Debbie Gibson, ‘Heartbreak Holiday’

The lively ’80s hitmaker tackles holiday tunes for the first time on “Winterlicious.” While her covers of “Let It Snow” and “Sleigh Ride” are appropriately refreshed – especially the latter, which she recorded 30 years ago and remastered for this release – it’s the sweet duet with frequent collaborator Joey McIntyre (of New Kids on the Block renown) that best showcases Gibson’s melodic gifts. The song builds into its soaring chorus worthy of a Broadway stage before decelerating into a whispery finale – an ideal cadence for a pair of symbiotic vocalists.