A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records
Compilation album by
various artists
ReleasedNovember 22, 1963
RecordedSeptember–October 1963
StudioGold Star, Hollywood
GenreChristmas,[1] pop[2]
Length34:12
LabelPhilles
ProducerPhil Spector
Phil Spector production chronology
Philles Records Presents Today's Hits
(1963)		 A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records
(1963)		 Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes featuring Veronica
(1964)

A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector (originally released as A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records) is an album of Christmas songs, produced by Phil Spector, and originally released as Philles 4005 in November 1963. Spector treated a series of mostly secular Christmas standards to his "Wall of Sound" treatment, and the selections feature the vocal performances of Spector's regular artists during this period. One month after its release, the album peaked at No. 13 on Billboard magazine's special, year-end, weekly Christmas Albums sales chart.[3]

In 2003, the album was voted No. 142 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time,[4] maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list.[5] In 2017, it was ranked the 130th greatest album of the 1960s by Pitchfork.[6] In 2019, it was ranked the greatest Christmas album of all time by Rolling Stone.[4] Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys has cited this album as his favorite of all time.[7] The album was included in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[8]

Recording and production

The album was recorded during September and October 1963. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys attempted to contribute piano to "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", but Spector rejected him for poor playing.[9]

Release history

The album has been released several times on different labels: the original release on Philles and the 1972 reissue on Apple were followed by additional reissues on Warner-Spector (1974; this was the first release to feature a stereo mix of the songs, although it ironically used the "Back to Mono" Apple cover), Pavilion–a short-lived imprint of CBS (1981, also in stereo, using the Apple artwork, but with the "Back to Mono" button airbrushed out), Impression (1983), Passport (1984), and Rhino (1987).

The first CD issue was also on Rhino in 1987, co-credited to Phil Spector International RNCD 70235, it was mastered by Bill Inglot and Ken Perry and it restored the album's original mono mix. The second CD issue was in 1987 as well, on Chrysalis (CCD 1625) in monophonic for the UK market. This one is co-credited "Spector Records International" and features the slightly different international artwork, it features the same mastering as the Rhino CD. The more common third CD issue came in 1989, a remastered release on ABKCO which restored the original title, artwork, and mono mix, this edition was remastered by Phil Spector and Larry Levine. The album also appeared as the fourth disc of ABKCO's 1991 Spector box set, Back to Mono, and as the second disc of the 2006 UK-only ABKCO compilation The Phil Spector Collection.

Sony Music took over distribution rights to the Philles Records catalog in 2009 and re-released the mono album, remastered by Bob Ludwig, on its Legacy Recordings imprint on October 27 of that year.[10] (The Sundazed label also reissued the album on vinyl in 2009.) In 2012, Legacy Recordings released a two-disc set in the UK only, containing a new remastering of the mono album by Vic Anesini on the first disc and a selection of non-Christmas Spector hits and rarities on the second disc.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[12]
Record Mirror[13]

The album, released in the United States on November 22, 1963—the same day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated—was a relative failure at the time.[14] Original pressings are scarce and collectable, now selling for $400–$500 in excellent condition.[15]

In subsequent years, especially after its reissue on Apple, the album grew in popularity and is considered now to be a holiday classic. Several of its tracks became iconic Christmas songs for generations, such as the original single "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," and the well-known "Ring-a-ling-a-ling Ding-dong-ding" background vocals in the Ronettes' "Sleigh Ride". The arrangement of Bruce Springsteen's version of "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" is based in part on the Crystals' version of the song, and U2's late-1980s remake of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" that appeared on the first A Very Special Christmas album is patterned after the Darlene Love original that appeared on the Spector LP. The Ronettes' versions of "Frosty The Snowman" and "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" also usually get some radio airplay during the holiday season.

Commercial performance

The album was reissued by Apple Records in 1972, with different cover art—a photograph of Spector dressed as a heavily bearded Santa Claus, wearing a "Back to Mono" button—and retitled Phil Spector's Christmas Album. This version of the album went to No. 6 on Billboard's special Christmas Albums sales chart in December of that year, which was its highest chart ranking.[3]

In 1972, the album made its debut on the UK Albums Chart; it would re-chart in 1983, peaking at No. 19.

