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GRAMMY® award-winning legend, Randy Travis releases his first new Christmas record in 18 years! A collection of sacred and traditional favorites accompanied by Travis? unmistakable baritone voice. Songs Of The Season is sure to be warmly received by fans, just like other recent Christmas releases by country artists such as Alan Jackson (450K scans), Martina McBride (1 Million scans) and Lonestar (325 scans).

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For right-minded buyers of the reissued Muppet Christmas Carol soundtrack, the odds of disappointment are about as remote as Miss Piggy’s chances with Kermit. If you loved the movie, you will love the loopy mayhem of the Muppet Brass Buskers (”Good King Wenceslas”), the cartoonish malice of the black-hearted misanthropes Marley & Marley (”Marley & Marley”), and the hope-swollen harmonies of Tiny Tim and Family (”Bless Us All”), Muppeted here to hilariously humble effect. If, on the other hand, your interest in this disc has more to do with its inclusion in the way-narrow Christmas-record-for-kids category–if the spirit of the season doesn’t extend, for you, to the magic of the Muppets–you may want to keep browsing, as it’s a soundtrack first (overture, instrumentals, and all) and a Christmas CD second. That’s not to suggest you’re stuck with an un-fun disc should it land on your holiday stack without a prior screening, though. Miles Goodman’s score sweeps and inspires, and certain tracks–”One More Sleep ’til Christmas” and “Fozziwig’s Party”–are future classics. (Note to the right-minded: After a misstep on the original release, Martina McBride’s version of “When Love is Gone” is back.) -Tammy La Gorce

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Join the holiday fun this season at ABC Family with music from your favorite holiday movies and specials. ABC Family is celebrating it’s 12th Annual “25 Days of Christmas” programming event beginning on December 1st and wants you to own a part of the fun. “Songs to Celebrate 25 Days of Christmas” is the perfect music companion to the TV event featuring classic songs such as Jingle Bells and Frosty the Snowman to contemporary hits from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Alexa Vega, Simple Plan and more. Music to create holiday memories to that everyone in the family will enjoy.

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Chip Davis’s Mannheim Steamroller hasn’t lost any ground in the six years since their last Yuletide offering. Christmas Extraordinare is another innovative and heartfelt collection of seasonal treasures played on a combination of 18th-century instruments and modern-day synthesizers, drums, and electric guitars. While not the first to marry different ages of musical instruments, Davis and his cohorts use them with imagination and an intensity that gives new life and drama to this rather inert genre. For material, Mannheim Steamroller asked their fans to choose their favorite holiday selections and vote on their Web site. The results of the poll are a fine mix of old and new–with slightly more emphasis on the modern–ranging from the bracing “Fum, Fum, Fum,” a traditional Catalan carol, to Tchaikovsky’s “Faeries” from The Nutcracker. Mannheim Steamroller imbues this beloved song with an almost militaristic edge, grounding it with an ominous tuba that gives the usually fey “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies” an edgy tension. “Winter Wonderland” is a spectacular work, bordering on prog rock, as if Emerson, Lake & Palmer had re-formed to whip up a winter blizzard gone amok. While most of the Mannheim Steamroller’s Christmas albums are largely instrumental, Davis has employed the considerable talents of University of Michigan’s Glee Club to sing on “O Tannenbaum,” respectfully fading their elegant, full vocals around the pristine voice of Johnny Mathis, elevating this German carol to a cinematic peak. Don’t miss out on the clever liner notes, which give the reader a whimsical, anecdotal history of the 12 songs. –Jaan Uhelszki

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The first minute of this R&B-flavored soundtrack’s title song is a little scary: Chris Brown fires off a volley of sugary, overdone melisma, and you think this may be the one of the most treacly holiday tunes ever–until the beat comes in and Brown morphs into Stevie Wonder. Phew! His tendency to over-emote flashes again on the cover of “Try a Little Tenderness,” but Brown gets back on course and indicates why he’s turned into a genuine R&B hopeful. On the other hand, American Idol (and new Brown label-mate) winner Jordin Sparks’ take on “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is undermined by the cheap synths in the background. Sparks makes less of an impression than another newcomer, Lina, an L.A. singer who got less media coverage but whose jazzy “Santa Baby” is a lot of fun. Still, the young ‘uns have a way to go before they get close to the awesome power of the trifecta of soul/R&B greats (Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross) that makes up the core of the CD. –Elisabeth Vincentelli

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John Bayless, Christmas Rhapsody