December is a Lond Way Off...

[Andrew B Marvick <abm4@columbia.EDU>]

There was an enquiry about a version of "December Will Be Magic Again"
described as the one from the Xmas Special. In fact, there are two entirely
different versions of "December..." that could be described as the
"Xmas Special" version.  "Kate" was the actual title of a 48-minute TV
show (aired shortly before Xmas '79 and thus frequently called the
"Xmas Special", though it was taped in October '79), and on this show
Kate performed a version of the song at the piano, accompanied by
Kevin McAlea (?) at the electric piano.  About the same time an Abba
Xmas special appeared on UKTV, and this is the show on which Kate
performed the "bongos" version.  The latter, as Sakari says, is
available on a legitimate EMI compilation CD.  The former was never
released, and can only be heard (on vinyl, CD, cassette, video) in
dubs from the TV show.  Neither of these versions, of course, is like
the official EMI single release, which is available as part of the
"This Woman's Work" box set.  

-- Andrew Marvick (IED)