The 500 - #142 - A Christmas Gift For You - Phil Spector

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by New York-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

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Album: #142
Album Title: A Christmas Gift For You
Artist: Phil Spector
Genre: Traditional Christmas Songs, 60s Pop
Recorded: Gold Star Studios, Los Angeles
Released: November, 1963
My age at release: Not Born
How familiar was I with it before this week: A couple songs
Is it on the 2020 list? No
Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: 

This is a double-shot week on The 500 Blog with album #142, A Christmas Gift For You, arriving a few days after I hit publish on record #129, Remain In Light, by Talking Heads. I skipped this holiday record back in September because it wasn’t Christmas, and I wasn’t ready for sleigh bells in my headphones when I could still take a dip in Lake Erie.

But this week? I’m loving it. These songs are pure joy. A sparkling collection of “evergreen hits” that never age. Note to all aspiring songwriters: If you’re going to write one smash single, make it a Christmas song. It’ll pay you (and your estate) forever -- just ask Hugh Grant’s character in About a Boy. Anyone adding Santa’s Super Sleigh to their playlist this year?

There was a time, in my late-twenties, when I was a bit of a Scrooge about Christmas music. I wanted nothing to do with sleigh bells, jolly holly or crooners. As the holiday season rolled in, I’d cue up anything but Christmas songs. And I’ll admit, I had a little antipathy for those folks (you know who you are) who start decking the halls in late October. The pumpkin’s still on the porch, you’re knee-deep in leftover Halloween candy, and the shlocky Christmas tunes are blasting on repeat? Bah, humbug! I refuse to even think about Saint Nick or the Baby Jesus until after watching the Turkey Bowl football games on American Thanksgiving.

My peccadilloes have, as with many things, softened with time. I still like my Christmas music in December, but give an obligatory "thumbs-up" on Facebook when social media friends post their decorated mantle while the World Series is still on -- baby steps, I know.

For the past decade, I’ve been hooked on the silly social media game called Whamageddon. If you haven’t heard of it, the rules are simple -- Avoid hearing Wham!’s Last Christmas from December 1 until Christmas Eve. If you hear it, you’re out. Simple, but a comical distraction from the madness of the holidays. My students have become obsessed, too. When December rolls around they are excited to share dramatic tales of being banished to Whamhalla after those first unmistakable synth notes hit.

My record? six wins and three losses.. I’m winning again this year… but honestly, I kind of like losing. The story you get, the risk of walking into a store with holiday tunes piping in, it’s all part of the fun.

Plus, if you lose, you get to hear that delightful holiday banger early. And I love it for so many reasons. Lesser known among them is that songwriter/singer George Michael donated all its royalties to Ethiopian hunger relief when the song was released in 1984. In a strange bit of irony, he’d have been jailed in that country for being gay. Tragically, we also lost his talent on Christmas Day, 2016, at only 53.

Gem that he was, Michael's commitment to donating all profits from Last Christmas has become a long-term tradition. Each year since its release, the royalties have continued to support hunger relief efforts around the world through the George Michael Fund, distributing proceeds to multiple charities close to his heart.

Holy Holiday distractions! Let's get back to Phil Spector His A Christmas Gift For You sparkles, even if the man behind it was, as I’ve said before in these blog posts, a reprehensible human being. But the record? It’s a time capsule of joy. It features some of the best female vocalists of the ‘60s, including Darlene Love, The Ronettes and The Crystals, bringing magic to the holiday season.

So, yeah, I've retired my grumpy-pants Scrooge routine and I am embracing all of the holiday hits...as long as it is December.

Happy Holidays to you all and thank you for supporting my blog posts this year.