Miss Patti's Christmas

AMG Review of Miss Patti's Christmas

Andy Kellman
All Music Guide

Like the Isley Brothers' I'll Be Home for Christmas, Patti LaBelle's Miss Patti's Christmas was released on Def Soul Classics and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It's a brief set at ten songs, and it's made mostly of interpretations, including material that is both secular and spiritual. It's not a given that the disc will become part of each listener's annual holiday listening tradition, but it's all pleasant and enjoyable, and there are several moments where it is obvious that LaBelle is giving everything she has, rather than coasting through (a common issue with Christmas albums). Jam, Lewis, and LaBelle should seriously consider repurposing the very upbeat "Nativity" -- one of four originals -- into a song with an everyday lyrical theme. It's too well-made to be suitable only for once-a-year rotation.