They Made a Christmas Album?- Advent 2018: Day 3

Have you ever wished you could mug Santa Claus? Not, not give the jolly fat man a hug. I said mug- as in beat the crap outta him and steal his wallet and possibly take his sleigh full of toys on a joyride? Well that's exactly what today's featured artists did and I am sure they got put on the naughty list for it. 

The Kinks were known for putting out a wide variety of hits over the course of 3 decades. Their most well known hit, Lola (1971) was about a man who didn't know that lady he's been flirting with all night was really a dude. Then there was the rapid fire ditty 1964's You Really Got Me that many thought couldn't get any better until Van Halen added insane guitar rifts to the mix. 

But what the Kinks are not known for are holiday tunes. Yet in 1978, during the height of the punk movement, the band tried to go hard. The result was Father Christmas. It's about a gang of youths who beat up Ole St. Nick and demand his wallet in the process. Don't worry, the Santa in the song isn't the real Papa Noel. It's only one of his helpers. 

Was it a great move for The Kinks? That answer is a mixed bag as while the Kinks continued to produce records for another 17 years, the best days of the band were behind them. However, the song has become a sort of post-punk classic as bands such as Green Day and Bowling for Soup have released covers of the song in recent years. 

but what you guys are here for is the original. So, as my advent gift to you, I present Father Christmas by The Kinks...