Christmas in Memphis, Husky Team (Confidential)

Keyboardist Dave Amels and drummer Dennis Diken, fresh off the Jon Graboff album, threw themselves into this 2002 gem, another all-instrumental go-round, only this time a front-to-back tribute to Booker T. and the MGs. Although that group did do a Christmas album back in the day, you might still want this one if you liked that one. Booker T. and Steve Cropper licks get merged into such tunes as "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "Auld Lang Syne," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," "Silent Night," "We Three Kings" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." A little bit of Box Tops' "The Letter" kicks off "Feliz Navidad." And the Beach Boys clean up with three covers: "Little Saint Nick," "The Man With All the Toys" and "Santa's Beard." Great work folks.