December 5th, 2019 7:59pm
Joy To The World, But It’s Gonna Be Sad For Me
Molly Burch “What Do the Lonely Do At Christmas?”
I was not familiar with song – which was previously recorded by The Emotions and Patti LaBelle – before hearing Molly Burch’s new recording of it for her Christmas album, but it hit me immediately in the gut. Burch’s arrangement is a slightly jazzier take on the Emotions’ version, but retains a very specific early ‘70s sort of melancholy. It’s a very graceful and dignified sort of sadness, the sort of seasonal misery that would be dressed up in a beautiful peacoat. The lyrics hit very close to home for me now as someone whose family is no longer nearby and doesn’t have default company for the holidays. It’s an awkward position to be in, but at least I have this and the original recording as a way to really play up the lonely Christmas vibes.
Buy it from Bandcamp.