A musical gift list

By John Benson

These suggestions might make gift-giving a littler easier.

So the holiday shopping season has arrived and, well, um, you have no idea what you’re going to buy friends, family and secret Santa recipients. Though gift certificates are always a fast and all-encompassing way to go, this year consider adding a CD or DVD of the person’s favorite band to their collection.

Sure, the one hurdle to accomplishing this quick and easy gift-buying task could be the fact you have no idea what music this person likes. Don’t fret, this is a perfect opportunity for you to expose your amazing taste and knowledge in music to the world through one carefully thought-out (20 seconds, tops) gift after another. Here’s a list of some new releases that may help your holiday gift-giving search go a little bit more smoothly this year:

ALTERNATIVE

Belle and Sebastian “The BBC Sessions” CD (Matador)

As Belle and Sebastian fans wait for the indie pop group’s next studio CD, rumored to be out next year, the Scottish act has released the double-disc “The BBC Sessions.” The compilation of material, which was recorded between 1996 and 2001, showcases the band’s playful sound. While the first CD boasts non-album gems “The Magic of a Kind Word,” “Nothing in the Silence” and “Shoot the Sexual Athlete,” the second CD is a live recording from a 2001 Belfast concert that includes unique covers such as The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun,” The Velvets’ “I’m Waiting for the Man” and Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys are Back in Town.” One other interesting note is the first disc features original member Isobel Campbell, who is currently no longer in the group.

COUNTRY

Randy Travis “Christmas on the Pecos” DVD (Image Entertainment)

With two seasonal albums to his credit, country music star Randy Travis has released his debut holiday DVD, “Christmas on the Pecos.” Thankfully, Travis didn’t just film the music from his 2007 holiday album “Songs of the Season.” Instead, the 79-minute feature includes live performances (“Silent Night,” “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” and “Rock of Ages”), as well as Travis telling some of his Christmas memories. What’s kind of odd is the fact the entire concert is filmed in the historic Carlsbad Caverns, 850 feet underground, in New Mexico. Die-hard fans will love the crooner’s solemn versions of his hit singles “Three Wooden Crosses” and “Forever and Ever. Amen.”

Reba McEntire “50 Greatest Hits” CD (MCA)

Coming on the heels of her popular pop-country crossover tour with the original “American Idol” Kelly Clarkson, Nashville veteran Reba McEntire decided to capitalize on the press by releasing the three-CD set “50 Greatest Hits.” Though slightly more comprehensive than her 2005 35-track effort “Reba’s #1’s,” the new compilation captures her quarter-of-a-century career nicely with 20 No. 1 hits (“Somebody Should Leave” and “How Blue”) and 46 top 10 singles (“Let The Music Lift You Up” and “She Thinks His Name Was John”). What makes “50 Greatest Hits” stand out is the fact that although McEntire’s career overlapped Nashville’s emergence into its current Nash-Vegas pop vibe, the Oklahoma native’s distinct sound and style never changed for the sake of fashion.

FUNK

Parliament Funkadelic “The Mothership Connection Live 1976” DVD (Shout! Factory)

If there was ever a must-have concert DVD from George Clinton’s esteemed career, this 85-minute concert taped in Houston more than 30 years ago at the height of the Parliament Funkadelic reign — with Bernie Worrell and Bootsy Collins to boot — is it. Not only will you hear “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)” and gems such as “Dr. Funkenstein” and “Mothership Connection (Star Child),” but this tour marked the debut of the beloved flying saucer prop landing on stage. What’s even more amazing is Clinton still provides audiences with the same magic today.

HOLIDAY

Aretha Franklin “This Christmas” CD (DMI Records)

Coming on the heels of being named the greatest singer of the rock era, Aretha Franklin has released her debut holiday album, “This Christmas.” Fans of the queen of soul will enjoy her trademark soul, gospel and pop vocals on such classics as “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Ave Maria.” She also works her legendary magic on Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Angels” and modern track “My Grown-Up Christmas List.” sold only at Borders and Waldenbooks stores, “This Christmas” is more high-brow, less of a sing-along album, which could find some casual fans not as receptive.

