A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector

Nice

6.8

Calm english christmas songs

Classic :D

This is Christmas music. I thought the production was quite good, and felt varied and interesting. Although I doubt I would go back to this, it is definitely a good album. 4/5

6/10

I liked it, had some songs I was familiar with. 3

I like the ghetto version of Frosty the Snowman much more. 3/5

Pretty standard classic Christmas songs, with female Motown flair.

The vocalists on this record belong on the "nice" list, as the singing is terrific (especially The Ronettes' spirited performance of "Sleigh Ride"). The producer of this album belongs on the "naughty" list for his claustrophic "Wall Of Sound" production which reduces the backing music to a fuzzy, cluttered mess.

Gotta admit I was not super pleased to see this as the next album on the list (listening in June and usually not big on Christmas music), but it got me. Didn’t realize how locked in The Ronettes and Darlene Love were when it came to Christmas tunes, so many classic recordings that I had no clue came from one album. Plus I’m kind of a sucker for Spector’s spoken outro on Silent night, very endearing! Fav Track: Sleigh Ride

I don’t think there could be a better or classier Christmas compilation. But it’s still just that - a Christmas record.

3/5

Happy Christmas!

3.5 Production and performances were good

classic xmas songs, if youre a christian this album is gold but im not 3.5/5

merry xmas White Christmas - 3/5 Frosty the Snowman - 3/5 The Bells of St. Mary - 3/5 Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - 4/5 Sleigh Ride - 5/5 Marshmallow World - 3/5 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - 2/5 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - 3/5 Winter Wonderland - 3/5 Parade of the Wooden Soldiers - 3/5 Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - 5/5 Here Comes Santa Claus - 3/5 Silent Night - 1/5 (get this creepy murderous fuck out of my ear) Average score: 3.2/5 🎄🎄🎄 nothing much to say. it's xmas music. the same ones we've likely all heard every xmas for years now. i suppose i prefer some of the covers featured here more than i do others, but that's all i've got to say about this one.

Meh. Ok. I’d rather have listened to each of those groups perform their range of work. The sound is influential though. A 3.

I mean, it's Christmas music. It serves its purpose. But its not something I'm going to *listen* to, you know? But yeah. Its fine.

Ok c'est des classiques mais le son Wall of Sound de Spector, ça devient vite relou.

I love the early 60s girl group sound, and applying it to Christmas standards is a stroke of genius. I just don’t want to hear an entire album of Christmas tunes, even on Christmas.

This album was fine, but honestly, after two months of Christmas songs everywhere, it was a bit much. Particularly with Phil Spector's "wall of sound" which I can only take in small doses.

A pretty good collection of Christmas songs, full of the typical nostalgia and tinsel expected in these records. The production and instrumentation are impressive, though this album is severely limited to the Xmas context - I'm listening to this once a year maximum. Best Tracks: - White Christmas - Sleigh Ride - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) Worst Tracks: - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus Rating: 6/10

It's a totally cromulent Christmas album. A lot of these are played each year on various radio stations. I don't love the sound, but there are a few classics here.

I’m not American so I don’t have nostalgia for these songs, but it’s a great bunch of remediations in the classic Motown wall of sound style. Fun to listen to.

It’s of its era now, but is part of Christmas in our family. Have to just ignore the Phil Spector element to it. 3

It's a Christmas album of sixties pop-soul groups. It's very good. If you look at the track list and think you'll like it, you will. Some people love Christmas music. Those people will love this album. I am not one of those people. Three stars.

Don't know if this was intentional or not (but I feel like it SOMEHOW was because what are the odds?), but I got this album on Christmas morning. So I should've really loved this more, considering the magic of it all, but it was just fine. The Phil Spector wall of sound and gorgeous girl-group harmonies are in full effect here; it sounds great, all things considered. But I'm just not sure how I feel about listening to these Christmas standards that I've been hearing all my life, from shopping malls to primary school recitals, over again. I've never been a Christmas guy, never celebrated myself, but I can always get behind the spirit of it all. Y'know, walking around a Christmas town in the snow with all the lights and all that and hearing this kind of music. But sitting in my room by myself and listening to this doesn't work and was clearly not how these songs were intended to be heard, admittedly. But that was the environment I heard all the other albums here in, so why make an exception for this one? Either way, the talent on display in this compilation is nothing to scoff at; it's a pleasant listen if you ignore the very tacky nature of it all. The songs I didn't really know of, like 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa' by the Ronettes and especially 'Christmas' by Darliene Love, I actually really loved, just incredible '60s pop music in this grand, yet grainy style that I generally adore. And even the Ronettes cover of 'Frosty the Snowman' worked for me. But yeah, call me a killer of whimsy, or Grinch, or whatever, but the idea of this album isn't really something I can get behind. And I did NOT need to hear Phil's dumbass voice at the end there, no one likes this guy!!!

A Christmas album from a convicted killer … this list keeps plumbing news lows.

nice

Plastic

One of the ones that got behind over the holidays so listening to this on the 13th Jan doesn’t exactly feel like the spirit in which it ideas meant. It is my first Christmas gift from a murderer so good for me I guess. In light of this the Silent Night freaked me out. Don’t really wanna hear that again. These versions of White Christmas, Baby Please Come Home, Sleigh Ride are all played a lot.

