Published: December 12, 2008

Rob Fitzpatrick

The Guardian

To properly appreciate Little Steven Van Zandt's compilation of garage-friendly seasonal music, you should imagine yourself a good few hours into a night at a sleazy, blue-collar American bar. This CD has replaced the jukebox; the lights are so low you can barely see your drink(s); and you've just realised that Bob Seger's super-rare James Brown parody, Sock It to Me Santa, is perhaps the greatest record ever made. Elsewhere, there is rigorously festive mod-pop from the Kinks and the Len Price 3, beer-hall blues from Keith Richards and even a vintage, ridiculous Christmas surf-music cash-in from US comedian Soupy Sales. So unusual are many of the tracks that when Wizzard inevitably appear, they are as welcome as a fresh round. Cheers!