Hello friend - Chris Rea

Chris Rea has made some beautiful music during the course of this 30 year career. Recently there have been rumours of him retreating from the music scene, but he is still at it. In 1986, he released the album 'On the beach', from which this single, 'Hello friend' was taken. 'Driving home for Christmas', which would be released as a single on its own in 1988, makes its first appearance here on the B-side of the single. But there was more: the copy I bought in London in 1994 featured a second single with two lengthy live tracks, recorded in Montreux.

In August 2008, it was reported that Rea had donated 25,000 pounds to the Conservative Party. Fortunately, he's got more knowledge about making music than he has about politics.

My collection: 7" single no. 2185

Found: London, September 28, 1994

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Hello friend' / 'Driving home for Christmas' // 'It's all gone (live)' / 'Steel river (live)'

Download: here

The Celts - Enya

Enya is best known for her hit 'Orinoco flow'. This song is not very different from the rest of her repertoire: layered vocals, subtle synths and vague lyrics in English, Latin or Gaelic. It's no surprise, then, that even the Gaelic version of 'Silent night' holds no surprises. Recorded by Enya in 1988, it has since been re-released almost every year.

In 1992, WEA records released 'The Celts' on the A-side, with 'Oiche Chiún' on the B-side. It reached no. 29 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2268

Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, April 8, 1995

Cost: 5 guilders

Tracks: 'The Celts' / 'Oiche Chiún'
Download: here

Rockin' around the Christmas tree - Mel and Kim

'Rockin' around the Christmas Tree' is a Christmas song, written by Johnny Marks and recorded by Brenda Lee in 1958. Although Decca released it in both 1958 and again in 1959, it did not sell well until Lee became a popular star in 1960; that Christmas season, it hit #16 on the Billboard pop chart and turned into a perennial holiday favorite.

Kim Wilde recorded this track together with Mel Smith in order to raise money for Comic Relief. Some extra comedy material was added to the track, written by Mel Smith and Griff Rhys-Jones. The duo named themselves 'Mel & Kim' after the then popular duo Mel & Kim.

My collection: 7" single no. 604

Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1987

Cost: 6 guilders

Tracks: 'Rockin' around the Christmas tree' / 'Deck the blooming halls'

Download: here

Happy Xmas (War is over) - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)' was recorded by John Lennon, Yoko Ono and the The Plastic Ono Band at Record Plant Studios in New York City in late October of 1971. The track was produced by Phil Spector. The children singing in the background were from the Harlem Community Choir and are credited on the song's single.

The song was John Lennon's reaction to the war in Vietnam. Although the song is a protest song about the Vietnam War, it has become a Christmas standard and has appeared on several Christmas albums. The 2003 re-release was a limited edition 7" on green vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 3403

Found: HMV, London, December 2003

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Happy Xmas (War is over)' / 'Imagine'

Stop the cavalry - Jona Lewie

Although now one of Britain's most familiar Christmas singles, 'Stop the Cavalry' was not originally intended as a Christmas song – indeed it was a no. 1 Gold Record in France in the summer! In England, however, it was released in late November after the record label spotted the line referring to the festival: 'I wish I was at home, for Christmas'. Not only this but the specific style of the brass instruments and bells in the chorus are very noticeable as a 'Christmas' style theme.

It gave Jona Lewie a big hit, reaching number three in the UK singles chart and subsequently reaching number nine in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 2087
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, March 30, 1994
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Stop the cavalry' / 'Laughing tonight'
Download: here

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