The Temptations’ Give Love at Christmas Sets the Mellow Mood
By
Kristin Battestella
The
longstanding Motown quintet The Temptations adds a different kind of soul to
the season with their 1980 album Give
Love at Christmas. While there are a few hiccups, this remains a sophisticated
listen for old school fans or adults seeking a certain candlelight and
Christmas mood.
Give Love on Christmas Day is a tad dated and somewhat generic to start Give Love at Christmas – it just doesn’t
really sound like a December ode. Fortunately, it is a well belted standard in
proper Temptations fashion, and there is a nice sentiment about what people
really ought to do by giving of themselves instead of wasting the holiday on
something more fleeting like shopping. Repeating from their 1970 The Temptations’ Christmas Card, The Christmas Song is updated here with
a new swanky and indeed tempting spin on the traditional Torme staple. Fun,
down deep bass ad-libs mix with the seasonal lyrics, combing the R&B and
the easy holiday listening perfectly. This is, however, an oddly placed somber stuck
between Give Love on Christmas Day and Love
Comes at Christmas, which with its seasonal generosity in full swing, feels
like a sequel to the first track. Are these two so similar merriment tunes a
bit too interchangeable? Perhaps, but we can forgive The Temptations because
they both sound so sweet.
A
previous version of The Little Drummer
Boy appears on The Temptations
Christmas Card as well, but this redo for Give Love at Christmas has some sort of funk beat and disco groove littering
the composition. I would have loved to hear just the melodic harmonizing and
vocal magic only The Temptations can provide, but unfortunately, I’m not really
sure what they were trying to do with this rendition. Since this is a carol we
don’t hear that often, this unusual attempt probably gets a pass. However, this
was definitely a missed opportunity for some of the few singers who could have really
done something special with this innocent tale – instead of, you know, bell
bottoming it up. Thankfully, This
Christmas remains the standout here with a focused, suave delivery brimming
of seasonal merriment and holiday romance amid the titular refrains. Give Love at Christmas is actually a
very mature session, seemingly groovy for the kid’s ears but unabashedly sublime
in its adult sounds of the season. Again, a pleasingly smooth sentiment to hear
in a year-end quarter increasingly focused on the money making juvenile aspects
of Christmas.
Likewise,
Everything for Christmas slows down Give Love at Christmas with sexy talk of
caviar, cherries, and champagne. Yes, it is a little more of the same with
three romantic December tunes taking up precious time where only one was needed
in a short, 34 minute album. Luckily, The Temptations know not to fix what
isn’t broken, and they are so great at this seasonal dinner for two soundtrack.
Christmas Everyday is another track
strangely placed between the cocktails and the soft finale. This bemusing bass
and mini rock out might have been better served by pairing the two faster songs
together and thus leaving the overall slow, smooth sentiments uninterrupted.
The Silent Night finale – again a do
over from Christmas Card – has a
little bit of everything from a hint of ‘Twas
the Night Before Christmas and verses of peace and well wishes to a lush,
traditional lead, sweet bass, and perfect harmonies. Obviously, Give Love at Christmas is a secularly
designed album, but it’s nice to hear Jesus mentioned once or twice on a
Christmas album. Some bigger holiday staples can be found on The Temptations Christmas Card, but I
don’t know why they would chose to redo songs already there before giving us
more full on glorious carols Temptations style.
Give Love at Christmas doesn’t have the line up from The Temptations’
1964-71 heights, which may automatically put off some listeners who think this
is an in name only, washed up release, and this late seventies infusion may
also be too dated for younger audiences compared to such a timeless heyday.
However, original member still going strong Otis Williams, late bass Melvin
Franklin, tenor Glenn Leonard, baritone Richard Street, and the returned Dennis
Edwards are all here. Of course, it took some digging to find out exactly which
Temptations are part of Give Love at
Christmas – the fine print on the CD jacket is very small! Fortunately, the seasonal feelings, recognizable Temptations
sound, and some Motown fun keep Give Love
at Christmas a pleasing listen for a couple’s night in or trimming the tree
with the whole family – so long as the kids don’t pick up on the whiff of soul saucy!
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