Christmas in July

When I think of Christmas and winter holiday CDs, I think of summer.

The reason is simple. In order for an artists or group to release a holiday CD, the recording sessions need to be done no later than the summer of the release year.

That give the artists time to figure out the arrangements, schedule a producer and hire extra musicians or, in some cases, a symphony orchestras.

When Chicago recorded its Christmas album “Chicago 25″ in 1998, the band did it in July but decorated the studio with holly wreaths, Christmas trees and stockings.

The reason all this comes to mind is that I recently received two press releases about holiday music.

The first was an announcement that Faith Hill will release a Christmas album, “Joy to the World,” on Sept. 16. The 11-song CD was produced by Dann Huff, who has worked with Rascal Flatts and SHeDAISY.

Songs such as “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Little Drummer Boy” and an original work, “A Baby Changes Everything,” were arranged by Grammy winner David Campbell.

The second Christmas music announcement was about Sixpence None the Richer.

The duo announced via its newsletter that it will release its first Christmas CD, “The Dawn of Grace,” on Oct. 14. The CD’s lead song, “Angels We Have Heard on High,” will be streamed on Billboard.com

The 10-song CD features songs such as “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” “Carol of the Bells,” “Some Children See Him” and a remake of Joni Mitchell’s “Christmas.”

So, remember, only six months ’til Christmas. The good thing is the 100-degree heat will have disappeared and we’ll be experiencing arctic conditions in the Capitol City.