My Colorful Christmas, Regina Belle (Tashi III)

Regina's best known for duetting with Peabo Bryson on "A Whole New World," the big hit from Disney's "Aladdin" movie. For 2022 she drops this solid 90s-influenced soul/gospel album with participation from members of her family. It's mostly pop-soul, more for the easy listening crowd, but it's a lively performance from front to back. She duets with her daughter Sydni Battle on an original tune, "A Baby Changes Everything," a solid soul ballad, and adds Nyla Battle and Ronald Scruggs to "The First Noel." The single from the album "Cradle in Bethlehem" is more of a gospel tune, a diva turn on "Silent Night" opens the album, and similar versions of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Away in a Manger," are here, along with a jazzy take on "Auld Lang Syne." The album wraps with "I Had To Leave (A Song From Bernie)," a tribute to Regina's brother who worked as a producer for the album but passed before it was completed. In my view, her dancehall reggae take on "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is the keeper from this album, and will be for most Mistletunes readers.