Merry Maiden Christmas

Like everyone else in the Western world, I too will be taking a short break over the festive season. I was thinking of posting my second top ten Christmas songs and they too would have been Bob Rivers heavy but a better idea has come up. Having visited my younger son and daughter last week and exchanging gifts, (my daughter is spending Christmas in Norway, at least she has a chance at seeing a white Christmas)I was delighted to receive the new Iron Maiden album, "Book of Souls," from them. Naturally, I had to play it for the journey home and the album is fantastic. The songs on it just click and their are some really good guitar solos on it, I'm impressed.

Then last weekend, we made the pre- Christmas trip to visit the mother in law and remaining step children who still live up in Grimsby. Another present exchange went down and what should I get from my eldest step daughter? Well, it was an Iron Maiden t-shirt. That was cool, since my last one I had was over 25 years ago. Since I got these cool gifts, I have decided that this must be an Iron Maiden themed Christmas.

cool t-shirt huh?

Since it's become a tradition, after it became available three and a half years ago, I always buy a couple of bottles of "The Trooper" to enjoy the festivities and have done so. However, this year there has been an added bonus. Last week at my local supermarket, I saw a special featuring The Trooper in a cool looking case, which housed the bottle and a pint glass. Added bonus was it was on sale along with some other themed beers at two for £8, ($12). No, I didn't buy another Trooper, instead, there was a beer celebrating the fortieth year since the release of the Queen classic, "Bohemian Rhapsody." So, I bought a bottle of Bohemian lager.

I'll show you what's inside next post

That's my yule holiday sorted. No matter how you celebrate this year, whether anyone will join me in the Maiden Christmas or celebrate it in the theme of another band, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

p.s. If you're stuck for a present, you could always give someone a copy of "Rock and Roll Children."

To buy Rock and Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

My Favourite Christmas Album: Bob Rivers and Twisted Radio- I Am Santa Claus

With the Christmas Holidays coming up fast and everyone posting about Christmas albums, I thought I would post my favourite Christmas album of all time. The winner for me is "I Am Santa Claus" by Bob Rivers and Twisted Radio. For those who have never heard of Bob Rivers, he is a radio personality famous for his parodies, especially around Christmas time. "I Am Santa Claus" is the second of three Christmas parody albums by him; the other two are "Twisted Christmas" and "More Twisted Christmas."

The majority of the tracks on the album, not all of them are songs, always make me hysterical even after all of these years and the ones that don't send me into hysterics at least bring a smile to my face. There is the track "Walking Round in Women's Underwear," not that I have ever done this, that is just hilarious. Then take the title cut, "I Am Santa Claus" sung to the tune of none other than the famous Black Sabbath song "Iron Man." I can't help thinking that Ozzy and the lads give a thumbs up to this one.

Black Sabbath

That isn't the only metallised song on the album. "Jingle Hells Bells" is sung in the form of AC//DC from the Bon Scott era and is a good funny metal song. There is one line from that song that I haven't ever done and still would love to do. I would love to be "Drinking Jack Daniels while getting a back rub." Maybe my wife will indulge me at Christmas.

AC/DC

Needless to say there many other amusing tracks which are parodies of Christmas carols like "I Came Upon a Roadkill Deer" and "Teddy the Red Nosed Senator" and although it's not a song, I do love the "Letter to Santa" in the theme of The Godfather. But the one song that I have always thought was genius was the carol "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" sung to the tune of that famous Animals classic "House of the Rising Sun."

Track Listing:

1. There's Another Santa Claus

2. Walking Round in Women's Underwear

3. I Am Santa Claus

4. Manger 6

5. Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

6. I Came Upon a Roadkill Deer

7. Teddy the Red Nosed Senator

8. Grahbe Yehbalz

9. Letter to Santa Claus

10. Jingle Hells Bells

11. The Kids

12. The Magical Kingdom of Claus

13. What's It To Ya

14. Didn't I Get This Last Year

15. The Under the Tree World of Jacques Cousteau

16. Oh Christmas Tree

So if you want something different to listen to this holiday season, have a good listen to "I Am Santa Claus." I guarantee you will laugh your rear end off. I don't think I'll be able to get on here again before Christmas, they got me working a 48 hour shift from the 23rd to Christmas Day and then there's all the other pre- Christmas stuff that needs to be done. So, I would like to wish everybody reading this a very Merry Christmas and keep rocking on!

Next post: Meatload- Bat Out of Hell

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

p.s. It makes a good Christmas present