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The classic Christmas album “A Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector” was released 50 years ago last month.

Originally titled “A Christmas Gift For You from Philles Records”, the album features performances of seasonal favourites from a roster of popular acts from Spector’s Philles label, including The Crystals, The Ronettes, Darlene Love, Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans. In each case, Spector’s so-called “Wall of Sound” production is used to great effect.

“Sleigh Ride” – The Ronettes

“A Christmas Gift For You” had limited commercial impact that first year as it was released on November 22, 1963, which was the day that John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Spector himself concluded that this was no time to promote a Christmas album, but it did rack up enough sales to appear at #13 on Billboard’s special year-end Christmas Albums sales chart, behind artists such as Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis and Elvis Presley.

Although not a big hit in its first year, the album became a seasonal radio favourite and did reach #6 on the Christmas chart when re-released on Apple records in 1972. One of its tracks, Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”, has become indelibly associated with Christmas for many in the US as Love traditionally sings the song on the David Letterman show each year as part of his Christmas celebrations.

“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” – Darlene Love

As well as the aforementioned Philles artists, the album also features the talents of some of the highly gifted “Wrecking Crew” session musicians, including:

• Tommy Tedesco – guitar
• Bill Pitman – guitar
• Irv Rubins – guitar
• Nino Tempo – guitar
• Leon Russell – piano
• Don Randi – piano
• Al Delory – piano
• Ray Pohlman – bass
• Jimmy Bond – bass
• Hal Blaine – drums
• Frank Kapp – percussion
• Sonny Bono – percussion
• Jack Nitzsche – percussion
• Steve Douglas – saxophone
• Jay Migliori – saxophone
• Roy Caton – trumpet
• Lou Blackburn – horns
• John Vidor – strings.

John Nitzsche was credited as arranger, and Larry Levine was the Gold Star studio engineer.

The “A Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector” tracklist is as follows:

1. White Christmas – Darlene Love
2. Frosty the Snowman – The Ronettes
3. The Bells of St. Mary – Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans
4. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town – The Crystals
5. Sleigh Ride – The Ronettes
6. Marshmallow World – Darlene Love
7. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – The Ronettes
8. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – The Crystals
9. Winter Wonderland – Darlene Love
10. Parade of the Wooden Soldiers – The Crystals
11. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Darlene Love
12. Here Comes Santa Claus – Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans
13. Silent Night – Phil Spector and Artists.

The Ronettes

The album has received a number or re-releases. After the 1972 Apple edition, it made its stereo debut on Warner/Spector in 1974. CBS Records released the album via its Pavilion associated label in 1981, and Rhino went back to the mono mastering when it issued the record on CD for the first time in 1987. Another mono edition was released in 1989 on CD on Klein’s ABKCO Records.

The album is currently available via the 2009 Sony reissue.

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