The Spirit of Christmas

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

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1▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1For Unto Us a Child Is Born / Because It’s Christmas
recording engineer and mixer:
Don Murray (producer / engineer)
producer:
Eddie Arkin and Barry Manilow
vocals:
Barry Manilow
conductor:
Mark Watters
arranger:
Eddie Arkin and Barry Manilow
orchestrator:
Eddie Arkin
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Arista Records, Inc. (manufacturing and distribution company, do not add releases here) (in 1990)
medley including a recording of:
Because It’s Christmas (For All the Children)
lyricist:
Jack Feldman and Bruce Sussman
composer:
Barry Manilow
publisher:
Appoggiatura Music, Inc., Camp Songs Music and Universal Music Careers
sub-publisher:
シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.) and ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division)
medley including a recording of:
Messiah, HWV 56: Part I, no. 12. Chorus “For unto us a Child is born”
composer:
George Frideric Handel (German‐British baroque composer) (in 1741)
part of:
Messiah, HWV 56: Part I
Barry Manilow35:31
2Peace on Earth / The Little Drummer Boy
producer:
Frank Konigsberg
lead vocals:
David Bowie (English singer‐songwriter) (on 1977-09-11) and Bing Crosby (on 1977-09-11)
recorded at:
Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom (on 1977-09-11)
edit of:
Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy by David Bowie (English singer‐songwriter) & Bing Crosby
recording of:
Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy (on 1977-09-11)
writer:
Katherine K. Davis (Katherine Kennicott Davis) (in 1941), Henry Onorati (in 1958), Harry Simeone (in 1958), Ian Fraser (English composer, conductor, orchestrator, arranger and music director) (in 1977), Larry Grossman (Musical theatre composer) (in 1977) and Buz Kohan (writer, producer and composer) (in 1977)
medley of:
Carol of the Drum (aka “The Little Drummer Boy”)
medley of:
Peace on Earth
David Bowie & Bing Crosby42:37
3Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
recording of:
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
lyricist:
Sammy Cahn (in 1945-07)
composer:
Jule Styne (in 1945-07)
publisher:
Cahn Music Company, Chappell & Co., Chappell/Morris Ltd., Cherry Lane Music Ltd., Imagen Music, J. Albert & Son Pty. Ltd., Producers Music Publishing Co., Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996), Warner Chappell North America and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
The Manhattan Transfer4:36
4Light of the Stable
producer:
Brian Ahern
recording of:
Light of the Stable
writer:
Elizabeth Rhymer and Steven Rhymer
Emmylou Harris2:26
5O Come, o Come Emmanuel / We Three Kings of Orient Are
Neil Diamond2:58
6Frosty the Snowman
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1979)
cover recording of:
Frosty the Snow Man
writer:
Steve Nelson (US songwriter who co-wrote “Frosty the Snowman”) and Walter E. Rollins (songwriter)
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, J. Albert & Son Pty. Ltd., Warner/Chappell North America Limited (formerly incorporated as Marmalade Music Ltd., from 1968/09/19–1999/11/09), Chappell & Co. (in 1950) and Hill and Range Songs, Inc. (publisher) (on 1950-06-02)
Willie Nelson22:27
7Hard Candy Christmas
vocals:
Dolly Parton
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Aug 5, 2004 – Oct 1, 2008) (in 1982)
cover recording of:
Hard Candy Christmas
lyricist, writer and composer:
Carol Hall (musical theatre songwriter)
publisher:
MCA Music Ltd.
