Many an early seventies trend can be seen here: proto-adult contemporary, singer-songwriters, downbeat realism, a preoccupation with children, progressive country, novelty songs, and more.
In accordance with Christmas numerology, I've made all of my comments in exactly 25 words.

This touchstone sounds like it could have been released at any time post-1970 and is Exhibit A for today's "lite FM" stations' Christmas sound.
2. Merle Haggard - "If We Make It Through December" (Billboard #28, entered 11/24/73; country #1, Christmas 1973 #7). Written by Merle Haggard. Produced by Ken Nelson. 45: "If We Make It Through December"/"Bobby Wants a Puppy Dog for Christmas" (Capitol 1973). LP: Merle Haggard's Christmas Present (Capitol 1973); If We Make It Through December (Capitol 1974).
With this single, those who regretted Haggard's late sixties jingoism had reason to believe he was possibly back on track as a compassionate social observer.
3. The Jackson 5 - "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (Billboard Christmas 1970 #1, 1971 #1, 1973 #9). Written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie. Produced by the Corporation and Hal Davis. 45: "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"/"Christmas Won't Be the Same This Year" (Motown 1970). LP: Jackson 5 Christmas Album (Motown 1970).
It's virtually impossible not to hear this antsy, hustle-bustle single as the quintessential topper to an extraordinarily busy two years for the Jackson 5.

Still remembering when rock was young, Elton John's "eat, drink, and be merry" foray into good-humored yuletide glitz has always sounded entirely well advised.

Multi-leveled, ingratiating finger-wagging that's at once a mistitled call for more "Mary" at Christmas and a rather hot-tempered rebuke of the joyless.

Charles Brown's 1968 re-recording for the King label of his 1947 classic didn't chart until 1973, which was an especially fertile year for Christmas singles.
7. The Singing Dogs - "Jingle Bells" (Billboard Christmas 1971 #2). Produced by Don Charles. 45: "Jingle Bells"/"Oh! Susanna" (RCA Victor 1955; 1971).
This first appeared as a 1955 B-side, but crescendoing early '70s nostalgia, which also brought back 1962's "Monster Mash," turned it into a charting A-side.

This single, the ultimate John Lennon/Phil Spector collaboration, manages to be simultaneously sentimental and serious while seamlessly incorporating the shrill voice of Yoko Ono.

Cheech and Chong's cozy Christmas conversation is their least jarring comedy single and also their funniest. The backing music is as funny as the chatter.

His bluesy drawl and loping arrangements tended to give Leon Russell's records a uniquely melting-taffy effect. This oddball Christmas single is a perfect example.

Few can take a seemingly one-dimensional title like "The Gift of Giving" and imbue it with contrasting layers of melancholy and congeniality like Withers.

This was Helms's fourth charting makeover of his 1957 signature song. Released on the Certron label, it could have been retitled "Jingle Bell Honky Tonk."
13. John Denver - "Please, Daddy" (Billboard #69, entered 12/22/73; Christmas #7, country #69). Written by Billy Danoff and Taffy Nivert. Produced by Milton Okun. 45: "Please, Daddy"/"Rocky Mountain Suite (Cold Nights in Canada)" (RCA 1973). LP: Farewell, Andromeda (RCA 1973).
Denver, a possible model for the yellow '70s smiley face, surprised listeners by sharing a gloomy tale of alcoholism, a la Commander Cody, for Christmas.
14.
James Brown - "Santa Claus Is Definitely Here to Stay" (Billboard Christmas
#7). Written by Nat Jones. Produced by James Brown. 45: "Santa Claus Is Definitely Here to Stay"/"Santa Claus Is Definitely Here to Stay (Instrumental)" (King 1970). LP: Hey America (King 1970).
The biggest single from Brown's Hey America Christmas album featured him tinkering with Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" in the style of the Impressions.
The biggest single from Brown's Hey America Christmas album featured him tinkering with Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" in the style of the Impressions.

This flash of uptown Christmas brilliance showcases Donny Hathaway as one of the decade's greatest soul singers and a class act. Rest in peace, Donny.

An Italian melody with English lyrics performed by a German singer. Johnny Mathis turned this into a UK smash hit, going number one in 1976.
17.
Stan and Doug - "Christmas Goose (Snowbird)" (Billboard Christmas 1970 #7). Written by Gene MacLellan, Stan Boreson, and Doug Setterberg. 45: "Christmas Goose (Snowbird)"/"Christmas Medley" (Golden Crest 1970).
Not to be confused with Bob and Doug MacKenzie, this comedy duo saluted Yogi Yorgeson's Great White North to the tune of Anne Murray's "Snowbird."
Not to be confused with Bob and Doug MacKenzie, this comedy duo saluted Yogi Yorgeson's Great White North to the tune of Anne Murray's "Snowbird."
18.
Charley Pride - "Christmas in My Home Town" (Billboard Christmas 1970 #11). Written by Lassaye Holmes. Produced by Jack Clement. 45: "Christmas in My Home Town"/"Santa and the Kids" (RCA Victor 1970). LP: Christmas in My Home Town (RCA Victor 1970).
Christmas cookie-cutter hokum from country's preeminent African-American, who was on the verge of becoming the Country Music Association's 1971 Entertainer of the Year.
Christmas cookie-cutter hokum from country's preeminent African-American, who was on the verge of becoming the Country Music Association's 1971 Entertainer of the Year.

