Gotta Have This Compilation This Christmas
Posted December 15, 2014
By DwayneLacy_NRT, Staff Reviewer
You gotta love the Christmas season. Various Christmas specials and Christmas episodes are sprinkled all throughout television, eggnog becomes the drink of choice for so many while others just get in the festive mood. And walking into department stores and coffee shops and hearing songs about Jesus… these songs are an essential part of Christmastime. This year, RCA Inspiration compiled a list of favorite classics and originals by some of the greatest Gospel and R&B artists. You Gotta Have Gospel: O Holy Night in your collection this Christmas.
Although this is a compilation, there are many songs worth mentioning. One being the authentic jazz version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" by Anthony Brown and Therapy. This interpretation is flawless, and it channels the Manhattan Transfer. As corny as this might sound, it makes me want to go ice skating .
I must have been hiding under a rock since I had never heard Ayana George's take on "O Come O Come Emmanuel." She does this acapella, with light BGV's to accent. Ayana George has been heard on Hezekiah Walkers' albums, as well as appearing on the latest release from Kurt Carr. Ayana basically nails a favorite carol of mine.
It must have been hard to pick the right song from Israel and New Breed's critically acclaimed A Timeless Christmas. "Tidings (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)" was a great choice, with beautiful strings and smooth harmonies by New Breed. It is all about the ending, with the haunting guitar and instrumentals for the last minute of the song.
RCA Inspiration threw a curveball with the 1996 jam "For Real Christmas" by Commissioned, featuring Montrell Darrett and Marvin Sapp on lead. The theme through the majority of this compilation is smooth and easy listening, so it's a necessity to include "Home for Christmas" by Marvin Sapp, featuring a singer's favorite singer, R&B artist Joe. And when they include Fred Hammond's "His Name Is Jesus" as well... in the words of the man from the movie "Coming to America," "they good!"
Closing Thoughts:
There are many Christmas albums out there and many interpretations of popular songs. RCA Inspiration really picked some good ones to make Gotta Have Gospel: O Holy Night a compilation worth buying for you or someone on your list.
Song to Download Now:
"His Name Is Jesus" by Fred Hammond (Get it on iTunes here.)
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