A pale and skinnier Joe wrote this little rock ditty because he was "too tired to do anything else". The rest of the band said he was just "out of it".

This year's cast is::

JOE ALGERI - lead vocals, acoustic guitar (Australia)
KEVIN BORRUSO - lead guitar (Australia)
HERB EIMERMAN - bass, backing vocals (USA)
LARS BRUSELL - rhythm guitar (Sweden)
STEFAN JOHANSSON - drums (Sweden)

>>> Download [ 160 Kbps mp3 ] (2.95 MB)

There was almost no 2009 Xmas song... The regular contributors were asking Joe in November, "where is it?". When they finally heard the demo they asked, "Is this it"? Raw, direct and as far as possible from Joe's usual ostentatious production and arrangement posturing.

With Joe complaining that he was "too busy" to meet at some exotic recording location, the band had to assemble in Byford, Western Australia. Stefan J arrived 3 days early with his new drum kit as eager as a kid on red cordial. Everyone else arrived on time except for Herb E who was given grief by Australian Customs over the quantity of Cuban cigars he was trying to be bring (smuggle?) into the country. Magnus K thought it was a Britannicas session and promptly got on the first plane back to Sweden.

The final results would do Danny Whitten from Crazy Horse proud but the great tragedy about the session for this song is that Joe, clearly on something more potent than red cordial, accidently erased an alternative version of the song that featured a 14 minute sustain and feedback drenched guitar duel between Lars B and Kevin B. At one point Joe even passed out altogether over the mixing desk. He was not invited to the post-session party.

Even if it is cold turkey, be grateful for what you have this festive season.

Mal Hope - Spinning Top Records

STOCKHOLM CHRISTMAS (J. Algeri)

This wouldn't be the first song about an Aussie bloke hooking up with a young Swedish girl and if Joe was born 25 years earlier... yes, it would have been a convenient way to escape the draft, Mr Menzies...

If there is any justice in the world, this will one day be a Christmas hit in Sweden.

Yeah, yeah, yeah! In true 1964 style, introducing the band:

JOE ALGERI - lead vocals, rhythm guitar (Aust)
MAGNUS KARLSSON - lead guitar (Sweden)
HERB EIMERMAN - bass, backing vocals (USA)
LARS BRUSELL - drums (Sweden)

Overdubs were also performed by STEFAN JOHANSSON (Sweden), ERIKA ALGERI (Aust), LARS BRUSELL - handclaps and percussion and LARS BRUSELL - organ.

>>> Download [ 160 Kbps mp3 ] (3.60 MB)

SWEET BABY JESUS (J. Algeri)

Oh my God, a vaguely traditional Xmas song! Have a jingle jangle yuletide with lyrics your parents and kids can listen to.

Joe sang, played acoustic guitar, organ, tambourine and gave the sound engineer the afternoon off. This year's guest list includes:

LARS BRUSELL - keyboard, glockenspiel (Sweden)
MAGNUS KARLSSON - 6 string Rickenbacker (Sweden)
HERB EIMERMAN - 12 string Rickenbacker, vocals (USA)
STEFAN JOHANSSON - jingle bells (Sweden)

>>> Download [ 160 Kbps mp3 ] (3.68 MB)

And last year was really off the deep end... Yes, Sherwood Schwartz is still alive and nerds like Joe are buying DVDs of Gilligan's Island and the Brady Bunch to relive their childhood and/or be total sickos.

The 2007 magnum opus is a collaboration featuring:

JOE ALGERI - acoustic guitar, all vocals, bass, slide guitar, sampling (Australia)
LARS BRUSELL - keyboards, alto melodica, spoken word (Sweden)

>>> Download [ 160 Kbps mp3 ] (5.44 MB)

YULETIDE HEROINE BLUES (J. Algeri)

The 2006 effort is the most unlikely Xmas song about the most unlikely couple. If you're after some Yuletide cheer then look for Bing Crosby instead. The recording cast included Joe with the help of:

LARS BRUSELL - drums, bass, heavy guitars (Sweden)
MAGNUS KARLSSON - jangly guitar (Sweden)
DAVE PATMAN- vocals (Aust)
KEVIN BORRUSO - vocals (Aust)
STUART LOASBY - vocals (Aust)
ANTHONY SPINELLI - vocals (Aust)

>>> Download [ 160 Kbps mp3 ] (5.14 MB)

I SAW SANTA WITH A GUN (J. Algeri / L. Brusell)

Recorded in 2002 and still everyone's favourtie. Like all the Xmas songs here people either love it or really hate it.

>>> Download [ 160 Kbps mp3 ] (3.94 MB)