Christmas, Cher (Warner)

Round about 2002 or so, Target put out a compilation Christmas CD that included a song by Cher called "Angels Running." While not strictly a Christmas song, the performance and lyrics fit right in with the more overt holiday tunes of that collection, not to mention my annual playlist. So when the PR folks tell us this 2023 effort is Cher's first Christmas album, we can all smile knowing that she's been there before, even if not intentionally. As for the new music before us, well, it would be easy to dismiss this as more celebrity pop music, but Cher's always been rooted in rock 'n roll, she's always been a decent singer who eschews the diva moves her fellow star vocalists revel in, and her big 21st century hit "Believe" shows she's always had an eye on what's happening now. In fact, Mark Taylor, this album's main producer, worked on that big hit with her, so you'll know what's up when you hear opening track and first single "DJ Play Me a Christmas Song," which rides the autotune in a similar way to that previous song. Duet partners include Tyga on the bouncy "Drop Top Sleigh Ride," Darlene Love on a faithful "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" (Cher was a backing vocalist on Darlene's original), Stevie Wonder on a similarly well-rendered "What Christmas Means To Me," Cyndi Lauper on "Put a Little Holiday in Your Heart," and Michael Buble on his original song "Home." She takes on "Run Rudolph Run" and "Please Come Home For Christmas," and while they may not be your favorite versions of these classics, she acquits herself well on them. She also can't resist "Santa Baby," doing it in the classic Eartha Kitt arrangement. The remaining tunes haven't appeared elsewhere to my knowledge, the ballad "Angels in the Snow," the country-tinged "I Like Christmas," "Christmas Ain't Christmas Without You," and album closer "This Will Be Our Year." Maybe a little too much Vegas when taken all at once, but selected cuts from this won't spoil anyone's playlists. UPDATE: Stubby checks in to note that "This Will Be Our Year" is an old track by the Zombies, previously covered by the Foo Fighters. Helps underline Cher's rock 'n roll credibility, in my humble opinion.