It's Christmas, Of Course (CD - 2007)

Personnel: Cissy Houston (vocals); Paul Shapiro (alto saxophone); Eric Lawrence (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Eric Lawrence (baritone saxophone); Billy Jay Stein (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond b-3 organ, Wurlitzer organ, synthesizer); Billy J. Stein (Hammond b-3 organ); Nir Z. (drums, percussion); Nir Z (drums); Patti Darcy Jones, Ulla Hedwig, Patti Darcy Jones, Ula Hedwig (background vocals); Gerry Leonard (guitar); Steven Bernstein (trumpet); Zev Katz (acoustic bass, electric bass).

Additional personnel: Cissy Houston.

Audio Mixer: Kevin Killen.

Recording information: Avatar Studios, New York, NY.

Known for her regal holiday classic "(Christmas) Baby Please Come Home," from Phil Spector's famed Christmas album, Darlene Love offers this delightful, supremely classy set of hip yuletide tunes. Love's voice still evokes the majesty of Spector's Wall of Sound, but there's a husky soulful quality to it as well that adds a nice resonance to tracks such as John & Yoko's "Happy Xmas (War is Over)," James Brown's "Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto," and even Billy Squier's "Christmas Is the Time To Say 'I Love You',"among others. Thanks to a diverse song selection (which also includes tracks penned by the Pretenders and XTC), and Love's talent and charm, IT'S CHRISTMAS, OF COURSE makes for a genuinely enjoyable holiday set. minimize