So…the Cocteau Twins’ covers of ‘Walking In A Winter Wonderland’ and ‘Frosty The Snowman’ first appeared in 1993 as a single entitled Snow. These have become cult items over the years, and I end up posting them most years because I really love them.

First of all, having grumbled in previous years about the difficulty of getting hold of these two Cocteau Twins tracks, this year they have become available on a 4CD boxset entitled Treasure Hiding: The Fontana Years. This very good news indeed (and there’s a need for good news in the world right now).

So enjoy – and track down that boxset!

Not for the first time, life got in the way.

But it’s still a delight to share this double A-side from 1993, the Cocteau Twins’ Snow, which contains two covers’: ‘Walking In A Winter Wonderland’ and ‘Frosty The Snowman.’

Now, I have long bemoaned the fact that it’s hard to get hold of these tracks. However, at the moment, you can buy ‘Frosty’ in the UK on iTunes (on a compilation called 90’s Rarities Vol.1), though not ‘Walking.’ However, this year saw long-awaited vinyl re-issues of their final two albums, Four Calendar Café and Milk and Kisses, the era which Snow comes from, so I am hopeful, that one day…

Today’s offering is a curio from the Cocteau Twins.

By 1993, after many years on 4AD the band had signed to Fontana, who at the time of this release had just released the band’s seventh album Four Calendar Cafe. The Snow EP comprises their covers of ‘Walking In A Winter Wonderland’ and ‘Frosty the Snowman.’

THe EP is long out of print, although you can pick up secondhand copies online; the songs also appear of the band’s singles and EPs collection Lullabies to Violaine

It is a source of disappointment that I never got to see the Cocteau Twins live.

I became a fan in my late teens; and have bought the vast majority of stuff that they have ever put out. They split up in 1998 during the recording of what was to have been their final album; and nearly reformed in 2005. They have of course, been involved in awesome music since calling it quits: Simon Raymonde and Robin Guthrie continue to run the Bella Union label, as well as both making music, Robin as Violet Indiana. Liz Fraser’s solo album may be yet to appear – but as well as her fine single ‘Moses,’ and two contributions to Lord of the Rings soundtracks, she also sang on tracks by Craig Armstrong -‘This Love’ and most famously, Massive Attack’s ‘Teardrop.’

This was a very limited Christmas single in 1993.

Cocteau twins -‘Frosty The Snowman.’

Cocteau Twins -‘Walking In A Winter Wonderland.’ mp3

I know I post these every year…but what the heck, I love these two covers.

Originally released as a two-track single entitled Snow not long after their penultimate studio album Four Calendar Cafe, these two tracks attained the stuff of legend. I’m still kicking myself for not buying that single when I had the chance.

Ah well.

Cocteau Twins -‘Winter Wonderland.’ mp3

Cocteau Twins -‘Frosty The Snowman.’ mp3

And tomorrow, I will publish my annual Festive Fifty…