Various Artists: A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector (Rhino) CD Track Listing

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Various Artists A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector (Rhino) (1963)
A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector (Rhino)\n\nLP Originally released in 1963\nRhino CD version originally released in 1987\nABKCO CD Version Originally Released December 8, 1990\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Featuring Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" in its prime and his early stable of artists, The Ronettes, Crystals, Darlene Love, and Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans, this stands as inarguably the greatest Christmas record of all time. Spector believed he could produce a record for the holidays that would capture not only the essence of the Christmas spirit, but also be a pop masterpiece that would stand against any work these artists had already done. He succeeded on every level, with all four groups/singers recording some of their most memorable performances. This is the Christmas album by which all later holiday releases had to be judged, and it has inspired a host of imitators. (Note: This CD is available separately and as part of the highly recommended four-CD box set, Phil Spector: Back to Mono [1958-1969].) -- Dennis MacDonald\n\n\nAmazon.com Editorial Review\nThis lavish holiday set has been called the greatest rock & roll Christmas album of all time. That's an opinion that's tough to argue with when you find yourself immersed in the massive sounds painstakingly crafted by legendary producer Phil Spector. His "wall-of-sound" technique is perfectly suited to the music of the season, as he proves with layer upon layer of piano, sleigh bells, buoyant percussion, and, of course, those legendary Spectorsound harmonies. The Crystals turn their sassy interplay into sheer magic on "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," The Ronettes stroll sweetly through numbers like "Sleigh Ride," while Darlene Love delivers a real knockout punch with her yearning version of "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)." Sure to become the soundtrack for your holidays. --David Sprague \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nOne of the greatest Christmas albums ever. A true, timeless classic, August 27, 2007 \nBy Benito Vasquez "Benji" (Naperville, Il)\nThere was a time when Christmas CDs weren't put out on an assembly line. There didn't seem the need to put out a Christmas album for every flavor of the day artist just to be contemporary and not miss out on money making opportunities. That's not to say there aren't good modern CDs of the holday category. It's only to emphasize how special and enduring some Christmas CDs are. "A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector" is just that type of CD. It's why you hear it so widespread at the holidays, at such a wide variety of stores and radio stations. It's flawless. It has all the classics. It's pointless to go through them one by one since they're all fabulous. There's not one rendition of any song that isn't recognized by any generation. This is like "A Charlie Brown Christmas," which not only is as esssential to the holiday season as the Christmas tree, but is magical in the sentimentality and nostalgia it evokes. There are many other Christmas standards that fit into this category- Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Rosemary Clooney and Stevie Wonder to name a few have all put their stamps with their interpretations of Christmas classics. But for comprehensive collectioins, Phil Spector's Christmas CD is almost unmatched. It's why you hear most of it wherever you go during the holidays. It brings out the little kid in all of us at Christmas. \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nPhil Spector does a "Wall of Sound" Christmas album , December 25, 2005 \nBy Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota)\nI was never enamored with the results when Phil Spector tried the "Wall of Sound" approach with the Beatles on "Let It Be," but that failure was the exception that proves the rule. In 1963 Spector actually decided to use his approach to produce one of the great Christmas albums of all time. The goal was to have a holiday album that would stack up against both other Christmas albums and the pop albums produced by his quartet of artists: Darlene Love, the Ronettes, the Crystals, and Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans. The artists split up the first dozen tracks on "A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector," with everybody joining together for "Silent Night" as the album's grand finale. \n\nDarlene Love was never really a success as a solo artist, although she did the lead vocals on "She's a Rebel." But she gets to make or break this album by singing the opening track, "White Christmas," and making it clear the song can work if not being crooned by Der Bingle. "Marshmallow World" is fun but a trifle, while her "Winter Wonderland" may be the best track on the album, with "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" a soulful plea not to be separated for the holidays. No wonder Love got the most tracks on the album. The Ronettes were sisters Veronica (Ronnie) and Estelle Bennett and their cousin Nedra Talley rock a bit more than usual with their version of "Frosty the Snowman" and keep the spirit going with "Sleigh Ride" and "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." \n\nThe change of pace offering on the album would definitely be Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans doing "The Bells of St. Mary," although "Here Comes Santa Claus" is certainly more in keeping with the rest of the record. This was Spector's studio group and compared to