Good Christmas Songs

[MarkWoody]

Really hate all the standard Xmas music fare. However, there is some decent stuff in this alternative 'soulful' Xmas mix from Strut Records...

http://www.thevinylfactory.com/vinyl-fa ... stmas-mix/

The brief was for an alternative Christmas selection (no Slade allowed…) so here’s a soulful, bitter / sweet mix to hopefully get you in the festive mood. You have here Caribbean flavours from Nassau’s The Beginning Of The End, Granville Williams and the mighty Kitch, a rare take on ‘We Three Kings’ from Jazzman’s brilliant 2015 UK jazz comp ‘A New Life’ and a Sun Ra doo-wop oddity from The Qualities. There’s some festive funk with JB, a cheeky tale from Clarence Carter and a couple from Tramp Records’ great ’Santa’s Funk & Soul Christmas Party’ series. We also dip into a Vietnam War period piece and mine some classy disco from The Salsoul Orchestra and The Whispers before signing off with a poignant sermon from the Rt. Hon. Lou Rawls.

INTRO
SAM SWEETSINGER BELL – HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS
THE BEGINNING OF THE END – GEE WHIZ, IT’S CHRISTMAS
GRANVILLE WILLIAMS ORCHESTRA – SANTA CLAUS IS SKAING TO TOWN
LORD KITCHENER – DRINK-A-RUM
SUN RA PRESENTS THE QUALITIES – IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME
INDIANA HIGHWAY – WE THREE KINGS
CLARENCE CARTER – BACK DOOR SANTA
SYNG McGOWAN AND THE FANETTES – DEAR SANTA
JAMES BROWN – SOULFUL CHRISTMAS
MEDITATION SINGERS – WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS FOR CHRISTMAS
THE YOUNGSTERS – CHRISTMAS IN JAIL
CHARLES BROWN – PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
SOUL SEARCHERS – CHRISTMAS IN VIETNAM
HARLEM CHILDREN’S CHORUS – BLACK CHRISTMAS
O’JAYS – CHRISTMAS AIN’T CHRISTMAS, NEW YEARS AIN’T NEW YEAR WITHOUT THE ONE YOU LOVE
WILD HONEY – ANGEL’S CHRISTMAS
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA – MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL
THE WHISPERS – FUNKY CHRISTMAS
LOU RAWLS – CHRISTMAS WILL REALLY BE CHRISTMAS

http://www.thevinylfactory.com/vinyl-fa ... stmas-mix/

[kevjones]

My favourite has to be Joni Mitchel - River. There is also a great version on Herbie Hancock's "The Joni Letters" sung by Corinne Bailey Ray