Spector treated a series of mostly secular Christmas standards to his trademark "Wall of Sound" treatment, and the selections feature the vocal performances of Spector's regular artists during this period. It peaks at No. 13 on Billboard magazine's special, year-end, weekly Christmas Albums sales chart in December 1963.
The album was released on 22 November 1963, the same day as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and was a relative failure at the time. In subsequent years, especially after its reissue, the album grew in popularity and is considered now to be a holiday classic.
Spector believed he could produce a record for the holidays that would capture not only the essence of the Christmas spirit, but also be a pop masterpiece that would stand against any work these artists had already done.
This is without a doubt the greatest Christmas album ever made.