The Ultimate Motown Christmas Collection (2-CD Set)

Since Motown first gave holiday music a new sound in the sixties, the label’s Christmas albums have been as popular as brightly colored packages under the tree. Now, one of the all-time favorites, 1970’s The Jackson 5 Christmas Album, will be reissued with new packaging and 10 bonus tracks, and a new two-CD compilation will bring together the best Christmas songs from the greatest Motown artists.

The Jackson5 Ultimate Christmas Collection (Motown/UMe), to be released October13, 2009, features the original best-selling album plus a rare Michael Jackson Christmas song, “Little Christmas Tree,” and new mixes of several beloved tracks from the original LP. Created exclusively for this album are “stripped” mixes highlighting Michael on “Someday At Christmas” and the group on “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer;” a group acapella “Give Love On Christmas Day” spotlighting MJ and the Jacksons’ beautiful family harmony; DJ Spinna’s extended re-edit of the funky “Up On The Housetop”; and a radio-ready “J5 Christmas Medley.” A special treat is spoken-word “Season’s Greetings” messages from Michael, Tito,Jackie and Jermaine, recently uncovered in the vault.

The Ultimate Motown Christmas Collection (Motown/UMe), a two-CD set also to be released October 13, 2009, unwraps 35 sparkling selections spanning the decades, from the traditional to the contemporary, from Diana Ross& the Supremes’ “Joy To The World” to new “stripped” versions of “A Child Is Waiting” from Smokey Robinson & the Miracles and “Silent Night” from the Temptations. Interspersed throughout are vintage spoken-word “Season’s Greetings” from more than a dozen artists,including the Supremes, the Commodores, the Temptations, Four Tops,Martha & the Vandellas, and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.

The Temptations also chime in with their now-classic renditions of“Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “The Little Drummer Boy” and “My Christmas Tree,” and partner with Smokey for a rare duet version of“The Christmas Song.” The Supremes can be heard on “My Favorite Things,” “Silver Bells,” “White Christmas” and “Children’s Christmas Song;” a solo Diana Ross performs a rare version of Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas.” Smokey Robinson & the Miracles also add, from their two Christmas albums, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Jingle Bells,” “Christmas Everyday,” “It’s Christmas Time,” “Noel” and the medley “Deck The Halls/Bring A Torch, Jeannette, Isabelle.”

Stevie Wonder contributes “What Christmas Means To Me,” “Ave Marie,”“Someday At Christmas” and “One Little Christmas Tree” while Marvin Gaye offers his rare seventies recording “I Want To Come Home For Christmas,” the instrumental “Christmas In The City” and “Purple Snowflakes.” The Four Tops present “Merry Christmas Baby” and are joined by their close friend Aretha Franklin for “Christmas Here With You.” The Jackson 5 contribute “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” and “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” and also included are Motown artists from across the decades: the Funk Brothers, Johnny Gill, The Boys, Kim Weston, and Boyz II Men with Brian McKnight.

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