"Christmas Sucks" with Peter Murphy & Tom Waits

topic posted Mon, December 4, 2006 - 8:57 PM by  Melodious
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A tribe friend just mentioned a song called "Christmas Sucks," by Tom Waits and Peter Murphy. He says he doesn't know where it came from, but swears it's great. Has anyone heard of this? And more importantly, where can I get it?
posted by:
Melodious
Seattle
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  • Re: "Christmas Sucks" with Peter Murphy & Tom Waits

    Tue, December 5, 2006 - 8:26 PM
    I found the song here: audio.isg.si/audiox/ Have a listen!

    I can't find any other information about the Christmas compilation album this supposedly came from, however: "Boy, Get That Stocking out of Your Mouth!"
    • Re: "Christmas Sucks" with Peter Murphy & Tom Waits

      Thu, December 7, 2006 - 10:11 PM
      I gave it a listen and really enjoyed it... but wasn't really convinced it was Peter Murphy and Tom Waits. I did a bit of poking around and found this:

      As for that “Christmas Sucks” song, it’s actually “This Holiday Season,” by Athens, GA band Porn Orchard. It’s just a very, very good simulation of Waits and Murphy, in the spirit of the infamous David Bowie-Bing Crosby duet on “Little Drummer Boy.”

      www.thepopview.com/wordpress/
      • Re: "Christmas Sucks" with Peter Murphy & Tom Waits

        Fri, December 8, 2006 - 2:09 AM
        Wow, that's a damn good imitation! Here's more about it, from that same site:

        >>Next, the commenter recommends a Christmas song with Tom Waits and Peter Murphy. Yes, great song, but it’s been misidentified. The song in question is “This Holiday Season.” The song is an imaginary duet between Tom Waits and Peter Murphy (lead singer of Bauhaus), done as a parody of the infamous David Bowie-Bing Crosby number “Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth.” It’s actually by the Athens, GA band Porn Orchard. The band was together from 1986-92, and consisted of Curtiss Pernice (guitar), Ted Hafer (bass) and Sam Mixon (drums). I e-mailed Mixon last night and he informed me that the part of Tom Waits was played by Pernice, with Hafer doing Pete Murphy. The voices are eerily accurate and the opening tune is a wonderful parody of Waits’ “The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me).”<<

        Thanks for solving the mystery, Tomas!
        • Re: "Christmas Sucks" with Peter Murphy & Tom Waits

          Fri, December 8, 2006 - 10:11 AM
          It's too good for me to believe it's not them. Wild.
          • Re: "Christmas Sucks" with Peter Murphy & Tom Waits

            Fri, December 8, 2006 - 10:25 AM
            It's still great, even if it's not them. thanks for the laughs.
            • Re: "Christmas Sucks" with Peter Murphy & Tom Waits

              Fri, December 8, 2006 - 11:14 AM
              If anyone finds out how to get this album, please let us all know. I can't find squat either.
              • Re: "Christmas Sucks" with Peter Murphy & Tom Waits

                Sat, December 9, 2006 - 4:11 AM
                Found it (track #20 on this album): www.amazon.com/Mother-All...0826#disc_1

                I also found an intriguing description of the album, which makes me think there may be other worthwhile songs on it as well:

                The Mother of All Flagpole Christmas Albums, various artists (OrtTone)

                A 1993 compilation of songs from three years of the annual Christmas album organized by Flagpole magazine of Athens, Ga. to benefit that city's charities, this one represents good value for money. Better-known artists like Flat Duo Jets, Vic Chestnutt, Michelle Malone and Kevn Kinney mix with local Athens bands to perform originals and some smart covers. Allgood gets points for the first cover of Spinal Tap's "Christmas With the Devil," a fairly faithful one, too. Labrea Stompers take on "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" with a bizarre pair of pre-songs in front of it, and Seersucker tries JB's "Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto," a little less tunefully, but the jagged guitars are a nice touch. Michelle Malone does a serviceable "Santa Baby," though the original is still the greatest. But give this bunch credit for writing 15 of the 22 songs on this CD, with titles like "Christmas in August" and "Just Think About Christmas (And Sing What You Want)." There's also a case of dueling Tom Waits impressions by the Opal Foxx Quartet and Porn Orchard, although the former probably was unintentional. Hanukkah alert: Hetch Hetchy's "Candles and Miracles." This one's probably not easy to find unless you live in Athens.

                (From: www.mistletunes.com/compchar.html)

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