November 22, 1963 the release date of A Christmas Gift for you from Philles Records. The highly anticipated album was sure to be a huge success. The album’s release, however, was soon overshadowed by the horrific news of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. The media began constant transmissions covering the assassination and then the funeral, which followed 3 days after. With most American’s feeling far from festive, Philles Records’ Christmas album was received poorly by the American public and received very little airtime. The saving grace for A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector is the reissuing of the album. The album was first reissued by Apple in 1972, which gave the album the number 6 spot in the charts and secured it as a holiday classic.

But what is it about the album that has listeners coming back year after year? For starters, the album is star studded. Featuring: Darlene Love, The Ronettes, Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans and The Crystals – the most notable acts from the Philles Records label at the time. In addition to this, they are singing some of the most beloved Christmas hits, with that distinctive Phil Spector ‘wall of sound’ production.

The album opens with Darlene Love’s cover of ‘White Christmas’, though not her best track on the album, nor the best cover of ‘White Christmas’ (That belongs to The Drifters – obviously), it sets the scene for what is come from the album. Love is the star of the album, with the most tracks of all the artists which feature. Love covers ‘A Marshmallow World’, ‘Winter Wonderland’ and the original ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’. ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’ was not commercially successful when the album was first released but has since become a firm holiday favourite. Even taking over Tiktok in 2024!

The Ronettes have perhaps the most notable of covers from the album, covering ‘Frosty the Snowman’, ‘Sleigh Ride’ and ‘I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus’, all of which have become Christmas standards and receive lots of radio airplay each year. The production on ‘Sleigh Ride’ with the iconic ‘Ring-a-ling-a-ling, ding-dong-ding’ and horse neighing, have secured it as one of the most played versions of the song. In 2023, The Ronettes version of ‘Sleigh Ride’ peaked at no. 8 in the Billboard’s Hot 100, further solidifying it as a Christmas classic.

Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans cover only 2 songs in the album. The first being a cover of ‘The Bells of St. Mary’, the reimagining of this 1921 song is a highlight of the entire album. Often overlooked, the song begins with the classic church bell before the infamous ‘wall of sound’ takes it place. Soxx and The Blue Jeans cover the song with such zest and passion, it is hard to not be completely immersed in the song for the entirety that it plays. The second cover from Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans is ‘Here Comes Santa Claus’, a fun packed track that is sure to leave you smiling.

The Crystals, much like The Ronettes, have some of the most well remembered tracks from the album. Their covers of ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ and ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ remain featured in many Christmas playlists to this day and still receive airplay. The final cover from The Crystals is ‘Parade of The Wooden Soldiers’, perhaps the strangest selection for the album. However, Spector’s production on the track makes it the perfect addition to the album. Again, it is often overlooked when it comes to tracks from this album but when listening to the album in its entirety you remember just how fantastic this version is. It is a track that deserves a lot more attention, along with ‘The Bells of St. Mary’.

The album closes with Spector talking over a beautiful version of ‘Silent Night’. This is most often when I will switch my turntable off or press skip on my phone. The most uncomfortable listen in the entire album and honestly, it should be scrapped from the album from modern reissues. It is a shame they chose to have Spector speak over the end track as the snippet of singing we do hear from all of the artists that took part in the album is very beautiful, it would have been a more fitting close to such an iconic album.  

An album laced with nostalgia and comfort; it is a masterclass in reimagining the classic Christmas songs. As well as a core example of the importance of separating the art from the artist. The production in each track gives it a more modern sound, than that of other covers of the same song, which can account for the longevity that the album has received. The joyous singing from the amazing artists that took part in the album will continue to shine bright and be beloved for all the Christmases to come - despite the tragedy that surrounds the album, from President Kennedy’s assassination to the hideous acts of Phil Spector.