Trunk Christmas
Jonny Trunk is well-known for his record collecting habits. The proprietor of Trunk Records is a particular expert in obscure soundtracks, library music and British jazz. Another favourite genre of his is the Christmas record. As a result, Mr Trunk has been making mix compilations for several years now - and this year is no different. 'I'm Dreaming of a Shite Christmas' is a promo only release available to customers who spend £20 or more in the Trunk online store between now and Christmas. Stuart Aitken caught up with Trunk to find out what makes a good Christmas song.
What are your earliest memories of Christmas songs?
Probably the classics - 'Away In A Manger', 'Little Donkey', that sort of thing from school assembly and nativity I reckon. They get into your brain early and stay there.
How long have you been collecting Christmas records?
About as long as I have been collecting records. Trouble is unlike a lot of records they only really come out for about a week in the year.
What makes a good Christmas song?
I'm a big fan of the story type songs like 'The Bell That Couldn't Jingle', or whenever a certain musical "scene" puts their interpretation into a Christmas classic - like when Beatniks go Christmas, or the Muppets go Christmas, or Christmas Goes Moog, or Disco Christmas, or Cosmic Christmas...it goes on and on...
What makes a bad Christmas song?
Simon Cowell.
If you could imagine the ultimate, perfect Christmas song, what would be the key features?
A donkey, the Little Lord Jesus, children singing, some electronics. That should do it.
Can you name your top five Christmas songs?
It changes every year but at the moment I'm into:
'Hang Your Balls On The Christmas Tree' - Kay Martin And Her Bodyguards
'Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy' - Soulful Strings
'Santa Claus Is A Black Man' - Akim
'Ring Christmas Bells' -Mike Sammes
'Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown' - Sung by Nina from On Her Majesties Secret Service
For more information on I'm Dreaming of a Shite Christmas, visit http://trunkrecords.greedbag.com/buy/im-dreaming-of-a-shite-xmas-prom/
by Stuart Aitken
