Christmas albums are pretty limited in their playability aside from one month out of the year, but if you are going to be listening to a Christmas album, it might as well be
Christmas Greetings from Studio One. Forget the usual weak versions of holiday favorites, this record has some of reggae's greatest performers giving seasons greetings the tropical, Caribbean way. Highlights include
the Silvertones feel-good "Bling Bling Christmas,"
Alton Ellis' groovy "Praise Jah, It's Christmas" -- one of the coolest Christmas tunes ever recorded -- and
Toots and the Maytals totally unbeatable "Christmas Feeling Ska" (skankin' around the Christmas tree, anyone?). Plus as a bonus track, there's
Bob Marley's truly enchanting cover of "White Christmas" done in glorious lo-fi. You can't go wrong, unless it's not December.