Home for the Holidays

Recording information: Avatar Studios, NYC; Blackbird Studios, Nashville, TN; Capitol Studios Production Suite, Hollywood, CA; CHP Studios, Charlotte, NC; DB Cave, Monroe, NC; Redstar Studios, Los Angeles, CA; The Ox, North Hollywood, CA; WEstlake Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Woodaworx Studio, Athens, AL.
Photographer: LaVann Anderson.
Joined by guests Chaka Khan, Gavin DeGraw, and ZZ Ward, Anthony Hamilton delivers a mostly upbeat mix of original material and renditions of traditional secular and religious Christmas-themed songs. Hamilton co-wrote six of the 14 songs on Home for the Holidays, including the romping, Motown-inspired "Spend Christmas with You" and the contemporary gospel ballad "Spirit of Love." The singer adds his typically hospitable tones to each of the selections, whether it's a faithful version of James Brown's "Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto" or an energized spin on "Little Drummer Boy." This is more imaginative and festive than the average Christmas album. ~ Andy Kellman