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MY TOP 5 PICKS
Otis Redding - White Christmas
Who knew the most famous Christmas hit of all could be so emotionally wrought? Where Bing Crosby sounded as if he was fondly pondering his Christmas, Otis sounds like he’s breaking into a sweat trying to will it into existence through sheer force of desire.
Mahalia Jackson - Go Tell It on the Mountain
You can’t really have Christmas without acknowledging that someone significant was born on 25 December. The queen of gospel wants you to spread the news far and wide, and she imparts her message with due gravitas.
The Temptations - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Oh, wrap yourself in the blanket of those glorious voices! Motown took Christmas seriously, with the result that you could probably do this list entirely from Motown tracks. This one gets selected because what is really a fairly dismal song is transformed by a perfect arrangement.
Contributed by
Lota Anadu
PAGE 16 INSIDE ACCESS | DECEMBER 2020 1ST EDITION
