Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Reverend Al Green blessed us all with a new release last month. His cover of REM’s “Everybody Hurts” is another remarkable take done in Green’s signature R&B laden style, much like his early career covers of “How Do You Mend A Broken Heart”, “For The Good Times” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”, to name a few. He has a mesmerizing way of giving an already fabulous song a new life. His take on today’s Christmas song is no different and it is perfect for the holiest night of the year.

For a female led version of this holiday classic, I offer Tracy Chapman’s evocative and poignant rendition. It was released in 1997 on the third volume of the charity compilation series, A Very Special Christmas. This woman has had a well deserved resurgence of late thanks to country artist Luke Combs & his 2023 #1 cover of her 1988 masterpiece, “Fast Car”. It was not only a wonderful tribute to her & her incredibly stunning song, but it also made Chapman the first black woman to have a top selling record in that genre. Her surprise performance with Combs at the 66th Grammy Awards in February showed Chapman first hand how beloved she & her song still are 36 years after its initial release, literally defining the word timeless.

Top: Al Green on stage at The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concert in Cleveland in 1995. Bottom: Tracy Chapman and her radiant smile on stage at The Grammy Awards in February 2024. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Al Green: “O Holy Night” (1983, written by Adolphe Charles Adam and John Sullivan Dwight).

Tracy Chapman: “O Holy Night” (1997, written by Adolphe Charles Adam and John Sullivan Dwight).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!