Christmas music is probably the thing I love most about the holiday season (aside from giving that perfect gift to someone). I have a long tradition of waiting until the night of Thanksgiving to play a couple of my favorite Christmas songs before going full steam ahead on playing all of the music the next day. I usually don't listen to any other kind of music between Black Friday & Christmas; I used to really savor playing it during this period because I couldn't listen to it throughout the year. I remember my mother wouldn't let me play Christmas music when it wasn't the holiday season when I was kid. I used to think that if you put a Christmas album on a record player, lets say in July, the record would not spin because it wasn't Christmas - LOL (did I just say album & record player - whoa, you youngins' go ask your parents about that!). As I grew up and became an adult, I continued the tradition of not playing holiday music during the year until 2009, when Michael Jackson passed away (long story that maybe I'll get into another time). Now if a Christmas song pops up on my MP3 player as I randomly go through my music I usually will let it play (and I know it will play - knowledge is power - LOL).
I grew up listening to traditional Christmas music so I do like the classics, even when they have been done a million times. The three albums that I played to death as a kid was The Jackson Five's "Christmas Album", Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" and Johnny Mathis' "Christmas with Johnny Mathis" (I also had Cole's & Mathis' albums on 8 track - youngins' don't bother asking! - LOL). My absolute favorite Christmas song of all time is "Give Love On Christmas Day", which I learned from the J5 Christmas album. I didn't hear many other versions of it after the J5 recorded it (just New Edition's & Johnny Gill's separate versions) until recently. In 2008, most notably, Ledisi released a great version of it on her Christmas CD "It's Christmas". But The Jackson Five's version is the staple. In 2009, Motown released an updated version of the original Jackson Five's "Christmas Album" titled "Ultimate Christmas Collection". This CD contains the original 10 songs remastered along with a couple of remixes and individual Christmas greetings that was recorded by the brothers. There is also an a cappela version of "Give Love on Christmas Day" which really allows you to hear Michael's great lead vocal along with Jermaine, Tito, Jackie & Marlon's tight harmony.
Speaking of staple, Nat King Cole's version of "The Christmas Song" may be THE staple song of all Christmas songs. It is the epitome of classic; it stands the test of time. And as many times as this song has been recorded (it has to be one of the most recorded & most known Christmas songs) no one has done it better than Mr. Cole. The song was written by Mel Torme and Robert Wells but Nat King Cole owns this song (figuratively). "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire......" ahhh just awesome! The rest of his Christmas collection is great as well and surprising short - 14 songs totalling about 32 minutes. Not only is the title track a Christmas staple, I'd have to say the whole album is a staple - you won't find many better and it is the ultimate classic Christmas listen.
Johnny Mathis over the many years has become synonymous with Christmas. His Christmas songs have played in many different homes, malls & office buildings all around the world. One of my favorites by him which appears on the "Christmas with Johnny Mathis" (Columbia) album is "The Secret of Christmas". It is a song that I have never heard anyone else perform. The song is a witty ballad, that preaches that the secret of Christmas is "not the things you do at Christmas time but the Christmas things you do all year through". It is a great, poignant message that really hit home with me at a very young age and to this day I think is a message that many of us need to heed to. From the calming flutes intro to the crescendo of Johnny's voice and violins at the end this song, it is a must listen for any one who loves music.
Even though I love traditional Christmas music, I do love the contemporary tuneups (to the classics) and songs as well. I must say though that the only Christmas rap song that I like was done by RunDMC, a cut titled "Christmas Is" - the chorus goes like this: "give up the dough, give up the dough, give up the dough on Christmas yo, give up the dough, give up the dough, give up the dough here we go, here we go" Ok, now if any one was nervous about those lyrics please don't be; Joesph and Darryl was just instructing folks to buy gifts (give up the dough) for your loved ones and even strangers. Some other artist have done a great job of making older Christmas songs sound very modern and in most cases, added original Christmas songs to their projects as well.. I think the best contemporary projects are the ones that balance the contemporary sound while still giving you a traditional Christmas feel. Will Downing's "Christmas, Love and You" CD is a great example of this.
I would like to just briefly mention a couple of pop Christmas songs that I really enjoy. The first is the collaborative effort done by some of the best selling British and Irish artist of the 80's (as well as some from the United States like, Jody Watley and Kool & The Gang), such as Duran Duran, Sting, Paul Young, George Michael, Bono, Boy George and many others. Collectively they called themselves Band Aid and they recorded a song titled "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984 which was written by Bob Geldof. The proceeds from the sale of this song was to benefit famished children in Africa. I recently heard that Geldof thought that the song was terrible and I guess he wasn't artistically proud of it. Hey, lyrically it may not be the best song ever written but where the motivation came from to write it, and the awareness that it created, more than made up for it. And I really like the song anyway. This song I believe was also the inspiration for the extremely popular, U.S. star-studded song "We Are The World" written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. Another of my pop Christmas favorites came from Bing Crosby and David Bowie. Crosby and Bowie did a "remix" if you will, of "The Little Drummer Boy" on a Crosby Christmas TV special in 1977. From what I understand, Bowie was reluctant to do the standard "The Little Drummer Boy" but was willing to sing with Crosby when writers added the infamous "Peace on Earth" part to it. This ended up being an amazing Christmas duet!!! By the way, what ever happened to the musical Christmas shows that used to come on every year?
I truly can go on and on and on about Christmas music but there is only so much time in the day. Below I am going to list a few Christmas CD's (albums) that I would recommend folks to pick up. I've seen some of these in record stores and online for great prices as well. Most of these CD's are by R&B artist:
All-4-One "An All-4-One Christmas"
Babyface "Christmas With Babyface"
BeBe & CeCe Winans "First Christmas"
BeBe Winans "My Christmas Prayer"
Boyz II Men "Christmas Interpretations"
Brian McKnight "Bethlehem
Brian McKnight "I'll Be Home For Christmas"
Dianne Reeves "Christmas Time Is Here"
The Jackson Five "Ultimate Christmas Collection"
Jeffrey Osborne "Something Warm For Christmas"
Joe Williams "That Holiday Feelin'"
Johnny Mathis "Christmas Eve with Johnny Mathis"
Johnny Mathis "Christmas with Johnny Mathis" (Columbia)
Johnny Mathis "Christmas with Johnny Mathis" (Import) - {this is a different set of songs than Columbia}
Kirk Franklin & The Family "Christmas"
Ledisi "It's Christmas"
Luther Vandross "This Is Christmas"
Nat King Cole "The Christmas Song"
O'Jays "Home For Christmas"
Peabo Bryson "Christmas With You"
Toni Braxton "Snowflakes"
Vanessa Williams "Star Bright"
Will Downing "Christmas, Love & You"
Yolanda Adams "Christmas With Yolanda Adams"
There are so many other songs and albums that are worthy of some kind of mention but it'll be summer if I don't rap this up now. All right, one more! We can't forget "This Christmas" by Donny Hathaway right?? Totally a classic now and many artist are recording it. That's it! Have a wonderful holiday season and enjoy some holiday music!!!!