Johnny Cash “Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1976-1979 Box Set” DVD (Shout! Factory)

Last year marked the release of the 1976 and 1977 “Johnny Cash Christmas Special” DVDs; this year finds a box set from 1976 through 1979 in stores for Man in Black fans. Unseen for nearly three decades, these holiday specials feature some of county music’s biggest stars, as well as ’70s celebrities such as Kris Kristofferson, Billy Graham, Carl Perkins, Barbara Mandrell, Roy Orbison, Steve Martin and Andy Kaufman. Highlights include Carl Perkins’ special version of his signature track “Blue Suede Shoes” and Jerry Lee Lewis’ tender cover of “White Christmas.” Though Cash did gain a fairly young fan base (thank you Rick Rubin) near the end of his life, this DVD set is targeted more for the baby boomer Cash fans.

Erran Baron Cohen “Songs in the Key of Hanukkah” CD (New Line)

What in the Torah is going on? When composer and multi-instrumentalist Erran Baron Cohen, brother of Ali G and “Borat” creator Sacha Baron Cohen, decided to create Hanukkah music for the new millennium, he wasn’t kidding. With impunity, the producer combined klezmer, reggae, electronica, hip-hop, tango, pop and other genres for five reinterpretations of Hanukkah classic favorites. He also wrote five original tunes all sung in English, Hebrew or Ladino (Judaeo-Spanish) making “Songs in the Key of Hanukkah” unlike any other Festival of Lights album ever.

Reilly “Kick Ass Celtic Christmas” CD (Oglio)

Considering every genre under the sun has its own holiday album, Milwaukee-based Celtic rock act Reilly decided to get in on the action with its seasonal debut, “Kick Ass Celtic Christmas.” Though the pint-friendly album features classics such as “The Little Drummer Boy” and “I Saw Three Ships,” its true marrow is found in “Dear Santa (I Can Explain)” and “For You on Christmas.” The act tries to get sentimental on “Bells Over Boston,” but a raucous cover of The Kinks’ “Father Christmas” truly summarizes the spirit behind “Kick Ass Celtic Christmas.”

Various Artists “The Jewish Songbook: The Heart and Humor of a People” CD (Shout! Factory)

Even though it’s not Hanukkah based, “The Jewish Songbook: The Heart and Humor of a People” is a perfect holiday gift for folks looking for classic Jewish songs performed by some of today’s bigger celebrities. Among the notable tracks is the hilarious “Mahzel (Means Good Luck)” featuring Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and Max Weinberg (E Street Band), “Shake Hands With Your Uncle Max” performed by Jason Alexander (“Seinfeld”) and “Bagel & Lox” with Rob Schneider. However, it’s not all joking around with Neil Sedaka’s warm “My Yiddishe Momme.” Invariably, something familiar yet different is the idea behind “The Jewish Songbook: The Heart and Humor of a People.”

Various Artists “We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year” CD (Armoury Records)

What in the wide, wide world of Riki Rachtman is going on in the Headbangers Ball era of metal music? While last year’s hairspray and spandex-stamped “Monster Ballads Xmas” release caught us off guard, this year the amps have been turned to 11 with the hard rock community joining together for an all-star Christmas jam. It turns out Santa wears leather – or he will – with Tim “Ripper” Owens singing “Santa Claus is Back in Town” and Alice Cooper leading us all through “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” One song not to be missed (no, seriously) is the burning “Run Rudolph Run,” which features Lemmy (Motorhead), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) and Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) ripping it up. No offense to Queensryche’s Geoff Tate, but just as we learned last year with “Silent Night” and this year with “Silver Bells,” perhaps ostensibly uplifting Christmas music sung in your doom and gloom style may not actually work. But really, Queensryche rocks.

JAZZ

Dave Koz “Greatest Hits” CD (Capitol)

Smooth jazz giant Dave Koz celebrates nearly 20 years of signature songs with his new best-of set, which includes No. 1 hits “Castle of Dreams” and “Emily,” along with his signature track “You Make Me Smile” and his “General Hospital” theme “Faces of the Heart.” Though the look back into Koz’s past is worthy, the real selling points to the 15-track set are the four new tunes, the best of which is “Life in the Fast Lane,” which was already a hit on the jazz charts, and the BeBe Winans feature “I Can.” The beauty of Koz’s “Greatest Hits” effort — as well as his studio albums — comes from the fact most casual fans of music will appreciate his style, even if they never considered themselves smooth jazz fans.

