On paper, the mere thought of 68-year-old Bob Dylan [ tickets ] croaking his way through a set of Yule-tide standards could have inspired the brains behind the "Golden Throats," those collections of hilariously bad recordings, to start compiling a holiday album. But one listen to "Christmas in the Heart," and you'll realize that would be a huge mistake. On the 16-track album, Ol' Bob is entertaining, charming and spirited, much like a grizzled old uncle who's had a little too much spiked egg nog at the family gathering.

From the cheesy, couple-on-a-sled cover art and the Bettie Page as sexy Santa on the booklet's back cover to the sleigh bell-intro of "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Christmas in the Heart" is a delight. Those who have been paying close attention to the credits on Dylan's recent albums may have noted that Mr. Zimmerman has been taking an occasional producer's credit under the pseudonym "Jack Frost," hinting that perhaps Sir Bob has a special place in his heart for the winter wonderland. With the Jack Frost credit once again appearing here, "Christmas in the Heart" confirms those suspicions.

Throughout the album, his vocals are hoarse and rough, but full of character and emotion--so much so that his bourbon-and-nicotine soaked crooning on the holiday standard "Sliver Bells" is guaranteed to move members of all faiths.

While most of the credit has to go to Dylan/Frost, a tip of the Santa hat is also due to his band of crack support players and backing vocalists. Donnie Herron contributes tasteful steel guitar to "The Christmas Song" and the backing vocalists evoke The Beach Boys with the choir intro to "O' Little Town of Bethlehem." In all, there's not a lump of coal in the 15-track set ... but the best present might be "Must Be Santa." Fueled by Los Lobos' David Hidalgo on accordion, this call-and-response Xmas party banger will get your holiday party rockin' like a Pogues gig.

Only time will tell if it'll become a holiday classic, but for now I'll put "Christmas in The Heart" up with holiday all-time favorites by Phil Spector, Elvis, James Brown, and The Beach Boys. Cool Yule indeed.