CHRISTMAS CAR TUNES:"SILENT NIGHT" MAHALIA JACKSON-RELEASED 1962

Christmas 1962-that new Impala convertible makes a little less sense when the snow flies but this is the era of drive 'em all year round so the Chevy is a daily driver in ice and snow.

One thing that really warms up the season is Christmas music and most of the AM stations in 62 played non-stop seasonal tunes.

This is what you heard on your Impala radio in December 1962...

Christmas music is considered to be a small musical world. Compared to a giant world of music like classic rock holiday music is more like a small town versus the planet Jupiter.

Because this is such a limited list you tend to evaluate unique versions of Christmas classics.

Not the 'Chipmunks do Jingle Bells' or some brutal 70s disco version of Deck the Halls-this is all about genuinely unique versions of Christmas songs you know by heart.

Mahalia Jackson did this in 1962 with a gospel version of "Silent Night" that is so good you could play it in July.

She released an album of Christmas music in 62 as a way of acknowledging where she came from-the world of gospel music. In most cases, she slows the song down to really emphasize the power behind her vocals.

Right away you know that people like Lady Gaga or Justin Bieber don't have, and probably never will have, Mahalia on their iPod.

That's a good thing for them, because if airhead bubblegum acts like those two vocal lightweights ever heard Mahalia sing, they'd quit show business and head straight toward McDonalds as  front end cashiers-their true calling in life.

Mahalia Jackson gave music the gift that keeps on giving in 1962 when she recorded this unsurpassed version of Silent Night.

This song is so good it would warm up a 62 Impala convertible in winter...with the top down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QGj2xgnN8A

Jerry Sutherland