819:
original 1981 album, except that the
Material track is the shorter version used on the 1982 album. It also contains the James White track contained on the 1982 album, but not the track by The Three Courgettes. In addition, the CD contains three further tracks, two of them, by Lisi and Miss OD (also known as Ophélie Doll) newly recorded by Esteban in France; and the remaining track, by Portuguese-born singer
621:"The lyrics tell the story of a man with the Christmas blues who commits suicide and then meets up with Satan 'to join the celebration.' In the background, Chance incorporates bits and pieces of music from famous Christmas carols. One of the lyrics describes the party with Satan: 'There’s no angels or wise men, and certainly no virgins.'"
276:, who wins the prize for the kitschiest sleeve, got in on the action. All of them made an album of Christmas songs, some better than others! In 1981 and 1982 ZE Records published its own Christmas album under the supervision of Michael Zilkha. All the American artists on ZE answered the call and came up with a Christmas track...."
818:
After ZE Records closed in 1984, most of the original recordings were unavailable for many years although some, including "Christmas
Wrapping", appeared on other compilations. The CD version of the album, produced by Esteban and issued on the revived ZE label in 2004, features all the tracks on the
1069:
Michel
Esteban remastered and re-released the album again on ZE on November 20, 2016, on CD in a replica LP sleeve with the original artwork and a label replicating the white vinyl LP, as well as MP3 and FLAC downloads with a digital booklet (the latter of which is also downloadable for free on the
625:
The running order of the album was completely revised, and a radically shortened and remixed version of the
Material track was used. The sleeve design was maintained but with an additional red star stating "Special 1982 Edition". At the same time as the album was re-released in 1982, "Christmas
317:". The recording by Cristina – Zilkha's girlfriend and later wife – was her first to be produced by the duo Was (Not Was), who also contributed their own track to the album. The August Darnell track, "Christmas On Riverside Drive", was later credited to Darnell's group,
228:"Christmas albums are a tradition as old as Rock & Roll itself but I have always thought that principles of Christmas: family, the tree, gifts, peace in the world, etc. were slightly contradictory to a certain vision of Rock & Roll. I found it hard to imagine
36:
600:
For the revised 1982 version of the album, released as Island ILPS 7022, the tracks by Alan Vega and Charlélie
Couture were replaced by tracks by The Three Courgettes – a British band featuring singer
839:, and Esteban dedicated the album to Brian Wilson. The running order of the album was again completely different from that on either the 1981 or 1982 vinyl LPs, and a new sleeve design was used.
288:"A Christmas album? On a hipster label? With a bunch of junkies on it? Eurotrash? Come on. Never happened.....OK, they were not all junkies and Eurotrash. But they were extreme individuals."
220:
and Michel
Esteban, had achieved some commercial success and a growing critical reputation. For the 2004 reissue of the album, Esteban gave the following background explanation in his
196:
has described it as an "improbable and delicious offering." It is widely, but unofficially, known as the "ZE Christmas Album". It featured the first release of The
Waitresses' "
1383:
1070:
ZE web site). Unlike the 2004 Reloaded edition, this one includes the 3 Courgettes song at the end of the album. A couple of the song titles were also slightly altered.
1651:
189:. The 2004 version was remastered and re-released again in 2016 under its original title and artwork, with one of the 1982 "Special Edition" songs restored.
1661:
1624:, "How We Made the Darkest Christmas Record of All Time: Ze Records’ Michel Esteban reflects on the makings of a masterclass in festive nihilism",
1656:
1426:
179:. The album was reissued in 1982, as a "Special Edition", with a revised track listing. In 2004, a further revised version was issued on
1621:
1523:
1646:
1564:
1357:
17:
1641:
613:(later known as James Chance). The James White track has been described as a "droll, blasphemous, nearly tuneless piece of
1489:
1391:
835:, recorded in 1988 for a French TV show. "Bells of Christmas", recorded by Miss OD, was a song originally recorded by
318:
338:
of Island
Records. The front cover showed stylised figures of some of the musicians, including Darnell, Hendryx, and
1666:
302:
The original album was initially released in the UK on white vinyl, and issued on ZE but with the distributor
281:
252:
could have imagined such a scene. And yet my teenage heroes all took part in the
Christmas song tradition:
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314:
690:
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331:
1439:
192:
The record has been described as "the first-ever alternative
Christmas album". ZE Records founder
517:
323:
197:
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1422:
503:
201:
168:
43:
626:
Wrapping" by The Waitresses was issued as a single (Island WIP6821), and reached # 45 on the
1413:
627:
1181:
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908:
824:
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392:
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93:
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in the snow, and the back cover showed snow falling in a New York street scene at night.
