Band Was FUMBLING Complex Vocal…Producer’s Wife GOT SICK of Hearing IT & She Did it in 1 TAKE…Hit #1

Merry Christmas a little early, everyone! Today I’ve got a once-in-a-year countdown for you that I know will put a smile on your face… For this episode, we’re unwrapping a Christmas rock countdown. But to be honest, some of these tracks weren’t exactly born out of holiday cheer. One was actually written by a musical genius, Brian Wilson, to spite a hero and rival producer. Another was a duet by the Pogues that they tried several different females for years. They tried to nail this song down, finally, the producer’s wife got so fed up she walked into the vocal booth and did a perfect Take. Plus, we’ve got the story of the classic track that The King tried to sabotage in the studio. He treated it like a joke, but it ended up anchoring one of the highest-selling Christmas albums ever. There’s also Bruce Springsteen, who was tangled up in legal disputes, so he couldn't release any music. But his manager bootlegged a live Christmas recording and distributed it to radio stations—creating a major hit, but it couldn't be purchased for six years… But putting all the drama aside, I hope this episode will help you keep the good vibes going through the holiday season. Let’s do it.

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Executive Producer
Brandon Fugal

Honorary Producers
Kimberley Rumburg, Brent Gephart, Glenn Beardmore, Jennifer Selvidge, Carl Curcuruto, Thomas Williams

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Hey Music Junkies Today we're getting into the Christmas spirit and counting down my picks for the greatest Christmas songs of the rock era…emphasis on rock. This isn't going to be your typical holiday playlist. As good as they are, we’re not celebrating the classics. We're digging into the drama, the disasters, and the downright bizarre stories behind Christmas tracks performed by some of your favorite bands. Let’s get started. Kicking off the countdown at #10, it’s a strange one… The Pogues with Fairytale of New York. About as bittersweet a Christmas song as you can imagine, The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl's Celtic folk-flavored "Fairytale of New York" has become the UK’s most-played Christmas song of the 21st century. But getting there was nothing short of a marathon battle that nearly bankrupted the band.

The whole thing started with a bet. In 1985, producer Elvis Costello challenged The Pogues to write a commercially successful Christmas hit. The dare was specifically prompted by Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Costello and the band were determined to create an alternative to that song's sugary sentimentality… something dark and deeply emotional about the life of a struggling immigrant.

But writing "Fairytale of New York” proved to be a nightmare. The band's first attempt in 1986 was rejected outright. They tried again in 1987 with producer Steve Lillywhite in London, then again in New York. The song was complex, requiring string arrangements and multiple studio hours while dealing with Shane MacGowan's meandering focus. The extended, failed sessions became an expensive financial drain, putting significant strain on the band's resources. Over two years and three different attempts, the costs kept mounting.

Then came the life-saving intervention. During what became the final recording session, the male vocals were done, but they still hadn't nailed the female part. Lillywhite had brought in various singers—none of them were working. That's when Steve's wife, Kirsty MacColl, walked into the studio and delivered an ultimatum: she wasn't leaving until she'd done the take herself. Her raw, compassionate performance instantly gave the song what it needed. The contrast between her clear voice and MacGowan's raspy delivery created the dramatic tension that made the song work.

Released in 1987, "Fairytale of New York" hit #1
The other songs covered are Oh Come All Ye Faithful… by none other than Twisted Sister which they ripped off for their hit We're Not Gonna Take It, Do They Know Its Christmas by Band Aid, Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley, The Carpenters Merry Christmas Darling, Santa Clause is Coming to town by Bruce Springsteen, Little Saint Nick by the Beach Boys. Merry Xmas War is Over by John Lennon, Eagles Please Come Home for Christmas and 2000 miles by the Pretenders.