with ‘Mary’s Boy Child / Oh My Lord’, 2021’s collaboration between Ed Sheeran and Elton John ‘Merry Christmas’, Shakin’ Stevens’ ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ and the record breaking ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas? Shakin’ Stevens, Greg Lake, The Beach Boys, Jona Lewie, Chris De Burgh, Mike Oldfield, David Essex, The Pogues ft. In fact, by SDE’s count everything from the very original Christmas Album from 1985 features on here, save Gary Glitter (‘Another Rock and Roll Christmas’) and Queen (‘Thank God It’s Christmas’). Personally, I’d like to have seen Kate Bush‘s ‘December Will Be Magic Again’, if only in the hope that they accidentally put the rare ‘bongo’ version on here.

Now That’s What I Call Christmas – SuperDeluxeEdition Now That’s What I Call Christmas – SuperDeluxeEdition

Huge contemporary hits from Leona Lewis, Kelly Clarkson, and Coldplay are featured, along with Mariah Carey’s fabulous version of ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’, and the beautiful ‘Home For Christmas’ from Kate Bush. This is a bit more like it, as the compilers offer 68 Christmas songs on the three-CD edition and a still creditable 47 on the triple LP edition, pressed on – you guessed it – white vinyl.

Virtually all the ‘essentials’ are present and correct (‘Last Christmas’, ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’, ‘Wonderful Christmastime’, Do They Know It’s Christmas? In and around those 70s/80s classics are old timers like Sinatra, Crosby, Martin, Williams, King Cole and ‘newbies’ such as Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis, Ed Sheeran, George Ezra and Alexandra Burke. Kirsty MacColl, Pretenders, Aled Jones, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, The Flying Pickets, The Housemartins, Paul Young, East 17 AND MORE!

Now That’s What I Call Christmas 3 x Red Vinyl LP Now That’s What I Call Christmas 3 x Red Vinyl LP

If you are wondering why Kate Bush’s ‘December Could Be Magic Again’ is missing (either in standard, or rare ‘bongo version’ form) it’s because, as SDE understands it, the licensing request was refused.Admittedly, Shakin’ Stevens’‘Blue Christmas’ is replaced by his festive chart-topper ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ but the song is still present and correct in the original Elvis version. The bastard bunny’s ‘Let’s Party 2008’ is a Christmas song mash-up which heavily features Slade‘s ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’ and Wizzard’s I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day’.