SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

Personnel includes: Ray Charles (vocals, piano, synthesizer); Marty Paich (arranger, conductor); Betty Carter (vocals); Jeff Pevar, Kevin Turner (guitar); Rudy Johnson (tenor saxophone); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet, flugelhorn); The Raelettes, The Jack Halloran Singers (background vocals). Producer: Ray Charles. Reissue producer: James Austin. Recorded at R.P.M. Studios, Los Angeles, California. Digitally remastered by Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch (DigiPrep). Personnel: Ray Charles (vocals); Kevin Turner, Jeff Pevar (guitar); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet, flugelhorn). 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

• Genre: Christmas / Chanukkah
• Format: CD
• Released: 10/06/2009