'A Christmas Gift For You from Phillies Records' was released 60 years ago on November 22nd 1963. Producer Phil Spector believed it would cement his status as a pioneering producer and become his magnum opus, as well as catapulting his roster of recording artists into stardom. It did eventually, but not in the way he envisaged.
For 22/11/63 is an infamous date in history, as the album's release coincided with the assassination of President Kennedy. America and large parts of the world went into mourning and nobody wanted Christmas songs, however well-crafted. Chart placings were disappointing, and though the songs were regularly played on the radio over successive Christmases, there was a sense that the album was unappreciated.
It was the Beatles - who had broken up by then - who brought the album the critical and commercial success it undoubtably deserved, when their Apple Corporation re-released it as 'Phil Spector's Christmas Album' on the Apple label in 1972.
Phil Spector's fall from grace later in life is well-documented and when he died, still in prison, back in 2021, I mentioned on that year's Calendar how hard it was to eulogise the work of a man who had revolutionised music production and was responsible for some of the greatest records ever made but who was, nonetheless a murderer, so I'm going to say no more on Spector but just praise this stunning version of 'White Christmas' by the incomparable Darlene Love and, controversially claim that this is second only to Otis Redding's version of the many, many versions of the song available. Bing gets the bronze?
Debate that after dinner on Christmas Day.
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