Ultimate Christmas Collection is a reissue of The Jackson 5 Christmas Album released in 1970 on Motown, with ten bonus tracks. This is a pleasing combination of holiday classics, with not so classic but still enjoyable original tunes. Collectors will be interested in hearing the bonus cuts exclusive to this compilation, including the spoken season's greetings from
Michael,
Jermaine,
Tito, and
Jackie (originally issued on a 1973 promotional single); "Little Christmas Tree" (from
A Motown Christmas, also from 1973); and remixed and a cappella versions of "Up on the House Top," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Someday at Christmas," "Give Love on Christmas Day," and "J5 Christmas Medley." The bonus material is fun, but the novelty tends to wear out after a few plays. ~ Al Campbell