Customer Reviews

A Christmas Present... and Past

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

This album may be regarded as dated, but that's exactly what makes it a great listen. Many of the presented themes in this rock n' roll Christmas album( war, segregation, brotherly love) are easily recognizable and eerily apt to today.

I was loath to give this five stars because I do think that much of the album is underdeveloped and, with just a bit of additional attention, could have been one of the best collections of original Christmas songs ever. Although it doesn't reach that goal, it's a terrific snapshot of our American history, and I highly recommend it.

This is a serious Christmas album that deserves to be played, but you won't want it skipping around in your holiday shuffle, because if you're having a party it will be the party pooper. Lyrics challenge holiday hypocrisy; it's like the corner preacher who questions your action. But don't get me wrong, the challenges are legitimate, and the music is well-performed. I just think you want to be careful; once you are, you'll recognize this as a fine effort.

This is 1 of my all time fave Xmas Albums as it contains the humor, fun & seriousness of the Raider Gang that features Freddy Weller/Keith Allison & Joe Correro Jr. as the Raiders I grew to love on Happening '68 & '69 as well as It's Happening on ABC! Anyway: I have 3 LPS as I wore out the 1st one. The LP also includes a lyric page! I give the LP a true 5 star as it's IN FULL! The CD cuts out a groovy version of a "Salvation Army Street Band" bit as well as cuts out the fade (Paulie's whistling on the final track called "A Heavy Christmas Message". The sound begins to gradually build after we hear: "who took the CHRIST out of CHRISTMAS?" then we get a kazoo (?) the band then a fade before the whistling. If you have the LP, you'd understand as I can't even write & complain to the company about the CD. Anyway: for something different from the 60's, this is it! Short, Sweet & to the point! I've been a "Raider Rooter" since the 60's so I still & always will say that the Raiders are the MOST UNDER RATED band of the 60's era. Period! Enjoy!

Bought this LP over 35 years ago and I still play it during the Hoilday Season. It is a welcome change from all the traditional hoilday music we hear. Alot of fun, get this for a walk down memory lane!

When I bought this album, I was still in high school. I was madly in love with Charlie Coe...or was it Freddy Weller? Anyway, this I think is PR&R's only Christmas album. Intermingled with the Raiders' songs are snippets of an actual Salvation Army Band. Some of the songs are funny (Dear Mr. Claus won't you bring me a real live doll?) and some are very thoughtful .. A Heavy Christmas Message (Who took the Christ out of Christmas?)- always my favorite. I would recommend this album if you are a PR&R fan or if you just want to hear some different Christmas music.

Paul Revere and the Raiders were a popular pop-rock group in the 1960s. This CD is definitely not what I was expecting from the group. Instead of the lighthearted pop-rock I was expecting, I was "treated" to a surprisingly cynical album. The group seems to have an axe to grind against Christmas, and they took the opportunity to criticize everything that they don't like about the holiday. I especially didn't care for the song complaining about late delivered Christmas cards. Aside from the songs that are complaining about one thing or another, there is a boring instrumental titled "Peace" and an intentionally terrible version of "Jingle bells". There is one song on the album which is actually pretty good, which is "Wear a Smile at Christmas", which complains about people not taking time to smile at Christmas. I should also mention that a Salvation Army Band appears on the album, playing very brief Christmas instrumentals in between the songs. Don't buy this album.

Paul Revere and the Raiders were a popular pop-rock group in the 1960s. This CD is definitely not what I was expecting from the group. Instead of the lighthearted pop-rock I was expecting, I was "treated" to a surprisingly cynical album. The group seems to have an axe to grind against Christmas, and they took the opportunity to criticize everything that they don't like about the holiday. I especially didn't care for the song complaining about late delivered Christmas cards. Aside from the songs that are complaining about one thing or another, there is a boring instrumental titled "Peace" and an intentionally terrible version of "Jingle Bells". There is one song on the album which is actually pretty good, which is "Wear a Smile at Christmas", which complains about people not taking time to smile at Christmas. I should also mention that a Salvation Army Band appears on the album, playing very brief Christmas instrumentals in between the songs. Don't buy this album.