Sunday, December 21, 2003

More Christmas downloads up today. The first, of course, you know; it's Band Aid's 1984 charity smash "Do They Know It's Christmas," still one of the finest benefit records e'er made, even with involvement from both mastermind Bob Geldof and Phil Collins (mercifully, just drumming, not singing). Upon its release, this was the fastest-selling single in the UK's history - and until Elton's "Dear Dead Diana '97," the biggest-selling as well. The then-cream of the British crop was all here: Boy George, Simon LeBon, Bono, Sting... and oddly, Jody Watley, as well (if you don't believe me, check the video - she's there, sans her Miami-sized hoop earrings). "Do They Know" was the impetus for both USA For Africa and Live Aid, too. And really, what goes better with your spiked eggnog and pressies than guilt over the famine in Africa?

The other you may not know; it's one of a small library of New Year's Eve-themed records, this one from 1980 and by, yes, Dan Fogelberg, the man who made James Taylor seem ballsy. My Mom was a big fan of his, and played his Greatest Hits record over and over, to the point at which most of its contents are indelibly imprinted on my brain. But "Another Auld Lang Syne" is actually good. Probably because it's a pretty, sad song, a bit schmaltzy but still with a slight amount of bite. Give it a go, why don't you?

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