Darlene Love, "It's Christmas, of Course" (Shout) - My Christmas spirit officially arrives when this powerhouse New Yorker (the voice of the Crystals in the 1960s) performs "(Christmas) Baby Please Come" on "The Late Show With David Letterman." After 17 consecutive years, she'll skip this year because of the writers' strike. But she does a splendidly soulful job with more obscure yule tunes, including James Brown's funky, horn-accented and still relevant "Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto."

Jon Secada, "A Christmas Fiesta" (Big 3) - He sings straightforward versions of "Jingle Bells" and other obvious tunes, but dresses them up with Latin rhythms. Sounds like something you'd hear from a cruise ship lounge band.

Patti LaBelle, "Miss Patti's Christmas" (Def Soul) - Superproducers Jam and Lewis came up with a batch of originals but most of the tunes sound like leftovers from Sounds of Blackness' Christmas discs. The diva is disappointingly unmemorable save for "Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child," which has the spirit, thanks in part to the Soul Seekers.

Rick Springfield, "Christmas With You" (Gomer) - He can rock but he can't really sing with yule panache.