December 23, 1999
Web posted at: 5:40 p.m. EST (2240 GMT)

(CNN) -- Not to invoke the too-pat "sacred and profane," holiday-season albums of our day do tend to get away with combinations of secular and sacred material that would be considered scandalous in most other contexts.

While an artist may not be likely to sing "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" and then cover "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" on the same album, the music industry regularly packages releases that juxtapose, say, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus."

It is, as the song tells us, a most wonderful time of the year.

Here's a quick and selective survey of the musical moments of this year.

Reviewed by Shayla Thiel
Special to CNN Interactive

"Sacred Arias"
Andrea Bocelli
Uni/Phillips
Released November 9

You can’t understand the words of "Silent Night" here, although he’s singing in English. But it doesn’t matter on this ethereal collection of works that include Schubert’s "Ave Maria" and Mozart’s "Ave Verum."

"Legends of St. Nicholas"
Anonymous composers, recorded by Anonymous 4
Harmonia Mundi (Fra)
Released September 7

This quartet demonstrated its penchant for the ghosts of Christmas music past on "On Yoolis Night." This is more of its a cappella renditions of hymns and readings recounting the legends associated with jolly old St. Nicholas.

"A Christmas to Remember"
Amy Grant
Uni/A&M
Released October 19

Apparently Grant would like to be mentioned in the same breath as Andy Williams and Bing Crosby. This is her fourth solo Christmas album in the past decade. Although her voice is clear and lovely, you have to wonder if the recording is now just a necessary accessory to her annual Christmas concert tour.

"A Christmas Story"
Point Of Grace
Sony/Epic
Released September 28

Four beautiful women wax to musical on the more religious side of the holiday in tight harmony.

"A Sentimental Christmas"
Kathy Troccoli
BMG/Zomba/Reunion
Released September 28

A longtime veteran on the contemporary Christian scene releases her first Christmas album.

"The First Christmas Morning"
Dan Fogelberg
Chicago Records
Released October 26

If anyone were born to write touchy-feely Christmas tunes, you know it would be Dan Fogelberg. "That First Christmas Morning" is everything "Longer" was, with a star on top.

	AUDIO
"Hands (Christmas Version)" [215k MPEG-3] or [295k WAV] (Courtesy Atlantic Records)

"Joy: A Holiday Collection"
Jewel
Atlantic
Released November 2

If she could tell the world just one thing, it would be that we're all OK. With a lyric like that, it was a foregone conclusion that Jewel also would jump aboard the holiday album bandwagon. Although most of the holiday tunes on "Joy" range from pretty to cute, the singer's holiday version of "Hands" -- complete with a children's choir and chimes -- is a little strange. A great stocking stuffer for the same folks who made her one of the top-selling poets last retail season.

"This Christmas"
98 Degrees
Universal
October 19

The cute brunet boy quartet will melt even the most Grinch-esque 14-year-old with its renditions of "Christmas Ain't the Same Without You" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas."

	AUDIO
"Winter Wonderland" [145k MPEG-3] or [200k WAV] (Courtesy Mercury Records)

"I Wanna Be Santa Claus"
Ringo Starr
Island
Released October 19

Although he drags The Beatles' "Christmas Time Is Here Again" from the annals of history, Ringo can't save himself from drowning in a tub of sticky musical eggnog with this too-cute, mildly annoying album.

"A Rosie Christmas"
Rosie O'Donnell, et al
Sony/Columbia
Released November 2

One of America's favorite talk-show hosts and anti-gun activists assembled an all-star holiday jumble that jingles with the contributions of Elton John, Cher, Lauryn Hill and Celine Dion. Sounds great, right? Not exactly. Rosie's singing along with them on every song. Even miraculous production can't save some of these.

"Christmas Songs With the Ray Brown Trio"
Ray Brown Trio
Telarc
Released September 28

Ray Brown assembled an all-star jazz cast as impressive as Rosie O'Donnell's all-star pop cast. But Ray knows when to lie back and jam and let the real voices take over. Diana Krall scats through "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and Vanessa Rubin croons "White Christmas." Etta James wails through "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." Rosie is nowhere within earshot.

