Sunday, April 20, 2008

Singles Going Single #31 - Christmas (the band) 7" (1984, Iridescence)

Yes, Virginia, there really was a band called Christmas, and they were damn good. A co-ed trio from Cambridge, MA, Christmas' quirky but compelling post-punk/indie-pop, assumedly made minor ripples left of the dial, but little elsewhere. According to a highly informative band bio found here, this was their debut release, featuring the Mission of Burma-inflected "Wilhelm Reich." It would later be followed by their first album, In Excelsior Day-Glo in '86. Christmas signed to IRS Records for their next album, the often wondrously melodic Ultraprophets of Thee Psykick Revolution, which saw the light of day in 1989 to little fanfare. A third album, Vortex was posthumously issued in '93 on Matador Records. Perhaps Christmas' true claim to fame was that it served as a launching pad for an eventual reformation as wry, cocktail revivalists Combustible Edison in the early 90s. I apologize in advance for the vinyl noise.

A. The Invisible Girl
B. Wilhelm Reich

 Hear
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29 comments:

  1. Wires In The WallsApril 21, 2008 at 5:24 PM

    I really can't express how excited I was to see this one..they're the hardest band to search for online this side of X. I only got to see them once before Combustible Edison, but they left a 17 year long impression. If anyone could post In Excelsior Dayglo, even just "Big Plans" - It' make my month. Also, there are some Michael Cudahy co-penned tracks on the recently reissued Big Dipper "Supercluster" CD set on Merge. Thanks for all the singles efforts!

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  2. evrApril 22, 2008 at 12:03 PM

    I'll upload IEG for you and leave a link here!

    Hey, Willfully I just converted my copy of this single a few weeks ago! We're catching up to each other

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  3. evrApril 22, 2008 at 12:44 PM

    Christmas-In Excelsior Dayglo (mp3/320)

    http://www.sendspace.com/file/zvzg1m

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  4. spavidApril 22, 2008 at 1:59 PM

    Thanks EVR. You beat me to it!

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  5. evrApril 22, 2008 at 7:17 PM

    just doing my part to help!

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  6. Wires In The WallsApril 24, 2008 at 10:20 AM

    Thanks so much for the IEG link - it never fails to amaze me how you can not hear an album in ten years and remember every note. If I get my act together, I'll upload their 12" with the "Ring My Bell" cover. Its not as trainwreck potential as it sounds!

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  7. Wires In The WallsApril 24, 2008 at 10:20 AM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  8. Wires In The WallsApril 24, 2008 at 10:20 AM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  9. evrApril 25, 2008 at 7:02 AM

    I already ripped the Ring My Bell cover and another single. Will upload them later!

    I'm taking this place over!!! HA!

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  10. evrApril 25, 2008 at 7:20 AM

    Ok that didn't take long! here's the tracks from the 2 Throbbing Lobster comps, the tracks from the Conflict comp and a 45 with Ellie Marshall (Modern Lovers) plus Ring My Bell

    It's in m4a, so if you don't use iTunes or need mp3 let me know.

    http://www.sendspace.com/file/nu8a15

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  11. spavidApril 25, 2008 at 5:51 PM

    Damn, looks like I'm going to have to add you as a "contributor!" Kickass.

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  12. lgApril 30, 2008 at 5:00 PM

    thanks for the xmas..it's great to be singing "boy's town work song" in my living room again after so many years...and "ring my bell" is a trip.

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  13. chnkltgyMay 4, 2008 at 1:45 PM

    Thank you thank you thank you. Still to this day one of my favorite singles from the mid-80's.

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  14. acbleachMay 13, 2008 at 9:36 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  15. JohnMay 14, 2008 at 3:12 PM

    I remember the tracks from the Throbbing Lobster comps faithfully and have always wondered if they were ever compiled/collected for a reissue (along with the first single and Bands tracks as well).

    evr, is the In Excelsior Dayglo link dead?

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  16. evrMay 15, 2008 at 9:33 AM

    Yeah, it must be. I'll try to re-up it later.

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  17. evrMay 16, 2008 at 7:46 AM

    Here's In Excelsior Dayglo again:

    http://rapidshare.com/files/115331423/In_Excelsior_Dayglo.zip

    watch out for the kittens!

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  18. evrMay 16, 2008 at 7:47 AM

    forgot to add:

    mp3/320

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  19. JohnMay 19, 2008 at 3:50 AM

    Thanks so much!!

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  20. UnknownSeptember 12, 2008 at 9:48 AM

    ALWAYS READ THE COMMENTS! I got the Invisible Girl single months ago and never scrolled down far enough to see that "In Excelsior Dayglo," one of my al-time favorite abums, was linked on the same page! D'oh! Anyway, finally found it and a million blessings on your house for this.

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  21. JMOctober 20, 2008 at 5:16 PM

    I've been looking for some Christmas songs for years. Any chance someone can repost the pre IED songs? Thanks.

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  22. Used UniverseDecember 24, 2008 at 8:16 AM

    I take it that no one knows where i can download a copy of "Ultraprophets of Thee Psykick Revolution"
    I use to own it on vinyl back when it came out but i have long since sold it.
    I guess i could go to Loony Tunes in Boston, they might have it on vinyl.

    If someone does have please upload it someplace!
    thanks,
    ~UU~

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  23. Jixby PhillipsNovember 19, 2009 at 5:30 AM

    I had the same troubles trying to locate "Ultra Prophets of Thee Psykick Revolution" so I bought it used. Here it is:

    256 kbps

    http://rapidshare.com/files/309197855/Christmas_-_Ultra_Prophets_of_Thee_Psykick_Revolution__1989_.zip.html

    If you wanna pay me back, get me the rip of "Ring My Bell"! I'm looking at that 12 inch on ebay and kinda don't wanna pay 20 bucks for one song.

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  24. teadoustMay 2, 2010 at 8:04 AM

    @evr
    thanks so much for the IED rapidshare link. i haven't heard it in years and am listening to it now with a big ol' smile on my face!
    i only wish the single on rapidshare was usable. i downloaded it but can't access the darned thing now.

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  25. BradMay 20, 2010 at 2:29 PM

    If anyone is still following this thread, I have a fresh upload of "Ring My Bell" by Christmas. It's a m4a file, 8MB. Linky here: http://www.mediafire.com/?ymzondyzfxj

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  26. timatoDecember 6, 2012 at 8:26 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  27. timatoDecember 6, 2012 at 9:17 PM

    heh.. i'm a little late here but would you mind re-upping IED?

    In exchange, here is "Babyman", off a Bigtime Records compilation album that washed up in a thrift shop:

    http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?o7ug5m2dulocvk6

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  28. turbogoofJanuary 18, 2013 at 7:18 AM

    I know this is an old thread, but who the heck was "Hassan Chop"?

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  29. MikeJuly 24, 2013 at 8:22 AM

    Also worth mentioning that two of the members formed Combustible Edison only after the third, James McNew, quit to join Yo La Tengo.

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