the rest of the album you can understand why they only got two tracks. The best effort by the Crystals is obviously "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," which surely was the model for the better known rocking version by the Boss. Their version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" does not work nearly as well (it is one of those songs where you would swear it is really one of Spector's Top 10 hits with different words, which simply shows the producer was creating the effect he wanted here). "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" is in the same mode, but there is a sense in which the "Wall of Sound" is just effective. \n\nSpector comes out to wish everybody the very merriest of Christmases and happiest of New Years for "Silent Night," which is a reminder of when music groups used to talk directly to their fans on records. That seems a bit strange now, but what stands out more is how the simple musical arrangement at the end is such a complete change of pace from the rest of the album, so that "A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector" ends on a much quieter note. But up to that point this is certainly one of the high energy Christmas albums of all time and if you need a burst of musical energy to get you through decorating, cooking, or whatever, this one fits the bill. \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nRing-a-ling-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding!, December 5, 2005 \nBy Joey D (Brooklyn, NY USA)\n\nElvis recorded a Christmas album (with the country-ish BLUE CHRISTMAS and the sneaky, sleazy R&B SANTA CLAUS IS BACK IN TOWN) and Bobby Helms and Brenda Lee both recorded the 2 best rock n roll Christmas songs (via the country side of the rock house) up until that time when Phil Spector (oy, ve!) conceived and unleashed the rock n roll Christmas record on which all others are judged against and inspired by. After all this time, it's still an absolute joy to listen to any of these tracks. Spector and Co. not only capture the good feelings and wonderful spirit of Christmas, but amazingly enough, you can dance to them, too. Enormous credit to arranger Jack Nitzche who understands what great about both forms and fuses them together in the most original, homogenized way. Christmas music was never the same afterward, and rockers never had to hide their love for Christmas tunes because it might seem uncool, because they had this album to point back to. (In fact most of the classic Springsteen records have this album's sound--ever notce that?). Before the advent of CDs, this album was ridiculously hard to find. This was because Philles Records closed up shop before the 60's ended. It was reissued briefly in the early 70's on Apple then went into obscurity again until the early 80's when lo and behold it was issued for the first time in STEREO! For vinyl lovers out there, if you wanna real treat, try and find a copy of this on either the PAVILLION label or the WARNER-SPECTOR label. The mono version is forceful and bombastic, but the stereo version is WARM sounding and in such wide stereo that the recording seems to wrap itself around you. The vocals are present in the left channel along with the rhythm section, but appear almost by themselves in the right channel in lifelike depth, and when the strings come in in back of the vocalists, you can almost see them all performing. With the rhythm section in the left channel piled on top of each other I only wish that Hal Blaine's amazing drumming was given more room and that technology had allowed more of a bottom end to be recorded. But you are able to hear how many Darlene Loves there are on WINTER WONDERLAND, the Ronettes "ring-a-ling"-ing even during the instrumental break of SLEIGH RIDE, heck you can even hear one of the Crystal's cough in the intro of RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER, and the shimmering, transparent quality in the music of SILENT NIGHT is rapturous, enabling you to hear it past Spector's "thank you's". There are a few caveats that should be noted, however. The opening bell chimes in THE BELLS OF ST. MARY'S are missing(??!). And FROSTY THE SNOWMAN, WINTER WONDERLAND, and CHRISTMAS (Baby Please Come Home) fade out way to early (about 10 seconds on each). But if you love this album, there's a whole new way of experiencing it. The perfect release would have both versions on one cd. But either in mono or stereo, this is an album that captures the joyousness of Christmastime, and is a classic for all time. \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nAn Orginial Spector Devotee, December 7, 2004 \nBy Philip Spivey "Liberated Theology'" (New York City, NY USA)\nI grew up in the 50s and 60s loving Rock 'n Roll and loving Phil Spector's Rock especially. His Christmas album is a yearly treat for me. I don't play my vinyl anymore (purchased just days before President Kennedy's assassination in November 1963); I don't play my cassette tape anymore; I've graduated to disc. And this will be my 41st Christmas with the Spector gang...they're family. \nThe greatest Christmas album to be sure. I would also put it in the league of a top-ten album of all time. The renditions and arrangements remain fresh after all these years. We hear Darlene Love and Ronnie Spector in their "glory days" with all the optimism the youth of the 60s shared before the realities of dead presidents and adulthood encroached on us. You hear Spector at his best muscially, before his productions become muddy or overwrought. Although each song on the album is a jewel, three stand out for me: Darlene's "Christmas Baby..." by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich stands out because it was written especially for this album and it is the surprise tour de force of this collection. Not only does it work with the