Album Essentials: "A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector"
By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor
Since its release in November of 1963, 'A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector' has long been championed as the ultimate rock and roll Christmas album, and a celebrated annual spin on turntables, CD players, and now streaming, every year thereafter.
It's easy to figure out why once the first track, 'White Christmas,' as performed by Darlene Love, sets the tone. As good as that is to kick off the Christmas party, it truly jumps into high gear as the Ronettes deliver the definitive 'Frosty The Snowman.' It was nearly impossible for radios, or record players, to contain the joy emanating from the speakers.
That is ultimately the key to this album, Joy! It resonates throughout, from one song to the next, as Spector's signature sound rattles the ornaments off the tree. It's a well-known tale, and then some, that Phil Spector was a troubled, angry, and often evil hearted creature. Separate the art from the artist here, and bask in the sonic overload of Joy, which was in short supply at that moment. The album was released on November 22, 1963, the same day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
The Crystals take of 'Santa Claus is Coming To Town' and 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,' from the Ronettes, rocks the house, and truly delivers the feel of the holiday, in the best of ways possible. Other Christmas classics like 'Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer,' 'Winter Wonderland' and 'Sleigh Ride,' all get the full Spector treatment, as the Wrecking Crew usuals such as Hal Blaine – drums, Don Randi – piano, Tommy Tedesco – guitar, Leon Russell - piano, Jack Nitzsche, Sonny Bono, and a dozen others, create the signature 'wall of sound' in all its glory.
Though the majority of the album is made up of standards, its the1963 composition of 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),' written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwhich, and Phil Spector, that steals the show. The song has gone on to become a genuine Christmas standard, standing right up alongside the traditional tunes before it. The album scored high, reaching No. 8 on Billboard, but it was seasonal and temporary. It has taken 60 years, for it to be elevated to classic level.
Though many acts have joined in the reindeer games over the years of issuing Christmas records, very successfully in some cases, 'A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector' stands alone. The nearest competition, from where I stand, would be 'The Ventures Christmas Album,' which was issued 2 years later. And while it’s a very cool record, the emotional depth, and ‘Joy’ this one brings, makes certain it stands alone as a true Essential!