205.blog/2022/12/17/isla-by-isla-st-clair-re-play/
A Classic Christmas is an album I have had on three formats at one time or another, but it was the vinyl copy that reintroduced me to its marvellous mix of festive music. With familiar pieces of music throughout and some fascinating details inside, the album is simply a treasure trove. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Read my reflection on it below and if you don’t seek out anything else, take a listen to Hely-Hutchinson’s sublime reworking of Christmas carols. It is an album that should be on every Christmas listening list.
https://davidgpearce205.blog/2022/12/16/a-classic-christmas-re-play/
I have a theory that you can trace the re-emergence of old Christmas songs year after year to one album, the original Now That’s What I Call Christmas. Yes, Spotify and other streamers have supercharged the process, but the Now album from 1985 set everything in motion as it re-introduced listeners to some of the classics from the past. For Blogmas 2022 I gave the album another spin and my reactions are at the link below.
https://davidgpearce205.blog/2022/12/15/the-original-now-christmas-album-re-play/
So, this is from Blogmas 2022 once again and is the companion piece to yesterday’s entry. Here you will find 5 songs that became linked with the festive season despite not having any snow, Santa or presents in the lyrics. Five great songs from five acts who cracked the Christmas Charts. Click through to the link below for a brief reflection on each and a link to the videos. Features Showaddywaddy, Paul McCartney, Slade, Toy Dolls and Freiheit.
https://davidgpearce205.blog/2022/12/09/christmas-pop-songs-not-quite/
David Pearce - Popular Culture and Personal Passions 