As we approach the big day, I would feel remiss if I didn’t include some of the religious songs associated with Christmas. “No Room At The Inn” is a hymn written in 1891 with lyrics by A L Skilton and R Kelso Carter and music by E Grace Updegraff. In 1955 Mahalia Jackson recorded an amazing Gospel version of the song for her Mahalia Sings Songs of Christmas album. She was backed by the Falls-Jones Ensemble: Mildred Falls, piano; Ralph Jones, organ; Lionel Hampton and Robert Prince, vibraphones; and Milton Hinton, Bass. Mahalia was the “The Queen of Gospel” and was in full force on this bluesy, upbeat take on an otherwise somber song.