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Any Major Smooth Christmas Vol. 4

December 11th, 2025 Leave a comment Go to comments

It has been six years since Volume 3 of the Any Major Smooth Christmas mix dropped (and 12 years since Vol. 2, and 15 years since Vol. 1), so we’re overdue some velvety vibes from the world of soul, with a touch of fusion — a bit of an alternative (or complementary issue) to this year’s first festive mix, Any Major Christmas Rock.

Since Vol. 3, only one new Christmas album featured here has been released, PJ Morton’s fine Christmas With PJ Morton set, which came out in 2020. It is a worthy addition to the canon of Christmas records.

His featured song is — EDIT: it turns out NOT — an original, but three traditional tracks here in particular get a great working over. The late, great Sharon Jones and her Dap-Kings give Silent Night a clever, slow-burn Rhythm & Blues vibe. And The O’Jays take the over-covered White Christmas and make it their soulful own. Ray Charles’ also redeems Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. I don’t know if Diana Ross improves Paul McCartney’s Wonderful Christmas Time, but it’s a game attempt.

Freddie Jackson offers us a little comic relief up early up, with a yuletide explosion of festive clichés, but when you have the Freddie groove going on, what do hackneyed phrases matter?

The set closes with Earth, Wind & Fire recycling September to ask if you remember December. They ask about remembering the 25^th night, so in their song: AFTERPARTY!

In the words of Vanessa Williams’ very lovely cover, have yourself a merry little Christmas!

As ever, the mix is timed to fit on a standard CD-R and includes ho-ho-home-made covers. PW in comments, where you can wish me a merry little Christmas.

1. Alexander O’Neal – This Christmas (1988)
2. Freddie Jackson – Under The Mistletoe (1994)
3. Boyz II Men – Let It Snow (1993)
4. Mary J. Blige feat. Angie Martinez – Christmas In The City (1997)
5. PJ Morton – Give Love On Christmas Day (2020)
6. Toni Braxton – Holiday Celebrate (2001)
7. Boney James – Sleigh Ride (1996)
8. Mariah Carey – Charlie Brown Christmas (2010)
9. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Silent Night (2015)
10. Ray Charles – Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (1985)
11. The O’Jays – White Christmas (1991)
12. Whitney Houston – Do You Hear What I Hear (1987)
13. George Howard – The First Noel (1991)
14. Luther Vandross – Every Year, Every Christmas (1995)
15. SWV – The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) (1997)
16. Vanessa Williams – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (2004)
17. Spyro Gyra – I’ll Be Home For Christmas (1991)
18. Diana Ross – A Wonderful Christmastime (1994)
19. Earth, Wind & Fire – December (2014)

GET IT!

Or all in one place

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Comments (4) Trackbacks (0) Leave a comment Trackback

amdwhah

December 11th, 2025 at 08:36 | #1

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PW = amdwhah
Ernie (Not Bert)

December 11th, 2025 at 19:04 | #2

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Have yourself a merry little Christmas! :)
Brett Alan

December 12th, 2025 at 11:38 | #3

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Just so you know, “Give Love On Christmas Day” is not actually an original. It was first recorded by the Jackson 5ive on their 1970 Christmas Album, and has also been done by New Edition, Johnny Gill, the Temptations, and others.
amdwhah

December 16th, 2025 at 17:30 | #4

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Thank you. I’ve amended the text accordingly.

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