twice as nice

You may remember Tag from such guest Christmas posts as Things Fall Apart and Anorak Christmas . Fortunately for us, he and his good taste are back again this year with another excellent selection.

'The Coldest Night Of The Year' can be found on the Vashti Bunyan comp Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind: Singles and Demos 1964-1967. I can't find a Twice As Much CD still in print that the song appears on, but if you know otherwise, please leave a comment. - Spiked Candy

Twice As Much & Vashti Bunyan - The Coldest Night Of The Year (1966)

Twice as much were a folk-rock duo signed to Immediate Records in 1966. Despite getting 'the big push' by Andrew Loog Oldham, commercial success remained elusive, although their songwriting skills have found a better reception in Northern Soul and girl group circles. Ironically, their finest hour as performers comes from the pens of the mighty Barry Mann and Cynthia Weill. Vashti Bunyan, meanwhile, needs no introduction from me, in the light of her current (and to me, slightly bewildering) hipness among new folk fashionistas.

This is one of those records to play to friends and watch their faces light up. Adopting a similar call and response theme to "Baby, It's Cold Outside" but replacing its knowing wink-wink-nudge-nudge kitsch with a beautifully understated subtext of barely restrained teenage libido, "The Coldest Night of the Year" comes topped off with a gently cajoling melody and, yes, those all-important sleighbells. The boys forlornly plead with Vashti out of sending them home into the North Wind, and instead 'letting a cuddle appear'. And when you hear Vashti's final, breathless, assent to temptation, it's all you can do not to cheer.

– Tag