WE SALUTE @ SPECIAL EDITON EP

Special Edition EP picture the superb 1982 single 'Special Edition E.P'
(Or Blue Xmas as most of us call it).

Released not long after 'I'll Be Satisfied', this 4 track E.P was the perfect gift for us fans come Christmas 1982. Shaky had only just finished his UK Tour a couple of weeks before this release, so to get some songs recorded from it and onto vinyl this fast was amazing!

The E.P included 3 Live tracks and 1 new studio track. As this was a double 'A' sided single, we could all argue what the main track was. Most of us tend to agree that 'Blue Christmas' was the leading track as it was the studio track on the EP. If we want to be really picky, then we could argue that 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy' was the leading track as that is the 1st track on side 'A' (Blue Xmas is the 1st track on the 'AA' side )

The songs put together on this EP could not have been more perfect.

'BLUE XMAS' - a stunning Xmas cover version perfectly timed for the height of Shaky's chart storming. 'JOSEPHINE' - One of, if not the best track off the GMYHT album performed live. 'LAWDY MISS CLAWDY' was a treat as we had only heard this live and not available on any LP to this day. It's a bit like an EP being released now and having 'One Way Out' on it! 'QUE SERA SERA' - A live version that leaves the studio version dead in the water. A perfect live sing-a-long, that anyone who witnessed the '82 Tour would relish in and take them back to the night they went along. The way Shaky holds that note at the end.. That Brass... the cheers... The hairs on the back of neck stand up everytime I hear it. I wish I was there and saw Shaky on that tour. (My first was 1986).

The sleeve was just perfect too. A very retro look, even back then, and a 'nod' to all those early 'EP' trends from the 50's/60's. Most of the sleeves for this release were in a Gatefold sleeve, although not a limited edition. In fact some later pressings were just a normal matt non-gatefold piccy sleeve which are in fact a little rarer than the Gatefold!

Here Comes Shaky The same artwork/gatefold was used for the german LP 'Jetzt Kommt Shaky' (which I think translated is 'Here Comes Shaky'. At first glance this LP looks like a 12" edition of the EP!
So just before you dust off your copy and give it a well deserved spin (who cares if it's June? Blue Xmas sounds great at anytime!)

HERE ARE SOME SPECIAL EDITION/BLUE XMAS EP FACTS...

  • Released 3rd December 1982, the EP spent 8 Weeks on the UK chart (NOT 6 weeks as stated on the 84 Greatest Hits' LP)


  • It entered at No.35, shot to No.4 the following week, then climbed to No.2, following week stayed at No.2, then dropped to No.7, then 25, then 58 and spent it's last week in the UK Chart at No.81.


  • The Cataloge Number was 'SHAKY 1'. A trend that followed 4 years later with the single 'Because I Love You' being 'SHAKY 2'. 'SHAKY 15' was the last in this trend which was 'The Best Xmas Of Them All'. The reason is because all 'Epic' singles after this release were pressed in Holland for the UK. So the 'SHAKY' cataloge NRs started and ended with Christmas songs!


  • There was no Video for any of the songs on the EP. Shaky did perform 'Blue Xmas' on TV to promote the release which is why we see it as 'The Blue Christmas EP' I guess.


  • The Live Tracks were recorded at the SOUTHAMPTON GAUMONT.


  • These versions of 'Que Sera Sera' live and 'Josephine' were used as B-Sides again. Que Sera sera was used as the B-Side to 'The Best Christmas Of Them All' in 1990. Josephine was featured on the Dutch release of 'It's Late', as they had 'It's Good For You (Baby)' on the previous non UK release 'Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night'.


  • It was a crime that Rene & Renato held the EP off the No.1 spot with 'Save Your Love' Now I know how Midge Ure must have felt when Ultravox's superb 'Vienna' was held off No.1 by 'Shuddap Ya Face' by Joe Dolce!


  • The EP was produced by the Legendary Stu Colman.


  • Every single had a paper pressed label and none were pressed with the painted type.


  • 'Josephine' was written by Shaky.


  • Some sleeves had the recording details on the back cover for 'Blue Xmas' and some did not!


  • This EP was only released in the UK and Ireland.


  • 'Blue Xmas' was re-recorded by Shaky for the 'Merry Christmas Everyone' LP. Shaky personally prefers the re-recorded version, my guess is that he feels he sounded too much like Elvis on the original. Personally I prefer the original '82 version.


  • 'Blue Xmas' has been used a few times as a bonus track on some releases. It was a bonus track on the MCE 12", again on the 12" and CD Single of 'True Love', the CD Single of 'The Best Xmas Of Them All' and also featured on the limited Edition 4 Track EP version of 'What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For'.


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