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Title: Billboard R&B Christmas A Keeper, But Bring Back Lou Rawls!
Review: Outstanding collection of early rhythm and blues Christmas songs is docked one star for Lou Rawls' missing "The Little Drummer Boy," a huge jazz/soul reworking from his out-of-print 1967 Christmas album "Ho, Ho, Ho."The rest is delightful, however, with classic reworkings and originals featuring stylish jazz (Johnny Moore's now-standard "Merry Christmas Baby," redone by everyone from Elvis Presley to Sheryl Crow), sentimental strings (Clyde Otis' delightful arrangement on Brook Benton's "This Time Of The Year") reverent hymns (Sister Rosetta Tharpe's "Silent Night,") and offbeat novelties (the Cadillacs' doo-wop reworking of "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer," Chuck Berry's overdone, generic "Run, Run Rudolph.") It's another well-made Rhino collection for vintage R&B fans and those liking their Christmas music freshly done, and essential once Rawls' classic is restored (or that LP reissued).
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