Top Ten R&B Christmas Songs

I absolutely LOVE Christmas music. The day after Thanksgiving, I break out the holiday CDs and usually don't put them away until well into the New Year. Whether riding in my car, decorating the Christmas tree or simply spending quality holiday time with my family, each of these soul classics ushers in the Christmas spirit. Here are ten of my favorite R&B Christmas songs:

10. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by En Vogue - So En Vogue is my absolute favorite group and their rendition of this song is one of the most creative ever recorded. This rendition samples one of the group's biggest hits "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" The song is a little sultry, a little jazzy and a lot funky. Yet, it maintains the Christmas spirit.

9. "My Favorite Things" by Luther Vandross - So technically, this song is a Broadway show tune, but has been adopted as a Christmas classic. Originally featured in The Sound of Music, Vandross' rendition is a testament to the singer's ability to sing almost anything

8. "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by The Jackson Five - This is one of the cutest songs ever recorded. And with little Michael Jackson singing lead, it's only that much cuter.

7. "Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child" by Mariah Carey - Featured on her now classic 1994 holiday album Merry Christmas, Carey's take on the song marks her first foray into the gospel genre.

6. "Let It Snow" by Boyz II Men featuring Brian McKnight - Sung by five of R&Bs true soul singers, the 1993 single is a modernized take on the traditional Christmas carol. With updated lyrics by McKnight, this soulful tune puts you in the mind of Christmas love.

5. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" by The Jackson Five - I could not resist including another Jackson Five classic. This version of the song went to #1 on the charts. The infectious tune was performed to perfection by the late, great Michael Jackson.

4. "This Christmas" by Donnie Hathaway - Originally recorded in 1970, Hathaway's ode to Christmas has become a modern classic and holiday standard. It's one of the few Christmas songs that makes you want to move to the music. The song even inspired a 2007 film by the same name.

3. "Santa Baby" by Eartha Kitt - Numerous artists have performed this song over the last half century, but nothing compares to the original. Recorded in 1953, Kitt's version is incomparable. Kitt perfoms the classic with the right amount of wit and tongue-in-cheek sexiness.

2. "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole - According to ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) "The Christmas Song" aka "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" is the most performed holiday song of all time. The 1946 version by Cole is the most recognizable. Cole's velvety voice soothes the soul while inspiring the warmth of the holiday season

1. "Silent Night" by The Temptations - Perhaps one of the most popular Christmas carols, the 1980 version recorded by the Temptations is one of the most recognizable. With lead locals by Dennis Edwards and the unmistakable voice of original Temptation Melvin Franklin, Christmas ain't Christmas without The Temptations.