Good enough to listen to once

This brings back a lot of memories for me, not the album itself but most of the music. My mom would listen to Christmas music during the season and most of these song were the versions I would hear. Prolly a 3.5 just for nostalgia so I'lll give it a 3

Familiar classics

Not entirely un-novel — there are bridges, intros, and outros this may be cut rom caroling and supermarket shopping versions. There are also songs that have been replaced in the rotation. I noticed a strong inverse correlation between my knowledge of a song and its singability. I think modern versions of many may even have the vocal mixed higher. I couldn’t tell you if some of the tracks were the covers I’m familiar with or not, except for obvious cases like ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’ as by the Ronettes as opposed Michael Jackson. ‘Parade of the Wooden Soldiers’ was a stand out for me; I think it was the song served best by the girl group style.

classic Merry Christmas btw 7/10 2025/12/25

good classic christmas album, not a ton else to say beyond that

Overall good vibes and has some of the best songs for getting into the Christmas spirit.

This album you know what is funny this album might not even have as many high points as tapestry or disintegration which are the only two other albums i rated lower on here so far but like i do love the ronettes and that whole sound though i do hate phil soector? Idk. I think this actually gets a 3. You can’t just throw it on at a christmas party and expect it to go right front to back like there’s definite skips, you know which ones im talking about it is not marshamallow world i dont care about spelling. Actually it is a three, i already decided that oops forgot im hust repeating myself

марі крістен.. мері кріштмас... хепі хріст.... меррі крісмас еврібаді я: блін цікаво що пишуть люди про цей альбом в ревью! це ж просто різдвяний альбом що там такого можна писати! (5 хвилин після) ....а...

Amazing

Appropriately Christmas-y, on Christmas.

Christmas but okay

Some of the best singers of the era, backed up by the best session musicians knocking out a top class Christmas album. Spector is hugely dodgy though

I liked it and so many of these songs are iconic. But the sound is pretty bad and retro, so not a fave.

Classic Christmas album

Great christmas album, although not something I’d look for continuously

I haven’t listened to the whole album but most songs have been listened to outside of album form. It’s Christmas music it’s great and festive and captures the spirit of Christmas something I fear modern music is not able to do when making Christmas music. These are staples of Christmas and classics that will never get old

Fun! Not a huge fan of Christmas music by any means but I enjoyed it.

Hørt i bilen 1. juledag med Jon

7/10

awww cute, got a Christmas album on Christmas as a person who worked in retail, I cannot listen to this album but I believe its good

whatever

Don't really like Christmas music.Lady's got a great voice. Warm and comforting album but wouldn't play it for myself.

6/10 A perfectly fine 60s Christmas album.

classic

6/10 frosty the snowman 12/25/25

Manic-fueled Xmas spirit. You better be having fun or else. Definitely recognized “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”, and the other songs were catchy and fun as well.

This sounds exactly what you would expect a Phil Spector Christmas album to sound like. All the Christmas classics (and a few less popular tracks like "The Bells of St. Mary" and "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers") with a super-tight rhythm section, beautifully arranged backing vocals, and the standard "wall of sound" production. There are five different artists on this album, but frankly they all sounded more or less the same...which is what Phil Spector was after. Shame about the whole psychological breakdown and murder thing, but boy could he make records in his prime.

De echte kerstklassiekers! Leuk om in de sfeer te komen

Marvellous album. Made its job to create the Christmas spirit :)

Puro espíritu navideño, finalmente escuche completas muchas canciones navideñas que solo escuchaba en tiendas o videos cortos. No diré que me cambió la vida, pero fue una experiencia gratificante.

It was a fun christmas album, nothing special. I also didn't know who Phil Spector was or the things that he had done so that was interesting.

Not a big Christmas music lady but I’ll take this over most other Christmas music. Having the murderer himself talk to you at the end is an awful way to end the album though. Also i finally got a record with Women and non-white performers! Only took like 2 weeks!

Skipping this till xmas

Not a Christmas person but thinking from a Christmas persons view probably quite a solid album.

who can go wrong with a good christmas album

if i liked christmas music this would be an all time great but alas.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I am NOT feeling christmasy rn gangy🥀

shame phil spector killed a woman

świąteczne buja ale ale świąteczne

I guess if I have to listen to Christmas music, this album is for the most part one I don't mind too much.

Beautiful Christmas LP with classics

classics

Have to admit not the biggest Christmas fan, English is my second language, and this music doesn’t scream holiday season to me. Either way I enjoyed myself, merry Christmas

Guess the better Christmas albums

Vanhanaikaisia amerikkalaisia joululauluja Phil Spectorin luomalla äänivallilla varustettuna. Mukavaa, kevyttä kuunneltavaa joka sopii hyvin tähän päivään.

It’s Christmas music, well made, good production, good vocals, Christmas music.

Great album that makes for a standalone christmas mini-playlist. Would never play outside of holiday season though.

Love a Christmas album

very cool that this is the christmas day pick. some absolute classics on here.

merry christmas, love hearing a album produced by a murderer to celebrate the jolly spirit

the classics are classic and the rest are…….

A pretty fun Christmas album.

A lot of Christmas classics. I love the old sound and definitely some of the best holiday songs ever on here. All fun overall, but nothing amazing. Top Songs: White Christmas, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

this might be the best Christmas album created by a convicted murderer

Can’t believe I got this album on Christmas Day

Good album for the time of the year 1/5 didn’t finish the album 2/5 didn’t keep the album 3/5 kept it and will listen when songs randomly show up on shuffle 4/5 kept it and will listen to it again front to back on my phone 5/5 buying the vinyl

Didn't get around to listening to this properly, and somehow my last review got repeated here. I'll give it a proper listen next Xmas, I promise!!

