[This is part of The John M. Higgins Memorial Xmasganza.]
Two selections from the indie side of things.
New Jersey’s The Gwens offer Beach Boys-style harmonizing on “Christmas Love,” taken from the Kindercore Records Christmas Two collection. The late lamented label was a victim of either malfeasance or incompetence or some combination of the two. You can read more about how a whole bunch of labels got caught up in the same situation.
The original line-up for Jersey City’s The Gwens was singers/guitarists Rick Timmons and Kevin Neblung, bassist Peter Erchick and drummer John Rosendahl. Then Erchick was replaced by Tony Marchetelli and they released their debut single “Wallet” in 1997. The Spin Tickle EP came out on the Kindercore in ’98, followed by their 2001 debut album Devil’s Cliff on Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records, which is the last thing I can find about them.
The Chubbies offer up “There’s Nothing I Want More for Christmas This Year.” At the time, the band was a duo, consisting of Jeanette Kantzalis and Christene Kings. Jeanette is back on her own and Christene now drums for The Sharp Ease. The song was recorded back in ’95 for one of Sympathy for the Record Industry‘s Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus collections.
The Gwens – Christmas Love
The Chubbies – There’s Nothing I Want More For Christmas This Year — BUY
Tags: The Gwens, The Chubbies, Christmas music, MP3s
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The Pop View Says:
Kindercore label founders Ryan Lewis and Daniel Geller eventually received a judgment in the case and regained control over the Kindercore catalog. In August 2007, the Kindercore website was changed to reflect the label’s rebirth. Later that year, they put out a new holiday collection entitled XMas 3: The War on Christmas (you can get it on iTunes). Digital distribution is one way for small labels like Kindercore from getting screwed again by the distribution system.