Best Christmas Album in the World Ever [Import]

Many classic UK hits are here (and one or two non-hits that should have been), including Happy Xmas (John Lennon), Wonderful Christmastime (Paul McCartney), I wish it could be Christmas every day (Wizzard), Merry Christmas everybody (Slade), Do they know its Christmas (Band aid), Fairytale of New York (Pogues and Kirsty MacColl), I believe in Father Christmas (Greg Lake), 2000 miles (Pretenders), A spaceman came travelling (Chris De Burgh), The power of love (Frankie goes to Hollywood), Driving home for Christmas (Chris Rea), Step into Christmas (Elton John), Merry Christmas everyone (Shaking Stevens), Another rock and roll Christmas (Gary Glitter), Little Saint Nick (Beach boys), Santa Claus is coming to town (Jackson 5), In dulci Jubilo (Mike Oldfield), Stop the cavalry (Jona Lewie), Christmas wrapping (Waitresses), White Christmas (Bing Crosby), The Christmas song (Nat King Cole), Mary's boy child (Harry Belafonte), When a child is born (Johnny Mathis), Mistletoe and wine (Cliff Richard), Walking in the air (Aled Jones), Rocking around the Christmas tree (Mel and Kim), Santa baby (Eartha Kitt), Lonely this Christmas (Mud), Pretty paper (Roy Orbison) and Gaudete (Steeleye Span).

Many of these songs, along with the other Cliff Richard songs included on the third edition, are regulars on UK Christmas compilations, though Brenda Lee's version of Rocking around the Christmas tree is sometimes used instead of the Mel and Kim version - both were UK hits at different times. Whatever you think of them, they, together with the traditional songs, are the mainstay of British Christmas pop/rock compilations.

It is good to see Lonely pup in a Christmas shop (Adam Faith) included. This was a UK top five hit but is rarely seen on Christmas compilations. It is also great to have Ring out solstice bells (Jethro Tull).

The remainder of the collection is mainly made up of covers but there's a great selection by great singers including Dean Martin, Doris Day, Andy Williams, Jim Reeves and Perry Como. Note that the Spinners who sing Twelve days of Christmas are the British folk group, not the Detroit soul group - they are always listed as the Detroit Spinners in UK releases.

If you only buy one Christmas pop/rock album, you cannot go wrong with the Best Christmas album in the world ever, whether you buy this edition or the third edition.