Solid Christmas album, learned that Phil Spector is a murderer too so that was interesting as well.

Christmas

It’s a Christmas album. A compilation album. A covers album. I should hate this and complain about it being on the list but this is fantastic throughout. As good as a Christmas album can be.

My rating 3.2

Bon ben je m’attendais à détester, mais finalement, c’était plutôt fun. D’ailleurs je connaissais déjà Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), que j’ai sûrement entendu dans un des grands films de mon enfance. Très malin de faire popper cet album le jour de Noël.

Time and repetition has rendered this elevator music. Fav track silent night

A perfect album for Christmas Day. This was one of my favorite records growing up. My family played it on repeat every holiday season when I was a child. It's a shame about Phil Spector and his crimes, but I'm able to separate the artist from the art and still enjoy the music. Regardless of your feelings about Spector, this record is absolutely worth listening to.

Sounds great. But, after all, it's Christmas music.

Rolling Stone's best Christmas album of all time... I love Spectors Wall of Sound take on these Christmas classics. Especially the Ronettes' songs.

Bonne musique de Noël

Good Xmas day listen. Classic but alt versions I haven’t heard. 2.6/5.0

Well... that sure is a wall of sound

Some of these have become the definitive rendition. All of these are good.

Not my preferred classic Christmas album but it's alright.

Lovely to listen to. Weird bio

interesting and fun takes on christmas carols through the wall of sound

Favorite track(s): who cares man, it's Christmas

somehow despite all of this music being on the edge of being right on the edge of hopelessly annoying, it actually all kinda vibes and is good. i'm shocked! well curated

No. 57 So many classics I have heard here and there over all the years, and I never knew they all came from this one album!

7.5 / 10

As I said in the entry on Michael Jackson's "Thriller," we're reviewing the art, not the man. Phil Spector was always garbage, and his garbage-ness even extended to the making of this album, overworking everyone involved and stressing them out. And while this album is no "Thriller," I wouldn't toss it in the refuse pile. Charging up some Christmas songs with a brisk pace, insistent instrumentation (the "Wall of Sound") and exuberant singing is going to be an improvement every single time. The result is a generally pleasant listen throughout, but if you're not into Christmas music (and I'm not), it's not going to make you a convert. The core of most of these songs is still pretty basic and lacking in catchy melodies that would elevate the production, but if someone was going to make you play a Christmas album at gunpoint, you could definitely do far worse.

Fav: Christmas by Darlene Good compilation!

You really can’t go wrong with some classic Christmas songs. Obviously this type of music only fits a certain time of year, but it fits the time well. This was a nice surprise for the holiday and was fitting for my long car ride to see family.

Mixture of classics with some lesser-played songs but a lovely listen on my Christmas Day drive.

Overall Rating - 3.35/5 (6.69/10). Love the production sound, good arrangement, very good musicianship.

Merry Christmas

Did they do this on purpose? Yes. Checking everyone else’s review dates, this album lands in your list on Christmas. It’s kinda cute. What isn’t cute is Phil Spector. I enjoyed these takes on Christmas staples. Or did this album make them staples? Either way, this was a fun album. What isn’t fun is Phil Spector. Let’s give it a 3/5 and move on.

Known for the wall of sound the Christmas album was no diffeeent.

Favourite Track: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

It was a fun Christmas album. Lots of classics.

Fun, festive album for Christmas! 2.5

if the vibe is ever to play christmas music i’ll try to remember to play this one

Very fitting selection for 12/25. Any other day it’s probably a 2 for me. But today, I’ll give it a 3 - I put this one while my kid opened presents and for the car ride to the holiday party- it set the vibe perfectly. This is a holiday staple and should be in all holiday rotations and playlists.

Strong 3

This KILLED me Phil Spector

I rated this a 3 because in my system, it means I liked enough of it that it is already on or has just been added to a playlist. But also.. ew.

Every so often with this list it's weird to go "Oh, those songs were on an album, they weren't just on grocery store speakers since time immemorial.

Great singers. And great production even though the guy is a murdering ass. I am not a Christmas music fan, and would grab Ella or frank over this if I need a tinsel hit.

Merry Christmas to all - including murderers!

Big sound. Christmas. Nice.

I don’t like Christmas music. But this is probably as good as it gets.

Great album, great performances all around but I hate Christmas music so I’ll give it 3 stars.

Great production, Christmas pop

If you are a fan of the early 60's Phil Spector sound, then this is required Christmas listening. Christmas albums dont really feature in my collection, but I have to admit there are some great performances here, that are as good as, or even better than the more recent efforts you will hear in every mall and restaurant at this time of year

I sort of expected this to be a disaster but it's actually pretty listenable as far as Christmas music goes. It's not rocked my world but I might reach out for it on Christmas. Not sure why it's on the list though?

It's the first Christmas day during the 1001 project album. Strangely I don't know this one despite having a number of Christmas albums. Maybe the dark spectre of Spector kept me away, but here I don't have a choice. It's wall of sound soul pop and certainly feels Christmassy with harmonies bright instrumentation and lushness. So I can see why it became a staple.

Oh so 1001 is fucking with me now?

Lonely Christmas

It’s so sweet and special to listen to an album like this today!

It’s Christmas music! Wonderful for about one month a year. Some great tunes on here, but not all of them are my favorite version of the songs. Also, Phil Spector murdered someone. Best Track: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Darlene Love

Not cohesive

ueh

I wonder how many albums on this list had Hal Blaine as a session drummer.