Miles Davis “The Miles Davis All-Stars Featuring John Coltrane: Broadcast Sessions 1958-59” CD (Acrobat Music)

For fans of Miles Davis, unearthed rarity releases are few and far between; however, this year we have a special holiday gift in the form of the 70 minutes of live material recorded during the great trumpet player’s “Milestones” album era. Joining Davis is legendary tenor saxophonist John Coltrane and his all-star band for original material (“Four” and “Sids Ahead”), as well as choice covers (Cole Porter’s “What is This Thing Called Love” and Thelonius Monk’s “Straight, No Chaser”). With his career-defining “Kind of Blue” and “Sketches of Spain” albums just a few years away, you can hear the magic brewing on this compilation culled from four different live gigs around the New York City area from this jazz legend.

POP

Daryl Hall & John Oates “Live at the Troubadour” CD/DVD (Shout! Factory)

Sure, Hall & Oates have largely become a walk-down-memory-lane band, but so have Journey, Styx and a slew of other ’70s acts. Though “Live at the Troubadour” came together as nothing more than a way for the duo to repackage its hits in the form of playing the same club it played at 35 years ago, this 19-track CD/DVD affair does showcase why Hall & Oates have lasted in the ever-fickle pop world. For fans looking for a slightly different take on the group’s ’70s and ’80s material, the band’s hits (“She’s Gone,” “Sara Smile,” “Maneater,” “Kiss On My List” and more) are intimate sing-along affairs, while the twosome delves into its catalog for older album cuts (“When the Morning Comes”) and Hall solo tunes (“Cab Driver”).

David Foster & Friends “Hit Man” CD/DVD (Reprise)

If there was ever a must-have double-disc concert CD/DVD album for Oprah fans, singer-songwriter, producer, musician David Foster’s new album “Hit Man” is it. Recorded earlier this year in Las Vegas, the star-studded live show features Celine Dion (“Because You Loved Me”), Michael Buble (“Home”), Josh Groban (“Bridge Over Troubled Water”) and rising teenage Filipina singer Charice (“I Have Nothing/I Will Always Love You”) on the nine-track CD, with the 30-song DVD including performances by Peter Cetera and Brian McKnight. Sure, Foster might not be a household name, but you better believe his music industry friends are the cream of the crop. Also, this undoubtedly must be one of Oprah’s favorite things.

Sarah Brightman “A Winter Symphony” CD/DVD (EMI)

Coming straight from her stunning opening ceremony performance at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, world-renowned pop soprano Sarah Brightman has released her first Christmas album, “A Winter Symphony.” The 12-track affair further blends Brightman’s sophisticated classical-influenced style with her pop-imbued sound. This is evident on her version of Neil Diamond’s “I’ve Been This Way Before” and familiar track “I Believe in Father Christmas.” What does stand out is her seasonal religious material, including “Ave Maria,” “Amazing Grace,” “Child in a Manger” and “Silent Night.” For fans of Brightman, who has sold over 26 million albums worldwide, “A Winter Symphony” is a winter treat not to be missed. Note: A deluxe CD/DVD version of “A Winter Symphony” includes a mesmerizing version of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Happy Christmas (War Is Over).”

ROCK

Bob Dylan “Inside Bob Dylan’s Jesus Years: Busy Being Born…Again” DVD (MVD Visual)

Often forgotten in the decades of music history created by folk rock legend Bob Dylan is his late-’70s period when the Jewish kid from Minnesota turned to Christianity. This 120-minute documentary, which is clearly aimed at the Dylan fanatic, features rare footage (including old Dylan interviews explaining his conversion), as well as rare photos and live concert material. Though the icon’s peers (producer Jerry Wexler and keyboardist Spooner Oldham) are interviewed to discuss this period in his life, the fact Dylan isn’t featured about his Jesus years is somewhat obvious and truthfully is a distraction. Still, for the die-hard Dylan fan who has everything, here’s something new to add to that collection.

