Amanda Shires will release her first holiday album, For Christmas, on November 12 via Silver Knife/Thirty Tigers. In advance of the LP, Shires has dropped the first track and music video from the project, “Gone For Christmas.” The tune is one of several selections to feature The McCrary Sisters. The music video was co-created and directed by Shires and The Gramblers’ Deren Ney, 

In a statement on the track–which references Larry David–Shires says: “’Gone for Christmas’ is a truth. You’re going to ask for things for Christmas, so what do you really want? I liked the idea of the outlandish mixed with how you actually feel. We actually feel like, ‘Oh my, I’m so tired of all this shit, and I want a different scene.’ But maybe you don’t want really that, but you just want to say extreme things. I was thinking of the ultimate Christmaslist, and then at the end, I was thinking about how most of the items on it were impossible.”

In keeping with the record’s unconventional sensibility, Shires has also launched her SantaManda Christmas Hotline – 1-833-FOR-XMAS. Fans will have the opportunity to call and hear a pre-recorded greeting; Shires encouraging them to leave a message about how they’re feeling about the holidays. In her words that includes “good, bad and everything in-between.”

Bassist Jimbo Hart, who works with Shires in Jason Isbell’s 400 Unit, Gregg Allman band member and Shires keyboardist Peter Levin, Chicks/Dolly Parton guitarist Pat Buchanan and drummer Fred Eltringhan, known for his work in Sheryl Crow and Lucinda Williams, also contributed to the set.  For Christmas features nine original songs and two covers: Frank Loesser’s “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” and “Silent Night.” 

Here’s a look at the album’s tracks
Magic Ooooooh (ft. The McCrary Sisters)

A Real Tree This Year

Let’s Get Away (ft. The McCrary Sisters)

Home To Me

Blame It On The Mistletoe (ft. The McCrary Sisters)

Slow Falling Snow

What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?

Silent Night

Gone For Christmas (ft. The McCrary Sisters)

Wish For You

Always Christmas Around Here (ft. Lawrence Rothman)