On the third day of SAWmas, the DJ played to me…
The Christmas Medley – Stock Aitken Waterman
Back in 2010, SAW fans were delighted when PWL commenced a digital re-issue of much of its back catalogue, with a huge number of singles bundles containing various mixes, remixes, backing tracks and instrumentals. What added to the excitement was that these releases included previously unreleased material, and whilst a number of these were already known about and long anticipated, there were still some surprise items.
Including The Christmas Medley, credited to Stock Aitken Waterman.
Apparently, this track was specially recorded for the December 1989 Stock Aitken Waterman Go To The Albert Hall charity concert (which featured Jason Donovan, Sonia and Big Fun amongst others). The track was not performed at the event, but was played in the venue before and after the show. It would appear this was the track’s sole purpose and it was not designed or scheduled for general release.
The medley, which interpolates Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer, White Christmas and Silent Night, was produced and arranged by SAW, with vocals provided by regular SAW backing vocalists Mae McKenna and Miriam Stockley, along with Mike Stock.
Opening with swirling harp, blustery wind and sleigh bells, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer launches into a jaunty synth-backed retake on the famous song, with an occasional interruption by a weird synth squiggle which one assumes is supposed to be a cry of joy from the titular reindeer.
In a slightly jarring change of tone, White Christmas takes over around a minute into the track, with light percussion and strings backing the vocals, in which Stock can be clearly heard.
At the 2:30 minute mark, the track brings in Silent Night, in a much more complementary segue, with an arrangement akin to that of the previous song. Again, Stock can be clearly heard here too, and the combination of both male and female voices create a real warmth.
In the final 30 seconds, Stock sings a reprise of “Sleep in heavenly”, with McKenna and Stockley singing in counter.
It’s all good fun, and is very well done given its purpose. Whilst the White Christmas and Silent Night elements work really well together, the juxtaposition of those tracks with Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer is possibly less successful. That said, that track gives the track some jolliness, whereas the other two tracks are perhaps more contemplative, and perhaps I am being a bit too Scrooge-like to scrutinise a fun Christmas track designed as background music.
It’s a worthy addition to a Christmas playlist, as it’s very evocative and festive. The digital release also includes an instrumental version.
This was not the only Christmas SAW action back in 1989, however. In fact, they had two singles vying for Christmas 1989, one of which was (and is) Christmassy without actually being about Christmas…
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