Dolly Parton4.53:38
8Here Comes Santa Claus
Riders in the Sky1:41
9Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
producer:
Owen Bradley
vocals:
Brenda Lee (1960s American singer) (on 1958-10-19)
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-20 (number: 2), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-03 (number: 2), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-13 (number: 3), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-27 (number: 3), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-06 (number: 7), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-29 (number: 13), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-22 (number: 19), Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1960 (number: 33), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2024 (number: 59), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2023 (number: 60), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2025 (number: 67), Offizielle deutsche Charts – Single-Jahrescharts 2025 (number: 70), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2022 (number: 80), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2021 (number: 92) and BILLIONS CLUB
recording of:
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (on 1958-10-19)
lyricist and composer:
Johnny Marks (American songwriter)
publisher:
Chappell, D. Davis & Co. Pty Ltd, EMI Davis Music Australia Pty Limited and St. Nicholas Music
Brenda Lee42:05
10White Christmas
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun (US songwriter/producer) and Jerry Wexler
bass, drums (drum set), piano, tenor saxophone and vibraphone:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (on 1954-02-04)
guitar:
Jimmy Oliver (guitar, Drifters) (on 1954-02-04)
baritone vocals:
Andrew Thrasher (on 1954-02-04)
bass vocals:
Bill Pinkney (on 1954-02-04)
lead vocals:
Clyde McPhatter (on 1954-02-04) and Bill Pinkney (on 1954-02-04)
tenor vocals:
Clyde McPhatter (on 1954-02-04) and Gerhart Thrasher (on 1954-02-04)
performer:
The Drifters (US doo wop/R&B vocal group)
recorded at:
Fulton Recording Studio in New York, New York, United States (on 1954-02-04)
cover recording of:
White Christmas (vocal quartet arrangement, made popular by The Drifters) (on 1954-02-04)
lyricist and composer:
Irving Berlin (from 1938 until 1940)
arrangement of:
White Christmas
quotes lyrics from:
Jingle Bells
The Drifters4.52:40
11Mary’s Boy Child
producer:
Dennis Farnon and Henri René (producer, composer, conductor and arranger)
bass:
Meyer "Mike" Rubin (US bassist 1930s - 1960s) (on 1956-07-20)
bass clarinet:
Antonio Villa (on 1956-07-20)
cello:
Ennio Bolognini (Argentine-American cellist and composer) (on 1956-07-20)
congas:
Wally Fernez (on 1956-07-20)
French horn:
Attilo DePalma (on 1956-07-20)
guitar:
Frantz Casséus (on 1956-07-20)
guitar family:
Millard Thomas (on 1956-07-20)
harp:
Marjorie Call (on 1956-07-20)
percussion:
Arnold Manchester (on 1956-07-20) and Louis Singer (percussionist) (on 1956-07-20)
piano:
Hal Hidey (on 1956-07-20)
saxophone:
Victor Garber (50s US saxophonist) (on 1956-07-20), Jules Jacob (US jazz woodwind player) (on 1956-07-20), Ted Nash (40s-80s US swing reedman, uncle of the other) (on 1956-07-20) and Wilbur Schwartz (on 1956-07-20)
viola:
Joseph Reilich (on 1956-07-20)
violin:
Israel Baker (American violinist) (on 1956-07-20), Jerome G. Kasin (on 1956-07-20), Robert Levine (violist, violinist) (on 1956-07-20), Gustave Rosseels (on 1956-07-20), Myron Sandler (on 1956-07-20) and Marshall Sosson (on 1956-07-20)
vocals:
Harry Belafonte (on 1956-07-20)
conductor:
Will Lorin (on 1956-07-20)
recorded at:
Radio Recorders Studios (Santa Monica Blvd. location since 1949) in West Hollywood, California, United States (on 1956-07-20)
recording of:
Mary’s Boy Child (on 1956-07-20)
lyricist and composer:
Jester Hairston
publisher:
Bourne Music Ltd. and J. Albert & Son Pty. Ltd.
Harry Belafonte33:02
12Ave Maria
Luciano Pavarotti5:07
13My Favorite Things
recorded in:
Los Angeles, California, United States (from 1965-08 until 1965-09)
producer:
Harvey Fuqua
cover recording of:
My Favorite Things (The Sound of Music)
lyricist:
Oscar Hammerstein II (of Rodgers & Hammerstein)
composer:
Richard Rodgers (composer)
publisher:
Williamson Music Company
sub-publisher:
Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc. (song publisher, never a release label) and ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label)
part of:
American Splendor
part of:
The Sound of Music (Rodgers & Hammerstein musical)
The Supremes2:51
14I’ll Be Home for Christmas
cover recording of:
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
lyricist:
James Kimball Gannon
additional writer:
Buck Ram
composer:
Walter Kent
publisher:
Chappell Music Ltd., Edward B. Marks Music Co. (founded originally as J. Stern & Co. in 1894, renamed in 1919), Gannon and Kent Music Co., Piedmont Music Company, Warner Chappell and Warner Chappell Music (holding behind all publishing activities of Warner Music Group, 2019–)
sub-publisher:
ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
Tony Bennett with The Ralph Sharon Trio2:04
15Merry Christmas, Baby
producer:
David Axelrod (baroque pop composer)
vocals and performer:
Lou Rawls
conductor:
H.B. Barnum
arranger:
H.B. Barnum
cover recording of:
Merry Christmas Baby (on 1967-07-17)
writer:
Lou Baxter and Johnny Moore (US blues guitarist, Three Blazers)
publisher:
Anne-Rachel Music Corp., St. Louis Music Corp., Unichappell Music, Inc., Warner Chappell Music (holding behind all publishing activities of Warner Music Group, 2019–) and Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lou Rawls2:35
16Let There Be Peace on Earth (Let It Begin With Me)
recording of:
Let There Be Peace on Earth
writer:
Jill Jackson Miller (US | writer of 'Let There Be Peace on Earth') (in 1955) and Sy Miller (in 1955)
Gladys Knight & the Pips4:06
17Winter Wonderland
vocals:
Aretha Franklin
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony BMG Music Entertainment Inc. (in 1964) and Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1964)
cover recording of:
Winter Wonderland
lyricist:
Richard B. Smith (wrote lyrics to “Winter Wonderland”)
composer:
Felix Bernard
publisher:
Bregman, Vocco & Conn, Inc., EMI Music (do not use as release label! this is a music publisher), Francis, Day & Hunter, Redwood Music Ltd. (Carlin), Warner Chappell Music Inc., Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty. Ltd., WB Music Corp. (1929–2019) (until 2019-05-28) and WC Music Corp. (from 2019-05-28 to present)
Aretha Franklin2:15
18O Holy Night
Maureen McGovern2:37
19I Wonder as I Wander
Sandi Patty2:52
20Pretty Paper
recorded in:
London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (on 1963-09-11)
producer:
Fred Foster
vocals:
Roy Orbison (on 1963-09-11)
orchestra:
The Barry Booth Orchestra (on 1963-09-11)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Aug 5, 2004 – Oct 1, 2008) (in 1967)
cover recording of:
Pretty Paper (on 1963-09-11)
lyricist and composer:
Willie Nelson
publisher:
Sony ATV Music Publishing (1995–2020) and Tree Publishing Inc.
