Who would imagine that the Beach Boys, the Jackson 5, and the Carpenters would have much in common? Apart from being midcentury American musical acts, they represent such a mix of musical styles — from Southern California–inflected rock to Motown-derived pop to too-mellow-for-words easy listening — that comparisons seem pointless.
Yet, from time to time in their careers, the groups’ differences melted away — not unlike, say, fresh snow on pavement. Each contributed to a musical genre at once steeped in tradition — and therefore relatively inflexible in its rules and norms — and surprisingly open to all comers: the Christmas album.
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