In 1981, Christmas albums for rock 'n' roll audiences didn't exist, and with the exception of a few snotty punk singles, there was nothing for young people who loved the music that emerged after punk and new wave. ZE Records' A Christmas Record occupied that space alone, though as label founder Michael Zilkha explains, the album was more of a marketing project than a specifically commercial venture. Still, it brought the world The Waitresses' classic "Christmas Wrapping," and included music by such iconic figures from the period as Labelle's Nona Hendrix, Was (Not Was), and Suicide.
In this week's episode, Zilkha remembers the label's origins and decline, and how A Christmas Album was in many ways emblematic of its heyday. In our conversation, he talks about Cristina--Cristina Monet--who was an artist on ZE, and she would become his wife. Since Zilkha didn't talk about it in the interview, I didn't bring up her death from COVID-19 in 2020, but I wrote about it at MySpiltMilk.com shortly after she passed.
In this week's episode, I use an excerpt from my interview with Chris Butler of The Waitresses from 2018. Earlier that year, I interviewed Mars Williams, who played saxophone on "Christmas Wrapping," and though I didn't include an excerpt from it, it shines more light on the experience. In today's episode, Zilkha talks about how the song has been covered, and although I don't announce it on the show, at that point I included a version by Kylie Minogue with guest Iggy Pop. The episode ends with an indie rock version by Hate Club from the Christmas compilation No Sleep 'til Christmas 8.
New Orleans Hip-Hop for Christmas with Raj Smoove and 504icygrl
Mother Mother ”Cry Christmas”
Christmas Down Under with Imogen Clark
”Holly Happy Days” with The Indigo Girls
”A Dave Brubeck Christmas” with Matt Lemmler
Merry Christmas from Japan with ”Holly Jolly Xmasu”
Christmas with the Blue Man Group
A Soul Christmas with Eli ”Paperboy” Reed
A D.C.Go-Go Christmas with Chuck Brown
A New Orleans R&B Christmas with Huey ”Piano” Smith
”Christmas Cocktails” with Brad Ross-MacLeod
Sara Noelle
The Christmas Music Manfesto
”Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
”Santa Claus is Coming to Town” Pt. 2
”Santa Claus is Coming to Town” Pt. 1
OutKast’s ”Player’s Ball”
The ”Santa Baby” Story
Terre Roche of The Roches
Indie Christmas Music with Amerigo Gazaway, Charlie Darling, and ”Have Yourself a Merry Indie Christmas”
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