Phil Spector

With a "Back to Mono" button adorning his long white beard, Phil Spector comes off looking like the manic St. Nick one would expect to see on the cover of a "Wall of Sound" Christmas album. His jacked-up look is often mirrored in this generously multi-tracked collection of Yuletide classics. Enveloped in a sonic morass of strings, horns, guitars, and percussion, Spector faithful like the Ronettes, the Crystals, Darlene Love, and Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans give chestnuts such as "White Christmas" and "Winter Wonderland" a girl group makeover. Other highlights include Love's "Frosty the Snowman" and "A Marshmallow World," the Ronettes' "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," and the whole crew's version of "Silent Night." One of the more distinct titles in the Christmas album catalog. [Initially released in 1963 as A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector] ~ Stephen Cook, All Music Guide