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Our Review

Christmas A Go Go is a rip-roaring, hard-rocking holiday explosion, and it's filled with some rare and wonderful oddities. Opening with Keith Richards' Run Rudolph Run, the album blazes right out of the box, and the frenetic heat never relents.

This is powerful party music with a funky edge. For one thing, it was recorded at high levels; in other words, you will have no problem crankin' this baby up and filling your party room with raucous holiday hits, although the recording quality is somewhat muddy in spots. Second, the album has a fun novelty aspect, including an eccentric combination of artists from Rolling Stones wonders (Richards) and the cool Kinks (presenting a high-voltage Father Christmas) to pie-prankster Soupy Sales (Santa Claus Is Surfin' to Town) and Oscar-winning actor Joe Pesci (employing his thick Italian-Brooklynese accent to describe the plight of "fatso Santa" If It Doesn't Snow on Christmas). Even Bob Seger gets into the act; his Sock It to Me Santa is intense. My favorite tracks, though, are probably Darlene Love's excellent All Alone on Christmas (backed by the E Street Band) and Clarence Carter's ultra-fine, bluesy Back Door Santa. Delicious.

The album's cover, a wildly-crankin' cartoon "Santa" biker on his flamin' "reindeer" hog conveys the right sentiment here. This offering is all about flash and fun, and if you're in the right frame of mind, the album is an A-1 hoot.

Little Steven Van Zandt is the moving force behind this project. His Little Steven's Underground Garage presents Christmas A Go Go is more than a mouthful; it's a cock-eyed, crazy celebration for rockers who are certifiable!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2008)

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From the liner notes:

We know things are a little rough out there this year so inspiration is on the way! We have an amazing wicked cool Christmas gift for you this year. How about Keith Richards' classic "Run Rudolph Run" available for the first time on CD! Bob Seger's extremely rare "Sock It to Me Santa" never available on a single compilation, Darlene Love and the E Street Band's "All Alone on Christmas" only available on a hard-to-find sountrack. And what would a holiday season be without a little Christmas cheer from Joe Pesci! Plus favorite Christmas classics by the Kinds, the Ramones, Clarence Carter, Rufus Thomas, Roy Wood, and the impossible to find "Santa Claus Is Surfin' to Town" by the totally amazing Soupy Sales! We're proud of all our records, but this one is not only the coolest Christmas party record ever, it's full of collectible classics as well. Happy Holidays, Baby!
--Little Steven

Various Artists

Christmas A Go Go

Artist link

Track List