Soulful Christmas

This Time/Life Xmas selection is another nice compilation, although "soulful" is used fairly loosely,

though not completely inaccurately.

The great Fats Domino opens with his New Orleans-boogie-styled "Frosty the Snowman", followed by the true soul man Al Green and his "O Holy Night". Lou Rawls makes another appearance with his take on "The Little Drummer Boy" - this must appear on almost every comp - though I don't know that I've heard the Emotions soul ballad, "What Do the Lonely Do At Christmas" anywhere else. I don't normally associate "My Favorite Things" with Xmas, and the Whispers version is a bit too 80's-ish for my taste. The O'Jays' "Merry Christmas Baby" sounds a little (comparatively) new, as well, but works better, and Nancy Wilson's "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" is a sweet ballad.

Al Green shows off his pipes again on a quiet "Silent Night" while Nat King Cole's "O Come All Ye Faithful" is pretty traditional and church-y. The O'Jays' round-singing on "Carol of the Bells' is quite nice and the Whispers' "This Christmas" is another good soul ballad. Everything ends up, appropriately enough, with Lou Rawls with "Auld Lang Syne".

More good stuff, again worth it, especially if you can find as a discounted price.