This is Phil Spector (Favourite Christmas Songs)

Member Name: moronboy

Product:	Favourite Christmas Songs
Date:	27/11/00 (304 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very seasonal

Disadvantages: Daft

Given all we know about what a weird creep Phil Spector actually is (and if you don't Ronnie Spector's autobiography will tell you all you need to know), it seems odd that any of the rather innocent, lush pop could have come from him. 'A Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector' (or 'The Phil Spector Christmas Album' as most people call it) is even more of a surprise, as it is a quite wonderful album, and not freaky at all.

Admittedly, the bit at the end when Phil comes on and talks about how the album sums up his feelings about Christmas is very strange, as Phil has such a weak, breathless voice. Nevertheless, the storming set of tinsel-tinged tunes which precedes his intervention makes up for it.

The sounds are magnificent, with virtually every song bursting into life with a huge orchestra and a plethora of jingle bells. The famed Spector 'Wall of Sound' gives every track a strong backbone, even the really crap ones (i.e. the ones by Bobb B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans). But crap is not really the order of the day - The Ronettes' 'Frosty the Snowman' and The Crystals' 'Santa Claus is coming to town' are acknowledged classics, while I think that Darlene Love's version of 'White Christmas' is streets ahead of B-B-Bing's treacly interpretation.

It's defiantly secular, obsessed instead with presents and sleigh rides and Santa, and all the better for that, so stick it on the stereo and every Xmas chore will be easier.

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