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Bill Laswell, Fred Maher, Michael Beinhorn, Nona Hendryx, Ronald "Head" Drayton
204:, particularly in the UK, where it reached the singles chart in December 1982.
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451:
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280:
Each of the bands on the label was asked to come up with a Christmas song.
229:
151:. It was recorded by various musicians from that label's roster, including
144:
81:
284:, founder and songwriter of The Waitresses, commented in a later interview:
614:
1539:
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77:
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313:, was recorded at the same sessions that produced the band's single "
240:
and tucking into a turkey dinner, the same goes for the members of
237:
245:
306:
catalogue number ILPS 7017. Later copies used black vinyl.
180:
200:", a song later frequently included on numerous seasonal
1386:
How an obscure 80s punk band created a Christmas classic
321:, and was included on expanded reissues of their album
236:
sitting around a Christmas tree exchanging gifts with
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28:
1467:Christmas Songs You'll Never Hear at Midnight Mass
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286:
226:
1518:(1st ed.). London: Collins. p. 829.
1358:"Michel Esteban, Liner notes for 2004 reissue"
1320:
1318:
23:1981 compilation album by Various artists
8:
34:
25:
1352:
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1346:
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842:
718:
633:
468:
357:
1314:
7:
1652:Christmas albums by American artists
309:The track by Material, with singer
216:-based record label established by
1662:Various artists compilation albums
1023:"Christmas Time In The Motor City"
786:"Christmas Time In The Motor City"
539:"Christmas Time in the Motor City"
500:Cristina Monet, David Was, Don Was
14:
1516:Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004
596:Revised 1982 "Special Edition" LP
1145:Miss OD and the Gentlemen League
914:Miss OD and the Gentlemen League
617:". According to another source:
147:originally released in 1981 by
1254:"Christmas Time in Motor City"
1226:"Christmas on Riverside Drive"
1077:
995:"Christmas On Riverside Drive"
846:
758:"Christmas On Riverside Drive"
725:
640:
475:
409:"Christmas On Riverside Drive"
364:
1:
1657:Christmas compilation albums
1597:A CHRISTMAS ALBUM REMASTERED
1567:ZE Xmas Record Reloaded 2004
1542:ZE Xmas Record Reloaded 2004
1419:Rare Record Price Guide 2010
186:ZE Xmas Record Reloaded 2004
605:, who recorded the song in
319:Kid Creole and the Coconuts
1683:
1243:Material with Nona Hendryx
1012:Material with Nona Hendryx
775:Material with Nona Hendryx
175:, all performing original
15:
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1110:"No More Christmas Blues"
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879:"No More Christmas Blues"
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823:with her sister, actress
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558:"No More Christmas Blues"
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371:
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330:The sleeve design was by
33:
16:Not to be confused with
1647:1981 compilation albums
212:By 1981, ZE Records, a
1514:Betts, Graham (2004).