I'm not much of a fan of Christmas music, but if you must, have Darlene Love and Ronnie Spector sing it. Some gems, esp Baby Please Come Home and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. There's also a charming message of peace and love from a convicted murderer and all around abusive dickhead. Merry Christmas!

I hadn't really heard about Phil Specter prior to this, though obviously I've heard his work and influence. Right here we're getting a classic American Christmas album. It's on the better end of cheesy holiday music, with "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" giving a quality display of artistry. It's well written, well composed, and well executed, kind of gives you an idea what the record is gonna be, but it's the only original track on there. Everything else has been produced to hit the mood in a simple but effective way. The album is niche, but I've found myself in this vibe, and I can see myself looking for this one in very particular dates some years in the future. It's great material for your Christmas playlist. I'm sure I'll be googling "Ike and Tina producer murderer Christmas album" to find this one when the mood hits. 2.7/5 Would rather be listening to: Willie Colón & Héctor Lavoe - Asalto Navideño Vo. 1

5/10

A lot of Christmas bangers on this. Also the others. Somewhat limited appeal to this in terms of content. 3 Heard before? Most Owned: No: 39/153 (25%) Will I get? No

In terms of Christmas albums this is a good one. I don't care for Phil Spector personally, but you cannot deny that his 'wall of sound' sound is iconic.

Clearly a Phil Spectre production, complete with a bevy of artists from his stable. I’m not a big Christmas song guy, but for what it is, actually pretty good.

I mean it’s Christmas standards from some seriously good artists. Can’t hate it. But also can’t rave about it.

How can you not enjoy this on Christmas day?! Perfect.

Christmas classics from the 60’s. Lots of Ronettes takes. Some of these are definitely on your Christmas playlist.

Predictable, but was enjoyable. Played while vegetables were prepared. It’s all solid, let’s be honest. I followed this with John Zorn’s A Dreamers Christmas, which is a beautiful Christmas album that I would recommend to all.

What do you want me to say? It's a Christmas album init, and a compilation at that! Essential at Christmas maybe but for the rest of the year... not so much!

I rather appreciated a bit of Christmas cheer as everyone opened their presents. It also made it easy to get my 1001 album listen in without any complaints. I don’t think I’ve listened to this album before but I’ve probably listened to most of the songs before one way or another.

♫ Listening to "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by The Ronettes (A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector, 1963) ♫

The album features Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” one of the greatest damn holidays songs ever. The album also contains some pretty bog-standard Christmas fare—and, then, Phil Spector’s almost-unlistenable treatment of “Silent Night.” How do you put a rating on all that?

I love that I got this for my first Xmas during this project. That’s a great touch! I do enjoy this music- except for the absolutely ridiculous version of “Sleigh Ride,” which is the most popular song off of this album. There is something about the constant key changes that ramps up my anxiety. Yes- I know it’s supposed to amp up the excitement, but it’s just kind of overwhelming. I hate that arrangement. But everything else is pretty good. Merry Christmas!!! THREE STARS

Some of the best Christmas music for sure. A really nice setting for that Spector production style of the time. A lot of the arrangements are really fun. Then "Christmas (baby.. " is an absolute jam. Very fun to get on Christmas day and listen through while making Christmas dinner, but I'm not goi to listen to this one every month

An absolutely killer Christmas album. All of the artists really hit their marks, and that wall of sound really pops! It's a shame Phil Spector's name has to be all over it, otherwise this had a real shot at 5 stars.

Christmas standards, good versions and perfect for the season

lol, a compilation record. How this made the list, I’ll never understand. I do like the Phil Spector sound though. It’s fine, but I can’t give this a real rating based on the fact that I’m basically rating an audio engineer/producer. 3/5

This album’s OK. Yeah, it’s fun to hear a bunch of Christmas songs on Christmas, and the sound is full and interesting. But to me, this is nothing spectacular, and Phil talking at the end of silent night was just kind of creepy to me. Fun to get on Christmas Day, but I’ve heard so many different variations of these songs. These weren’t consistently any better or worse than the others I’ve already heard.

The idea of a glossy, high-energy Christmas compilation is charming, but the Wall of Sound ends up overwhelming the music. The heavy reverb — Spector’s trademark — turns many of the arrangements into a kind of echoing blur, making the songs feel more crowded than festive. There’s craft here and some undeniably classic performances, but the production is so dense that it becomes hard to enjoy the record on its own terms.

I really don't try to do any of that art-artist separation crap unless it's an artist I already really like. I have zero reason to like Phil Spector as a producer or a person. The music is great, all classic covers of already good Christmas songs, I just really wish that anybody other than Mr. Serial Rapist/Murderer made it. The knowledge that Mr. Spector did what he did totally taints this album for me. It still gets saxophone bonus points, sadly.

É um bom e divertido álbum de natal. Pula Unicrom.

It's a classic Christmas album. If I have to listen to Christmas music, this is the album I'd pick. But I don't have to listen to Christmas music and I don't want to.

Classic Christmas album.

Happy Holidays to all! I must wonder if the rating on this is a little inflated due to it being given out on Christmas. Like if I got this in June, it would *not* hit. But this is probably the best way to handle this regardless. This is Christmas music, these are all classics, you probably know these songs. And they are well performed too. Everyone's favorite menace to society who died in prison, Phil Spector, puts his signature wall of sound all over it, and it works. The arrangements are warm and dense, and it feels sufficiently Christmas-y. I have the same problems here that I do with the rest of Christmas music though: namely that I've heard every song a billion times. Also, if you're in a good mood, it's great and jolly, but if youre feeling at all down, it does *not* help. But it's Christmas, and I'm in a good mood. So, even though Phil Spector was a dangerous lunatic, I must say that I am having fun, even if he spends the last song talking at me. I know only one way to end this review: to say what has been said many times before: "Merry Christmas To All And To All A Good Night".

