1963 The Christmas Song (Marvin Gaye)

.....This song is a cover, so I'm not going to go into any length for it.

• 02:35 "THE CHRISTMAS SONG" (Mel Tormé, Robert Wells)
• performed by Marvin Gaye
• recorded live at the Apollo Theater in 1963, but not contemporarily released
• original source: 4CD THE MARVIN GAYE COLLECTION Motown MOTD4-6311 (US) 09/19/90
• and my source: VACD CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY Motown Master Series 37463-6326-2 (G) 1993

.....Last month I posted on The Moonglows' "JUST A LONELY CHRISTMAS" (click on '1953' under the "Check Them Twice" list). Towards the end I mentioned that Harvey Fuqua had put together a new line-up of the group including a young Marvin Gaye. Harvey married Gwen Gordy and the two tried unsuccessfully to keep their own record companies going before putting their efforts to work for Gwen's brother Berry. Harvey brought Marvin with him and Marvin briefly worked as a session drummer before stepping up to the mike. He signed with Tamla and began releasing singles and an album in 1961. Although there is no specific date given for this recording, we can safely assume it was near the holiday in December. Earlier that year he recorded the album LP RECORDED LIVE ON STAGE Tamla TM242 (US) 09/09/63, produced by William Stevenson. Although my source says that this track was produced by Smokey Robinson, Discogs reports that the track, as it appears on the boxed set, was also produced by Stevenson. Why it was recorded is just as unclear. Was it intended for a 1964 release and simply forgotten? If it was recorded, as I assumed and as the stage patter suggests, close to the holiday, then it couldn't have been intended for release during the 1963 holiday season. It's also not likely to be an outtake from a live album recorded closer to the summer, although it's possible that the audience just sat there politely confused listening to a Christmas song. At the Apollo...

.....The song itself is of course a modern standard. It was recorded in 1946 by Nat 'King' Cole and became an instant hit sparking numerous covers even before this one. At the moment I haven't yet posted that recording, but since I own several copies it's inevitable that I'll get around to it.