On the week ending December 15, 2018, A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector entered the main Billboard 200 albums chart for the first time (at position No. 48),[16] eventually peaking at No. 12 three weeks later.[17] At the same time, the Ronettes' recording of "Sleigh Ride", though never released as a single, charted on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time, initially reaching as high as No. 26 on the week ending January 5, 2019; it then re-charted during the 2019 and 2020 holiday seasons and attained an overall peak position of No. 13 on the week ending January 2, 2021,[18] before rising to No. 10 during the following holiday season. The album itself returned to No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart on the chart dated January 2, 2021,[19] and rose to No. 10 one year later (on the chart dated January 8, 2022).[20] On the chart dated January 6, 2024, the album achieved an overall peak position of No. 7.[21]

Track listing

Recorded at Gold Star recording studio

Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"Tommie ConnorThe Ronettes2:37
2."Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"Johnny MarksThe Crystals2:30
3."Winter Wonderland"Felix Bernard, Dick SmithDarlene Love2:25
4."Parade of the Wooden Soldiers"Leon JesselThe Crystals2:55
5."Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, Phil SpectorDarlene Love2:45
6."Here Comes Santa Claus"Gene Autry, Oakley HaldemanBob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans2:03
7."Silent Night"Josef Mohr, Franz X. GruberPhil Spector and Artists2:08
Total length:17:23

Personnel

Session musicians[22]
Production
  • Mastering (1987 CDs) – Bill Inglot, Ken Perry at K-Disc Mastering[23]
  • Remastering (1989) – Phil Spector, Larry Levine[24]
  • Remastering (2009) – Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering[25]
  • Remastering (2012) – Vic Anesini[26]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Sanchez 2014, p. 57.
  2. ↑ Cosgrove 2020, chap. 6.
  3. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920-2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 229. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
  4. 1 2 "The 25 Greatest Christmas Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. December 19, 2012.
  5. ↑ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time". Rolling Stone. 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  6. ↑ "The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s". Pitchfork. August 22, 2017.
  7. ↑ deMartin, Michael (July 12, 2006). "A Day At The Beach (Boy's House)". Pet Blog: Pet Sounds at 40: An Appreciation.
  8. ↑ ^ Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (March 23, 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
  9. ↑ Sharp, Ken (January 2006). "Christmas with Brian Wilson". Record Collector. United Kingdom. pp. 72–76.
  10. ↑ "Phil Spector Phillies Catalog Finds New Home". Billboard.com. September 14, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  11. ↑ AllMusic review
  12. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  13. ↑ Watson, Jimmy (December 21, 1963). "Crystals, Ronnettes, etc.: A Christmas Gift For You" (PDF). Record Mirror. No. 145. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 1, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  14. ↑ Jack Hamilton, "Did JFK's Death Make Beatlemania Possible? The Questionable Connections Between Camelot's Demise and Liverpool's Ascent." Slate, November 18, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  15. ↑ "PHIL SPECTOR~CHRISTMAS ALBUM~MINT ORIG'63 LP~BLUE LABEL - auction details". popsike.com. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Billboard 200 - Week of December 15, 2018". Billboard.
  17. ↑ "Various Artists Chart History - A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector". Billboard.
  18. ↑ "The Ronettes Chart History". Billboard.
  19. ↑ "Billboard 200 - Week of January 2, 2021". Billboard.
  20. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (January 3, 2022). "Adele's '30' Spends Sixth Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200, 'Encanto' Hits Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  21. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (December 31, 2023). "Taylor Swift's 1989 (Taylor's Version) Tops Billboard 200 for Fifth Week". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  22. ↑ A Christmas Gift for You (booklet). Phil Spector Records. 2009. p. 14.
  23. ↑ A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector (Booklet). Various Artists. Rhino (RNCD 70235). 1987.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ↑ A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector (Booklet). Various Artists. Phil Spector Records, Inc (CD 4). 1989.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ↑ A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector (Booklet). Various Artists. Legacy (88697 59214 2). 2009.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ↑ A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector (Booklet). Various Artists. Legacy (88765 43310 2). 2012.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ↑ "Billboard Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Various Artists: A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2023. 52. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Tónlistinn – Plötur – Vika 52 – 2023" [The Music – Albums – Week 52 – 2023] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 52 (dal 22.12.2023 al 28.12.2023)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  32. ↑ "2023 52-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. December 29, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Album 2023 uke 52". VG-lista. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Veckolista Album, vecka 52, 2023". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Phil Spector | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Taylor Swift's 1989 (Taylor's Version) Tops Billboard 200 for Fifth Week". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  37. ↑ "Various Artists Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  38. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  39. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  40. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  42. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  43. ↑ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  44. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  45. ↑ "British album certifications – Phil Spector – Christmas Gift For You". British Phonographic Industry.

Sources


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