Here's the first extract from my 80s UK Christmas Singles book -- and I'm starting off with a popular classic:
Jona Lewie - Stop The Cavalry
Offbeat artist Lewie started out in the 1970s as part of Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurs, a novelty act best known for their Seaside Shuffle hit. He later ended up at the legendary Stiff Records, which released his best known singles—You'll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties, and the evergreen Yuletide classic, Stop The Cavalry. The track sees Lewie take the role of a soldier—actually an eternal soldier representing all those who have fought in conflicts over the years—arguing at the futility of war and pleading for withdrawal; hence the name of the song. With a melody inspired by Hugo Alfven's Swedish Rhapsody No.1, Lewie's droll, spoken-word rendition is kept in time by a chugging synth line, whilst the track comes to life in the instrumental chorus with a brass band in full pomp. Lewie maintains that his song is not actually a Christmas song, and is in fact an anti-war protest song. There may be only a singular reference to the season—contained in the recurring line "Wish I could be home for Christmas"—but the warmth of the arrangement and the sentiment of peace to all men conveyed makes it sit well at Yuletide. Perhaps not in the latter day, Spector-inspired, style of the Christmas record, but it actually makes a nod back to the Victorian Christmas musical tradition. Its anti-war message in fact carries even more significance in the current climate of conflict, and as such, is possibly the most resonant Christmas record in this book.
Written by: Jona Lewie
Produced by: Jona Lewie & Bob Andrews
Stiff Records BUY104 / #3
From the Kindle book "80s UK Christmas Singles" -- a bargain at 99p!
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