After three consecutive Top Five Pop albums in 1970 alone, it was somewhat of a no-brainer that Motown would want to include a holiday long-player to that list. The Jackson 5 Christmas Album (1970) combines classic favorites as well as a handful of compositions penned by the Corporation. This all-star team of Motown staffers and musicians boasted composer Bobby Taylor, Deke Richards (guitar), Freddie Perren (keyboard), Fonce Mizell (keyboards), and label co-founder Berry Gordy. As they had done for each of the
Jackson 5's previous platters, they carefully crafted and significantly modernized familiar seasonal selections. Leading off the effort is an unusual (for a pop act, anyway) two-part interpretation of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," commencing with a fairly rote reading before kicking into gear during a fittingly R&B-inspired coda. They follow with an undeniably soulful update of "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" and the fun and funky "Up on the Rooftop" that also adds instrumental elements of their hit "The Love You Save" with a few bars of "Here Comes Santa Claus" likewise worked into the mix. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is another standard that has been infused with a fresh spirit, once again yielding a well-chosen and adeptly executed revision. Although not as drastically overhauled, "Frosty the Snowman" and "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" are none the less thoroughly enjoyable. In terms of originals, the lovely "Give Love at Christmas" informed covers by fellow Motown staples
the Temptations -- who used the tune as the title track for their 1980 Christmas entry -- to
Johnny Gill and even a reggae version by
the Tamlins.
The Jacksons similarly shared the brisk and upbeat "Someday at Christmas" with
the Temptations and
Stevie Wonder, as well as
Diana Ross, whose take is one of the highlights of her Very Special Season (1998) outing. In 2003, the Jackson 5 Christmas Album was reissued on CD as the quintet's installment in the 20th Century Masters -- The Christmas Collection. The 11-song LP was augmented with a solo
Michael Jackson performance of "Little Christmas Tree" -- co-written by
George Clinton -- that initially appeared as part of the various-artists Motown Christmas. [Spectrum reissued the album in 2001.] ~ Lindsay Planer