Have A Soulful Christmas

Each year we find stories published proclaiming to be THE  “Top Holiday Tunes of All Time” or THE “Best Christmas Songs Ever”.  I don’t think I know or could begin to list the best holiday tunes ever recorded but I can recommend a bunch of really great tunes that will make your holiday more joyous, more lively, more souful. 

1. Soulful Christmas by James Brown – lets kick-off the list with The Godfather of Soul and start groovin’ at Christmas Time.  Remember James Brown loves you.
1. Alternate: Santa Goes Straight to the Ghetto. 
2. O Holy Night by Musiq Soulchild – this version has a bit of the Caribbean back beat but Musiq adds a touch of gospel vocal styling to round it all out.
3. Christmas Blues by Bob Dylan – Dylan does his best to put a joyful twist on a rather sad story. And you can actually understand his vocals.
4. Christmas in LA by Vulfpeck – a bumpin’ electronic dominated dance beat tune by a group often wrongly identified as a German “House Music” group. In fact, they are classically trained musicians from the University of Michigan.
5. Christmas Time Comes but Once a Year by Joe Bonamassa – hard rockin’ blues with Joe stabbing the tune with his lethal guitar and supported by blasts of brass. This one will get you dancing around the eggnog bowl.
6. Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano – if this Merry Christmas song doesn’t ring around your head for the next 2 days then bah humbug on you.
7. Cool Yule by Louis Armstrong – a classic by a classic.
8. Merry Christmas, Baby by Elvis with Gretchen Wilson – as soulful a holiday tune as there is. Say what you will about The King but he could croon like none other.
9. Winter Wonder Land by Snoop Dogg and Anna Kendrick – these two make a nice pair and created a joyful duet – with a heavy beat and rap cadence. Kinda fun.
1. Alternate: Doggy Dogg Christmas
10. One Little Christmas Tree by Stevie Wonder – a short and simple song about a lonely tree that brings such joy to a home. Stevie’s youthful voice is so sharp and clear that he makes you sing along with him.