Their songbook stretches from traditional opera to relatively contemporary favourites, and includes hits like Nessun Dorma as well as a particularly good The Rose, Maria from West Side Story, You'll Never Walk Alone and Hallelujah.
Bonus content includes the song Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. You certainly will if you put this on. It'll bring tears to your eyes. (5 stars)
2. Poor old Macca. Not considered hip enough for Bob Geldof's latest charity single, at least he has the love and respect of the huge bunch of artists who have contributed to this double album.
The Art of McCartney features covers from throughout Sir Paul's career, and succeeds most where the performers don't try too hard to sound like the man himself (otherwise you may as well just listen to the original).
Given that, it makes sense that those artists with a very recognisable style, like Harry Connick jnr on My Love, stand out. Bob Dylan's Things We Said Today is a croaky cracker, while Owl City's Listen To What The Man Said, like many other tracks, gives you new appreciation of McCartney's post-Beatles songwriting.
It's a fascinating line-up, from Billy Joel (a good Maybe I'm Amazed but his Live and Let Die doesn't stand up to Macca or Guns N Roses) to Airborne Toxic Event, The Cure and Corinne Bailey Rae. A great Chrissie present for mum or dad - or yourself, of course. (3 and a half stars)
3. Take dozens of classic 1980s pop tracks, put them in the capable hands of some of today's top artists (some of whom weren't born when the original was on the radio) and you have Sounds of the 80s - a fantastic Christmas present option for the kids of the 80s, the kids of today and everyone in between.
Man of the moment Sam Smith covers Whitney Houston's How Will I Know? in his own unique style, while Birdy takes on Madonna's Lucky Star and The Script do The Cars' Drive. A few blasts from the past make an appearance - Level 42 covering INXS' Need You Tonight, Lisa Stansfield doing The Style Council's You're The Best Thing and Jermaine Jackson performing a mellow version of Foreigner's I Want To Know What Love Is. Worth it just to hear Dolly Parton doing Bon Jovi's Lay Your Hands On Me, with banjo and all. (3 and a half stars)
4. Other compilation options include Christmas at Downton Abbey (yes, really); SHADYXV, Shady Records' greatest hits; Jools Holland's Sirens of Song; We Love Disney (covers of Disney songs); the Wilco collection What's Your 20? and the brilliant, Lorde-compiled The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 soundtrack.
