VA - ZE Christmas Album (1981) [Remastered 2004]

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 John Cale and Lou Reed sitting around a Christmas tree exchanging gifts with Nico and tucking into a turkey dinner, the same goes for the members of the Stooges or MC5... Only the painter Guy Peellaert could have imagined such a scene. And yet my teenage heros all took part in the Christmas song tradition: Phil Spector, Brian Wilson, Elvis. Berry Gordy got the whole Tamla Motown group at it, even James Brown, 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. Cristina, with the two Was false brothers, went to Detroit to record « Things fall Apart », David & Don Was also recorded « Christmas Time in Motor City » with their band WAS (NOT WAS). August Darnell drew inspiration from New York for his « Christmas in River Side Drive ». Chris Butler composed a piece for his band THE WAITRESSES entitled « Christmas Wrapping », which became their biggest Hit (later covered by SPICE GIRLS). MATERIAL, Bill Laswell’s gang along with Disco Diva, NONA HENDRYX, recorded « It's a Holiday » during the « Bustin’ Out » sessions. James White, in the 1982 version, spent « Christmas with Satan ». Charlelie Couture as a French guest interpreted a track in English: « Christmas Fever », the only recording by this artist for ZE Records. Davitt Sigerson shared his angelic version of « It's a Big Country ». Alan Vega and Martin Rev offer two magnificent variations on the same theme: « Hey Lord » by SUICIDE and « No More Christmas Blues » by ALAN VEGA.

In order to add a personal touch to this adventure in 2004, I have added three new songs to the original track list: « Sleigh Ride », which I recorded in 1988 with LIO, HELENA NOGUERRA & MARIE FRANCE, during a TV show with LIO at the Lido in Paris. This year also Miss OD and GENTLEMEN LEAGUE pay indirect homage to Brian Wilson, to whom the present album is dedicated. LISI, also a new recruit in ZE team, generously offers us the gift of a very personal and utterly contemporary version of a Rock & Roll Christmas.

It goes without saying that the traditional greetings accompany this improbable and delicious offering.