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.

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

The perfect playlist whether you’re decorating the tree, singing along making (or eating!) the mince pies or enjoying the company of friends and family. Perry Como And The Fontane Sisters With Mitchell Ayres & His Orchestra – It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like 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. 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. and closing with two #1s that have become seasonal standards – ‘Stay Another Day’ from East 17, and ‘The Power Of Love’ from Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Now That’s What I Call Music have gone the multi-disc route this year for a new Christmas compilation. Now That’s What I Call Christmas features a mix of well-established timeless classics with a smattering of more recent material and even the odd curveball and rarity.

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

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. Perry Como And The Fontane Sisters with Mitchell Ayres & His Orchestra – It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas John Lennon, The Plastic Ono Band, Yoko Ono & The Harlem Community Choir – Happy Xmas (War Is Over) 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. It’s hard to understand why Kate wouldn’t want her Christmas song on a Christmas compilation, but there you go. Maybe she’s gone off it. We have to make do with her inferior 1993 B-side ‘Home For Christmas’, instead. There’s even space for what I believe is a new-to-CD rarity in the 12-inch version of Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’, although the compilers also include the standard version AS WELL, so there can be no complaining.

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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.