Post Of Christmas Past

Christmas Eve brings anticipation and joy to kids as well as adults, unless you’re a coldhearted miser like Ebenezer Scrooge. In that case, you might be haunted by the ghost of a former co-worker. You can make this situation less awkward by entertaining him with tunes from a fun holiday album. I’ve recently mentioned that The Very Best Of Hi-Fi Christmas Party by various artists is now available on the Futureman Records Bandcamp site. The 25-track effort draws from three Hi-Fi Christmas Party CDs that were released on the indie Vandalay label in 2002, 2006, and 2010.

Back in 2002, vocalist-bassist Dan Pavelich from the Illinois band The Bradburys released the very first Hi-Fi Christmas Party on the independent label Vandalay. Proceeds from the album helped fund research for Von Willibrand’s disease. Here’s an edited repost of that album and the two sequels that followed. Check earlier December posts here on Broken Hearted Toy for a few more holiday music suggestions. And best wishes to everyone for a peaceful, happy holiday.

Hi-Fi Christmas Party was an easy-going compilation that offered original holiday contributions from various local and national power pop acts. Pavelich led The Bradburys through the romantic and highly energetic “I Love It When It Snows!” Other highlights included Don Dixon’s “Christmas Is Saturday,” The Jellybricks’ “We’ll Be Together,” Andrea Perry’s “Fat Aunt Bette,” and The Ted Ansani Trio’s “The Kriss Kringle Jingle.”

When Pavelich returned to the concept with Hi-Fi Christmas Party Volume 2 in 2006, he kept the focus on original 1960s-style power pop. The Elvis Brothers traveled back a little further than that with their very fun “Rock-A-Billy Christmas.” Lisa Mychols joined The Wondermints on the Leslie Gore-influenced “Lost Winter’s Dream,” and Husky Team, which included Smithereens drummer Dennis Diken, delightfully mixed “Auld Lang Syne” with “Green Onions.” Volume 2 also featured The Grip Weeds, Jeremy, The Bradburys, Rob Paravonian, Joey Molland and The Echo Boys, The Spongetones, and The Brothers Figaro Orchestra.

Hi-Fi Christmas Party Volume Three, released in 2010, followed in the amiable tradition of its two predecessors, presenting another selection of mostly original material. Sketch Middle’s “Very Very, Merry Merry” had an energetic power pop buzz, and The Jigsaw Seen’s “What About Christmas?” was another highlight. Other acts contributing catchy holiday tunes included The Click Beetles, a Pavelich side project with drummer Ed James; The Yule Logs; The Sun Kings; Jamie and Steve from The Spongetones; and Jim Babjak of The Smithereens.