Song:Gee Whiz, It's Christmas
Album:Soul Christmas
I am constantly asked about Christmas CDs. There are so many out there no one knows what to buy. My rule of thumb is stay away from pop singers recording Christmas CDs as cash grabs and stick to gospel, jazz and soul. So I have tried to find an appropriate CD for the last few weeks. Remember AccuRadio plays songs at random and then I need a video and a CD that is easily available. Of course Carla Thomas is the Queen Of Stax best known for her 1961 smash hit Gee Whiz. She actually charted with two Christmas songs. Gee Whiz, It's Christmas reached #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. Carla wrote the song with legendary guitarist Steve Cropper. And despite the title, the song is nothing like Gee Whiz. Carla also reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966 with All I Want For Christmas Is You. That song is also on this CD. Atco first released Soul Christmas in 1968 but when they released it on CD in 1991, they expanded it from 11 to 20 songs. And you can get it at a budget price. Some of the songs were recorded this album like Otis & Carla's New Years Resolution. Otis Redding also sings Merry Christmas, Baby and White Christmas. Other songs are White Christmas by Clyde McPhatter (1957), This Christmas by Donny Hathaway (1971), Back Door Santa by Clarence Carter (1969), Merry Christmas, Baby and Silver Bells by Booker T & The MGs (1966), Silent Night by The Impressions, May Christmas Bring You Happiness by Luther Vandross, I'll Make Every Day Christmas by Joe Tex, The Christmas Song by The Drifters (1964), Soul Santa by Brook Benton, (1971), Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday by The Sweet Inspirations (1969), Christmas Gift by Margie Joseph, Presents For Christmas by Solomon Burke (1968) and What Are You Doing New Year's Eve by King Curtis. So that's a pretty good selection of Christmas soul from the Atlantic catalog and will have a much longer shelf life than the latest Christmas CD from a flavour of the month pop singer. Happy Holidays and here's a video for Gee Whiz, It's Christmas by Carla Thomas.
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