Product Description

One doesn't generally associate the Godfather of Soul with Christmas music, but in fact, James Brown recorded a fair amount of yuletide offerings. This collection of seasonal souldraws its selections mainly from 1968's SOULFUL CHRISTMAS and 1966's JAMES BROWN AND HIS FAMOUS FLAMES SING CHRISTMAS SONGS. This is no schmaltzy holiday fare, though. Though Brown takes a turn at the venerated "Christmas Song", most of the tunes here are original compositions that bear his unmistakable mark. "Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto" (one of Brown's many contenders for best song title of all time) injects a socially conscious message into the proceedings. The blues track "Merry Christmas Baby" turns out to be a naturalfor Brown, who does his best slow burn on the tune. The lengthy "Let's Make Christmas Mean Something This Year" is a tour de force that features a spoken message from Brown, who revels in the joys of Christmas and urges his listeners to put some genuine thought and emotion into their holiday rituals.

Track Listing

1. Go Power At Christmas Time
2. Let's Unite The Whole World At Christmas
3. Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto
4. Merry Christmas Baby
5. Let's Make Christmas Mean Something This Year
6. Soulful Christmas
7. The Christmas Song
8. Sweet Little Baby Boy
9. Christmas Is Love
10. Please Come Home For Christmas
11. Santa Claus Is Definitely Here To Stay
12. Tit For Tat (Ain't No Taking Back)
13. Santa Claus, Santa Claus
14. Merry Christmas, I Love You
15. Signs Of Christmas
16. Christmas In Heaven
17. Hey America

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3011 in Music
• Released on: 2001-11-05
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 65 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Recorded at the height of Mr. Superbad's reign, this high-octane, 17-song set is guaranteed to give Santa Claus a soul transfusion--and put a little extra kick into that mistletoe kiss. While JB spends a fair amount of time pouring his heart out on inspired renditions of favourites such as "Merry Christmas Baby" and "Please Come Home", he and his always-stellar band really shine on a spate of originals that takes Christmas from an idealised holiday and makes it real. They do so in ways that are fun ("Go Power at Christmas Time") or with a dose of social consciousness ("Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto"), but the mere fact that Brown makes it all work--and makes it funky in the process--is a joy to behold. --David Sprague

Customer Reviews

Food for thought at Christmas
James Brown was always a big fan of Christmas - in fact, he recorded several Christmas albums over the course of his career, including a rare Internet-only release just a couple of years before his passing. That aside, 'Funky Christmas' gathers together tracks from each of Brown's festive LP's, so fans can have him on the stereo instead of Cliff Richard (sorry, Cliff)!

This record places more emphasis on his soul work, and there are not as many funky grooves as some might expect. It is also surprisingly serious, even grim in some places, as James sings of Christmas in the ghetto, and trying to get by without a dime in December. It's good music to reflect to, and certainly one of the most original Christmas albums I've heard. However, at Christmas time, I think most people want to play carefree, uplifting music, or at least something they can dance to, and a lot of these songs don't fit that description.

'Funky Christmas' is worth collecting if you are a serious JB fan, but is probably best enjoyed after the big Christmas party, rather than during.

Seasonal Soul Power!
You'd think from the cover that this would be no more than a novelty record, but baby its so much more! Oow!

The king of soul belts out some great christmas tunes that should have you a quakin' an a shakin' (like Go Power At Christmas Time) and some great soulful, serious tracks like the fantastic "Let's Make Christmas Mean Something This Year". Highly recommended listening!