VARIOUS ARTISTS
A Vital Gesture Xmas Vol. 1
(Vital Gesture, PO Box 46100, Los Angeles, CA 90046)
Originally released in 1996 on cassette and now available remastered on disc (and unfortunately received in the High Bias offices too late for inclusion in last issue's Xmas music roundup), A Vital Gesture Xmas Vol. 1 presents label cornerstones the BellRays and a bunch of their friends paying tribute to the most popular of all holidays. The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs blaze through the snarling original "I Wanna Die For Christmas" and crunch out Fear's holiday spiritless "Fuck Christmas," while the Alter Egos do a fine Ramones impression on the funny "(Gimme Gimme) I've Been Good." Instrumental combo the Black Widows jangles around "Christmas in July" and surfs through "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," while the Mellows (that's Bob Mellow and Tony Mellow—no relation to the 'Rays' Bob Vennum and Tony Fate, I'm sure) lay out the psyche-damaged holiday greeting "Merry Christmas." The Snakes, Doorslammer and the countrified Vital Gesture Xmas All-Stars also contribute. The big news for 'Rays fans (AKA the best rock 'n' roll band in the world) is five 'Rays songs unavailable anywhere else. Besides raunchy covers of Johnny Moore and the Three Blazers' "Merry Christmas Baby" and Clarence Carter's "Back Door Santa," the quartet presents three cool originals: the hoppin' rocker "Rocket Ship Santa," the funny sob story "Poor Old Rudolph" and the hip-shakin' funkster "Gimme Some Funk For Christmas." Hearing one of the world's most raging bands let its collective hair down and spread some holiday cheer is enough to warm the cockles of the coldest heart. Find a copy of A Vital Gesture Xmas Vol. 1 and save it for next Christmas. Michael Toland
For fans of: the BellRays, garage R&B, Christmas music