Always like when they push out albums on here for specific days and very glad there is an Xmas one for today. Only just learning about Phil Spector and his past, but let’s start with music… It took me a while to make sense of this album and the phrasing in the description. In short it seems they are covers by artists he often used and the “wall of sound” is just his production style, but not recognisable as a wall of sound. It gets a bit confusing. And then you start to read how people experienced him and also his crazy behaviour and subsequent murder of his girlfriend, taking him to prison for the rest of his life. I’m not really sure what I think of a fairly standard cover album on this list. The songs are obviously familiar and enjoyable but I seem to be missing what makes this thing standout 🤷🏻‍♂️ And on further reading it seems to be something about how stand out the production and density of the sound was at the time. In contrast to the clean, polished Christmas tracks and recordings released up to that point. (3.5)

These are great performances, Mr. Spector’s misdeeds notwithstanding. I’d rather they were sprinkled in among the rest of my holiday listening.

Jolly

Oiskohan ehkä paras joululevy tosiaankin

Fine album but I’m not a Christmas music fan

Better than Coldplay

3.9

Well it's christmas today and this is a christmas album. what do you want me to say now?

You kind of like the Christmas song versions you like, so this was nice but yeah

6/10 Favourite: White Christmas Least Favourite: Here Comes Santa Claus

Послушал.

classiconi soul

I like the wall-of-sound thing but ugh, Christmas music

I’m listening to this after Christmas and usually hate Christmas songs, but this was still pretty good. I didn’t know all those classic songs came from this single album. Better than expected.

Getting excited about a random specific day of the year is a foreign concept to me. I never really cared about any holiday, and since I’m not American, Catholic Christmas is not something that’s celebrated where I’m from. That is all to say that I’m not the target audience of this album. However, this record is still quite enjoyable. It doesn’t fill me with the “Christmas spirit” or whatever the fuck, but what it does is deliver a collection of nicely made pop songs. The vibe is great. The songs are chill, happy, and fun. It really raises your mood even if you don’t care about Christmas. Wall of Sound is also something I’m a fan of (although I would’ve liked it more if it were used somewhere outside of pop). It’s still pop, so you won’t fine something overly unique here (not that they tried; it’s a Christmas album after all), but it’s still fun. 7/10

Cozy

The album is fine… I just can’t get past it being produced by a convicted murderer

It’s a Christmas album, so that kinda limits it. It has all the classic songs, and they’re very good, but it’s still simply a Christmas album. Good for 2 weeks

listening in june

Perfect timing for the season. Christmas tunes from Motown greats. Highlights: “White Christmas” and “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home”

I'm more of a "A Very Special Christmas" kind of guy. My holiday season doesn't really get into gear until I hear what they are cooking up over on Hollis Avenue. That said, over 60 years after its release, this album still defines the sound of Christmas. That is a pretty incredible accomplishment. Having these songs, or ones that sound just like them, droning on in the background for a couple weeks a year is fine with me.

This album is like being a twelve year old and coming downstairs on a wintery morning to see that your mother has made pancakes. Your dad is home, which in itself makes the morning special. He is a high-flying businessman and normally leaves for work before you wake up. He is late home most nights too, usually arriving after you have been sent to bed. He claims it is because the O'Halloran account is taking longer than expected to lock down and the deadline for settlement is approaching. The reality is he is having an affair with his secretary, and he is late home because he has had her bent over his corner office desk. Your mum knows. Your sister knows. You don't like to admit it to yourself, but even you know something is wrong between your parents. You mum never says anything about it though, because starting a confrontation would mean risking losing the comfortable lifestyle that she has grown accustomed to. To cope with the situation, your mother drinks three or four glasses of a buttery chardonnay with lunch. Sometimes you have to walk home from school because she doesn't show up to pick you up. Instead of confronting your father about his infidelity, your mother takes up tennis lessons, and times her poolside sunbathing sessions with the pool boy's appointments. Pietro the tennis coach and Carlos the pool cleaner used to enjoy the playful cat and mouse games that your mother both played with them, but it has been getting a bit too real lately, and they are nervous about things going too far. Your sister sees what is going on far more clearly than you do. As well as the stress of her parents' marriage falling apart, she has her final exams coming up at school and she doesn't know what she wants to do with her life beyond that. She has started microdosing LSD as a way to get through the day. One time Carlos walked into the garden shed to grab the net and found your sister smoking a joint. He foolishly accepted her offer to share a toke, and now she feels she can blackmail him into keeping quiet about what she is up to. She knows he is attracted to her, so she makes sure to wear her lowest cut tops and shortest shorts whenever he is around, and makes overtly sexual comments to him when your mother isn't around. Carlos hates your family, and he hates his job. But he needs it, as he has bills to pay and limited experience so would struggle to find work elsewhere. Your life feels like it is crumbling around you. There is no support available at home, and your disinterested teachers aren't here to be your psychiatrist either. They aren't paid enough for that. Your only option is to lock yourself in your room and play computer games, longing for future days when you can escape it all. But none of that matters this morning. Because your mum made pancakes, and the whole family is sitting around the kitchen table together, acting like everything is good in life. Merry Christmas, and RIP Lana Clarkson.