traditional songs, but it has become Darlene Love's signature to this day when she apppears each Christmas season on the Letterman Show. My second pick is "The Bells of St. Mary's". A somewhat unconventional choice for a Chirstmas album --- because it's not a traditional Christmas song ... again, this choice works with Darlene and Bobby Sheen and Fatima James (known on the label as Bobby Sox & the Blue Jeans). It works in a spectacular way because the arrangement is inspired, the vocal lines and performances soar and the drum work (Hal Blaine, I believe) is brilliant. Listen to the final few bars and fade-out on this track ---- have you ever heard drum work like that? \n\nMy third, and final, is "Silent Night". This was a discovery I made after years of ignoring this track. If you could remove Phil's silly narrative and listen soley to the music, what you would hear is one of the most beautiful renditions of this song recorded; it's silvery and transparent and yet we know that the chorus is peopled by the entire Phil Spector stable of singers (including Cher, who sang background in those days); the effect is transcendent. \n\nThis album is forever fresh, forever young and forever one of my favorites. If, God forbid, I had to leave my home for fire or flood or locusts, THIS album (vinyl, cassette and disc) would be among the possessions under my arm. \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nBalm for the insane at an insane season, February 6, 2003 \nBy John Stodder "a.k.a. Juan La Princi" (livin' just enough)\nAccording to Phil Spector himself, "I would say I'm probably relatively insane, to an extent. I take medication for schizophrenia, but I wouldn't say I'm schizophrenic. But I have a bipolar personality, which is strange. I'm my own worst enemy. I have devils inside that fight me."\n\nAnd yet: In his prime, he made some of the most joyfully soothing music you've ever heard. It's like Brian Wilson, who also used the pure magic of music to both soothe himself and then share that loving gesture with the world. \n\nYou know how it is at Christmas. It's supposed to be a season of giving, but instead it is a season of intense pressure, during which we are exposed routinely to what is worst about American consumer society. So imagine you're sitting in a long line of cars, trying to get into or out of an immense mall parking lot. You're thinking, "Why do we do this? Just so department stores can make their margins? Just so our kids can satisfy their lust for what they've seen advertised on TV? Why?" And then, if you are listening to the right station, one of the tunes from this album comes on. I don't know about you, but every time I hear Spector's version of "White Christmas" or "Sleigh Ride" or "Marshmallow World" or--especially--"Baby Please Come Home," my mind and spirit are eased, I'm smiling at the inherent humor and absurdity behind it all, and I'm looking forward to sitting by the fire with my family and hearing the whole album. Darlene Love's performance of "Baby Please Come Home" has become a tradition on the David Letterman show --almost the only TV Christmas tradition I buy into totally.\n\nAs I write, Spector's demons have apparently, allegedly, finally caught up with him, and that's sad and pathetic. But out of his madness, there were pure musical gestures that he made, like this album, that were true gifts to the soul and spirit. Go get it. \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nPure Candy-Coated, Bubble-Gum, Christmastime Bliss!!!, December 7, 2001 \nBy A Customer\nI remember being a kid and hearing these tracks on the radio every year around Christmastime. I didn't know who they were--The Ronettes, The Crystals, Darlene Love--they all melded together-- but I loved the funky, gleeful, infectious joy that came through in the singing. They sound even better now!\nPhil was at the height of his Wall-of-Sound genius at the time and one can see him standing behind the glass in the control booth, bobbing his head, his eyes hidden behind his trademark wraparound shades, knowing--just KNOWING--that he was making the best pop Christmas album of ALL TIME. \n\nJust try listening to this album without yearning for the days when Rock 'n' Roll wasn't yet a decade old, teenage music was joyful and beautifully crafted and 16-year-old girls had hair as tall as Christmas trees--fake pink and blue ones at that!!\n\nIf this one doesn't get your Christmas party hopping, your guests should go back to eating their gruel by the empty fireplace. This album kills Scrooges. I mean, with Darlene Love dreaming of a White Christmas, is there really any need for three smelly old ghosts?? \n\n\nHalf.com Details \nContributing artists: Cher, Hal Blaine, Jack Nitzsche, Leon Russell, Nino Tempo, Sonny Bono, Steve Douglas \nProducer: Phil Spector \n\nAlbum Notes\nABKCO CD Edition was remastered by Phil Spector.\nRhino CD Edition was remastered by Bill Inglot and Ken Perry at K-Disc.\n\nThis album has grown in stature over the years and has been reissued countless times. If you have to own a record to play half a dozen times during the festive season, then this is the one and only. Featuring the amazing Spector production together with Darlene Love, The Crystals, The Ronettes, Bob B. Soxx And The Blue Jeans, even Leon Russell on piano and Sonny Bono on percussion, this is another timeless record that is unlikely ever to be surpassed as the greatest Christmas compilation of all time.\n\nIndustry Reviews\nStill the greatest Christmas stocking filler...\nMojo (01/01/2003)\n\nRanked #142 in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time - Hands down, the best holiday album in the history of pop music.\nRolling Stone (12/11/2003)
This rock cd contains 13 tracks and runs 35min 12sec.
Freedb: b5083e0d
Buy: from Amazon.com

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