This blog has gained many new readers since I first posted my Spiked Candy Canes mixes in 2005, so I thought I'd share them again for anyone who missed out the first time around. Hopefully they'll give you an idea of the abundance of lesser-known but fun, interesting, weird or sometimes beautiful Christmas songs that are out there, and maybe introduce you to some artists you haven't heard before. If you're looking for more info and links to purchase anything that's still in print, have a look through the December 2005 and the December 2006 archives.

Pop-up player | 8tracks tips

Before I bring you Part Deux of Swinging Mademoiselle, I'm going to briefly interrupt with my Halloween special, to ensure these tasty, eerie delights reach your goodie bags in time. We certainly can't miss Halloween! After all, Spiked Candy owes its name to those scary tales of unsuspecting trick-or-treaters receiving a dose of deadly poison in their sweet treats. Apparently these are nothing more than tales: "The number of kids confirmed to have been critically injured by spiked Halloween candy is ... zero" (The Halloween Scare). So while thankfully the grisly act of spiking candy is only a myth, fear not: Spiked Candy, the blog, is very real. Don't believe me? Blast these spook-themed tunes until your ears tingle, just to be sure. Ladies first:

Once again a huge thank you to Carl for sending this one my way! 'Mon joli vampire' is the B-side to 'Herald Tribune', posted here. This seems to be it for all the Jany L. songs ever released, so now you have the complete ultra-rare set! It's in a similar vein to her other tracks, with her rather sensuous voice offset by sweet, tinkly instrumentation. Listen to that catchy toy piano riff that owes more than a little to the Velvet Underground's 'Sunday Morning'.

Also in the waaay-too-cute-to-be-at-all-scary category:

I think I've hit on a plan to let me keep blogging without exhausting myself and then subsequently losing interest. I'm going to keep things as simple as possible with just pictures and the song and probably not  buying links, although I feel a bit guilty leaving those out. But you should be able to find any albums from the vendors in my sidebar. If you've searched high and low and can't find where to buy something, you can always ask and I'll help you out.

Please use the comments section to ask me any questions. I've taken down my email address, but if you still have it, please don't use it to ask me questions you can easily find answers for on a search engine. I'm also unable to send out anything individually, even for a trade. Nor am I taking requests or band submissions. Unless you're a band in my myspace friends and you want to send me free stuff? Eh? Eh? Can't blame a girl for trying.

I'm excited to be adding Radioblog*, which I discovered on the gorgeous blog Pop 'N Cherries. I've been trying to find a free way to do something like this for ages, but had no luck so it's a happy discovery indeed. This is my exception to my no requests policy; you can ask me to post an mp3 if you like anything on there. And I'm hoping that will make the blog a little more interactive and I'll get some more feedback on what people like. Remember, feedback keeps your widdle bloggers happy and makes them want to go on! Even just a 'thanks' or 'you rule the school' or even 'you suck!' (no just kidding, please don't) is great to hear.

I did think of starting up a forum where readers of this blog and the others that post French 60s stuff regularly could talk about what they love and any new discoveries, or trade stuff, but again I'd be biting off a bit more than I can chew. But for anyone who'd be interested in such an idea, please join the last.fm groups I have, French 60s and Ye-Ye Girls and maybe you could liven those up a bit. Even if you don't use the other last.fm features, the forums have the potential to be a great meeting place for fans.

And don't forget Spiked-Candy Last.fm Radio is still chugging away, churning out lots of aural treats and free to listen to. If the player has let you down before, try the beta for the upcoming release. As long as you have a decent connection, it should work a charm. And I know the 2 separate downloads for the Audioscrobbler plug-in and the Last.fm player are confusing to some; this download has them both in one and guides you through everything you need to do.

Merci, and I'll be back with some tunes very soon :).

Credit: Picture of France Gall, Johnny Hallyday et al from Douce France... Gall

*Songs I posted on Radioblog are now in this 8tracks playlist:

Pop-up player | 8tracks tips | Alternate link

Girls At Our Best! - Fast Boyfriends (1981)

There's no point me posting a CD buying link unless you happen to have a spare $400. But try Ebay, Gemm or Musicstack for the MUCH cheaper original vinyl. (Update: Pleasure has since been reissued).

Links: Girls At Our Best (fan site), Girls At Our Best biography

There are plenty of Go-Betweens mp3s on the sites posted below for the uninitiated, or anyone whose CD collection has mysteriously whittled down over time. I do prefer the originals, but these covers are a little more in line with what I usually post:

Ivy - Streets Of Your Town (2002)

Souvenir - Spring Rain (2001)

To me, a sign of flawless pop is that it can stand up to various interpretations. Interesting to hear how easily these tracks lend themselves to this style - chic, gentle pop with femme vocals. My hope would be that, for those of you who would not normally be drawn to The Go-Betweens' style of music, hearing these could serve as a bridge to appreciating it. There is much prettiness to these, but to me, more beauty in the originals.

'Spring Rain' is actually a Robert Forster song, but I thought it would be nice to include Spanish band Souvenir's cover (in French), to show how far and wide love for them has spread over the years. And because I know you guys are suckers for the French stuff.

Buy: Souvenir - Points de Suspension: Shelflife Records, Jabalina Música, Bandcamp. The Go-Betweens - 16 Lovers Lane, Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express, 5 Album Set.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Pop-up player | 8tracks tips

1. Belle And Sebastian - I Took Some Time For Christmas (2002)
2. Brian Wilson - On Christmas Day (2005)
3. Ginette Reno - Vive le vent (1967)
4. Julie London - I'd Like You For Christmas (1957)
5. Lauren Laverne - In The Bleak Midwinter (2000)
6. Marlene Paula - I Wanna Spend Christmas With Elvis (1956)
7. Nena - Wunder gescheh'n (1987)
8. Of Montreal - My Favourite Christmas (In A Hundred Words Or Less) (1997)
9. The Carpenters - Merry Christmas, Darling (1978)
10. The Shitbirds - Christmas Is A Comin' (May God Bless You) (1995)
11. Universal Robot Band - Disco Christmas (1977)
12. Yo La Tengo - It's Christmas Time (2002)

Pop-up player | 8tracks tips

1. Claudine Longet - Snow (1967)
2. Dressy Bessy - All the Right Reasons (1999)
3. Deerhoof - Xmas Tree (2001)
4. Antena - Noëlle à Hawaï (1982)
5. Peggy Lee - The Christmas Spell (1949)
6. Stina Nordenstam - Soon After Christmas (1991)
7. The Diskettes - Noel (2004)
8. The Gems - Love For Christmas (1964)
9. The Kinks - Father Christmas (1977)
10. The Knife - Christmas Reindeer (2005)
11. The Pipettes - In The Bleak Midwinter (2004)
12. The Sonics - Don't Believe In Christmas (1965)

A Christmas package for all my lovely readers.
Thanks to Ion for the idea for the title!

Click here to listen to Saturday's broadcast of WFMU's Cherry Blossom Clinic, featuring the wonderful Mimi La Twisteuse doing a guest dj spot. Mimi is the former host of Dodécaphonique Twist on Montréal's CIBL, and compiled the sublime Girls In The Garage Volume 10: Groovy Gallic Girls. Over 3 hours of French-language 60s/70s/80s goodness!