Album of the Day

If James Brown is the undisputed champion of holiday R&B, FUNKY CHRISTMAS provides a worthy contender. The 1976 Cotillion album serves up a dozen seasonal songs flavored with funk, disco and jazzy soul, and highlights are many and varied. A pre-fame Luther Vandross scores with a pair of strong originals ("May Christmas Bring You Happiness" and "At Christmas Time"), The Impressions leave a good impression with their version of “Silent Night,” and lesser-known artists like Margie Joseph (“Christmas Gift”) and Willis Jackson (“I'll Be Home for Christmas”) also earn a place on Santa's “nice” list. We wish you a FUNKY CHRISTMAS with this unheralded but inviting collection.