Roy Orbison42:46
21I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Plácido Domingo2:37
22Hark! The Herapld Angels Sing
Julie Andrews3:32
23It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
cover recording of:
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (carol version)
lyricist:
Edmund Sears (American church author)
composer:
Richard Storrs Willis
part of:
The New English Hymnal (hymn book) (number: 29)
is based on:
CAROL (hymn tune)
is based on:
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (poem)
Rosanne Cash3:57
24Sleigh Ride
cover recording of:
Sleigh Ride (original instrumental version)
composer:
Leroy Anderson (until 1948-02-10)
publisher:
Mills Music
The Ventures2:21
25Silent Night
cover recording of:
Silent Night (Christmas carol, English translation)
lyricist:
Josef Mohr (composer/author) (in 1816)
composer:
Franz Xaver Gruber (composer/author) (in 1818)
translator:
John Freeman Young (in 1859)
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 27088)
translated version of:
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht
The Everly Brothers2:54
2▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Little St. Nick
The Beach Boys2:00
2Jingle Bell Rock
guest background vocals:
Anita Kerr Singers (mixed vocal group) (on 1957-10-29)
performer:
Bobby Helms
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1957)
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-27 (number: 2), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-03 (number: 3), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-13 (number: 4), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-20 (number: 4), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-06 (number: 8), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-29 (number: 14), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-22 (number: 20), Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1957 (number: 30), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2024 (number: 67), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2023 (number: 68), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2025 (number: 81), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2022 (number: 86) and BILLIONS CLUB
recording of:
Jingle Bell Rock (on 1957-10-29)
writer:
Joe Beal and Jim Boothe
publisher:
Anne Rachel Music Corp, Carlin, Chappell & Co., Inc. (USA) and Essex Music of Australia Pty. Ltd.
Bobby Helms4.22:11
3The Little Drummer Boy
vocals:
Johnny Cash (country music legend)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Aug 5, 2004 – Oct 1, 2008) (in 1963) and Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd. (not for release label use! pre-Aug 2004 subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Inc.) (in 1963)
cover recording of:
Carol of the Drum (aka “The Little Drummer Boy”)
lyricist and composer:
Katherine K. Davis (Katherine Kennicott Davis) (in 1941)
additional composer:
Henry Onorati (in 1958) and Harry Simeone (in 1958)
publisher:
EMI Mills Music (ASCAP-affiliated), International Korwin Corp., Warner Chappell, Warner Chappell Music (holding behind all publishing activities of Warner Music Group, 2019–), Belwin-Mills Publishing Corp. (in 1955) and Mills Music, Inc. (in 1964)
is based on:
Trad. (traditional Czech carol, became “Carol of the Drums”)
Johnny Cash52:34
4Joy to the World
Judy Collins2:33
5Toyland
Leon Redbone2:35
6Sleigh Ride
vocals:
Johnny Mathis (US pop/soul singer)
orchestra:
Percy Faith and His Orchestra (Faith’s orchestra before his death in 1976)
conductor:
Percy Faith
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Columbia Records (EMI‐owned 1931–1990, worldwide except US, CA, MX, ES, & JP; largely defunct since Jan 1973) (in 1958)
recording of:
Sleigh Ride
lyricist:
Mitchell Parish (in 1950)
composer:
Leroy Anderson (until 1948-02-10)
publisher:
EMI Harmonies Limited, EMI Mills Music Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated), EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd (not for release label use!) and Woodbury Music (aka Woodbury Music Company)
version of:
Sleigh Ride (original instrumental version)
Johnny Mathis4.52:57
7It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
lead vocals:
Andy Williams (US pop/jazz vocalist) (in 1972)
vocals:
Andy Williams (US pop/jazz vocalist) (in 1972)
arranger:
Johnny Mandel (American composer and arranger)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Aug 5, 2004 – Oct 1, 2008) (in 1963) and Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1963)
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-27 (number: 9), Billboard Hot 100: 2026-01-03 (number: 9), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-13 (number: 10), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-20 (number: 10), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-12-06 (number: 17), Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-29 (number: 30) and BILLIONS CLUB
recording of:
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (in 1972)
writer:
Eddie Pola and George Wyle
publisher:
Barnaby Music Corp., EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), EMI Songs Ltd., IQ Music Ltd. and ピアーミュージック (Peer Music Japan, Japan, subsidiary of Nichion)
Andy Williams42:32
8Do You Hear What I Hear?
