Christmas Kisses — Paul McCartney

Christmas Kisses is a masterclass in late-career restraint and tonal warmth.

Recorded during the same sessions as his standards album Kisses on the Bottom, this release finds Paul McCartney stepping away from his rock and roll pedigree to inhabit the role of a classic crooner.

The sound is defined by its intimacy: you can hear the slight grain in his aging voice, which adds a layer of lived-in authenticity to the holiday standards. It feels less like a performance for a stadium and more like a private song shared in a wood-paneled study.

Moments Worth Listening For

the way Paul's voice slightly cracks on the word fire in the opening line

the delicate piano trill that bridges the bridge back to the final verse

the lush string crescendo that feels like a warm blanket being pulled up

the lingering upright bass note that closes the track with woody resonance

Reviews

Also reviewed byAllMusic

Where This Album Departs

How does Christmas Kisses sound next to the rest of Paul McCartney's catalogue?

This album stays in step with the catalogue across the board — no axis departs enough to be worth its own note. Hover the dots to see where each one sits.

Cassette uses generative AI to enrich its catalog. How we use AI →