Despite its poor sound quality and shoddy packaging, Hollywood's
Rhythm & Blues Christmas
is an entertaining 20-track collection of familiar R&B Christmas numbers, including
Charles Brown's
"Merry Christmas Baby,"
Freddie King's
"Christmas Tears,"
Bill Doggett's
"Joy to the World" and
Hank Ballard's
"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." It's not perfect, but it's quite enjoyable and worth its budget price. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine