Part of getting into the groove of the holidays is putting on some Christmas music and feeling yourself submerge into a sense of childlike wonder and joy. There are countless songs that historically encapsulate the Christmas spirit, yet 1970s “Give Love on Christmas Day” by Jackson 5 holds a particular sacred torch. Written by the same impeccable Motown Records production team behind “I Want You Back” and “ABC,” it was another home run hit for the band, honoring the communal spirit of the holidays while still maintaining their signature R&B soul flair.
The single served as a standout track on Jackson 5 Christmas Album, helping solidify the brothers as the first black teen idols. Yet, the song doesn’t seem to come up in conversation when the most iconic Christmas tracks are reviewed. Covered by a wide variety of acts, ranging from The Temptations, to New Edition, to SWV, and getting annual radio play, “Give Love on Christmas Day” most certainly deserves its well-earned flowers. Here’s a step into the history of Jackson 5’s “Give Love on Christmas Day” and what makes it different than every other holiday jingle.
The Story Behind Jackson 5’s “Give Love on Christmas Day”
During the rise of Motown’s glory, “Give Love on Christmas Day” was released in October 1970. It served as the lead single on the Jackson 5 Christmas Album, the group’s first and only full Christmas album with the label. The project aimed to help position the group, then consisting of Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, andMichael Jackson, as a “family-friendly” musical act that could equally carry a holiday tune. While the album was made up of several well-known covers that were able to capture attention to tug on nostalgic hearts, including “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” and “Frosty The Snowman,” it was “Give Love on Christmas Day” in particular that became one of its most enduring originals.
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The Corporation, Motown’s powerhouse team of Berry Gordy, Alphonzo Mizell, Freddie Perren, and Deke Richards, were responsible for penning the track. They were the same production genius behind Jackson 5’s “The Love You Save,” “I Want You Back,” and “ABC,” so there was already a thoughtfully curated synergy. Together, they came up with a song that was able to encapsulate the emotional vulnerability of the holiday season while still staying true to Jackson 5’s affinity with R&B and pop ballads. The song serves as a call to action to return to the truth of the holidays: giving your heart to those who deserve it. While spending money and surviving the shopping frenzy has found itself at the center of Christmas madness, “Give Love on Christmas Day” is the sweet and ever-timely reminder that all your loved ones need is your heart.
People making lists, buying special gifts
Taking time to be kind to one and all
It’s that time of year when good friends are near
And you wish you could give more than just presents from a store
Why don’t you give love on Christmas Day
Oh even the man who has everything
Would be so happy if you would bring
Him love on Christmas Day
No greater gift is there than love
But what makes the tune truly so special was that Michael was just 12 years old when the song was recorded, which deepens the potency of the song’s magic. His sweet and tender innocence is felt vocally and is a huge part of why the song feels so pure and emotional. Michael’s angelic, childlike sincerity couldn’t be replicated by any other act, which is what solidified the Jackson 5 to become the first African American performers to attain a global following across multiple genres and, overall, one of the best-selling acts of all time.
“Give Love on Christmas Day” meets soft, gospel-leaning chords with warm Motown harmonies to birth one of the most enduring holiday singles in Motown history. It differed distinctly from most of Jackson 5’s other upbeat Christmas tracks, like “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” by leaning into a gentler, more purely emotional lane. Though it doesn’t typically find itself at the center of the conversation when it comes to Christmas classics, it will forever serve as an under-discussed gem by those who inherited the track generationally and recognize its brilliance.