Bobby Vinton2:55
9Blue Christmas
Engelbert Humperdinck3:04
10Carol of the Bells
Wynton Marsalis4:53
11Christmas Through Your Eyes
recording of:
Christmas Through Your Eyes
writer:
Gloria Estefan and Diane Warren (US songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) and Universal/MCA Music Ltd. (not for release label use!)
Gloria Estefan5:02
12The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
cover recording of:
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
lyricist:
Robert Wells (songwriter) (in 1945-07) and Mel Tormé (“The Velvet Fog”) (in 1945-07)
composer:
Mel Tormé (“The Velvet Fog”) (in 1945-07)
publisher:
Chappell/Morris Ltd., MPL Music Publishing Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd., Sony/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP), Warner Chappell, Warner Chappell Ltd., Warner Chappell Music (holding behind all publishing activities of Warner Music Group, 2019–), Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty. Ltd. and Edwin H. Morris & Co., Inc. (a division of MPL Communications Inc.) (from 1946 to present)
Nat King Cole3:10
13I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Glen Campbell2:48
14What Child Is This?
The Lettermen2:10
15We Three Kings of Orient Are
John Tesh3:39
16Away in a Manger
The Brothers Four3:21
17Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)
Dion3:47
18Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
vocals:
Dean Martin (American singer/actor) (in 1959)
conductor:
Gus Levene (in 1959)
arranger:
Johnny Marks (American songwriter)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Capitol Records, Inc. (not for release label use; US company behind the “Capitol Records” imprint) (in 1959)
cover recording of:
Rudolph, the Red‐Nosed Reindeer (in 1959)
lyricist and composer:
Johnny Marks (American songwriter)
publisher:
Chappell & Co Ltd., Chappell Music Ltd., Warner Chappell, Warner Chappell Music (holding behind all publishing activities of Warner Music Group, 2019–), Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019), St. Nicholas Music Publishing Co. (on 1949-05-09) and St. Nicholas Music Inc. (from 1950 to present)
arrangement of:
Rudolph, the Red‐Nosed Reindeer (for voice, choir and orchestra, Elms)
Dean Martin3.52:16
19Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (instrumental)
Vince Gill2:35
20Jingle Bells
vocals:
Dolly Parton
arranger:
The Mighty Fine Band
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd. (not for release label use! pre-Aug 2004 subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Inc.) (in 1990)
recording of:
Jingle Bells
lyricist and composer:
James Lord Pierpont (in 1850)
publisher:
Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996)
composed at and lyrics written at:
Simpson Tavern in Medford, Massachusetts, United States (in 1850)
Dolly Parton31:56
21O Little Town of Bethlehem
Kenny Rogers1:39
22’Twas the Night Before Christmas
cover recording of:
'Twas the Night Before Christmas (arr. Simeone)
lyricist:
Clement Clarke Moore
arranger:
Harry Simeone
Don McLean3:48
23The Twelve Days of Christmas
recording of:
The Twelve Days of Christmas
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
arranger:
Frederic Austin (English baritone and composer) (in 1909)
publisher:
Shawnee Press Inc.
Burl Ives3:53
24We Wish You a Merry Christmas
The Kingston Trio1:36
25What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
cover recording of:
What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve
lyricist and composer:
Frank Loesser
publisher:
Edwin H. Morris & Co., Inc. (a division of MPL Communications Inc.), Frank Music Corp. (in 1947) and MPL Music Publishing Inc. (in 1947)
sub-publisher:
Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc. (song publisher, never a release label) and ヤマハミュージックEH(CM) (Yamaha Music EH(CM))
Gladys Knight & the Pips4:35