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According to tradition, the first Christmas carol was sung 2,000 years ago by a choir of angels to celebrate the birth of Jesus. On today’s show, Leonard celebrates some of his favorite recordings from the Golden Age of Gospel to the present.

Music Playlist:

1. Mahalia Jackson, “The Holy Babe”
From Mahalia Sings Songs of Christmas! (Columbia)
Purchase at Amazon.com

2. The Chosen Gospel Singers feat. Lou Rawls, “No Room at the Hotel”
From The Chosen Gospel Singers: The Lifeboat (Specialty)
Purchase at Amazon.com

3. Marion Williams, “No Room at the Inn”
From Marion Williams: O Holy Night (Savgos)

4. Mme Edna Gallmon Cooke, “Angels from the Realms of Glory”
From Mme Edna Gallmon Cooke & Doris Akers (Pewburner)

5. Mahalia Jackson, “Go Tell it on the Mountain”
From Mahalia Jackson (Platinum Disc Corporation)

6. Mahalia Jackson, “Silent Night”
From Mahalia Sings Songs of Christmas! (Columbia)
Purchase at Amazon.com

7. The Consolers, “No Room at the Inn”
From Nashboro Nativity, Vol. 1 (Nashboro)
Purchase at Amazon.com

8. Sister Rosetta Tharpe, “Silent Night”
From Complete Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Vol. 3 (Fremeaux)
Purchase at Amazon.com

9. Mattie Williams, “Poor Little Jesus Boy”
From Black Nativity (Vee-Jay)
Purchase at Amazon.com

10. Mme. Edna Gallmon Cooke, “Have You Got Room?”
From Mme Edna Gallmon Cooke & Doris Akers (Pewburner)

11. Brother Joe May, “Silent Night”
From Nashboro Nativity, Vol. 1 (Nashboro)
Purchase at Amazon.com

12. Marion Williams, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
From Marion Williams: Through Many Dangers (Shanachie)
Purchase at Amazon.com

13. Shirley Caesar, “What Are You Gonna Name Your Baby?”
From Christmas With Shirley Caesar (Epic)
Purchase at Amazon.com

14. Yolanda Adams, “The First Noel”
From Christmas With Yolanda Adams (Elektra)
Purchase at Amazon.com

15. Mom and Pop Winans, “Go Tell it on the Mountain”
From A Gospel Family Christmas (Sparrow)
Purchase at Amazon.com

16. Mahalia Jackson, “No Room at the Inn”
From Mahalia Sings Songs of Christmas! (Columbia)
Purchase at Amazon.com

17. Marion Williams, “When Was Jesus Born?”
From Marion Williams: O Holy Night (Savgos)

18. Jessie Mae Renfro, “No Room at the Hotel”
From The Gospel Sound of Spirit Feel (Spirit Feel)
Purchase at Amazon.com