Living Colour “CBGB OMFUG Masters: Aug. 19, 2005 The Bowery Collection” CD (MVD Audio)

Living Colour fans will feel old with the realization that it’s been 20 years since the funk-punk-rock act released its debut album, “Vivid.” Corey Glover, Vernon Reid and company are celebrating the anniversary with a career-spanning concert CD “CBGB OMFUG Masters: Aug. 19, 2005 The Bowery Collection.” Though the band tears up its definitive track “Cult of Personality,” other standout tracks include a playful “Glamour Boys” and the highly underrated “Open Letter to a Landlord.” Sure, the band didn’t enjoy much longevity, but if you’re a fan of “Vivid,” this 12-track concert doesn’t disappoint.

Lou Reed “Berlin: Live At St. Ann’s Warehouse” CD/DVD (Genius Products)

When Lou Reed released his 1973 album “Berlin,” a follow-up to the highly successful “Transformer,” the tragic rock opera received a cool reception. Now, 35 years later, the influential singer-songwriter has returned with a special documentary/live concert DVD that includes the album in its entirety, along with a few choice Reed extras (“Sweet Jane”). Directed by Julian Schnabel (“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”), this 80-minute show acts as vindication and catharsis for Reed, who over the years has eschewed material from the CD. Something else that’s appealing is how the 66-year-old Reed’s voice has changed over the years to its current Johnny Cash baritone vibe. Considering “Berlin” details depression and drug use, this only adds to the ambience in bringing the music alive.

Neil Young “Sugar Mountain” CD (Reprise)

Months after Neil Young left popular rock band Buffalo Springfield, the singer-songwriter decided to test the solo waters with two special 1968 acoustic shows in Ann Arbor, Mich. The result is the stunning and insightful double-disc effort “Sugar Mountain.” The majority of the set features material from Young’s self-titled debut; however, these prescient shows expose the folk-natured songwriting that would define his most prolific period – 1969’s “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere,” 1970’s “After the Gold Rush” and 1972’s “Harvest.” Also included in the 23-track affair are Buffalo Springfield tracks “Mr. Soul” and “Expecting To Fly.” Similar to watching Woody Allen stand-up comedy from the ’60s, “Sugar Mountain” finds Young loquacious and playful (he’s obviously nervous) in a rare departure from this introspective ’70s singer-songwriter image.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers “Runnin’ Down a Dream” DVD (Warner Bros.)

First of all, who in their right mind would sit through a four-hour Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers documentary? That said, this Peter Bogdanovich film is simply mesmerizing beyond belief. Detailing Petty’s entire life, the double-disc DVD does the impossible by never once losing momentum or interest during its 240-minute run. Particularly interesting are the guest appearances by Eddie Vedder, Stevie Nicks, Dave Grohl, Jeff Lynne, Rick Rubin and more. Suffice it to say, even the casual Petty fan will enjoy this career retrospective that undoubtedly falls — perhaps unbeknownst to you — into the “I Need to Know” category.

Relient K “Let it Snow Baby…Let it Reindeer” CD (Capitol)

Kudos to those Relient K fans who are saying, “Wait, I bought this album last year.” That’s right, apparently the good guys in Canton-based Christian pop-punk act Relient K have re-released “Let it Snow Baby…Let it Reindeer” as the gift that keeps on giving. Here’s the deal, the band — via iTunes — has added new tracks “Silver Bells,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “O Holy Night,” in addition to a music video for “Sleigh Ride.” So the idea is fans can buy the CD and keep adding new songs to the collection every year. That said, in terms of a Christian band recording popish Christmas songs targeting the Vans Warped Tour crowd, Relient K delivers what it promises.

Rush “Snakes & Arrows Live” CD/DVD (Zo ´ Vision)

After its most recent studio effort, “Snakes & Arrows,” Rush is cashing in with a new double-disc CD and single DVD release that finds the band supporting the 2007 album. In fact, this marks the first time the trio — Geddy Lee (vocals, bass), Alex Lifeson (guitar) and Neil Peart (drums) — has used a concert album/DVD focused around a specific album. So considering nine of the 27 tracks found on “Snakes & Arrows Live” come from the band’s latest CD, fans better be prepared. However, there are a few older album cuts — “Circumstances,” “Mission” and “Distant Early Warning” — that should make old school fans happy.

