Day 2 - 'Away in a Manger' - The Fab Four

One of the stupid self-imposed rules I have on the Calendar is that Sunday’s are dedicated to a Christmas Carol. Fear not, those of you who have an aversion to congregations though ‘cos that requirement can still bring some pretty pleasing – if odd - results from Blagg Acres.

The first Carol this year is ‘Away in a Manger’ but be prepared for a surprise when you hear it. As introduced last year, the Fab Four are a Beatles tribute band who only release Christmas records but – and here’s the rub – they don’t just sound like songs done in a very convincing Fabs style but, somehow, oddly they sound like Beatles songs with Christmas lyrics. Think more of The Rutles and you’re kinda getting there. Eventually it plays with your head and you can’t decide what you’re listening too.

This is ‘You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away’ from the ‘Help’ soundtrack…or is it? If you don’t smile when you hear ‘the stars in the bright sky / look down where he lay / the little Lord Jesus / asleep on the… HEY!’ then you’ve either not heard the original, you’re dense, or you’ve got no sense of humour. Either way, you lose.

Good news is I downloaded the entire album last month and I reckon there’s enough gems for another 20 years or so. It’s just a question of which or who lasts longest….