1268:"Christmas with Satan"
1037:"Christmas With Satan"
703:"Christmas With Satan"
623:
290:
278:
1642:1981 Christmas albums
687:"Christmas Is Coming"
248:... Only the painter
208:Concept and recording
116:50:38 (2004 CD issue)
1465:"Rock and Theology,
1212:"It's a Big Country"
1156:"Christmas Wrapping"
1085:Performing Artist(s)
981:"It's A Big Country"
925:"Christmas Wrapping"
854:Performing Artist(s)
800:"It's A Big Country"
744:"Christmas Wrapping"
733:Performing Artist(s)
691:The Three Courgettes
648:Performing Artist(s)
577:"It's A Big Country"
486:Performing Artist(s)
375:Performing Artist(s)
1628:, December 20, 2017
1328:ZE Christmas Record
1124:"Things Fall Apart"
1065:Reissue on CD, 2016
893:"Things Fall Apart"
814:Reissue on CD, 2004
721:
659:"Things Fall Apart"
636:
497:"Things Fall Apart"
471:
360:
114:36:58 (1982 issue)
1492:A Christmas Record
1442:A Christmas Record
1140:Bells of Christmas
909:Bells of Christmas
719:
634:
542:David Was, Don Was
518:Christmas Wrapping
469:
358:
324:Tropical Gangsters
272:group at it, even
198:Christmas Wrapping
140:A Christmas Record
29:A Christmas Record
1667:ZE Records albums
1427:978-0-9532601-9-5
1306:
1305:
1201:Charlélie Couture
1198:"Christmas Fever"
1096:"My Silent Night"
1061:
1060:
970:Charlélie Couture
967:"Christmas Fever"
865:"My Silent Night"
810:
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714:
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435:Charlélie Couture
428:"Christmas Fever"
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44:Compilation album
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1591:
1585:
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1580:
1571:. Archived from
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1414:Record Collector
1410:
1404:
1403:
1401:
1399:
1390:. Archived from
1380:
1374:
1373:
1371:
1369:
1360:. Archived from
1354:
1341:
1340:
1338:
1336:
1326:"Hip Christmas:
1322:
1299:The 3 Courgettes
1296:"Xmas is Coming"
1240:"It's a Holiday"
1079:
1074:
1009:"It's A Holiday"
848:
843:
772:"It's A Holiday"
727:
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637:
628:UK singles chart
477:
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386:"It's A Holiday"
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298:Original 1981 LP
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1540:"Allmusic.com,
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1397:
1395:
1394:on 22 July 2011
1384:"John Petrick,
1382:
1381:
1377:
1367:
1365:
1356:
1355:
1344:
1334:
1332:
1324:
1323:
1316:
1312:
1307:
1215:Davitt Sigerson
1182:Helena Noguerra
1067:
1062:
984:Davitt Sigerson
951:Helena Noguerra
825:Helena Noguerra
816:
811:
803:Davitt Sigerson
716:
598:
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584:Davitt Sigerson
466:
300:
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115:
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49:
48:Various artists
24:
21:
18:Christmas Album
12:
11:
5:
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1616:External links
1614:
1612:
1611:
1586:
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1531:
1524:
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1490:"Discogs.com,
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1440:"Discogs.com,
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1229:August Darnell
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1159:The Waitresses
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928:The Waitresses
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352:Christmas tree
304:Island Records
299:
296:
294:
291:
268:got the whole
218:Michael Zilkha
209:
206:
194:Michel Esteban
177:seasonal songs
173:The Waitresses
157:August Darnell
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1595:"ZE Records,
1590:
1587:
1575:on 2011-09-29
1574:
1570:
1568:
1565:"ZE Records,
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1557:
1545:
1543:
1535:
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1527:
1525:0-00-717931-6
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1364:on 2011-09-29
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1257:Was (Not Was)
