Giving "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" its due

It took me a while to appreciate "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" as a Christmas carol.  Although I never disliked it, it wasn't one of the first carols I used to seek out.  Over time, I came to realize that its minor key isn't a detriment; it's perfectly fitting for the holiday's sacred aspect.  Chet Atkins recorded an effective, low-key rendition on guitar.  Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan gave it a kick it hadn't had before, and their version is as impressive now as it was initially.  At the perfect midpoint between reverential and cool, however, is Lou Rawls.  His baritone voice gives the carol its due while injecting it with just the right amount of jazz.  For a reverential yet cool Christmas, the version on his "Christmas Will Be Christmas" album is one to seek out.