I didn't realize this Phil Spector guy was a murderer. Otherwise, I think that the music was okay for the most part. I enjoyed most of the tracks from The Ronettes. Favourite Track(s): White Christmas, Winter Wonderland, Sleigh Ride Least Favourite Track(s): Silent Night, Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

A pleasant Christmas album that takes you back to an older time. I especially enjoyed the songs by the Ronettes.

A pleasant Christmas album that brings you back to an older time.

I didn’t like when he started talking

It's a Christmas album. Phil sounds like a stand-up guy!

Classic Christmas album. Nothing crazy.

Christmas classics what’s not to like I guess

Hi i refuse to listen to this, but my friend also got this and its not too bad, christmas mall music, 6/10

Omdat het kerst is en lekker oud klinkt.

Quite enjoyed this. Very upbeat and catchy. ‘Christmas (Please Come Home) is a standout track.

Good for Christmas, but there are many albums like this.

Classic!

Favorite songs: Sleigh Ride, Winter Wonderland, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

3/5 Iconic BANGERS. Jolliest album from what's probably the most un-jolly man on the planet. Docked a point for the murder and because it isn't like, a masterpiece.

Had good christmas bangers

A pretty solid Christmas album. Enough said.

About as good as a Christmas album can possibly get. Shame I'm once again reminded of the existence of Phil Spector. Faves: Sleigh Ride, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Listened- Christmas morning with breakfast

Classic Christmas album. Understandable addition to a list of influential and important albums. Cool to have it on your first Christmas. Would never bother to listen to it otherwise, unsurprisingly.

12/25/25. Good ol Christmas oldies. 6/10

Album #13 Phil Spector: A Christmas Gift For You Christmas music isn’t necessarily something that I get too engrossed in around the holidays; that isn’t to say that it doesn’t have its place, however. My only real familiarity with Phil Spector before this was that he murdered something beautiful; of course, referring to “Let it Be” by The Beatles. Oh, and he also killed a woman. So overall, not someone I ever intended to explore further. But the production of this album is actually pretty good, though the vocal performances certainly elevate it. This is a very solid selection of Christmas songs; if this were the only Christmas album in your collection, you would probably be alright. My favourite performances come from the Ronettes and Darlene Love, and I’m not too big a fan of Bobby B. Soxx’s tracks, specifically Here Comes Santa Claus, which comes directly after the beautiful “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” and feels quite out of place. As far as Christmas albums go this is probably the best, though I’ve not heard any others; but the album really only has a place in one month, so I can’t rate it too highly. Best Tracks: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), Sleigh Ride, Parade of the Wooden Soldiers Worst Track: Here Comes Santa Claus Score out of 10: 7

i love the ronettes hellooooo! also i didn't know who phil spector was before this, fuck that guy. saved: frosty the snowman, sleigh ride, i saw mommy kissing santa claus, christmas (baby please come home).

It was fine. Why did that one fucking guy give a monologue over the music for silent night? Just give me the actual song idgaf about him.

I bopped along to the tunes. I don't want to give 4 stars to a convicted murderer, so it's getting 3. I like to play Christmas tunes when it's December, I just think I prefer mine without the homicide.

A Christmas classique, that I have no reason to listen to at any other time of year.

Well the name of this album sounds like a threat if I've ever heard one. Phil Spector pulled a gun on 4 different women for not wanting to screw him before murdering Lana Clarkson. Also he did so much abuse to write it here would take more time then their is in the day. Anyhow this is a compilation album and it's not like he sings on it so I'm going to reaaaaally try to block out the thought of who I'm listening to. Then again he does SPEAK on it which activated my fight or flight senses hard. Overall I think its just okay. The issue with the wall of sound is that it sounds better the worse the equipment is, so I'm listening to this in the worst way possible. It was designed for 60s radios afterall. This is the only of The Ronettes and The Crystals on here, which is unfortunate because I think they had songs a lot better then those on here. Sleigh Rides, Santa Claus is coming to Town, and Winter Wonderland are huge standouts though and these recordings have almost transcended the album itself in pop culture. I really can't get over the production though, I've seen it work elsewhere but here it's just too much

It's a Christmas album assembled by a convicted felon. It also has a lot of The Ronettes and some of the best versions of classic songs that I have heard.

it crisms! happ crimcram

It’s a 3.5 for me- fun holiday classic!

clásicos con grupos clásicos, no podría estar mal la vea pero no soy mega navideña

A necessary evil, decently executed.

Brilliant production and performances can't quite help me get over the fact that I fucking hate Christmas music

actually kind of pog. some completely stellar vocal performances here. but also its christmas music so if homie puts this on, 340 days out of the year im ripping out the aux. favorite is Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus also sounds pretty definitive

I love Christmas music more than most, but these were just nice little small classics from the 60s. Just decent 4.8/10

Phil Spector??? You mean the murderer????

Fint lille julealbum

Julmusik är ju vad det är, Phil Spector vad han är… Men dåligt är det inte som julalbum.

En tumregel är att aldrig ta emot en julklapp från just Phil spector. Men förutom mord (både av en människa och av flera spår på ”let it be”-skivan) är ju det här någonting gubben var en fena på - köttig 60-talssoul! Att höra Phil i sista låten är spännande. Man undrar hur många i produktionen han mulat in en revolver i käften på när han tappat tålamodet? Julskivor är oftast piss, och denna ska bedömas i sin väldigt specifika genre. Då är den väl en rätt så stark 3a va?

