Now That’s What I Call Christmas

Perhaps in an attempt to make amends for the best forgotten Christmas Album reboot from 2016, the Now That’s What I Call Music team have put together a new festive compilation for 2021 called simply Now That’s What I Call Christmas.

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? etc.) and a whole lot more. 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’). 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 running order mixes up the decades and there’s not too much to complain about, but if you are looking for something then you might question the inclusion of Robbie Williams awful ‘Can’t Stop Christmas’ and you could – should – rant about putting the words ‘Jive Bunny’ on anything. 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’. This is somewhat redundant on a compilation which features both of those songs in full!

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.

The white vinyl is appealing, although in truth who wants to faff around with six sides of vinyl on Christmas Day when you want to stay put on the sofa with that tin of Quality Street while enjoying some festive classics.

Now That’s What I Call Christmas will be released on CD on 29 October 2021 with the vinyl to follow on 12 November.

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VARIOUS ARTISTS

Now That's What I Call Christmas - 3CD set

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Various Artists

Now Christmas - 3LP white vinyl

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Tracklisting

Now That’s What I Call Christmas Various Artists / 3CD set

• • CD 1
    1. Wham! – Last Christmas
    2. Elton John – Step Into Christmas
    3. Slade – Merry Xmas Everybody
    4. Wizzard – I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
    5. Greg Lake – I Believe In Father Christmas
    6. Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmastime
    7. Boney M. – Mary’s Boy Child / Oh My Lord
    8. Darlene Love – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
    9. Leona Lewis – One More Sleep
    10. Kelly Clarkson – Underneath The Tree
    11. The Ronettes – Sleigh Ride
    12. Brenda Lee – Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
    13. Elvis Presley – Blue Christmas
    14. Mud – Lonely This Christmas
    15. Chris de Burgh – A Spaceman Came Travelling
    16. Jethro Tull – Ring Out, Solstice Bells
    17. Mike Oldfield – In Dulce Jubilo
    18. Steeleye Span – Gaudete
    19. Johnny Mathis – When A Child Is Born
    20. Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)
    21. Frank Sinatra – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
    22. Bing Crosby – White Christmas
  • CD 2
    1. John Lennon, Yoko Ono, The Plastic Ono Band & The Harlem Community Choir – Happy Xmas (War Is Over
    2. Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas?
    3. Bing Crosby, David Bowie – Peace On Earth / The Little Drummer Boy
    4. Frankie Goes To Hollywood – The Power Of Love
    5. Pretenders – 2000 Miles
    6. The Waitresses – Christmas Wrapping
    7. Shakin’ Stevens – Merry Christmas Everyone
    8. Andy Williams – It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
    9. Perry Como And The Fontane Sisters With Mitchell Ayres & His Orchestra – It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
    10. Dean Martin – Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
    11. Darlene Love – Winter Wonderland
    12. The Jackson 5 – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
    13. The Ronettes – Frosty The Snowman
    14. The Crystals – Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
    15. Gene Autry – Here Comes Santa Claus
    16. Bobby Helms – Jingle Bell Rock
    17. Mel & Kim – Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
    18. Jona Lewie – Stop The Cavalry
    19. David Essex – A Winter’s Tale
    20. Donna Summer – Winter Melody
    21. Stevie Wonder – Someday At Christmas
    22. Roy Orbison – Pretty Paper
    23. The Beach Boys – Little Saint Nick
    24. Jason Donovan – When You Come Back To Me
    25. Jive Bunny And The Mastermixers – Let’s Party 2008
  • CD 3
    1. The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl – Fairytale Of New York
    2. Chris Rea – Driving Home For Christmas
    3. East 17 – Stay Another Day
    4. Gary Barlow – The Dream Of Christmas
    5. Coldplay – Christmas Lights
    6. Ellie Goulding – River
    7. Justin Bieber – Mistletoe
    8. Whitney Houston – Do You Hear What I Hear?
    9. Saint Etienne – I Was Born On Christmas Day
    10. Kylie Minogue – I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
    11. Robbie Williams – Can’t Stop Christmas
    12. Bob Dylan – Must Be Santa
    13. Eartha Kitt – Santa Baby
    14. Tony Bennett – Winter Wonderland
    15. Doris Day – I’ll Be Home For Christmas
    16. Ray Conniff & The Ray Conniff Singers – Ring Christmas Bells
    17. Céline Dion – O Holy Night
    18. Simon & Garfunkel – 7 O’Clock News / Silent Night
    19. Münchener Freiheit – Keeping The Dream Alive
    20. Aled Jones – Walking In The Air
    21. ABBA – Happy New Year