Booker T. & The MG's

Both individually and collectively, Booker T. & The MG's (read more) were the heart and soul of Stax Records - writing, arranging, playing, or producing a huge percentage of the classic rhythm 'n' blues released on Stax, Atco, and Atlantic during the 1960's, including Atco's landmark holiday collection, Soul Christmas (1968). The immortal vocal performances of Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Rufus Thomas, Sam & Dave, William Bell, and dozens more were made possible by the rock solid support the MG's. And, of course, the band waxed a long string of instrumental hits under their own name, starting with "Green Onions" (1962) and continuing through "Chinese Checkers" (1963), "Soul Dressing" (1964), "Hip Hug-Her" (1967), "Time Is Tight" (1969), and many more.

When MG's cut their own holiday album, In The Christmas Spirit (1966), they struck the perfect balance between easy listening and soul. While the group's trademark southern stew is abundantly in evidence, their gentle instrumental interpretation of twelve seasonal favorites never runs afoul of good taste. The MG's jocular "Jingle Bells," funky "Winter Wonderland," laid back "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," and playful "Silver Bells" - each prominently featuring Booker T. Jones' organ - are definite highlights. But, Steve Cropper's guitar spotlight on Charles Brown's "Merry Christmas Baby" is not to be missed! The MG's were just too cool for school, and listening to their fresh treatment of these old standards is like a refreshing breeze during a hot, sticky Memphis heat wave.

In The Christmas Spirit was originally issued with a different cover, which was replaced the following year with one pictured above. This cover was used on the Rhino CD reissue (1991), but Sundazed restored the original jacket when they reissued the LP in 2000. Friday Music reissued it on CD again in 2014, this time using the second cover. In 2015, Edsel Records, as part of an extensive MG's reissue campaign, paired Christmas Spirit with another 1966 album, And Now!

By the way, Booker T. & The MG's recorded one other holiday song, an instrumental written by Isaac Hayes and featuring him on piano. Called "Winter Snow," it was released as the b-side of Stax's 1967 single release of "Silver Bells," but it is not included on the Christmas Spirit reissues. To my knowledge, the song is only available on the gargantuan-but-indispensible Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 boxed set (1991), but the box has been made available for download and streaming. In 1969, Isaac Hayes cut a vocal version of "Winter Snow" as the b-side to his single "The Mistletoe And Me," and both of those songs are included on the Stax compilation, It's Christmas Time Again (1982). Much later, an unreleased alternate take of the MG's "Winter Wonderland" was included on Stax's Christmas In Soulsville (2007). [top of page]