37. Phil Spector — A Christmas Gift For You (1963)

You get a singer! And you get a singer! And you get a singer!

1. Listening to a Christmas album in April is a bit of a weird experience admittedly, but this was recorded in Los Angeles in August, so let’s just lean into the weird. What a great Christmas album!
2. Phil Spector’s “wall of sound” technique that made him arguably the most famous producer of all time (at least until that other thing) is on full display here, so much so that it got me doing some research. I really thought the “wall of sound” was generated simply by blasting each instrument to a comparable level, thereby eliminating the emptiness that was common (especially in songs of the time). Nope — this was an intricate, exhaustive process; the wikipedia page on it was pretty fascinating.
3. The backstory of the album itself is also interesting — released the day JFK was assassinated and promptly pulled from stores out of respect. It found its audience with a 1972 reissue, and didn’t reach the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart until 2018. This album is irrepressible.
4. What about the songs themselves? The Ronettes’ “Sleigh Ride” is instantly one of the best Christmas recordings I’ve ever heard. Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” kills — the only original song on the album, and an absolute stand out. Truly, every song here is fantastic, to the point where it’s almost tiring — you’re blasted with energy and perfectly synchronized sound for the entirety of the 13 songs and 34 minutes.
5. I’m pretty excited for the future of the 1001. From the Beatles to Dylan to this, I’ve seen a tectonic shift in the direction of pop music in 1963. Glancing ahead, I’m not sure the next few albums will be as groundbreaking, but we’re on the cusp of a new pop world, and I’m ready for it.

One Essential Song:

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Buy at Wal-Mart