U2 Deluxe Edition “Boy,” “October,” “War” and “Under a Red Blood Sky” CD/DVD (Universal Music Group)

Long before U2 became the biggest band in the world, the Irish act was just another fledgling act caught in the crossfire between punk and new wave. As evident with the double-disc deluxe versions — which are packaged in hardcover book form — of the group’s first four releases — 1980’s “Boy,” 1981’s “October” and 1983’s “War” and concert “Under a Red Blood Sky” — these years were plentiful and experimental but far from the anthemic nature that would propel the band later in the same decade to Time magazine cover status. Noticeably, the band’s earlier material features strong musicality and songwriting, with Bono’s lyrical and studio presence finally coming into its own on “War.” Sadly, die-hard fans will already have much of the unreleased and B-side material found on each studio album’s bonus disc. However, there are a few gems, including an acoustic studio version of “Trash, Trampoline and the Party Girl,” a killer live version of underrated “October” track “I Fall Down” and its politically charged — and at that point most signature song to date — anthem “Sunday Bloody Sunday.”

METAL

Dream Theater “Chaos In Motion” DVD (Roadrunner)

Though prog metal act Dream Theater has begun an annual tradition of releasing DVD concerts and compilations for the holidays, you won’t hear any of their zealous fans complaining. The latest is the double-disc set “Chaos in Motion,” which features various live performances from the act’s most recent tour in support of 2007 studio effort “Systematic Chaos.” One disc is a band documentary, but it’s the concert disc that will have die-hards salivating at finally possessing on DVD concert footage of the group playing old school gems “Scarred,” “Panic Attack,” “Take the Time” and “Surrounded.” While Dream Theater is supposedly hard at work on their next studio disc, “Chaos in Motion” serves its purpose in bridging the gap.

Static-X “Cannibal Killers Live” CD/DVD (Reprise)

Over the past decade it’s been a hit-or-miss career for metal quartet Static-X. However, the Los Angeles-based band has enjoyed a cultlike following, which explains why the band is finally releasing its debut concert DVD “Cannibal Killers Live.” Highlights found on the uncompromising industrial-metal affair include raw performances of “Push It,” “Submission” and “Cannibal.” However, what makes the double-disc package even more appealing is it not only includes a CD of the Spokane, Washington show (also on DVD), but every one of the band’s video releases during its 14-year career. While “Cannibal Killers Live” won’t necessarily bring new fans to the band, it will satisfy Static-X die-hards.

White Zombie “Let Sleeping Corpses Lie” CD/DVD (Geffen)

What sounds like a perfect title to the next Rob Zombie film is actually a career retrospective of the musician-turned-screenwriter/director’s erstwhile industrial act White Zombie. The good news is the four-disc effort features every album released by White Zombie during its 11-year career (which ended in 1996), as well as a few unreleased tunes and the band’s music videos and live performances. The bad, or at least cumbersome, realization is that if you’re a big White Zombie fan, this box set’s extras may offer some appeal, but odds are you already own the lion’s share of the material. What is clearly evident (aside from the fact’ the band never strayed too far from its instantly identifiable chugging/driving sound) is if your interest in the band stems solely from its one big hit “Thunder Kiss ’65,” this is not the box set for you.

MISC.

Compilation “100 Greatest” CD (Shout! Factory)

For the person in your life who really likes to talk a lot and isn’t a good listener, here’s the perfect gift to, well, perhaps help them on the road to listening more and talking less. The five-CD set “100 Greatest” covers speeches, news stories, personalities, scandals and sports moments. From a 1893 President Grover Cleveland speech and 2008 Barack Obama (pre-Election Day win) speaking engagement to Jim Morrison, Albert Einstein, Babe Ruth and Fidel Castro, you’ll be hard pressed to find a major figure of the 20th century not represented. This also is a perfect gift for history buffs and up-and-coming DJs looking to add some spoken word over their new millennium beats.