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Temptations, "Christmas Card"All of Motown's Christmas music is pretty great, but the mighty Temptations cut the merriest, mellowest LP of them all. Their Christmas Card (1970) compiled three tracks from the 1968 compilation Merry Christmas From Motown with some superb new sides. The Temptations were arguably the supreme performers (pun intended) in the Motown stable, and their soulful command of these songs is staggering. Christmas Card doesn't hit with quite the kinetic force as the Jackson 5's remarkable Christmas Album, but it's a very close second.

Christmas Card kicks off with an impossibly smooth "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" that really has to be heard to be believed - they actually make the song sound sexy! Then, their take on Jimmy Webb's "My Christmas Tree" delivers the knockout punch. The rest of the disc is almost as great, including a classic Motown treatment of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," a basso profundo rendition of "Someday At Christmas," and a wonderful, rhapsodic interpretation "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"

The Temptations cut another Christmas album, Give Love At Christmas (1980) highlighted by a percolating version of Smokey Robinson's "Christmas Everyday" featuring a basso profundo performance by founding member Melvin Franklin. It's a decent record, but the group had lost their edge, and it pales next to their original effort. The two LP's were originally reissued on two-for-one CD in 1986 (and quickly deleted - good luck finding that one), then later reissued as separate albums.

While the 2001 reissue Best Of The Temptations Christmas is nicely packaged, newly mastered - and it includes a rare bonus track - it merely dilutes the strength of the 1970 album. This CD runs a paltry twelve tracks and includes barely half the Temptations' brilliant first Christmas album. Considering Motown could have fit all tracks from both albums on one CD (and, in fact, did on an earlier reissue), Best Of The Temptations Christmas should be considered a botched job. Given the digital alchemy Motown performed on Christmas albums by the Supremes, the Miracles, the Jackson 5, and Stevie Wonder, Best Of The Temptations Christmas is a grave disappointment. (2003's 20th Century Masters: The Christmas Collection, by the way, is merely a carbon copy of Best Of The Temptations Christmas.) [top of page]

Albums Albums

SongsEssential Songs

  • Christmas Everyday (1980)
  • Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (1970)
  • My Christmas Tree (1970)
  • Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1968) Top 100 Song
  • Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (1970)
  • Someday At Christmas (1970)

Further ListeningFurther Listening

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