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The Edge Of ChristmasCompared to Oglio Records' other yuletide offering (The Coolest Christmas, 1994), The Edge Of Christmas (1995) has a reasonably well-defined theme - alternative and classic rock holiday songs. Most of these songs show up routinely on other compilations, but a couple of them (the Cocteau Twins and Payolas selections) are rather hard-to-find. I consider all but one of the twelve cuts (Pat Benatar's pedestrian take on Charles Brown's "Please Come Home For Christmas") essential, so The Edge Of Christmas is a good value unless you already own most of these songs. Certainly, these songs portray a view of Christmas quite outside the norm, but if you've dug this far into Hip Christmas, that's probably exactly what you've been looking for.

Albums Albums

SongsEssential Songs

  • Christmas Is Coming (Payolas, 1983)
  • Christmas Wrapping (Waitresses, 1981) Top 100 Song [close]
    By the early 80's, it was OK to be a nerd (thank you, David Byrne). The Waitresses made something of a career out of exploring the lives of nerds, first with the theme to Square Pegs, a short lived sitcom, then with "I Know What Boys Like," a sneering portrayal of the ultimate nerd (a horny male) as told by a woman (or prick tease, depending on one's perspective). "Christmas Wrapping" fits this theory as well, only this time the insecure party is female and the story turns out well. Employing a charming pseudo-rap style (think Blondie-meets-Tom Tom Club), singer Patty Donahue begins with a resounding "Bah humbug!" After a year of missed romantic opportunities, though, she runs into "that guy I've been chasing all year" while doing some last minute shopping. "That Christmas magic's brought this tale to a very happy ending," she effuses, not unlike those Revenge Of The Nerds movies two decades ago. "Christmas Wrapping" was the most popular song from ZE Record's A Christmas Record, a neat LP that's only been reissued on CD overseas. However, the song often shows up on compilations (Edge Of Christmas) and is included on Best Of The Waitresses.
  • December Will Be Magic Again (Kate Bush, 1980)
  • A Fairy Tale Of New York (The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl, 1987)
  • Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight) (Ramones, 1989)
  • Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy (David Bowie & Bing Crosby, 1977)
  • Please Come Home For Christmas (Pat Benatar, 1991)
  • Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (Smithereens, 1992)
  • Run Rudolph Run (Dave Edmunds, 1982)
  • Thank God It's Christmas (Queen, 1984)
  • 2000 Miles (Pretenders, 1983)
  • Winter Wonderland (Cocteau Twins, 1993)

Further ListeningFurther Listening

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