Various Artists News

(11/18/98, 12 p.m. PST) - Looking for a way to jazz up the upcoming round of holiday parties? Christmas has forever been an excuse for artists to release seasonal records, and this year is shaping up no different than the rest. A variety of Christmas music, ranging from pop to alternative, has already hit the stores and is sure to fill a range of different stockings.

For the easy-listening carolers out there: Pop diva Celine Dion's These Are Special Times (featuring a guest appearance by R. Kelly), is already a top 10 hit. Chicago's XXV, featuring 14 Christmas standards, is also up for grabs and gift exchanges. Last year's Song Of The Year Grammy-winner (and new mom) Shawn Colvin has put out her own seasonal collection, titled Holiday Songs & Lullabies. Also, perennial best-seller Mannheim Steamroller is offering The Christmas Angel, a new holiday soundscape narrated by Olivia Newton-John.

For the younger and edgier set: Teen sensations N-Sync's Home For Christmas should please a host of young ladies on "nice" lists across the country. Catering to the alterna-hipster in the crowd, retro-cool lounge cats the Squirrel Nut Zippers have released Christmas Caravan, which includes eight original tracks and a couple of "Zipper-ized" classics.

For those feeling a little nostalgic: A new Beach Boys compilation, Ultimate Christmas, culls a near-complete collection of the band's seasonal recordings from 1963-1977. Also, the late John Denver's 1975 classic Rocky Mountain Christmas has been re-released for this Winter's gift-giving round.

And, keeping with the spirit of peace on Earth, there's definitely something for everybody this year: Check out To Life! Songs Of Chanukah & Other Jewish Celebrations, an all-new compilation of songs dedicated to the obvious holiday, as well as a couple others such as Purim. Nell Carter makes a guest appearance on this record, and there are even liner-note recipes for latkes and chicken soup!

Features on Chicago, Olivia Newton-John and the Squirrel Nut Zippers are available now on myLAUNCH. A Shawn Colvin feature is coming soon.

-- Wendy Hermanson, Los Angeles