ArtistInfo

Blur
The Wassailing Song

Single UK 1992 on Food label
Rock (Brit Pop, Folk, Indie Rock)

Blur's cover of a medieval English Christmas carol that Damon and Graham had sung at Stanway Comprehensive as students. Recorded during a break in the initial sessions for the album "Modern Life Is Rubbish" — just before the writing and recording of "For Tomorrow". The four members of the group alternate vocals on the verses, singing the refrain together. This is the only song in the Blur discography that drummer Dave Rowntree sings on. Only 500 pressed. Given away as a gig freebie at Blur's 12/15/92 Christmas gig at the Hibernian Club in Fulham, London by a man dressed as Santa Claus. (The Hibernian Club was likely chosen due to its proximity to Maison Rouge, where Blur were recording.) Food Records considered this (in the words of the label's second in command, Andy Ross) a "completely pointless gig which ended up costing [Blur] money." Promotional use only. Not for sale. More information from an attendee of the Hibernian Club gig: "...The gig was at the point when the music press reckoned that Blur were finished; the touts outside the gig couldn't even give tickets away. The hall was less than half full. Blur turned in a fantastic set and at the end we all drunkenly queued up to get our free 7-inch from a Liverpudlian dressed as Santa. Only about 5 minutes into the free giveaway one of my friends got impatient and lent [sic] over the barrier to get one of the records out of Santa's sack himself. The barrier collapsed and then everyone just started grabbing at the records. A lot of them ended up littering the floor and being trampled on. Although 500 were pressed I'd say that a lot less than that were actually given away or survived the night." — Iain, 2008

Musicians

	Blur , 1988-2003 GB presenter, arranged by, album by
	Damon Albarn voc, *1968 GB vocals, verse 1 solo by
	Graham Coxon , *1969 GB vocals, verse 3 solo by
	Dave Rowntree dr, perc, *1964 GB vocals, verse 5 solo by
	Alex James b, eb, *1968 GB vocals, verse 7 solo by

Composers

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