The Western Star Rockabilly Christmas Party, various artists (Western Star)

This record label is a UK-based concern promoting modern rockabilly and psychobilly artists, and this is their Christmas compilation. The label makes a point of releasing only material recorded in their very own studio, which helps them maintain a characteristic style. Not being a rockabilly specialist, I can't say I've heard of any of these acts before, but they all acquit themselves very nicely here. There are 22 tracks here, definitely value for money, with several artists making multiple appearances. Proceedings get under way with El Camino's "I Want Christmas," which starts out as a tribute to Elvis' "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" but quickly swings into a fine uptempo original. Little Timmy Tinsel & the Fairy Lights shouts out to British concerns with "Santa's Lost on the Underground" and also provides two versions of the rockin' "Blotto in the Grotto," Thee Elfmen also double up on the midtempo "Santa's Here," lament a "Cruel Yule," dance to the "Egg Nog Twist," and also give us a little of that Fifties novelty nostalgia with "Christmas on Mars." The Epileptic Hillbilly's (that's their spelling, not my typo) stomp out "Another Christmas Without You," the Bad Detectives keep one eye on the purse with "Keep the Receipt (This Christmas)" and "Christmas on Plastic," and Weazeldust demand that "Santa Claus You Dirty Rat (Bring Back My Guitar)." Sharna-May and the Mayhems give us a taste of Brenda Lee mixed with Lee Hazlewood with "We're Off To See Santa," Mary Kissmass also evoke Brenda with "Blue Mistletoe," Las Pistolas go for Fifties horror (and tell Bobby "Boris" Pickett the news) with "Creepy Christmas Party," the Go Go Cult goes a little dark on the beat with "Hey, Hey, It's Christmas," and Lew Lewis & the Twilight Trio throws their hands up and sings "Just Another Day To Me." Don't know if the rockabilly fanbase is concerned that some of these artists let their Brit flag fly, but it certainly doesn't bother me; this is fun from start to finish and a natural playlist on its own (minus the double cuts, anyway).