Xmas 93

"Xmas 93" is a Christmas-themed single by English alternative dance band Saint Etienne. It was released in the United Kingdom on 6 December 1993 by Heavenly Recordings. The lead track "I Was Born on Christmas Day" features guest vocals from The Charlatans singer Tim Burgess, and peaked at number 37 on the UK Singles Chart.[1]

"Xmas 93"
Single by Saint Etienne
A-side"I Was Born on Christmas Day"
B-side
  • "My Christmas Prayer"
  • "Snowplough"
  • "Peterloo"
Released6 December 1993 (1993-12-06)
StudioCat Music
(Mitcham, London)
GenreHouse
Length14:52
LabelHeavenly
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Saint Etienne
Saint Etienne singles chronology
"Hobart Paving"
(1993)		 "Xmas 93"
(1993)		 "Pale Movie"
(1994)
Music video
"I Was Born on Christmas Day" on YouTube

The song's title is a nod to band member Bob Stanley who was born on 25 December 1964. The music video for the single was filmed in the vicinity of Kensington and Chelsea Register Office in London.

The main B-side, "My Christmas Prayer", is a cover of the 1959 Billy Fury original. The other two B-sides, "Snowplough" and "Peterloo", are both instrumentals.

The B-sides "Snowplough" and "Peterloo" can be found in the So Tough reissue bonus disc, while "My Christmas Prayer" and "I Was Born on Christmas Day" on Tiger Bay reissue bonus disc.

Critical reception

Tim Sendra from AllMusic described "I Was Born On Christmas Day" as a duet between Saint Etienne vocalist Sarah Cracknell and Tim Burgess "set to a house beat." He added, "The melody is very sweet and the vocals blend together nicely, Burgess displaying a healthy (and unusual) dose of restraint."[2] Jim Wirth from NME noted the "join-the-dots Abba-isms" of the song.[3]

Track listings

All tracks produced by Saint Etienne.

CD single and 12" single[4][5]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Was Born on Christmas Day" (featuring Tim Burgess)
3:14
2."My Christmas Prayer"Billy Fury3:28
3."Snowplough"
  • Stanley
  • Wiggs
3:43
4."Peterloo"
  • Stanley
  • Wiggs
4:27
Total length:14:52
7" single and cassette single[6][7]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Was Born on Christmas Day" (featuring Tim Burgess)
  • Catt
  • Stanley
  • Wiggs
3:14
2."My Christmas Prayer"Fury3:28
Total length:6:42

Charts
Chart (1993) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 37

References
  1. "Saint Etienne | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  2. Sendra, Tim. "Saint Etienne – I Was Born on Christmas Day". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  3. Wirth, Jim. "ST ETIENNE – London Kentish Town Forum". NME. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  4. Xmas 93 (UK CD single). Saint Etienne. Heavenly Recordings. 1993. HVN 36CD.CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. Xmas 93 (UK 12" single). Saint Etienne. Heavenly Recordings. 1993. HVN 3612.CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. Xmas 93 (UK 7" single). Saint Etienne. Heavenly Recordings. 1993. HVN 36.CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. Xmas 93 (UK cassette single). Saint Etienne. Heavenly Recordings. 1993. HVN 36CS.CS1 maint: others (link)
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