Songs Of The Season -- From Celine Dion To Dean Martin, New Cds Offer Lots Of Holiday Cheer

Leave it to Celine Dion to shake up this year's Christmas music deluge.

The superstar diva's "These Are Special Times" (550 Music/Epic) will probably set new sales figures for an album of seasonal music. It has a sure-fire crossover hit with "I'm Your Angel," a powerful duet with R. Kelly that will surely rack up impressive urban sales. There's also a mellower, Italian/English-language duet with pop/classical sensation Andrea Bocelli, another smart crossover move.

But will really make the album a smash this Christmas season - and for many more to come - is the high quality of the material. Her stained-glass-shattering, Streisand-like "Ave Maria" is a stunner, making full use of her spectacular vocal range and power. She does a nice job on "Blue Christmas," giving it a luxurious, mellow reading that distances it from the familiar Elvis Presley hit. She also does a sweet "Brahms' Lullaby" in English and French.

Dion can make a song sound better than it actually is through her incredible vocal gifts. She sings the stuffing out of songs, a process we'll call "Dioned." "O Holy Night" gets thoroughly Dioned, with the highest "dee-VIIIINE" you'll ever hear. A new song, "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day," is ordinary pop that sounds bigger than it is after being Dioned. "The Magic of Christmas Day," a messy jumble of cliches, gets Dioned to death. "Adeste Fideles" is a pull-out-all-the-stops showstopper, Dioned to the max. Other so-so songs that get blown up real big through Dionization include "So This Is Christmas," "Christmas Eve" and "These Are the Special Times."

Also sure to be a big hit this season is "Home for Christmas," by the teenybopper, cute-boy vocal group 'N Sync. The quintet shows itself to be quite talented, with nice harmonies and a variety of R&B, pop and hip-hop tunes. Its a cappella "O Holy Night," which is far less frantic that Dion's, is the best of the year. The upbeat title tune and a slow-grooving love song, "The Only Gift," both have hit potential.

Here's a sleighful of other new Christmas releases, arranged in categories according to our view of their potential audiences.

Classic carols and holiday favorites

"To Life! Chanukah and Other Jewish Celebrations," various artists (Rhino) - Dance music, celebration music, sad music and religious music drawn from a variety of sources, ranging from Theodore Bikel to Nell Carter, the Weavers and Mandy Patinkin. It also includes music for Passover, Purim, Rosh Hashana and Shabbat.

"Voices of the Future Unwrapped," 14 Washington State high school music ensembles (Federated Department Stores) - The Bon Marche sponsors this compilation disc of high school ensembles doing mostly familiar carols. The quality of the vocal and instrumental groups is outstanding. Among the high schools are Nathan Hale, King's, Juanita and Lake Washington. Available at The Bon and most major record stores. Proceeds will be divided among the 14 schools.

"Yuletide Soiree" (Rhino) - Leave it to Rhino, the stellar oldies label, to come up with a complete package, including two discs with 30 classic Christmas songs - top-drawer stuff, such as Bing Crosby's "White Christmas," Gene Autry's "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and Bobby Helms' "Jingle Bell Rock" - along with 10 sing-along carols with lyric sheets, three party plans with complete menus from Bon Appetit magazine, decorating ideas and even discount coupons for party needs.

Rock

"Here is Christmas," The Lovemongers (2b Music) - The local Christmas release of the year, this 10-song collection includes a lyrically updated "Ave Maria," which Ann Wilson has recast as a modern woman's prayer, and a big production number, "How Beautiful," in which she showcases her stunning vocal fireworks. "O Holy Night" shines with beautiful a cappella harmonies. "Balulalow," a Benjamin Britten lullaby, features the sweet-voiced Nancy Wilson, as does a new song, "Christmas Waits."