Two Billboard ads pushed sales and airplay for this rather tuneless curiosity put together by Richard Doyle, an LA comedian later known as Shamus M'Cool.
20. Commander Cody - "Daddy's Drinking Up Our Christmas" (Billboard Christmas 1973 #19). Written by John Tichy. Produced by Ozone Productions with Pete Drake. 45: "Daddy's Drinking Up Our Christmas"/ "Honeysuckle Honey" (Dot 1973).
Commander Cody's Christmas single showcases three specific early '70s pop music trends: "progressive country," children's perspectives, and a willingness to wallow in reality (i.e., disappointment).
21.
Love Unlimited - "It May Be Winter Outside (But in My Heart It's
Spring)" (Billboard #85, entered 12/15/73; Soul
#35). Written by Barry White and Paul Politi. Produced by Barry White. 45: "It May Be Winter Outside (But in My Heart It's Spring)"/"It's Winter Again" (20th Century 1973). LP: Under the Influence of Love Unlimited (20th Century 1973).
This "girl group" project featured producer Barry White reveling in musical '50s motifs skewed by slippery rhythm shifts. This single also borrows liberally from Bacharach.
This "girl group" project featured producer Barry White reveling in musical '50s motifs skewed by slippery rhythm shifts. This single also borrows liberally from Bacharach.
This song closed the last album Croce released before perishing in a 1973 plane crash. Its elegiac realism made for a prototypical singer-songwriter single.

This strange country polka in a minor key featured some of pop music's most cerebral lyrics. The title's implied sentiment was its deceptive calling card.
24. Perry Como - "Christmas Dream" (Billboard #92, entered 12/21/74). Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Timothy Rice. Produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Pete Spargo. 45: "Christmas Dream"/"Christ Is Born" (RCA 1974). LP: The Odessa File (Original Soundtrack) (MCA 1974).
One of Como's final Christmas outings was a cheerful
accordion polka featuring children's voices. The song figured
prominently in The Odessa
File, starring Jon Voigt.
25.
James Brown - "Hey America" (Billboard #105, entered 12/12/70). Written by Nat Jones and Addie Williams Jones. Produced by James Brown. 45: "Hey America"/"Hey America (Instrumental)" (King 1970). LP: Hey America (King 1970).
This minor-key workout captures Brown, at the height of his influence, mostly name-checking the nation, taking note of the peace movement, and improvising.
This minor-key workout captures Brown, at the height of his influence, mostly name-checking the nation, taking note of the peace movement, and improvising.
5 more:
Nilsson - "Remember (Christmas)" (Billboard Hot 100 #53). Written by Harry Nilsson. Produced by Richard Perry. 45: "Remember (Christmas)"/"The Lottery Song" (RCA Victor 1972). LP: Son of Schmilsson (RCA Victor 1972).
Having no overt musical or lyrical references to Christmas other than the title, Nilsson's tender ballad entered the charts on Dec. 23, peaking at #53.
This melodramatic number, which charted in May 1973, merges the "Love Story Theme" musical template with the fashionable theme of familial discord's effect on children.
Linda Clifford - "(It's Gonna Be) A Long, Long Winter" (Billboard soul #75, entered 2/23/74). Written by Curtis Mayfield. Produced by Curtis Mayfield and Rich Tufa. 45: "(It's Gonna Be) A Long, Long Winter"/"March Across the Land" (Paramount 1973).
A regular on the R&B and dance charts between 1973 and 1984, Linda Clifford took this Christmas afterthought to Billboard's soul chart in February 1973.
The Jackson 5 - "Christmas Won't Be the Same This Year" (Billboard Christmas 1970 #1 flipside). Written by Pam Sawyer and Laverne Ware. Produced by Hal Davis. 45: "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"/"Christmas Won't Be the Same This Year" (Motown 1970). LP: Jackson 5 Christmas Album (Motown 1970).
The B-side of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" charted alongside the A-side as per Billboard's custom at the time. Sounds hurried, like the A-side.
Sister Janet Mead - "The Lord's Prayer" (Billboard #4, entered 2/23/74; easy listening #2). Written by Martin Erdman. Produced by Lee Sands. 45: "The Lord's Prayer"/"Brother Sun and Sister Moon" (A&M 1973). LP: With You I Am (A&M 1974).
Although Australia's rocking nun hit the US charts in February 1974 and peaked at #4 during Holy Week, she's racked up years of Christmas airplay.
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