A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector

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".

Better than Coldplay

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

I don't feel the jolly no more.

A standard for Christmas Lunch parties since my Graduates group of friends started having them annually in 1985.
Can be nothing but a 5

Didn't realise so many of the most well known renditions of xmas songs were on this album. Didn't need the message from Phil at the end. 4/5.

Murderer!

Instant Christmas classic with Spector’s orchestral production.

Genuinely surprised me just how much iconic Christmas music is crammed onto this!

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣷⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣼⣿⣷⠀⠀⢀⣀⣤⡤⠤⠤⠤⠤⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣴⣿⠟⢹⣿⣤⡶⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠑⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣶⣿⠟⠁⢀⣿⣿⠋⣀⣀⣤⡤⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣶⣿⣿⠟⠃⠀⣠⣾⣿⣿⠿⢛⣿⡿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣴⣾⠿⠛⢉⠔⠁⠀⠀⠼⠟⠋⠉⠀⣠⣾⠟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⣶⡿⠟⠉⠀⠀⣠⠊⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣼⣿⠏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣶⣿⠟⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣿⣿⣷⣦⣤⣤⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣾⡿⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⣾⡿⠋⠁⠈⠙⢿⣯⡙⠳⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣴⣿⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣀⣤⣶⣿⠟⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠹⣷⡄⠈⠙⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⣿⡏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠠⠤⣶⣶⡿⠿⠿⠛⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⠀⠀⠈⠳⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠐⠒⠒⠲⠶⢶⣾⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢿⣿⣧⡀⠀⠀⠀⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠒⠒⠲⠦⢤⣭⣿⣿⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡠⠀⠀⠙⢿⣿⣶⣶⣿⡧⠤⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣴⣶⠿⠿⠿⠿⣿⣷⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣤⣤⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣤⡴⠋⠀⠀⠀⣠⣾⣿⣿⣿⣷⣤⣤⣄⠀⠀
⠀⠀⢀⣴⣿⣿⣧⣤⡤⠄⠀⠀⠀⢉⣻⣷⣦⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠳⢬⡁⠀⠀⠀⠀⣰⢣⠋⠀⠀⢀⣤⣾⣿⠟⠉⠠⠤⠶⢾⣿⣿⡿⠦
⠀⠀⢼⣿⣿⠿⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠒⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣦⣄⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⣆⠀⠀⢠⠏⠁⢀⣠⣶⣿⡿⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠲⢾⣿⡛⠛⠿⣆
⠀⠀⣼⡿⠁⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⢿⣿⣟⠛⣿⠿⠿⣿⣶⣦⣀⠀⠈⠀⠀⣨⣴⣾⣿⡿⠋⠁⣠⡏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢿⣦⡀⠀
⠀⢰⣿⣧⣾⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⠿⣿⣁⣀⣀⣀⣉⣙⣿⣷⣦⣴⣾⣿⣿⣭⣾⣧⣴⡾⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣷⠀
⠀⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣤⣤⣶⣶⣶⣤⣤⣀⠈⠉⠙⠛⠋⠉⠉⢉⣩⣿⣿⣯⣍⡉⠉⠉⠉⣀⣴⠶⠿⠿⢿⡋⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⡆
⠀⠀⠈⠻⣿⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡏⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠛⠦⢤⣤⣽⠋⠀⠀⠈⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢻⣷⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣷⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⡏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⣿⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠻⣿⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢿⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⣿⠃⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢿⣷⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⢷⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⠋⠀⠀⠀⣠⣾⡿⠃⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢿⣶⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠿⣦⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⠂⠀⠀⠀⢀⣴⡿⠃⠀⠀⣠⣾⡿⠟⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠻⣷⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⠷⣦⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣾⠀⠀⢀⣴⡿⠋⠀⢀⣤⣾⡿⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⢿⣷⣤⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠛⠷⣶⣤⣄⣀⣠⣿⣴⣾⠟⠋⢀⣠⣶⣿⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣀⠀⠀⠈⠛⢿⣶⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠙⠛⠋⢁⣠⣤⣾⣿⠿⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣶⠾⢟⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣦⣙⢿⣷⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠒⢲⣾⣿⠿⠟⣛⣉⣀⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠴⠛⣡⣴⡿⠟⠋⠉⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠻⣿⣿⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⣿⣶⣾⣿⠿⠿⠷⠶⣶⣤⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣾⢟⣩⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⡴⠶⠶⠶⠶⣾⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣿⣿⠟⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠲⢶⣿⣿⣷⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⣰⣿⣿⣿⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠻⢿⣄⠀⠀⠀⠘⣿⡏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠷⣌⠙⢷⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⡟⠀⠀⣠⡞⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⣧⣤⠴⠾⠟⠛⠒⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⢦⣄⡙⣷⡌⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⣿⣿⡇⢀⣾⠟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠜⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⣿⣿⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⡇⣿⡅⣾⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠐⣦⣄⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⣼⣿⠁⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢻⣿⡿⢷⣦⣤⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⠀⢹⣿⣿⣿⣄⠀⠰⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠲⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠹⣿⣄⠈⠙⠻⣷⣤⡀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⢸⣿⡏⠀⠀⠻⠿⠻⣿⣦⡀⠘⢿⣦⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⢿⣷⣤⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠹⣿⡄⠀⠀⠈⢻⣷⡀⠀⢠⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⣾⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿⣶⣄⠻⣿⡿⣶⣤⣄⡀⠀⠀⠻⣿⣿⢷⣦⣀⠀⠀⣿⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣷⣴⡿⠋⢿⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⣰⣿⡏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⣿⠃⠈⠙⠛⠿⣷⣄⠉⠛⠻⢷⣦⣄⢹⣿⡄⠈⠛⢷⣤⣿⠏⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⡿⠋⠀⠀⠈⢿⣿⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀
⢰⣿⡿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣾⡿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠛⠿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠻⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢿⣿⠄⠀⠀⠀

