Released the same year as Elvis Presley's own wildly successful yuletide album, A Jolly Christmas was seen as the tamer, more refined alternative to the King of Rock n' Roll and his swinging hips. Think Norah Jones' 2021 Christmas record I Dream of Christmas, which offers sentimental and nostalgic takes on classic songs and originals alike, or Los Lobos' Llegó Navidad, which introduces some listeners to beloved Mexican holiday hits. The album, which was recorded to benefit the charity Feeding America, includes expected holiday classics like "O Come All Ye Faithful," as well as a few of Dylan's own arrangements.

This wildly successful Christmas album is the brainchild of composer and producer Chip Davis, who curated its largely instrumental takes on Christmas classics after years of working on his own jazz-rock chops. Said Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, "The way they walk and bounce a little bit – he captured that in his music. Karen and Richard Carpenter are at their seasonal best with this 1978 holiday album that has since gone platinum, and with good reason. It’s quite discouraging to compare my voice, struggling to hit 80 per cent of the notes, to the singer who I rediscover every year is actually a twelve year old boy. All I Want for Christmas Is You" began topping the charts each year beginning in 2019, guaranteeing that Merry Christmas will live on in Christmas infamy — and it's not the only joyously feel-good song on the record.To shun A Christmas Gift for You because of Phil Spector’s toxicity would be to deny the incredible work of the artists involved.

The Crystals party under the chimney on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"; Ronnie Spector turns "Frosty the Snowman" into a puddle in the front yard; and on the classic Brill Building original "Christmas Baby, Please Come Home," Darlene Love throws herself into an epic ballad of romantic affliction, turning winter wonderland into teenage wasteland. Let It Snow" and "Winter Wonderland," Fitzgerald extends her vowels like she's stretching a Christmas bow to the stars – and when she's really feeling good, she punctuates songs with lip-smacking exclamations like "I'm just wild about hors-es! The record is actually a compilation of the best songs from James Brown's three previous holiday albums recorded between 1966 and 1970: James Brown Sings Christmas Songs, A Soulful Christmas, and Hey America.The best cuts are heart-rending, plainspoken song-poems that offer lessons on love, community and charity. Bought this CD as we have listened to this many times at my parents house and I'm pleased to have my own copy for the car during the Christmas season! Who else but Barbara could offer such a moving performance of "Sleep in Heavenly Peace (Silent Night)" that is so beloved the world over? It's Christmas Let's Be Glad" is a wry, shambling toast: "Let's be glad/Even if the year's been bad/There are presents to be had/A promotion for your dad. Sixteen years later, his own in-the-cut version of the song foregrounded Nelson’s first album of traditional Christmas music.