You know that moment when you're decorating the tree and suddenly "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" comes on, but it's not the usual version? That jazzy piano kicks in, then a smooth bassline, and Diana Ross starts singing like she's wrapping you in a velvet bow. That's the Motown Christmas magic hitting you. I remember digging through my grandma's vinyl last December – water-damaged boxes in her basement – and finding Smokey Robinson's Christmas Everyday. Put that crackling record on, and suddenly I'm 8 years old again watching snow fall past streetlights.
Real talk: Not every Motown holiday track lands perfectly. The Temptations' "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"? Feels rushed, like they recorded it during a coffee break. And some later reissues have questionable synth additions. But when these gems hit right, they're like finding the last slice of fruitcake you actually want to eat.
What Exactly Makes a Motown Christmas Song?
It's not just sleigh bells slapped onto a rhythm track. Authentic Motown Christmas songs blend:
- That Tamla Motown signature sound: Horn sections punching like excited kids, gospel-inspired harmonies, basslines walking like Santa loading his sleigh
- Holiday classics reimagined through R&B/soul lenses (e.g., Stevie Wonder turning "Ave Maria" into a harmonica masterpiece)
- Original compositions that became new standards (Jackson 5's "Give Love on Christmas Day")
- Recorded between 1963-1975 primarily in Detroit's Hitsville U.S.A. studio
Funny thing – Motown almost didn't do Christmas music. Berry Gordy thought it wouldn't sell. Then A Motown Christmas (1963) moved 500,000 copies in 6 weeks. Guess who greenlit every holiday album after that?
The Essential Motown Christmas Albums
Most folks stream singles now, but the original albums are time capsules. Here's what you're hunting for:
| Album Title | Artist | Year | Key Tracks | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas with The Miracles | Smokey Robinson & The Miracles | 1963 | "Christmas Everyday", "Jingle Bells" | Spotify, Apple Music (Original Mix) |
| The Jackson 5 Christmas Album | Jackson 5 | 1970 | "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", "Give Love on Christmas Day" | Vinyl reissues widely available |
| This Is Christmas | The Temptations | 1970 | "Silent Night", Rudolph (flawed but historic) | Amazon Music HD remaster |
| Wonderful Christmas Songs | Stevie Wonder | 1967 | "Ave Maria", "What Christmas Means to Me" | Limited vinyl, streaming everywhere |
Pro tip: Avoid the 2009 "Motown Christmas Classics" compilation on streaming – it uses inferior remasters. Hunt for the individual albums instead.
My white whale? The Supremes' Merry Christmas (1965) vinyl with the original mix. Found a copy in Memphis last year for $85. Worth every penny when "My Favorite Things" starts – Florence Ballard’s ad-libs are pure joy.
Unbeatable Motown Christmas Songs Ranked
Based on chart performance, streaming data, and pure soulfulness:
Top 10 Motown Christmas Classics
- "What Christmas Means to Me" - Stevie Wonder (1967)
That harmonica solo! Stevie turns sleigh bells into funk. - "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" - The Jackson 5 (1970)
Michael's 12-year-old vocals soaring over gospel piano. - "Someday at Christmas" - Stevie Wonder (1967)
Socially conscious magic – still gives me chills. - "Give Love on Christmas Day" - Jackson 5 (1970)
Should be required listening December 1st. - "Silent Night" - The Temptations (1968)
Eddie Kendricks' falsetto could melt snow. - "Christmas Everyday" - Smokey Robinson (1963)
The OG Motown holiday track. - "My Christmas Tree" - The Supremes (1965)
Diana Ross turning tinsel into heartache. - "Ave Maria" - Stevie Wonder (1967)
Bold. Sacred. Perfect. - "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - The Temptations (1970)
(Flawed but fun) - "The Christmas Song" - Marvin Gaye (1967)
Underrated slow-burn smoky vocals.
Notice how Stevie dominates? The man understood holiday spirit like nobody else. His version of "What Christmas Means to Me" actually outsells the original by Anna King now.