Christmas!

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

christmas is a good time for the wall of sound

Makes me yearn for Easter music

Ahh, the Christmas spirit! What could be more pure and innocent than an album of timeless holiday classics? Can’t you just picture it?
Recorded in the sweltering heat of a Los Angeles August by a domineering megalomaniac who yelled, screamed and cursed his way through the sessions, making everyone involved completely miserable. When he wasn’t screaming orders, this married man was trying to shag one of the female vocalists, so he gave her all the solos and best songs, which pissed all the other artists off. By the way, he was also Jewish, so perhaps he was not the obvious choice for a quintessential Christmas album. Ah, Phil Spector… the man, the myth, the murderer of a woman that he shot in the face because she wouldn’t have sex with him. It’s like a holiday carol come to life!
The result of this Yuletide madness is a buffet of force-fed Christmas standards. Much like the holidays themselves, this amounts to a thinly veiled respite from the reality of what is really important and meaningful to real people in their daily lives. Enjoy the mirage and roast those chestnuts, bioch.

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.

Fortsatt en av de beste albumene i en vanskelig sjanger. Tror alle versjonene på plata her kunne gått i en juleliste. Så hvorfor ikke bare spille hele plata?

Til og med snorkelåta «White Christmas» låter friskt her. «Silent Night» på slutten? Ikke en fullverdig låt, men på et julealbum som er «fra Phil Spector» så er det en naturlig avslutning på denne julepresangen. Glad vi fikk den nå i jula og ikke på sommeren.

So many classics that I had no idea were recorded for the same project. I feel bad for those who get this album any day other than December 25th because it just feels right. You start your day with presents, cookies, family and whatever traditions you have. Then you end your day after all the festivities and put on this album on. Sure it's just a bunch of Christmas songs, but these are really the top tier.

I find Christmas albums generally somewhat dubious, as few of them achieve any relevant creative depth. “A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector” is not one of these commendable exceptions, but rather, in my opinion, one of those arbitrary releases for the Christmas season. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I don't see why this particular album should be any better than any other Christmas album from the last 60 years. It's fine to do that, but not within the scope of this project.