Elton's Christmas Party released November 14, 2005

Elton, Universal Music Group and Starbucks Hear Music have released Elton John's Christmas Party, which includes a brand new Christmas duet between Elton and Joss Stone.

Elton John’s Christmas Party, a collection of Elton's favourite holiday party songs is available exclusively at Starbucks Company-operated stores in the U.S. and Canada and online at starbucks.com.
The new compilation contains Elton's choice of 21 songs, and Starbucks and Universal Music Group will donate $2 for every CD sold to support the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

The album includes Calling It Christmas, an exclusive brand-new duet by Elton John and Joss Stone written by Elton and Bernie Taupin especially for this collection. The CD’s liner notes, also written by Elton, describe why he selected each song in the compilation.

Among the songs Elton has selected are Chuck Berry’s Run Rudolph Run, Bruce Springsteen’s 1981 version of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, the Eagles’ 1978 Adult Contemporary hit of Please Come Home For Christmas, Jimmy Buffett’s 1996 anthem Christmas Island, Rufus Wainwright’s 2003 Spotlight On Christmas and Elton’s own 1973 No. 1 pop smash Step Into Christmas. Elton also includes several songs which capture the spirit of the season, including U2’s New Year’s Day, John Mayer’s St. Patrick’s Day and Outkast’s Playa’s Ball.

“Music plays a more important part at Christmas than at any other time of the year. It is the only season that has its own genre of music,' explained Elton. 'recently it has become de rigueur to do a Christmas album. But I do not want to do one. I would rather compile this album of my favorite Christmas songs by my favorite artists."

Here is the complete track listing for for Elton John’s Christmas Party:
1. Step Into Christmas-Elton John
2. Feliz Navidad- El Vez
3. Frosty the Snowman-The Ronettes
4. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town-Bruce Springsteen
5. The Man with All the Toys-The Beach Boys
6. A Change at Christmas (Say It Isn’t So)-The Flaming Lips
7. It Doesn’t Often Snow at Christmas-Pet Shop Boys
8. Spotlight on Christmas-Rufus Wainwright
9. Jingle Bell Rock-The Ventures
10. Run Rudolph Run-Chuck Berry
11. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer-The Crystals
12. Playa’s Ball-Outkast
13. Merry Christmas Baby-Otis Redding
14. Christmas Island-Jimmy Buffett
15. St. Patrick’s Day-John Mayer
16. Please Come Home for Christmas-The Eagles
17. Christmas Must Be Tonight-The Band
18. 2000 Miles-The Pretenders
19. December Will Be Magic Again-Kate Bush
20. New Year’s Day-U2
21. Calling It Christmas-Elton John and Joss Stone

The CD will cost $14.95 U.S. / $18.95 Canada. The cover art is an original illustration of Elton (and Arthur) in festive mode.