However, since we are still early in the Christmas season—Halloween is still two weeks away—there aren't many new Christmas 45s announced yet. Those that have been announced are mainly re-releases of Christmas classics. Last year, I could not find the time to write for the blog, so I will talk about some 2024 Christmas singles that were worth checking out last Christmas and still are for the 2025 Christmas season. We'll start with 'Always Christmas Eve' by Bella Brown & The Jealous Lovers.
Bella Brown & The Jealous Lovers: Always Christmas Eve / Soul Clap - Radio Edit
(LRK Records, LRK-30, UK, 2024)
Carol Hatchett and Daniel Pearson are the two main artists behind Bella Brown & The Jealous Lovers, a Los Angeles-based retro soul and funk group. Hatchett and Pearson are Chicago natives who had known each other for a long time before forming the group. In 2003, while still living in Chicago, they collaborated as Velvet Sundae on the album 'Live At The Mind'. Sheila E. produced the album and was featured on percussion. In the mid-2010s, the two worked together again in the deep house act The BareRoot. In addition to the Velvet Sundae album and The BareRoot project, Hatchett worked as a background vocalist and Pearson worked as a session bass player. They performed with diverse artists, including Eagles of Death Metal, Nick Waterhouse, and Jon Batiste (Hatchett), as well as Coolio, Iggy Pop, and Jennifer Lopez (Pearson). Hatchett also worked as a choreographer and actress. She appeared in films such as Legally Blonde and Ali. In Ali, she played a Pointer Sister. Additionally, she was one of the Harlettes, Bette Midler’s backup singers and dancers.
In Bella Brown & The Jealous Lovers, Hatchett took on the guise of another vocalist: Bella Brown, the vocalist who bestowed the band with its moniker. Together with Pearson, she assembled a group of seasoned session musicians and began performing live and recording in the late 2010s. The group's music and image were heavily influenced by 1970s soul and funk, as well as by more recent acts like Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. Following in the footsteps of the more adventurous soul and funk groups of the 1970s, Bella Brown & The Jealous Lovers combined soul and funk with elements of jazz, reggae, and Afro-Caribbean influences. In 2018, the group released their debut five-song EP, 'Get Mine', followed by a second five-song EP, 'Rocket'. After signing with the UK label LRK Records, they released several 45s. In 2024, their first full-length album, Soul Clap, was released. The group's lyrics reflected the social consciousness of early 1970s soul and funk. They addressed issues such as gun culture ('Bang Bang Bang') and homelessness ('Lady Time'), and sang about the need for a better future ('What Will You Leave Behind').
The seven-minute-long title track proved to be the most popular song on the album, so the label and the band decided to release an edited version of it on a 45. When the single was announced, the song that would appear on the A-side was still shrouded in secrecy. It turned out to be a holiday-themed song titled 'Always Christmas Eve'. "Soul Clap" was an upbeat dance track, but "Always Christmas Eve" showcased a more introspective side of 1970s soul. It's a melancholic ballad that pays homage to the group's Chicago soul roots. The song features powerful vocals by Hatchett and prominent horns, giving it a strong, emotional impact. 'Always Christmas Eve' is not a Christmas song, despite sounding like one thanks to the sleigh and church bells. Rather, it is a song of hope for these troubled times: "Where you find there is trouble / There is good just the same / I see it every day". Hatchett recognizes the challenges and difficulties in the world, but he also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive outlook by acknowledging the presence of good in life. That is the choice Hatchett makes when she sings: "I believe there is hope. I believe because I've seen people love one another like it's always Christmas Eve" This 45 was one of the highlights of the 2024 Christmas season, in my opinion. Limited to 300 copies, it was pressed on gray vinyl and is still available through the label.
Listen to the single on Bandcamp (where you can also buy it):
