GLORIA ESTEFAN, “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss...

GLORIA ESTEFAN, “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me” ( Epic )**

Karaoke, anyone?

Estefan has collected some of yesteryear’s most familiar hits and, for the most part, offers note-for-note versions of the originals. The album sounds more like an exuberant, talented fan lip-syncing in front of a mirror than an artist creating vibrant new works by redefining old ones.

There are a couple of exceptions. Gerry & the Pacemakers’ Merseybeat classic “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” emerges as a pretty, spare lament showcasing Estefan’s embracing vocals. She also successfully tames Neil Sedaka’s chirpy “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” coming closer to Sedaka’s own ‘70s remake than to his early-’60s original.

But Estefan misses more opportunities than she seizes. “Everlasting Love” cries out to be sung as a ballad, and there’s not much point in re-creating Blood, Sweat & Tears’ horn-driven arrangement of the soul number “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy.” Selections such as that underscore her biggest missed opportunity: the chance to bring recognition to some of the many great singles that inexplicably didn’t hit the first time around.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).