Jag är trött på julmusik! 😤 Men det är väl fint.

It sure is some Christmas music. Good renditions, a couple of which are in eternal rotation on every Christmas station, but it's still a bunch of covers of Frosty and Winter Wonderland and whatever. Phil Spector is a monster

Frohe Weihnachten!

Das kickt außerhalb der Weihnachtszeit natürlich nicht so richtig. Gute Songs und Produktionen sind insb. mit Blick auf das Erscheinungsjahr dabei, daher (und trotz Phil Spector als Person) noch gerade so 3 Sterne.

Keine Ahnung wie ich ein Weihnachtsalbum außerhalb von Weihnachten bewerten soll. Zur jetzigen Jahreszeit ist es aufjedenfall voll in Ordnung, aber das war es dann auch schon.

Er hat die Wall of Sound erfunden..!? Nice one, Phil 🐻

Makes me yearn for Easter music

Seems like a nice, wholesome Christmas album by a nice, wholesome dude.

Fun

How am I supposed to rate this?

Nothing says Merry Christmas like convicted murderer, Phil Spector! I love Christmas music, but I prefer the classics - Bing Crosby, Burl Ives, Gene Autry.

I think whomever runs this project has lost sight of what it’s supposed to be about; 1001 albums you must hear before you die. A collection of Christmas carols works today on Christmas but only because I celebrate Christmas. If I came across this album in July, I’d want nothing to do with it. The music is fine but I disagree with the importance of this album for the larger audience.

I mean, they're Christmas Carol's, what's there to really say other than these are fun versions of holiday classics.

sympatoche sans plus

Banger de noel

Je tiens à dire que j'ai missclick la note de l'album d'avant je voulais mettre 4, mais vu que de base je voulais mettre 3 ça va. Pour en revenir à l'album, c'est des musiques de Noël quoi

Its okay. You gotta be in the mood for Christmas, and I never am.

It's Christmas music!!

Definitely a Christmas album - I’m a bit behind on albums but couldn’t face listening to this in January. Phil Spector is a bad person but there are some classic bops on here. For all of the above probably can’t rate this higher than a 3

Kein Fan vom Sound

Classic spector sound, wild to think all these standard versions of the songs were form the same album.3.5 rounded down because it's only got 3 weeks of annual shelf life.

Maybe the definitive Christmas album. I don’t recommend reading the Phil Spector wiki whilst listening.

Music equivalent of roast turkey dinner. Perfect for this time of year but that doesn’t mean it’s actually good and you’d be sectioned if you considered it in July.

As far as Christmas songs go this is fine but I don’t like those anyway lol

Day 135 Some lovely Christmas songs which I may have enjoyed more had I not been stuck on a 12 hour day shift, maybe next Christmas it’ll rate higher Highlights White Christmas Here comes Santa claus

Uansett hvor bra julemusikk er, vil det fortsatt være julemusikk. Når det kommer til julemusikk, har Phil Spector produsert versjoner som stiller høyt i sin klasse, men julemusikk er en avart av musikk som jeg også kunne klart meg uten. Joda, det finnes julesanger jeg respekterer, men det finnes egentlig ingen julesanger jeg hører på. Det nærmeste jeg kommer å like julesanger, er Sufjan Stevens' Silver & Gold, og selv det er et album som lider (musikalsk) av å være et julealbum. For en VA-skive kunne den godt vært litt mer variert. Om jeg ikke hadde visst bedre, hadde jeg ikke hatt noen problemer med å tro at alle låtene var utført av samme artist. Det skal sies at den ene originale låta på skiva er en av de bedre julelåtene noensinne.

Listened to the first 10 seconds of all of these, all solid genre pieces that will happily make their way into my Christmas playlist and never be heard any other time of year. Fun research question for some rainy day : I also clicked each song at about the halfway point, nearly every one of them landed in the midway instrumental break. Is that a Phil Spector standard trick or do all do-wops have the same mid-point break?

Apparently this dude almost shot John Lennon and actually killed someone. Most famous Christmas murder. Album was enjoyable for a Christmas album though.

This christmas music was good but won't blow your mind or anything... Phil Spector on the other hand... He might just blow your mind... Played this in the car with my family on the way to grandma's house. The fam jam seemed to like it? Although my dad said Darlene Love sounded too nasaly for his liking lol.

Will never revisit

thoroughly regret falling behind and having to listen to this 5 days after Christmas, definitely would have hit better on the day itself!

An album of Christmas classics that pleased the family. It has managed to retain its charm and reputation in spite of being associated with a murderer. Like when everyone in Neighbours forgot that Paul Robinson killed someone.

Firstly, it is important to separate the man from the art here as he was a nasty piece of work. That said, the staying power of a number of the songs here is a testament to the musical vision there was. The wall of sound is so evocative of a particular nostalgia. A lot of credit must go to the artists themselves for their delivery too. As Christmas songs go, this is bearable at least.

Funny, I gave this a listen just yesterday, seeing a Christmas album in my collection that I'd never actually listened to before. After a quick look at the reviews, it's not very random that this album shows up on Christmas day, and it makes sense - who ever is going to listen to Christmas music other than at Christmas? The album itself, is not bad - it has that particular "Wall of Sound" of Phil Spector, and the classic Christmas songs are well performed. Just because I won't play it until next year's Christmas, and I still prefer James Brown's "Funky Christmas" and Bootsy Collin's "Christmas is 4 Ever" more, I'll give it 3/5.

