Well, not technically, but you'd never guess by all the Yuletide records Rocks Off got in the mail this week. That's right, it's not even Halloween and the first crop of holiday albums is already in stores, with more on the way from studio sax giant Dave Koz, Broadway diva Sarah Brightman, devil-baiting fiddler Charlie Daniels and Texican rock and rollers Los Lonely Boys (who play House of Blues with Alejandro Escovedo tonight, btw). Along with about 1,000 others, I'm sure.
Here's what's under the tree so far:
Al Jarreau, Christmas: Super-smooth jazz/R&B crooner tackles "White Christmas," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (with Take 6), lesser-known standards. Resale Probablity: Medium
Various Artists, Miracle Christmas Night: Windam Hill-style gospel compilation with R&B overtones and a cameo by Stevie Wonder: "Do You Hear What I Hear," "What Child Is This," Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," etc. Resale Probability: High
Neil Sedaka, The Miracle of Christmas: Two-disc set - half originals, half standards - from the man who reminded us "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" and "Love Will Keep Us Together": "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow," "Silent Night," The First Noel," etc. "What a Lousy, Rotten Christmas" looks like it may have potential, though. Resale Probability: Astronomical - Chris Gray