I only take advice from 80s songs.

Our featured artist today is another Motown great, The Temptations. I was serious about how much I love Motown Christmas music. The first is the fantastic "This Christmas", written by the brilliant Donny Hathaway back in 1971 and covered by the Temptations in 1983. It's been covered many, many times, but...The Temptations.

The second is the often overlooked "My Christmas Tree", from 1970's Temptations Christmas Card, which features a gorgeous vocal from Eddie Kendricks just before his exit from the group.

This Christmas
My Christmas Tree

Continuing with our Motown theme, today's artist is Stevie Wonder, with one classic carol and one song that was written for him, as well as the title track of his eighth album. A classic in its own right!

The Little Drummer Boy
Someday at Christmas

ETA: FYI, all the links should be working now. I was copying from Google Docs while I was away and I kept forgetting to fix the smart quotes. Sorry!

Acapella has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity lately, thanks to reality TV, but Manhattan Transfer has been recording for decades now. While they are not strictly acapella (they also record jazz and fusion) they released an acapella Christmas album a few years ago that’s really fun. Here are a few tracks:

Manhattan Transfer -- Jingle Bells
Manhattan Transfer -- Winter Wonderland
Manhattan Transfer -- White Christmas

Our featured song today is O Holy Night, in honor of Cheri, who has waited patiently all these years while I ignore her favorite. It wasn’t intentional, honest. I just never really think about this song. To make up for that, here are five versions, ranging from classic to Irish traditional to Motown.

101 Strings Orchestra -- O Holy Night (Cantique de Noel) (instrumental)
The Backbeats -- O Holy Night (acapella)
Carrie Underwood -- O Holy Night
The Drifters -- O Holy Night
The Chieftains f/Rickie Lee Jones -- O Holy Night

And for those of you who aren’t into church music, here are a couple tracks of the Oxford St. Peter’s Choir doing less religious holiday classics. I had no idea I needed a choir singing "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas" in my life until I heard it for the first time.

Oxford St. Peter’s Choir -- Deck the Halls
Oxford St. Peter’s Choir -- Jolly Old St. Nicholas

Today’s featured song is Silent Night. I have three versions for you, one a traditional choir arrangement, one a contemporary recording, and one a Motown classic. Something for everyone!

Oxford St. Peter’s Choir -- Silent Night
Kelly Clarkson -- Silent Night
The Four Tops f/Aretha Franklin -- Silent Night

Today we depart from the traditional a bit with Kelly Clarkson, who just released a new Christmas album. Below are three of her nontraditional tracks, two originals and one a cover. The whole album is pretty good, though, and there are plenty of traditional carols if you want to check out more.

Kelly Clarkson -- Wrapped In Red
Kelly Clarkson -- Underneath the Tree
Kelly Clarkson -- Just For Now (Imogen Heap cover)

PSA: This morning I am flying to Florida for eight days. I'll be incommunicado for at least half that time, but I have a plan to keep up with the calendar. Hopefully my plan will work; if not, I will catch up as soon as I'm able. If I mess up any links while I'm gone, I'll fix them as soon as I get back.

If you've been hanging around long enough to see more than one of these advent calendars, you have probably noticed that one of my very favorite Christmas songs is Please Come Home For Christmas. I'm particularly fond of Jon Bon Jovi's version, but I will take anything, pretty much. I'm not proud.

As such, I collect versions of the song, and this year I have two new additions to share with you. The first is a Motown classic, and the second is a recording from Kelly Clarkson's new Christmas album. If you hate this song...sorry? I'll be back tomorrow with some acapella.

The Uniques -- Please Come Home For Christmas
Kelly Clarkson -- Please Come Home For Christmas

Today's selections are courtesy of actress/chanteuse Lea DeLaria, who you may know as Big Boo from Orange Is the New Black, currently available on Netflix and if you're not watching it, man, you are missing out.

I digress! When she's not acting or doing stand-up, Lea records torch ballads and jazz music. Her album of Christmas songs is really fun, and today I share two of my favorite tracks with you.

Lea DeLaria -- Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Lea DeLaria -- Christmas Time Is Here

I took allergy medicine yesterday and today, which is a last resort option because it always makes me feel really woozy. Therefore I'm going to be completely worthless today, but at least my head doesn't hurt as much as it did on Monday.

Stupid leaf mold.

My dog is afraid of the fireplace. My Yuletide fic is giving me fits. I keep having anxiety dreams about my boring job. My thumb continues to be painful, but I refuse to get a steroid shot.

That's all I know.