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Sir Cliff Richard to release first Christmas album in 19 years

Sir Cliff Richard is releasing his first Christmas album in almost 20 years.

The 81-year-old music legend has announced his new Yuletide collection ‘Christmas With Cliff’ will arrive on November 25.

As well as festive covers such as ‘Joy To The World’, ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ and ‘Sleigh Ride’, the ‘Devil Woman’ hitmaker has recorded brand new original tracks ‘First Christmas’, ‘Six Days After Christmas (Happy New Year)’ and ‘Heart Of Christmas’.

The ‘Summer Holiday’ singer ironically recorded the festive songs in sunny Florida.

He said in a statement: “I have always loved being in recording studios ever since Studio 2, Abbey Road, in 1958.

“I recorded this album in Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida – 4,427 miles away from Abbey Road – and once again I felt that I was in a world of my own.

“I had the help of two producers, Sam Hollander and Chris Walden.

“They guided me through the ‘well-known’ Christmas songs and freed me to sing them my way.

“They had differing approaches to the songs that I asked them to produce for me, and they gave this album the dynamics that I had hoped for.

“This album is not just mine – it belongs to all of us involved in creating it, and I hope that we add a little something special to your Christmas season.”

The ‘Honky Tonk Angel’ singer released ‘Cliff at Christmas’ in 2003 and ‘Together With Cliff Richard’ in 1991.

Cliff has had four UK Christmas No.1 singles, two as a solo artist with ‘Mistletoe and Wine’ and ‘Saviour’s Day’.