"A Very Special Christmas Live"
Various Artists
Uni/A&M
Released October 19

See main story.

"Secret of Giving"
Reba McEntire
MCA/Nashville
Released November 23

Just the usual strum und twang in this collection of country-flavored holiday fare by Big Red, although there's something oddly creepy about the tear-in-your-beer tune about St. Nick, "Santa Claus Is Coming Back to Town."

"Merry Christmas Wherever You Are"
George Strait
Universal/MCA/Nashville
Released September 21

Strait follows the formula of mixing silly standards ("All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth") with country-twinged sentimentality ("Merry Christmas Wherever You Are") and comes out with a fantastic first effort.

"White Christmas"
Martina McBride
BMG/RCA
Released October 12

Country purists will be less impressed with Martina McBride's "White Christmas," but Christmas purists may take heart with this straightforward, no frills (or lap steel) approach to holiday music.

"Garth Brooks and The Magic of Christmas"
Garth Brooks
EMD/Capitol
Released November 23

No longer "In ... the Life of Chris Gaines," Garth returns to his corporate-country roots on his second Christmas album. Well, actually, he's gone a little bit big-band. But with a few tunes from his previous "Beyond the Season," hardcore fans will be satisfied.

"The Christmas Album"
David Lanz
EMD/Narada
Released September 14

This compilation disc of the New Age solo pianist's work includes "Christmas Eve," "What Child Is This?" and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." It's standard department-store Muzak fare for holiday time.

"The Christmas Box"
Paul Cardall
Narada
Released October 5

It's a musical interpretation of the best-selling novel by Richard Paul Evans. Pianist Cardall presents some beautiful instrumental arrangements of traditional carols as well as warm original pieces. You don't actually have to read the book to appreciate it either.

	AUDIO
"Sleigh Ride" [170k MPEG-3] or [230k WAV] (Courtesy Arista Records)

"Faith: A Holiday Album"
Kenny G
Arista
Released November 16

Champagne glasses clink, lips lock, fireworks explode, Kenny G takes you back through the millennium ... in dispassionate song! Yes, he's provided us some of the best dinner music ever recorded, and now his special "Auld Lang Syne (The Millennium Mix)" will provide us with the backdrop of what some are hailing as the Apocalypse. Are we really that surprised?

"Magic of Christmas"
Natalie Cole, London Symphony
Wea/Elektra Entertainment
October 19, 1999

With the London Symphony Orchestra backing her up, Cole glides through Christmas standards including "The Holly and the Ivy" as well as a magical duet with the very late Daddy Nat on his classic "The Christmas Song."

"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree: The Complete Decca Christmas Recordings"
Brenda Lee
Decca
Released October 12

No one sings "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" like Brenda Lee, and believe it or not, she recorded 17 other holiday faves over the past few decades. All are rounded up here in this compilation.

"My Christmas Album"
by K-Ci & Jojo and various artists
Universal/MCA Released November 2, 1999

Hip-hop into the holiday with such tunes as "Christmas Came to the Ghetto" by Avant and "Someday at Christmas" by Mary J. Blige. Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle and The L.A. Multi School Jazz Band also appear on this mixed bag.

"Our Very Best Christmas"
by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
Universal/Motown
Released October 12, 1999

Smokey's golden tonsils are the showcase of this reissued album of Christmas hits from the 1960s and '70s.

"Merry Christmas"
by the Supremes
Universal/Motown
Released October 12, 1999

This remastered version of the 1965 record of the same title includes the original 13 songs, plus four additional Christmas tunes, including "Just a Lonely Christmas" and "Born of Mary."

"Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics"
by Trey Parker and Matt Stone
Sony/Columbia

Songs include "The Lonely Jew on Christmas" (sung by a Neil Diamond sound-alike) and "What the Hell Child Is This?" While good for many laughs, it's probably not the thing to put on while unwrapping gifts at Granny's house.