SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 3 /PRNewswire/ — The 25 most popular holiday
songs of the past 50 years, from 1957 to 2007, modern classics and new
favorites, are now on one CD, presented by the world’s best-selling
multi-artist album series.  THE ESSENTIAL NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS!,
released September 23, 2008, is the latest Christmas-themed release from the
hugely successful NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL MUSIC! series of compilation albums
that has collectively scanned over 70 million units in the U.S. in the last 10
years.  The three previously released volumes of NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL
CHRISTMAS! have scanned more than 5.6 million units combined.

Available for the first time on CD and only on THE ESSENTIAL NOW THAT’S
WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS! is the compilation’s most recent track — “Mistletoe”
from Colbie Caillat.  The track was a Top 10 Adult Contemporary hit last
Christmas, selling more than 116,000 digital downloads.  From much-loved
recordings from Caillat and two other newer artists, Carrie Underwood and
Ledisi, to vintage gems from legends Elvis Presley and John Lennon and Yoko
Ono; from traditionalists Andy Williams, Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis, Gene
Autry, the Harry Simeone Chorale and Burl Ives to pop greats Elton John, The
Beach Boys and Jackson 5; from R&B superstars The Temptations and Donny
Hathaway to children’s favorites The Chipmunks and Elmo & Patsy; from Chuck
Berry, Paul McCartney, and Jose Feliciano to Amy Grant, Wham!, and Daryl Hall
& John Oates, THE ESSENTIAL NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS! is the musical
gift of the season.

THE ESSENTIAL NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS! is a joint venture from
EMI Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and the Zomba
Group of labels.  THE ESSENTIAL NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS! will be
distributed by Universal Music Group.

THE ESSENTIAL NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS!
1. John Lennon and Yoko Ono   Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
2. Elvis Presley  Blue Christmas
3. Andy Williams  It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
4. Dean MartinBaby, It's Cold Outside
5. Johnny Mathis  It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
6. Harry Simeone Chorale  The Little Drummer Boy
7. Burl Ives  A Holly Jolly Christmas
8. Gene Autry Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
9. The Beach Boys Little Saint Nick
10. The Chipmunks The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)
11. Jackson 5 Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
12. Chuck Berry   Run Rudolph Run
13. Elmo & Patsy  Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
14. Brenda LeeRockin' Around The Christmas Tree
15. Jose FelicianoFeliz Navidad
16. Donny HathawayThis Christmas
17. Paul McCartneyWonderful Christmastime
18. Elton JohnStep Into Christmas
19. Wham! Last Christmas
20. Daryl Hall & John Oates   Jingle Bell Rock
21. Carrie Underwood  Do You Hear What I Hear
22. Amy Grant Breath Of Heaven
23. Colbie CaillatMistletoe
24. LedisiThis Christmas (Could Be The One)
25. The Temptations   Silent Night

The NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL MUSIC! series debuted in the United States in
1998 after the NOW brand had been an enormous, multi-platinum international
success for 15 years.  With 70 volumes released to date in the U.K., the NOW
series has generated sales of over 160 million albums worldwide, including
over 70 million copies in the U.S.  Every album in the NOW series has reached
the Billboard Top 10, with NOW 3 the first non-soundtrack, multi-artist
collection in history to reach #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Sales Chart.

NOW 1 (October 1998, certified platinum)
NOW 2 (July 1999, certified double platinum)
NOW 3 (December 1999, certified double platinum)
NOW 4 (July 2000, the first compilation ever to debut at #1 on the
 Billboard Top 200, certified double platinum)
NOW 5 (November 2000, certified quadruple platinum)
NOW 6 (April 2001, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, certified
 triple platinum)
NOW 7 (July 2001, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, certified triple
 platinum)
NOW 8 (November 2001, certified triple platinum)
NOW 9 (April 2002, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, certified
 double platinum)
NOW 10 (July 2002, certified platinum)
NOW 11 (November 2002, certified double platinum)
NOW 12 (March 2003, certified platinum)
NOW 13 (July 2003, certified platinum)
NOW 14 (April 2004, certified triple platinum)
NOW 15 (May 2004, certified double platinum)
NOW 16 (July 2004, certified triple platinum)
NOW 17 (November 2004, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, certified
 triple platinum)
NOW 18 (March 2005, certified platinum)
NOW 19 (July 2005, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, certified
 double platinum)
NOW 20 (November 2005, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, certified
 double platinum)
NOW 21 (April 2006, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200, certified
 platinum)
NOW 22 (July 2006, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, certified
 platinum)
NOW 23 (November 2006, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, certified
 platinum)
NOW 24 (March 2007, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200, certified
 platinum)
NOW 25 (July 2007, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, certified
 platinum)
NOW 26 (November 2007, certified platinum)
NOW 27 (March 2008, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200, pending
 platinum certification)
NOW 28 (June 2008, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200, pending
 platinum certification)

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS! (October 2001, certified sextuple
 platinum)
NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS! The Signature Collection (September
 2003, certified double platinum)
NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS! 3 (October 2006, certified platinum)

SOURCE  Universal Music Enterprises