It's Christmas classics, YMMV. It was fine. Merry Christmas. 3/5

Best Track - "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"

Allt är inte bra även om det är lätt att luras tro det. Men när det blir pophits snarare än julsånger är det fantastiskt. "Sleigh ride", "Santa Claus is coming to town", "Frosty...", "Rudolph..." *I saw mommy..." och enda originallåten, den helt oemotståndliga "Christmas (baby please come home)“ är alla lika omistliga som Jussi Björling en gång om året. Men dom är det också just som pophits. Som album stark trea

Hmm! Väljs verkligen alltid albumen slumpmässigt? Skivan som på gott och ont förändrade idén om hur julmusik kan och får låta. Självklart ska denna julklapp finnas med i boken. Är för den skull bra? Så klart det är. Och allra bästa är förstås Darlene Love med Christmas (baby please come home).

Fina framförande av julmusik. Även om Spectors hälsning på slutet är mest obehaglig nu när man vet vad han gjort.

A really good Christmas album. But it’s still a Christmas album.

this was on the list on Christmas but I listened to it in March, it is good because its contains Christmas songs you hear literally every year but also its Christmas songs so overplayed is an understatement and its just not something you go out of your way to listen to ever

not a Christmas music enjoyer ://

Couple bangers eh

It sounds like classic christmas music, which I guess is what spector did, was make this The classic sound, which has some merit to it, but murder yeah. I still haven't figured if I'm rating solely on music / influence. or everything....

*1963. *Pretty great Christmas album - Christmas (Baby Please), Sleigh Ride, and Winter Wonderland are all particularly good. *The spoken word Silent Night at the end is garbage though. RATING - 6.5/10

These are mostly pretty fun as they go, I guess, and I'd rather here this than most of what they play in stores, but it's not the Christmas music I'm generally interested in listening to.

Solid christmas album

I love this style of music and these are some of if not the most well known versions of this classic Christmas songs.

It's a Christmas album...

Christmas classic

That’s a nice upbeat Christmas record with some definitive version on, can’t argue, solid 3

Well, it had one job and it nailed it...

OK, these are great Christmas songs. Is an album of well known Christmas songs suitable for the 1001 albums you must listen before you die? I mean I guess if it's possible you've never heard them before...

The album starts well with two Christmas classics (White Christmas and Frosty the snowman), which suit the production style perfectly, but as soon as we go a bit deeper with the Bells of st mary and parade of the wooden soldiers, the enjoyment level drops significantly. Aside from these couple of dips the album is generally a feel good Christmas day listen with versions of things like Marshmallow World and Christmas (Baby please come home)which have become the definitive versions.

It’s hard to rate this album the same way that I’ve rated the others on this list. The production is obviously immaculate and all of the artists’ performances were amazing, but it’s still Christmas music, which is basically only acceptable in small doses at a specific time of year. I am happy to add it to the fairly short Christmas music rotation along with Christmas From the Heart by Bob Dylan, Songs for Christmas by Sufjan Stevens, and a few others, so I guess that’s something.

tough listen in feb, still i like most of the songs

Along with the Beach Boys Christmas Album, one of the few holiday-themed collection of songs I am happy to hear outside the season.

Perfectly alright collection of christmas songs! I am admittedly listening to this in april, but I think I'd rate it the same either way. Nothing too remarkable to me

Yessir, that was definitely a Christmas album. A pretty fun listen to be fair! But I know that there is Christmas music out there that's more than that -- music that I'd actually seek out for the occasion -- and this isn't it. Standouts: A Marshmallow World • Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

čisto okej. slušao na božić i štefanje pa nije bilo neprimjereno. bolje od 90% božićnih pjesama u eteru, ali to ne govori puno sretan božić svima!

Kändes som vanlig julmusik, men kul att få det på juldagen!

Legal e divertido, muito bem produzido, e vocais bonitos. Mas o ouvindo, não dá pra deixar de lado aquela sensação que você tá ouvindo uma firula. Feliz Natal e tudo mais. É possível desprender o viés natalino deste álbum? Eu particularmente não consigo, e estou o avaliando como se estivesse ouvindo em qualquer outro dia do ano. Sinceramente, nesse ponto da minha vida, o Natal (infelizmente) é como qualquer outro dia do ano pra mim. A magia já não existe mais como antigamente, sem querer ser muito pessimista ou coitadinho. Então é, o que persiste é a sensação de estar ouvindo uma firula sonora. Uma brincadeira. Não dá pra levar muito a sério o álbum, apesar do ótimo trabalho empenhado pelos artistas e pelo produtor. Imagina ouvir esse disco no meio de Maio, por exemplo. Me sinto meio Grinch dando essa nota à esse álbum, mas é como me senti o ouvindo! Um tanto quanto amargurado. Mas não é um disco ruim nem nada. Certamente fará muito sucesso nas comemorações festivas. 3/5

3.0

The Ronettes and Darlene Love are some of my favourite Christmas music artists and I believe they continue to absolutely carry the genre decades later. That said, Phil Spector is a bad person who shouldn’t continue to be highlighted in this way.

Solid Christmas album

You know a fairly polished Christmas album and with a lot of really great hits that you hear every year because of the quality of the songs. The songs made by the Roxette were definitely the highlight in my opinion, but for someone who works in retail it is a great list of Christmas music.

Набір доволі дефолтних різдвяних пісень. Хз як це оцінювати...

A nice Christmas album with killer production

Taki album z popularnymi piosenkami świątecznymi, w miarę spoko ale nic nie wiadomo jakiego

Sick asf