Here Is Christmas, The Lovemongers (2B)

Heart fans know this 1998 album by Lovemongers is actually Ann and Nancy Wilson with several friends doing something more pop-oriented than their more famous group. In fact, the title song was credited to Ann and Nancy when it was released as a single in 1989. "How Beautiful" was also donated to A Home for the Holidays benefit album, and the rest are heard here for the first time. Fellow Lovemonger Frank Cox takes a solo on "Last Noel" and the group takes on several familiar carols in traditional arrangements, including an a capella "Oh Holy Night" and an instrumental "Bring a Torch." The sleeper on this album is "Christmas Waits," a serious stab at Burt Bacharach -- including a touch of Carpenters! -- that would be a hit in a perfect world. For 2002, this album was reissued as a Heart album, called A Lovemongers Christmas. UPDATE: For 2004 the album has been re-released again, this time with two new songs, "Mary" and "Let's Stay In."