A Christmas Present... and Past

Paul Revere & the Raiders Featuring Mark Lindsay | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 4, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Koch Records
• ASIN: B000AXWHLW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,882 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Introduction

2. Wear a Smile At Christmas

3. Jingle Bells

4. Brotherly Love

5. Rain, Sleet, Snow

6. Peace

7. Valley Forge

8. Dear Mr. Claus

9. Macy's Window

10. Chirstmas Spirit

11. A Heavy Christmas Message

Editorial Reviews

Originally released in 1967, the Raiders' Christmas album has become a cult classic. Vocals by Mark Lindsay. Produced by Terry Melcher. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not your average Christmas album, October 24, 2006

By 

Bob Wible (Grundy, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Christmas Present... and Past (Audio CD)

Word has it that the A&R man for the Raiders smashed this record to bits when he heard it for the first time. Ouch. Nonetheless, it manages to keep popping up. There are just enough of us who like it to get it reissued every few years. I got my first copy when I was in high school in the early nineties. I had developed a liking for the band after seeing their current touring lineup. Just about everything of theirs was out of print at the time, so I gobbled up a copy of Christmas Present from the cassette cutout bin for $3.99. While the rest of their catalog can sound bit dated, this still sounds pretty fresh. It's a bizarre concotion of holiday cheer that could have only come from the 1960's. If you're looking for crooners at Christmas, see my other reviews, but if you want something a little out of the ordinary, try it. At least most of the songs are original, and the Jingle Bells jam is certainly unique. There's only one throwaway, "Peace," but it's okay when you put the cd on and play it through. A warning: there are no singles here. This is a concept album in the truest form. Koch will hate me for this, but their reissue is a little shoddy. The title is wrong on the spine (perhaps an intentional joke? if so, it doesn't work.) and the liner notes are naked. No bonus tracks, and the cover varies enough from the original album to be noticiable to hardcore fans of the original (admittedly, I might be the only one.)I recommend the Alala version, or the Columbia release if you can save a few bucks. So I recommend this album and hope you enjoy it as much as I have over the years. Grab it while you can- this thing disappears out of print quickly! Happy Holidays to you and yours!

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars What makes a "Cult Classic"?, June 29, 2004

By 

John Sloan "sloanjohn" (right there) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Christmas Present....And Past (Audio CD)

I should have known that the label of "cult classic" might mean that this was not a very good album.
1. "Introduction" is just a bad joke that they beat into the ground. A smarmy DJ voice talks about the Salvation Army band, but the band won't start on cue. Once the band starts, they won't stop on cue either. Hilarious.
2. "Wear a Smile at Christmas" features an LBJ imitation that is probably meaningless to anyone under 50 or so.
3. "Jingle Bells" is the only traditional Christmas song on the album, and it could have been good except for the really awful singers they recruited for this track. It is still oddly catchy.
4. "Brotherly Love" is a preachy track set to the tune of "Greensleeves".
5. "Rain, Sleet, Snow" is the most interesting track musically, but what are the words about? Are they complaining about the people who don't mail their cards early enough, or about the postal service, or both?
6. "Peace" is a dull instrumental featuring a string section.
7. "Valley Forge" features the disclaimer "Any resemblance between this situation and present or future conflicts is purely coincidental" which might lead you to believe that there will be a strong political statement in the song. Don't count on it.
8. "Dear Mr. Claus" is a welcome step away from the preachy tone on most of the album. Check out these lyrics:
"Won't you bring me a real live doll?
I'd like a special trick that looks delicious
Won't you bring me a real live doll?
I'm tired of cleaning all the pots and pans and dirty dishes"
9. "Macy's Window" is a nice little tune that is only slightly preachy.
10. "Christmas Spirit" = filler.
11. "A Heavy Christmas Message" is one of the most ridiculous songs ever. A misguided attempt at preachiness compares Christ to the Easter bunny, a Halloween witch, and a Thanksgiving turkey. Then they break into a really long kazoo solo.

So, like many things labeled "cult classic", this is not very good, but it is certainly strange and different enough to give it a listen.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Representation of the Era and the band, December 29, 2008

By 

Jan Ringham "messin' with media" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Christmas Present... and Past (Audio CD)

I have owned this particular album on vinyl for many years and felt it was time to update to a new version on CD.

It helps if you are familiar with Paul Revere and the Raiders and understand their nuttiness. And have a bit of understanding of the times. "Rain, Sleet or Snow" was conveying a very common complaint at the time about the Post Office. "Real Live Doll" is sexist but funny.

I really enjoy all of the songs as they are very unusual for the most part. I appreciate unusual because I collect Christmas albums (and Rock and Jazz) so I hear a lot of the same old, same old. I try to accumulate albums that have original material on them.

The only song I don't resonate well with is "Valley Forge". Again, it was certainly trying to be representative of the times with the Vietnam war and the protests. I just feel that it has to stretch too far to try to get the point across.

For the most part, if you like a different kind of Christmas album, you might like this. If you prefer the old standards, you will be disappointed.