A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector cover

A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector

Released

Phil Spector’s life casts a shadow on his album length landmark – his concluding recitation of holiday wishes feels especially skippable. But as a demonstration of both the Wall of Sound played by the famed Wrecking Crew and even more especially a series of energetic performances by acts like the Ronettes, A Christmas Gift For You earns its stripes. The Crystals’ blazing rework of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” is stellar but Darlene Love wins it all, especially thanks to the album’s sole original song, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).”

Ned Raggett

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