Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Christmas! (2001)

The "Now!" series started in the US in 1998, long after I had lost interest in Top 40 radio. In August of this year, a friend told me that Vol 43 in the series had been released to which I responded, "They should name it 'now that's what I call a hot mess of autotune.'" However, there's some truth in advertising in this 2 disc compilation. Of the 36 tracks here, over half are what I would consider to be required listening during December. If I had to pick just one Christmas compilation, I would pick The Time-Life Treasury Of Christmas, but this would run a close second. (There's quite a bit of overlap between the two.)

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #3 (Dec 22, 2001)

Tracks:
DISC ONE:

1. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
2. White Christmas - Bing Crosby
3. Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Frank Sinatra
5. Winter Wonderland - Tony Bennett
6. Sleigh Ride - Ella Fitzgerald
7. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Dean Martin
8. (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays - Perry Como
9. The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Johnny Mathis
10. A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
11. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
12. Grandma Got run Over By A Reindeer - Elmo & Patsy
13. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
14. Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
15. Little Saint Nick - The Beach Boys
16. Merry Christmas Darling - Carpenters
17. Christmas Collage - Kathy Mattea
18. Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth - Bing Crosby & David Bowie

DISC TWO:

1. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - John & Yoko and The Plastic Ono Band
2. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - Bruce Springsteen
3. Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
4. Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney
5. Our Love Is Like A Holiday - Michael Bolton
6. (It Must Have Been Ol') Santa Claus - Harry Connick, Jr.
7. Jingle Bells - Diana Krall
8. Away In A Manger - Mannheim Steamroller
9. Deck The Halls - Ottmar Liebert
10. Love On Layaway - Gloria Estefan
11. Don't Save It All For Christmas Day - Celine Dion
12. This Christmas - Joe
13. Special Gift - The Isley Brothers (feat. Ronald Isley)
14. All We Need Is Love (Christmas In The Yard) - The Big Yard Family (feat. Shaggy)
15. My Only Wish (This Year) - Britney Spears
16. You Don't Have Time To Be Alone (On Christmas) - ★NSYNC
17. O Come All Ye Faithful - Luther Vandross
18. Silent Night - Boyz II Men

Disc 1 is first rate with the exceptions of Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer (how does a song this bad seemingly grow in popularity each year? and how could they sequence it immediately following Gene Autry singing about Rudolph?) and an out-of-tune medley from Kathy Mattea. Things get a little iffy on the last half of Disc 2 when it gets to songs I've never heard before (someone really thought the title Love On Layaway was a good choice?) and artists I've never heard before (Joe) or don't care for (Celine Dion, Britney Spears), but I understand those decisions from a marketing perspective. The best new song is All We Need Is Love (which, admittedly, really isn't a Christmas song). Worst new song is Special Gift by The Isley Brothers, surprisingly.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None