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1026:Was (Not Was)
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789:Was (Not Was)
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546:Was (Not Was)
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293:Track listing
292:
289:
285:
283:
277:
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259:
255:
251:
250:Guy Peellaert
247:
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153:Was (Not Was)
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98:
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68:
64:
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57:November 1981
56:
52:
45:
41:
37:
32:
27:
19:
1625:
1602:. Retrieved
1596:
1589:
1577:. Retrieved
1573:the original
1566:
1559:
1547:. Retrieved
1541:
1534:
1515:
1509:
1497:. Retrieved
1491:
1484:
1472:. Retrieved
1466:
1459:
1447:. Retrieved
1441:
1434:
1418:
1412:
1408:
1396:. Retrieved
1392:the original
1385:
1378:
1366:. Retrieved
1362:the original
1333:. Retrieved
1327:
1186:Marie France
1068:
955:Marie France
833:Marie France
817:
624:
620:
609: – and
599:
523:Chris Butler
397:Nona Hendryx
336:art director
329:
322:
311:Nona Hendryx
308:
301:
287:
282:Chris Butler
279:
270:Tamla Motown
258:Brian Wilson
254:Phil Spector
227:
211:
202:compilations
191:
185:
184:
139:
138:
137:
112:(1981 issue)
1626:Another Man
1622:Alex Denney
1604:29 November
1271:James White
1172:Sleigh Ride
1040:James White
941:Sleigh Ride
829:transsexual
707:James White
611:James White
450:Alan Vega,
332:Tony Wright
315:Bustin' Out
274:James Brown
266:Berry Gordy
242:The Stooges
222:liner notes
1636:Categories
1417:magazine,
1310:References
1282:"Hey Lord"
1051:"Hey Lord"
673:"Hey Lord"
603:Barb Jungr
452:Martin Rev
447:"Hey Lord"
149:ZE Records
1113:Alan Vega
882:Alan Vega
565:Alan Vega
561:Vega, Rev
483:Writer(s)
372:Writer(s)
350:around a
340:Alan Vega
230:John Cale
94:Christmas
82:Manhattan
1579:21 March
1549:21 March
1499:21 March
1474:21 March
1449:21 March
1429:, p.1355
1398:21 March
1368:21 March
1335:21 March
1127:Cristina
896:Cristina
720:Side Two
662:Cristina
635:Side One
580:Sigerson
504:Cristina
470:Side Two
393:Material
359:Side One
342:, and a
234:Lou Reed
214:New York
169:Cristina
161:Material
78:Brooklyn
62:Recorded
54:Released
46: by
1494:(1982)"
1444:(1981)"
1285:Suicide
1054:Suicide
676:Suicide
457:Suicide
431:Couture
412:Darnell
348:skating
344:snowman
165:Suicide
74:Detroit
1522:
1425:
1088:Length
857:Length
827:, and
736:Length
651:Length
615:skronk
607:London
489:Length
378:Length
334:, the
171:, and
143:is an
131:Island
100:Length
70:Studio
1082:Title
851:Title
831:icon
730:Title
645:Title
480:Title
395:with
369:Title
262:Elvis
183:, as
122:Label
89:Genre
1606:2016
1581:2011
1551:2011
1520:ISBN
1501:2011
1476:2011
1451:2011
1423:ISBN
1400:2011
1370:2011
1337:2011
1302:3:24
1288:3:27
1274:6:12
1260:2:57
1246:3:26
1232:5:04
1218:2:52
1204:4:49
1190:2:30
1184:and
1162:5:20
1148:2:48
1130:4:30
1116:3:09
1102:3:16
1099:Lisi
1057:3:27
1043:6:14
1029:2:59
1015:3:28
1001:5:06
987:2:52
973:4:51
959:2:28
953:and
931:5:22
917:2:50
899:4:32
885:3:11
871:3:18
868:Lisi
806:2:50
792:2:55
778:3:18
764:5:00
750:5:21
711:6:10
695:3:30
679:3:24
665:4:30
588:2:51
569:3:13
550:2:55
531:5:21
508:4:34
461:3:25
439:4:48
420:5:03
401:7:12
238:Nico
232:and
65:1981
1293:14.
1279:13.
1265:12.
1251:11.
1237:10.
1178:Lio
1078:No.
1048:13.
1034:12.
1020:11.
1006:10.
947:Lio
847:No.
821:Lio
726:No.
641:No.
476:No.
365:No.
246:MC5
244:or
1638::
1421:,
1345:^
1317:^
1223:9.
1209:8.
1195:7.
1180:,
1167:6.
1153:5.
1135:4.
1121:3.
1107:2.
1093:1.
992:9.
978:8.
964:7.
949:,
936:6.
922:5.
904:4.
890:3.
876:2.
862:1.
797:5.
783:4.
769:3.
755:2.
741:1.
700:4.
684:3.
670:2.
656:1.
630:.
574:5.
555:4.
536:3.
513:2.
494:1.
444:4.
425:3.
406:2.
383:1.
346:,
327:.
264:.
260:,
256:,
181:CD
167:,
163:,
159:,
155:,
145:LP
129:,
127:ZE
109:22
105:39
80:,
76:,
1608:.
1599:"
1583:.
1569:"
1553:.
1544:"
1528:.
1503:.
1478:.
1469:"
1453:.
1402:.
1388:"
1372:.
1339:.
1330:"
1174:"
1170:"
1142:"
1138:"
943:"
939:"
911:"
907:"
520:"
516:"
224::
107::
20:.
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