Deep Cut Gems Most People Miss
- "Twinkle Twinkle Little Me" - The Supremes (1965) - Diana's voice is angelic cocoa
- "It's Christmas Time" - Smokey Robinson (1963) - Jingle bells meet doo-wop
- "I Want to Come Home for Christmas" - Marvin Gaye (1972) - Heartbreaking Vietnam-era track
Fun fact: Marvin Gaye recorded his Christmas album AFTER What's Going On. You can feel the emotional weight.
Where to Listen to Motown Christmas Songs Today
Warning: Streaming services are messy with these classics. Here's the real scoop:
| Platform | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotify | Playlists like "Motown Christmas Essentials"; free tier available | Album versions often incomplete; random remixes sneak in | Casual listening |
| Apple Music | Higher quality streams; better original album collections | Requires paid subscription | Audiophiles |
| Amazon Music HD | True lossless quality for Temptations/Supremes albums | $15/month adds up for seasonal music | Vinyl-like sound |
| Vinyl/Record Stores | Authentic original mixes; artwork worth framing | $25-75 per album; requires turntable | Collectors |
That "Motown Christmas" playlist with 2 million follows? It mixes authentic tracks with modern covers. Better to build your own.
My Ultimate Motown Christmas Playlist
Curated after 15 years of holiday DJ gigs. About 2 hours total – perfect for wrapping gifts:
- "Someday at Christmas" - Stevie Wonder
- "Christmas Everyday" - Smokey Robinson
- "Give Love on Christmas Day" - Jackson 5
- "What Christmas Means to Me" - Stevie Wonder
- "Silent Night" - The Temptations
- "My Christmas Tree" - The Supremes
- "The Christmas Song" - Marvin Gaye
- "Twinkle Twinkle Little Me" - The Supremes
- "Ave Maria" - Stevie Wonder
- "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" - Jackson 5 (slow it down to close)
Spotify code: motownxmasclassics (search in Spotify)
Why These Songs Still Dominate Holiday Playlists
Three reasons Motown Christmas music hasn't aged:
1. The joy feels real. Listen to the Jackson 5 giggling during "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" – they're literally bouncing in the studio. Modern overproduced tracks can't fake that.
2. Musical craftsmanship. Motown's house band (The Funk Brothers) layered instruments like snowflakes. That glockenspiel in "My Christmas Tree"? Played by Jack Ashford on a $50 pawnshop find.
3. Emotional range. They capture holiday melancholy ("I Want to Come Home for Christmas") AND pure glee ("Jingle Bells" by The Miracles).
Confession: I play "Someday at Christmas" year-round when news gets heavy. Stevie’s hope cuts deeper than any politician’s speech. That’s the power of these Motown Christmas songs.
Motown Christmas Songs FAQ
Are all Motown Christmas songs on Spotify?
Mostly, but check album versions. The Jackson 5 album has bonus tracks on streaming that weren’t on vinyl. Some rare B-sides like The Supremes’ "Born of Mary" are missing.
Did Aretha Franklin record Motown Christmas songs?
Nope – she was on Columbia/Atlantic. People confuse her gospel Christmas album with Motown. Different vibe entirely.
Where can I buy high-quality MP3s?
HDtracks.com has remastered Stevie Wonder and Temptations albums in 24-bit FLAC. About $18 per album – steep but worth it.
Why do some versions sound different?
Early CDs used mono mixes. Later remasters sometimes boosted bass unnaturally. For purest sound: original vinyl > HD digital > standard streaming.
Best modern Motown-style Christmas song?
John Legend’s A Legendary Christmas (2018) comes closest. His duet with Stevie on "What Christmas Means to Me" is solid gold.
The Soundtrack for Your Soulful Season
Nothing against Mariah Carey, but when December hits, my first play is always Stevie. That opening drum fill of "What Christmas Means to Me" transports me faster than Santa’s sleigh. These tracks aren’t nostalgia – they’re emotional time machines. Remember hunting for that Jackson 5 vinyl last year? Found it warped at a flea market booth. The seller said "It’s rough but plays." Got it home, needle drops, and Michael’s voice cuts through the scratches like sunshine on snow. That’s the resilience of Motown Christmas music. Fifty years later, it still gives chills. Still makes grandparents dance. Still turns shopping stress into soulful celebration. That’s not streaming algorithms – that’s magic. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to restart "Christmas Everyday." My tree isn’t decorated yet.
Leave a Comments