For 2016, Miranda has added a cover of "Early On One Christmas Morn" (originally titled "Christ Was Born On Christmas Morn"), which I know we've talked about more than a few times. The song was recorded in the 20s by the Cotton Top Mountain Sanctified Singers featuring Frankie Half-Pint Jaxon and is widely considered the most jubilant Christmas song ever recorded. As these things will do, it slipped away into obscurity for decades and was resurrected as a bit of an oddity, since Half-Pint was known for much bawdier music (so it was weird that he'd recorded this single hallelujah come-to-Jesus Gospel side and never another). I ran across the song in the eighties on a collection of similar early Gospel Christmas tunes. But the track didn't really break into most people's consciousness until it was included on a Dust To Digital holiday compilation around 2004 (at least not that I noticed). As more people discover the song, more people record it. It is, after all, widely regarded as the most jubilant Christmas song ever! Who wouldn't want a piece of that action?
The song has a natural New Orleans feel to it and Miranda takes full advantage of that, although she infuses her own personality into it, too. "Early On One Christmas Morn" by Miranda Dodson can be had as a name-your-price download via Bandcamp. Or, if you missed out last year, grab the whole "It's Merry Christmas Time" collection. And don't forget to check back periodically to see what new Christmas joys she has in store.