Although I was given this to review, I actually purchased this last year when it was on sale only through Starbucks. I really enjoyed playing it last Christmas season when we had guests around. It is packed with such great and most times unknown classics, all culled together by the Rocket Man himself, Sir Elton John. In fact, I think it is one of the best collections of Christmas songs by different artists currently available. For me - at least - half of the songs were known (and were ones that I grew up loving), but there was a very pleasant surprise to find half an album of othr Christmas songs that were unknown, and yet on a par with those I did know! Older tracks such as The Beach Boys ('The Man with All the Toys'), The Ventures ('Jingle Bell Rock'), Chuck Berry ('Run Rudolph, Run'), Otis Redding ('Merry Christmas Baby') all mix beautifully with latter day artists, such as Kat Bus ('December Will Be Magic Again'), U2 ('New Year's Day'), Pet Shop Boys ('It Doesn't Often Snow at Christmas') and Elton John twice with his classic 'Step Into Christmas' and his new duet with Joss Stone, 'Calling It Christmas.'