The Jackson 5 vs. The Temptations | Head 2 Head 🗣️

On the 41^st edition of Head 2 Head, The Jackson 5 and The Temptations contend for the best rendition of “Give Love on Christmas Day.” 

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elcome to Head 2 Head 🗣️! On Head 2 Head, we pit at least two musicians singing the same song together, comparing their performances.  Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  On the 41^st edition of head-to-head, iconic musicians 🎙 The Jackson 5 and 🎙 The Temptations contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “Give Love on Christmas Day”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

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1. The Jackson 5, “Give Love on Christmas Day”

💿 Christmas Album • 🏷 Motown • 📅 1970

“It’s that time of year when good friends are near / And you wish you could give more than just presents from a store.” 🎵 “Give Love on Christmas Day” is a prime example of 🎙 The Corporation – the famous Motown writing/production team – at work.  The record was originally recorded by 🎙 The Jackson 5 on their 1970 Christmas album, 💿 Christmas Album.  Of course, when you think of The Jackson 5 💿 Christmas Album, it’s not “Give Love on Christmas Day” that comes to mind – it’s 🎵 “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”!  Yes, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” is their ‘ace-in-the-hole.’ That said, this original rendition of “Give Love on Christmas Day” is incredibly sweet.

Face it, The Jackson 5 sets the bar on the original version of “Give Love on Christmas Day” for the many covers to follow.  This ballad feels right in the hands of a 12-year-old 🎙 Michael Jackson and his brothers, 🎙 Jackie Jackson, 🎙 Jermaine Jackson, 🎙 Tito Jackson, and 🎙 Marlon Jackson.  Michael sounds marvelous as the lead on “Give Love on Christmas Day” – that goes without saying!  The Jackson brothers do an exceptional job backing him up, creating a recording that’s undoubtedly idiomatic of soul, particularly on the centerpiece, the chorus.

“Why don’t you give love on Christmas Day? (On Christmas Day)
Even the man who has everything
Would be so happy if you would bring
Him love on Christmas Day (On Christmas Day)
No greater gift is there than love.”

Even though Michael and the rest of the Jacksons sound youthful, there’s a level of maturity that many kids this age don’t possess – they were a special, special group!  The musicianship is magnificent, amplified by the golden sounds of the 70s, which still ring true listening to this iconic recording in the 2020s.

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2. The Temptations, “Give Love on Christmas Day”

💿 Give Love at Christmas • 🏷 Motown • 📅 1980

To recap, it was 🎙 The Jackson 5 that originally recorded 🎵 “Give Love on Christmas Day” on their 1970 holiday LP, 💿 Christmas Album.  That said, the version of the record I personally grew up loving most arrived courtesy of 🎙 The Temptations.  The Temptations are among Motown royalty – UNDERSTATEMENT.

With The Temptations’ version of “Give Love on Christmas Day,” essentially, you get an older, more mature sound compared to the youthful original by the Jackson 5.  The tenor of 🎙 Eddie Kendricks is utterly sublime, starkly contrasting the boyish lead by then preteen Michael.  Also, the production is tweaked, while maintaining the sanctity of the original harmonically and where the most recognizable cues are concerned. Where the Jackson version appears deep into their Christmas album, The Temptations open 💿 Give Love at Christmas (1980) with the ear-catching ballad.  Worth noting, Give Love at Christmas ranks among the best Christmas albums of all time.

In the Temp’s hands, “Give Love on Christmas Day” is a soulful, spirited track. Had the Jacksons not recorded it first, you’d assume it belonged to The Temptations – that’s how much they distinguished it from the original.  Even more interesting is the fact that by this time, the group had long released their most beloved, critically acclaimed hits.  Call this song, and the entire album a late highlight in the soul collective’s discography.

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 More Christmas: 5ive Songs No. 73
🔗 🎧 15 Absolutely Terrific, Merry Christmas Songs

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The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️

The Jackson 5 or The Temptations?  I went in “Stanning” The Temptations’ rendition, and I’ll leave stanning the Temptations’ rendition.  That said, the more I listen to The Jackson 5 version, the more and more I heart it.  Still, that falsetto by Eddie Kendricks gets me in the Christmas spirit every time!

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The Jackson 5 vs. The Temptations: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 41 [📷: Brent Faulkner, GenderArts from Pixabay, Motown, The Musical Hype, Valentin Tikhonov from Pixabay]

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