New Victorian Christmas

Few bands commanded a stage quite like The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Combining musical precision with theatrical flair, dark humour & a restless appetite for the unexpected, the Glasgow quintet established themselves as one of the most compelling live acts of the 1970s. At their centre stood Alex Harvey: storyteller, provocateur & a frontman whose presence could turn a rock concert into something altogether less predictable. Recorded at London's New Victoria Theatre on 23rd December 1975, 'A New Victorian Christmas' captures the band at the height of their powers. Originally included in the critically acclaimed, now sold-out 21CD box set 'Good Evening Boys & Girls', this performance receives a standalone single-vinyl release, bringing a memorable night from the SAHB archives into fresh focus. Alongside Harvey, guitarist Zal Cleminson, bassist Chris Glen, keyboardist Hugh McKenna & drummer Ted McKenna formed a band capable of matching every twist in his delivery. Their blend of hard rock, blues & cabaret gave familiar songs unfamiliar dimensions, balancing the frontman's larger-than-life character with an ensemble of exceptional instinct & discipline. The ten-track selection moves from 'Gamblin' Bar Room Blues' & 'Love Story' to enduring favourites 'Next' & 'Framed', with a near-nine-minute 'Vambo' allowing room for one of the band's signature stage pieces. 'Runaway', 'St. Anthony' & 'Jungle Jenny' further underline the breadth of a repertoire united by SAHB's unmistakable personality. Presented on single black vinyl, 'A New Victorian Christmas' offers a vivid document of a band whose reputation was forged onstage: inventive, assured & utterly their own