Free as a bird - Beatles

'Free as a bird' was originally recorded as a demo by John Lennon. In 1994, the three remaining Beatles used the demo to create a new track to promote the Beatles Anthology that was released as a book, three double cd's and a dvd box set in 1995.

On the B-side was the track 'Christmas time (is here again)'. In 1967 fanclub members got a version of this song as a flexi disc, interrupted by sketches. Issued on this single for the first time was an uninterrupted version of the song.

My collection: 7" single no. 2571

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 16, 1995

Cost: 10 guilders

Tracks: 'Free as a bird' / 'Christmas time (is here again)'

Download: here

Mary's boy child - Boney M

'Mary's boy child' was written by Jester Hairston in 1956. It was first recorded by Harry Belafonte for his album 'An Evening with Harry Belafonte'. It was recorded, also in 1956, by Mahalia Jackson.

The most famous cover of the song was made by Boney M in 1978. Coupled with 'Oh my lord', a segment written by Frank Farian, it rose to the top of the charts in the UK in December of that year. In Holland, it did almost equally well, reaching number three. I bought my copy of the single for a discount price in the summer of 1979.

My collection: 7" single no. 16

Found: London, 1979

Cost: 10p

Tracks: 'Mary's boy child' / 'Dancing in the streets'

Download: Album 'Nightflight to Venus', including both tracks

Wonderful Christmas time - Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney: living legend or schmalz-king? The question comes back regularly. Between songs like 'Live and let die', 'No more lonely nights' and 'From a lover to a friend' there's always strange duds like 'We all stand together' and this, 'Wonderful Christmas time'. It is an original, but a bit repetitive, Christmas song. The B-side, an instrumental version of 'Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer' is even weirder.

It's a great little ditty, though, and so useful for the Christmas season.

My collection: 7" single no. 43

Found: Rapsody, Den Haag, 1980

Cost: 3 guilders

Tracks: 'Wonderful Christmas time' / 'Rudolph the red-nosed reggae'

Download: here

Silent night - Sinéad O'Connor

For a while in the nineties, Sinéad O'Connor was as daft as a doorknob. She was always in the news with strange stories and weird incidents. In 1991, she was recording with Peter Gabriel in his Real World Studios. And of course, news reports started coming that she'd fallen in love with him.

Whatever that was all about, it resulted in her performing back vocals on Gabriel's album 'Us', and this single: a rendition of the traditional Christmas song 'Silent night'. The B-side, 'Irish ways and Irish laws', was recorded live in Holland.

My collection: 7" single no. 2166

Found: Record Exchange, London, September 26, 1994

Cost: 1 pound

Tracks: 'Silent night' / 'Irish ways and Irish laws'

Download: here

Peace on earth/Little drummer boy - David Bowie & Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby was born on May 2, 1903. He will always be remembered for his rendition of 'White Christmas' (1954). In 1977, he recorded his last television Christmas special in England. Special guests during this occasion were model Twiggy and singer David Bowie. His duet with Bowie generated so much interest that it was released as a single. It become a regular holiday classic.

At the end of the century, the American magazine 'TV Guide' listed the Bowie/Crosby duet as one of the 25 most memorable musical moments of 20th century television. Even if the two seemed a bit awkward together...

My collection: 7" single no. 3044

Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 12, 1998

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'Peace on earth/Little drummer boy' / 'Fantastic voyage'

Download: Peace on earth/Little drummer boy

Merry Christmas mr. Lawrence - Ryuichi Sakamoto

Not a Christmas song, but the theme from the movie of the same name. Ryuichi Sakamoto composed the soundtrack and this theme was released as a single. It didn't make the charts. However, a vocal version released after this, became a big hit. It was Sakamoto and David Sylvian's 'Forbidden colours'.

Although not a Christmas song, it is still a very beautiful melody which I like to play during this festive season.

My collection: 7" single no. 3111

Found: Big Company records, London, May 13, 1999

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence' / 'Sowing the seed'

Download: here

One Christmas catalogue - Captain Sensible

Captain Sensible, formerly a member of the English band The Damned, made a Christmas single that sounded nothing like a traditional Christmas track in 1984. Produced by Tony Mansfield, formerly a member of the synthpop band New Musik, produced 'One Christmas catalogue', a track laden with synths and vocal samples. It wasn't a hit anywhere and the only reason I got to know it was because the local radio station was playing it a lot during Christmas 1984, 1985 and 1986.

The B-side includes a cover of 1984's biggest hit: 'Relax' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood. This, too, was produced by Tony Mansfield and sounds very different from the original...

My collection: 7" single no. 2720
Found: August 10, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'One Christmas catalogue' / 'Relax'
Download: here