The Cheetah Girls - The Cheetah Girls: A Cheetah-licious Christmas (2005/2020)

This album particularly appeals to me because of the song selection, which contains several original songs along with a few familiar songs, but in choosing to record some familiar songs, they avoided the most obvious classics. Also conspicuously missing are any religious songs, as the Cheetah Girls focus on the festive aspects of the season.

The original songs (Five more days 'til Christmas, The perfect Christmas, Cheetah-licious Christmas, Christmas in California, No ordinary holiday, The simple things) are all worth a listen, though perhaps the opening track (Five more days 'til Christmas) is the pick among them.

Of the familiar songs, I was pleased to find Marshmallow world, a song that doesn't get covered too often although you'll find another version of it on the famous Phil Spector Christmas album. Covers of more recent Christmas songs by Donny Hathaway (This Christmas), George Michael (Last Christmas) and Mariah Carey (All I want for Christmas is you) as well as more traditional songs (Santa Claus is coming to town, I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus, Feliz Navidad) are all performed well without improving on the originals. Overall, this is a fine album that will help to keep the Christmas party going.