The Spirit of Christmas

• Artist: Ray Charles
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1985 12
• Type: Christmas
• Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

Recorded in 1985, The Spirit of Christmas finds Ray Charles performing a variety of holiday favorites with vocal assistance from the Raelettes and an appearance by jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. The ten tracks mix standards and originals, including "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and the ballad "That Spirit of Christmas," which was featured in the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. The Spirit of Christmas is perfect background music for any holiday celebration. ~ Al Campbell, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
What Child Is This?	Traditional, William Chatterton Dix	Ray Charles	(5:00)
The Little Drummer Boy	Harry Simeone, Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati	Ray Charles	(5:30)
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (Lyrics)	J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie	Ray Charles	(3:29)
This Time of the Year (Lyrics)	Cliff Owens, Jesse Hollis	Ray Charles	(3:15)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer	Johnny Marks	Ray Charles	(4:04)
That Spirit of Christmas	Mable John, Parnell Davison, Joel Webster	Ray Charles	(5:06)
All I Want for Christmas	William Henderson	Ray Charles	(4:24)
Christmas in My Heart	Rosalyn Winters, Douglas Fraser, Julia Fraser	Ray Charles	(4:14)
Winter Wonderland (Lyrics)	Felix Bernard, Dick Smith	Ray Charles	(3:32)
Christmas Time	Edward Cole	Ray Charles	(4:39)

Credits

Ray Charles (Synthesizer), Ray Charles (Piano), Ray Charles (Arranger), Ray Charles (Keyboards), Ray Charles (Vocals), Ray Charles (Producer), Ray Charles (Main Performer), Ray Charles (Co-Arranger), Betty Carter (Performer), Joe Adams (Photography), James Austin (Reissue Coordination), Hugh Brown (Art Direction), Sid Feller (Producer), Freddie Hubbard (Trumpet), Freddie Hubbard (Flugelhorn), Dan Hersch (Remastering), Bill Inglot (Remastering), Marty Paich (Arranger), Marty Paich (Conductor), Bill McElhiney (Arranger), Larry Muhoberac (Arranger), Jeff Pevar (Guitar), James Polk (Arranger), The Raelettes (Vocals (Background)), Kevin Turner (Guitar), Rudy Johnson (Sax (Tenor)), Jack Halloran Choir (Vocals), Rachel Gutek (Reissue Design), Patrick Milligan (Discographical Annotation), Quincy Newell (Project Assistant), David Gorman (Project Assistant), Steve Woolard (Discographical Annotation)