The Phil Spector Christmas Album

Various Artists
The Phil Spector Christmas Album (aka Phil Spector Presents A Christmas Gift To You)
Chrysalis CDL1625
£2.70 + p&p




Hurrah! Had to opt for a 1987 pressing to get the sleeve I wanted, but here it is, in time for Christmas (although I had the CD anyway), the finest seasonal LP of all-time.

Various Artists - Rockin' Christmas: The 60s

Various Artists
Rockin' Christmas - The 60s
Rhino RNLP067
99p + P&P




Alternative Christmas compilation of 60s nuggets, including offerings from The Sonics, The Trashmen, The Turtles, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and, proving there's life after the 'Monster Mash' (assuming 'life' to mean 'releasing another single that sounds virtually identical'), Bobby Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers. And not a Cliff Richard song in sight.

The Beach Boys - Christmas Album

The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys Christmas Album
Capitol CAP1014
99p + P&P



It struck me in early November that I should be trawling eBay for festive vinyl. Sadly I haven't acquired 24 albums and so will not be posting my purchases up in advent calendar form, but first up of the three I have picked up (this could rise to four if a suitably cheap copy of Phil Spector's album comes up, although it has to have the original sleeve which seems to be the main obstacle) is The Beach Boys Christmas Album. Undoubtedly inspired by Spector's - a rivalry that arguably contributed to Brian Wilson's studio-bound obsessions - the CD of this has been receiving annual airings for some years. The added bonus to having it on vinyl is the ease with which we can now avoid the more traditional side two.