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The Spirit of Christmas were a twenty-five year running series of compilation albums of both traditional and modern Christmas carols performed by Australian artists and musicians which was released every Christmas between 1993 until its discontinuation in 2018 with proceeds going to The Salvation Army in Australia as part of their "Red Shield Appeal" which supports at-risk children and youth throughout Australia. The albums were sponsored by Myer and produced by Emerald City records, a division of Polydor Records and later produced by Sony BMG. There was a brief intermission because of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997, and a tribute album featuring British and other international artists, was dedicated to her memory instead, titled Diana, Princess of Wales: Tribute.

Founding

This initiative started when Myer wished to continue their philanthropic support in the community "whilst at the same time providing something special for everyone to enjoy."^[1] Since the release of the first edition of The Spirit of Christmas CD in 1993, over $5.5 million have been raised for the Salvation Army^[1] while funds raised from the 1996 and 1998 editions went to the Starlight Children's Foundation. Session and touring musician, Lindsay Field was the executive producer and compiler.^[2] Each year Field contacted various fellow Australian musicians – including those he had worked with personally – to donate a track for the compilation, most commonly a new rendition of a standard Christmas carol.^[2] In 1995 he reflected, "People get to hear top Aussie artists singing previously unrecorded tracks, and through buying a copy they can support the valuable work of The Salvation Army."^[2] In that year they raised over $240,000 for homeless youth programs.^[3] The albums were produced in collaboration with former musician and later talent manager Glenn Wheatley (ex-the Masters Apprentices, Little River Band, John Farnham).

Discography

The Spirit of Christmas 2007
The Spirit of Christmas 2008
The Spirit of Christmas 2009
The Spirit of Christmas 2010
The Spirit of Christmas 2011
The Spirit of Christmas 2012
The Spirit of Christmas 2013 (20th Anniversary)
The Spirit of Christmas 2014
The Spirit of Christmas 2015 (Best of)
The Spirit of Christmas 2016
The Spirit of Christmas 2017 (Best of)
The Spirit of Christmas 2018 (Celebrating 25 Joyous Years)

References

^ ^a ^b "The Spirit of Christmas CD and The Salvation Army". Archived from the original on 2007-08-29.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Charity alburn". The Canberra Times. Supplement. Vol. 71, no. 22, 146. 5 December 1995. p. 3. Retrieved 22 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^ Kazar, Andrew (6 December 1995). "Volunteer Workers Deck Halls of the Needy". The Canberra Times. Vol. 71, no. 22, 147. p. 4. Retrieved 22 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^ Field, Lindsay, (producer); Myer-Grace Bros, (issuing body) (1994), The Spirit of Christmas '94, Myer Grace Bros, retrieved 22 December 2022{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Field, Lindsay, (producer); Myer Stores Ltd, (issuing body) (1995), The Spirit of Christmas 1995, Myer Grace Bros, retrieved 22 December 2022{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)