Best Christmas Songs – “Just a Sad Xmas”

I’m heading into the vault for this one. I posted it last year so you know it deserves to be on your best Christmas songs playlist. “Just a Sad Xmas” by The Soul Duo is one of the finest soul Christmas tracks ever recorded.

“Just a Sad Xmas” by Soul Duo

Oh baby is this an out-of-sight song. Soul Duo was Ida Sands and Joe Webster, otherwise known as Little Ida and Little Daddy. The duo recorded “This Is Your Day” in 1969 for the Norfolk, VA-based Shiptown label. They followed that song up with “Just A Sad Xmas.”

Ida was a powerhouse singer. She was a topnotch recording artist, performer, and songwriter. James Brown tried to sign her away from Shiptown but Ida was loyal to the Shiptown label, where she mentored other Shiptown artists, teaching them how to sing, perform, and have a confident presence. I can’t imagine what the history of soul music would have been like had Ida left Shiptown and gone with James Brown. Well, I do know what it would have been like. It would have been awesome!

Ida penned “Just a Sad Christmas” and it is right up there, not just as a first-rate Christmas song, but an outstanding soul song.