'Glee' leads latest holiday album collections

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This week brings more Christmas albums, including a new Glee soundtrack and Annie Lennox's Christmas Cornucopia.

In addition to Mariah Carey's holiday offering and US Amazon's Number one holiday album by Lady Antebellum, A Merry Little Christmas, other highlights include a special package from past LPs from James Brown.

Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album soundtrack
Number four on Amazon's music chart, the latest collection from the hit television show Glee features 12 cheery holiday songs released on Columbia/Sony Records. In addition to traditional Christmas carols, the cast sings a fun rendition of the Dr. Seuss-inspired "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" and seasonal standards like "Baby, It's Cold Outside." This episode airs on December 7 in the US and guest-stars Grammy winning singer k.d. lang.

The Complete James Brown Christmas
A 2-disc, 37-song collection combines all three holiday albums by the "The Godfather of Soul" - Christmas Songs, A Soulful Christmas and Hey America, originally released in 1966, '68 and '70. Available on hip-oselect.com, the album also features seven bonus singles, such as "It's Christmas Time." Original songs and funky covers with Brown's signature sound include "Go Power At Christmas Time" and "Santa Claus Is Definitely Here To Stay." The package includes recording details and rare photos.

Now That's What I Call Christmas 4
A top 20 holiday album, the 2-disc collection from this series features a range of assorted artists from Rihanna to Elvis and Alvin and the Chipmunks. Among the 36 selections are: Lady Gaga's "Christmas Tree," Christine Aguilera's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and Maroon 5's "Happy Christmas (War is Over)." The fourth release in the series, it includes new seasonal classics by Sting and Michael Buble and old yuletide chestnuts by Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole.

Annie Lennox, A Christmas Cornucopia
Drawn from British, French and German traditions, these hand-selected carols include "The Holly and the Ivy," "Il est né le Divin Enfant" and meaningful lullaby "Lullay Lullay." The dozen festive songs are accompanied by a 30-piece orchestra and the South African Children's Choir. Proceeds from the singer's composition "Universal Child" will go toward her foundation to support African women and children with HIV/AIDS.

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