From Sun Ra to Salsoul Orchestra: A Strut Records Christmas mix

By in Features, VF Mixes

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Escape the tyranny of the Christmas playlist, with an hour of festive bangers from James Brown and Sun Ra to Lord Kitchener and the Salsoul Orchestra.

Having put together the only (bar perhaps It’s Christmas in Motown) proper Christmas compilation out there a few years ago, our friends at Strut Records have come in with an updated Christmas mix for the sophisticated festive experience, and there’s not a Pogue in sight.

Funk, soul, disco reggae, dub, and even Sun Ra-does-doo wop feature. Hit play and enjoy.


Words: Quinton Scott / Strut Records


The brief was for an alternative Christmas selection (no Slade allowed…) so here’s a soulful, bitter / sweet mix to hopefully get you in the festive mood. You have here Caribbean flavours from Nassau’s The Beginning Of The End, Granville Williams and the mighty Kitch, a rare take on ‘We Three Kings’ from Jazzman’s brilliant 2015 UK jazz comp A New Life and a Sun Ra doo-wop oddity from The Qualities. There’s some festive funk with JB, a cheeky tale from Clarence Carter and a couple from Tramp Records’ great ’Santa’s Funk & Soul Christmas Party’ series. We also dip into a Vietnam War period piece and mine some classy disco from The Salsoul Orchestra and The Whispers before signing off with a poignant sermon from the Rt. Hon. Lou Rawls.


Tracklist:

INTRO

SAM SWEETSINGER BELL – HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS
THE BEGINNING OF THE END – GEE WHIZ, IT’S CHRISTMAS
GRANVILLE WILLIAMS ORCHESTRA – SANTA CLAUS IS SKAING TO TOWN
LORD KITCHENER – DRINK-A-RUM
SUN RA PRESENTS THE QUALITIES – IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME
INDIANA HIGHWAY – WE THREE KINGS
CLARENCE CARTER – BACK DOOR SANTA
SYNG McGOWAN AND THE FANETTES – DEAR SANTA
JAMES BROWN – SOULFUL CHRISTMAS
MEDITATION SINGERS – WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS FOR CHRISTMAS
THE YOUNGSTERS – CHRISTMAS IN JAIL
CHARLES BROWN – PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
SOUL SEARCHERS – CHRISTMAS IN VIETNAM
HARLEM CHILDREN’S CHORUS – BLACK CHRISTMAS
O’JAYS – CHRISTMAS AIN’T CHRISTMAS, NEW YEARS AIN’T NEW YEAR WITHOUT THE ONE YOU LOVE
WILD HONEY – ANGEL’S CHRISTMAS
THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA – MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL
THE WHISPERS – FUNKY CHRISTMAS
LOU RAWLS – CHRISTMAS WILL REALLY BE CHRISTMAS