2015 Christmas Giveaway

December is finally here, and Car Boot Vinyl Diaries is proud to present its latest giveaway: a vinyl car boot copy of the magnificent 1968 album 'Tijuana Christmas' by the Torero Band, or as I like to call it, The Greatest Christmas Album Ever Recorded:

Over two sides of mariachi magnificence, twelve traditional carols are given the Torero touch, rendering them more joyous, sparkling and parp-tastic than you've ever heard them before.  According to the sleeve notes "It may come as a surprise to you that our oldest carols used to be dances, and that the word itself described a form of circular dance". Well, this record will certainly get you up and grooving, and probably giggling too, at the more preposterous easy-cheesy moments.  There's a heart-melting version of Silent Night too, so one way or another it's guaranteed to put a smile on the face of even the grumpiest of Scrooges over the festive season.  Whether you're a fan of the twin trumpets or just looking for something a bit different for your seasonal listening, I can't recommend this album highly enough.  Read more about it here: http://carbootvinyldiaries.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/car-boot-christmas-countdown-day-4.html

To be in with a chance of winning, simply fill in the contact form at the top right of the page, with your name (real or internet), email address and the message "Parp!", then click "Send", before 9pm GMT on Sunday 6th of December.  The competition is open to entrants worldwide, and I'll endeavour to get the prize to its destinaton in plenty of time for Christmas.

Good luck!

Car Boot Christmas Countdown - Day 4

It's Day 4 of the Car Boot Christmas Countdown and time for one of my very favourite seasonal records.  Bought at a summer boot sale for just 50p, I give you the magnificent Tijuana Christmas:

Torero Band - Tijuana Christmas (1968)

This beast of an album was first released on Music For Pleasure in 1968 and subsequently came out under different names and covers:

Christmas Carols Tijuana Style
(Arc Records)

The Toreador Brass - Tijuana Christmas
(Harmony)

Torero Band - Tijuana Christmas
(MFP)

Twelve carols are given the full-on Mariachi treatment by a crack team of MFP's best session musicians in an attempt to cash in on the popularity of Herb & co's brassy Christmas Album, eclipsing it in the process by swinging harder and grooving, well... more groovily.  It's a joyful, bouncy, often hilarious album whose cover exhorts you to "Dance to your favourite carols with the wonderful Sound of Brass", and by crikey, if this doesn't get you shimmying round your Christmas tree, or at least cracking a great big grin at the sheer silliness of Good King Wenceslas then you may want to check yourself for a pulse.

Here's a taste:

Torero Band - Good King Wencelas

If you'd like to own this prime slice of Christmas cheese, it's not currently available on CD or to download, but secondhand vinyl copies can always be found on ebay and discogs.

When picking out a couple of tracks for the cloudcast I dithered for ages as I love this album so much.  You'll have to listen below to hear which ones I plumped for in the end.

Tracklisting

Side 1.

1. The Holly And The Ivy.

2. Silent Night.

3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

4. While Shepherds Watched.

5. O Little Town Of Bethlehem.

6. Good King Wenceslas.

Side 2.

1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

2. Away In A Manger.

3. The First Nowell.

4. Christians Awake.

5. Once In Royal David's City.

6. O, Come All Ye Faithful.

Tomorrow (Friday 19th Dec) will be Day 5 of the Car Boot Christmas Countdown and I've a couple of real turkeys for your consumption.  In the meantime hear me play my festive picks from this year's car boot and charity shop finds either using the player below or by following the link to mixcloud:

Car Boot Christmas 2014 by Car Boot Vinyl Diaries on Mixcloud