This is dedicated to all those who have taken time to follow the blog and will hopefully continue the journey through 2011 and beyond, it's been a year to remember thanks to your support and inspiration. I hope to continue providing content which is insightful to the mind, spirit and music lover in all of us.

Of all genres of music I am familiar with, something about a soulful Christmas record really stands out among others. In my household I can recall the sound and deep emotion of singers who gave great performances based on the holiday, whether it was a TV special, music played in my house or even a group of Soul singers in the streets of New York. From boldsoulbrother.com, here is a mix of Christmas-theme deep Soul tunes, both common and obscure, from slow ballads to funky uptempo jams, but all good for listening.

The Salem Travelers – Merry Christmas To You (Checker 10050); 1968
The Flirtations – Christmas Time Is Here Again (Deram 85036); 1968
Clarence Carter – Back Door Santa (Atlantic 2576); 1968
Electric Jungle – Funky Funky Christmas (Reissued compilation; In The Christmas Groove); 2009
James Brown – Soulful Christmas (A Soulful Christmas LP; King 1040); 1968
Marvin Gaye – I Want To Come Home For Christmas (Tamla 54229); not issued – taken from 1992 CD reissue of A Motown Christmas
Soul Duo – A Sad Christmas (Shiptown 131132); 1969
Kim Weston – Wish You A Merry Christmas (recording date unknown – previously unissued; taken from A Christmas Present From Motown CD, 2009)
The Emotions – Black Christmas (Volt 4053); 1970
Private Charles Bowen & The Gentlemen From Tigerland – Christmas In Vietnam (Rojac 111); 1966
Soul Searchers – Christmas In Viet Nam (Songbird 1187); 1968
The Emotions – What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas (Volt 4104); 1973
Carla Thomas – All I Want For Christmas Is You (Stax 206); 1966
Meditation Singers – Blue Christmas (Checker 10050); 1968
James Brown – Go Power At Christmas Time (James Brown’s Funky Christmas LP; unknown issue date); taken from CD re-issue.

Rest in peace to James Brown.