SANTA MONICA, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Universal
Music Enterprises) - The 25 most popular holiday songs of the past 50 years, from 1957 to 2007, modern classics and new favorites, are now on one CD, presented by the world's best-selling multi-artist album series. THE ESSENTIAL NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS!, released
September 23, 2008, is the latest Christmas-themed release from the hugely successful NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC! series of compilation albums that has collectively scanned over 70 million units in the U.S. in the last 10 years. The three previously released volumes of NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS! have scanned more than 5.6 million units combined.
Available for the first time on CD and only on THE ESSENTIAL NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS! is the compilation's most recent track - "Mistletoe" from Colbie Caillat. The track was a Top 10 Adult Contemporary hit last Christmas, selling more than 116,000 digital downloads. From much-loved recordings from Caillat and two other newer artists, Carrie Underwood and Ledisi, to vintage gems from legends Elvis Presley and John Lennon and Yoko Ono; from traditionalists Andy Williams, Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis, Gene Autry, the Harry Simeone Chorale and Burl Ives to pop greats Elton John, The Beach Boys and Jackson 5; from R&B superstars The Temptations and Donny Hathaway to children's favorites The Chipmunks and Elmo & Patsy; from Chuck Berry, Paul McCartney, and Jose Feliciano to Amy Grant, Wham!, and Daryl Hall & John Oates, THE ESSENTIAL NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS! is the musical gift of the season.
THE ESSENTIAL NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS! is a joint venture from EMI Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and the Zomba Group of labels. THE ESSENTIAL NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS! will be distributed by Universal Music Group.
THE ESSENTIAL NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS!
1. John Lennon and Yoko Ono - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
2. Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas
3. Andy Williams - It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
4. Dean Martin - Baby, It's Cold Outside
5. Johnny Mathis - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
6. Harry Simeone Chorale - The Little Drummer Boy
7. Burl Ives - A Holly Jolly Christmas
8. Gene Autry - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
9. The Beach Boys - Little Saint Nick
10. The Chipmunks - The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)
11. Jackson 5 - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
12. Chuck Berry - Run Rudolph Run
13. Elmo & Patsy - Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
14. Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
15. Jose Feliciano - Feliz Navidad
16. Donny Hathaway - This Christmas
17. Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime
18. Elton John - Step Into Christmas
19. Wham! - Last Christmas
20. Daryl Hall & John Oates - Jingle Bell Rock
21. Carrie Underwood - Do You Hear What I Hear
22. Amy Grant - Breath Of Heaven
23. Colbie Caillat - Mistletoe
24. Ledisi - This Christmas (Could Be The One)
25. The Temptations - Silent Night
The NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC! series debuted in the United States in 1998 after the NOW brand had been an enormous, multi-platinum international success for 15 years. With 70 volumes released to date in the U.K., the NOW series has generated sales of over 160 million albums worldwide, including over 70 million copies in the U.S. Every album in the NOW series has reached the Billboard Top 10, with NOW 3 the first non-soundtrack, multi-artist collection in history to reach No 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Sales Chart.
