VANDROSS, LUTHER - This Is Christmas (LP)

This stellar 1995 Christmas album is not your typical release of holiday standards. In fact, Luther helped pen most of the songs on this album. His originals include the excellent "With a Christmas Heart," "This Is Christmas," and "A Kiss for Christmas." But for those with an allegiance to the standards, "My Favorite Things" and "O' Come All Ye Faithful" are duly included among these 10 lovely tracks. Well-known bassist/arranger/producer Marcus Miller plays on some of the tracks, while well-coifed '80s rock balladeer Richard Marx co-wrote "Every Year, Every Christmas." For R&B fans, it's hard to do much better than THIS IS CHRISTMAS.