Some soul Christmas songs, most NOT from the album pictured.
Louisiana Christmas Day – Aaron Neville, from Aaron Neville’s Soulful Christmas (1993)
Merry Christmas, Baby – Charles Brown (1968).
Little Drummer Boy – Lou Rawls (1967).
Silver Bells – Earl Grant (1969). This needs more airplay.
You’re All I Want For Christmas – Brook Benton (1963)
Mary’s Boy Child – Harry Belafonte, #12 in 1956. The remarkable Jester Hairston, who had a fascinating life as a composer and actor, wrote the song.
‘Zat You, Santa Claus? – Louis Armstrong, The Commanders
Every Valley Shall Be Exalted – Lizz Lee & Chris Willis & Mike E. from Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration (1992)
Little Drummer Boy (African Tribal Version) – Alex Boye’ ft. Genesis Choir
A Very Special Christmas
There were several of these collections to help the Special Olympics.
Do You Hear What I Hear? – Whitney Houston (1987)
Christmas in Hollis – Run-D.M.C. (1987) The last time I took the Long Island Railroad, I noticed the Hollis, Queens stop.
Merry Christmas, Baby – Charles Brown, Bonnie Raitt. Bonnie had both Charles Brown and Ruth Brown on her subsequent tour. (1992)
Motown
Several Motown artists released Christmas albums: the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, the Jackson Five, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, and the Temptations. They appeared on a couple of compilations, one of which I own on vinyl.
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer—The Temptations (1971).
What Christmas Means To Me – Stevie Wonder (1967). One of my top five favorite seasonal songs.
Stax
I think I favored the Stax Christmas music over Motown because it was less familiar. All of these I found on one of my STAX/Volt box sets.
Jingle Bells – Booker T. & The MGs (1967)
Winter Snow -Booker T. & The MGs. (c 1967) Isaac Hayes wrote this melancholy tune.
Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas – The Staple Singers (1973). . Besides the vocals, it’s a bit melancholy, which is why I like it.
The Mistletoe and Me – Issac Hayes (1970)
Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday – William Bell (1967). It was a minor RB hit