"Ultimate Christmas," The Beach Boys (Capitol) - Fans know "Little Saint Nick" and "The Man With All the Toys," but you get two dozen more holiday songs in this collection, including the group's complete 1964 Christmas album (which has never gone out of print) and songs recorded for a 1977 followup that was never released (they're not as cool as the '64 songs, but are interesting rareties, heard here for the first time). Also included are two versions of "Auld Lang Syne" and Christmas messages from Dennis and Brian Wilson. "(I Saw Santa) Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," previously unreleased, features eight children of the group's members.

Pop

"Making Spirits Bright," Dean Martin (Capitol) - The late Dino, who died on Christmas Day, 1995, creates a ring-a-ding-ding Christmas spirit with fairly straightforward versions of "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!," "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "Silver Bells," contrasted by eggnog-drenched takes on "Jingle Bells," "Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer" and other holiday trifles. A kitschy collection perfect for parties.

R&B

"Bethlehem," Brian McKnight (Motown) - Even singing religious songs, McKnight can't help sounding sensuous, because of his sweet, bedroom tenor. Thus, "The First Noel" (featuring his brother Claude, of Take 6), "Bethlehem Tonight," "Christmas Time Is Here" and others have a warm, romantic tinge. Boyz II Men is featured on an updated "Let It Snow," and the widow of Nat King Cole reminisces about her late husband in an introduction to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." McKnight lets members of his family sing on several cuts, with mixed results.

"12 Songs of Christmas," Etta James (Private Music) - This funky, jazzy collection of classic carols and holiday standards features a swinging band that includes Cedar Walson on piano and Red Holloway on sax. The band gets to shine on every cut, while veteran belter James brings her loose, earthy style to "Winter Wonderland," "White Christmas" and other classics. Perfect for a jazzy party.

"What's In That Bag?," Chuck Leavell (Capricorn) - The pianist best known for his work with the Rolling Stones shows his writing, playing and singing skills on R&B-flavored carols and new songs, all in an upbeat, light-hearted mood. He originally recorded it as a Christmas card for friends in 1996, and got such strong feedback that he wrote some new songs, spruced up the others a bit and created this friendly, funky disc.

Country

"Breath of Heaven: A Christmas Collection with Patrick Williams and his Orchestra," Vince Gill (MCA) - The sweetest male voice in country music brings his special touch to "The Christmas Song," "Blue Christmas," "O Holy Night" and especially "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)," a beautiful, contemporary Christmas song written by Amy Grant.

"White Christmas," Martina McBride (RCA) - McBride gets to showcase her strong voice in this nostalgic collection of classic carols. Lush string arrangements and swelling vocal choruses are used on many of the cuts, including "The Christmas Song," "Silver Bells" and "Away in a Manger." Celtic influences can be heard on the latter, as well as "What Child Is This."

Contemporary Christian

"Christmastime," Michael W. Smith (Reunion) - The Christian crooner with the comfortable, boy-next-store image offers an ambitious album featuring rich orchestral arrangements, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. He features mostly new or seldom-heard songs, along with familiar carols, mostly in medley form. His "Jingle Bells" is lively and fun, and his "Christmastime" is evocative of childhood, but most of the cuts carry a strong religious message, including "Hope of Israel," "We Three Kings" and "Welcome to Our World."

World music

"Caribbean Christmas," featuring Vince Charles (Oglio) - Sunny, lively versions of familiar carols, featuring steel drums and irresistible dance rhythms. If this one doesn't get your party goers up and dancing, nothing will.

"Celtic Christmas IV," Various (Windham Hill) - Even since "Titanic," Celtic music (which was featured in the soundtrack) has enjoyed a surge of popularity, which is sure to make this a big seasonal hit. It's perfect background music for a small holiday party, or dinner party, because the cuts are mostly instrumental and most are mellow. A lively exception is "Sweeney's Buttermilk," a delightful Irish jig. Other highlights include bluegrass master Ricky Scaggs' "Christmas Time's A Comin'," which shows the Celtic influence in American country music, and Nightnoise's beautiful, bittersweet "Whiter Than Snow."