Here’s a few music gift ideas for Christmas:

Neil Young GREATEST HITS. Reprise

It was only when I took a close look at this new release that I realised just how long Neil Young has been around. This compilation of his greatest hits has been a long time coming and a boon to fans who up to now have had to plough through his numerous albums to find his best songs. Young has received a very mixed response to his newest material, so this is a very timely release, and a firm reminder of just how good he is. This comprises of the original master mixes of sixteen classic tracks and is also available on a CD-DVD combo. It’s my pick of the Christmas ‘Best-Of’ releases and includes: Down By The River (1969), Cowgirl In The Sand (1969), Cinnamon Girl (1969), Helpless (1969), After The Goldrush (1970), Only Love Can Break Your Heart (1970), Southern Man (1970), Ohio (1970), The Needle And The Damage Done (1971), Old Man (1971), Heart Of Gold (1971), Like A Hurricane (1975), Comes A Time (1977), Hey Hey My Way (Into The Black) (1978), Rockin In The Free World (1989), Harvest Moon (1991). An essential album and great Christmas gift.

Iron Maiden THE HISTORY OF IRON MAIDEN. PART 1: THE EARLY DAYS. DVD EMI

For heavy rock historians and Iron Maiden fans this is a must-have DVD. For me, live perforance is the only real measure of an act’s quality, and this DVD delivers the proof in no uncertain manner. There’s over 300 minutes of Maiden footage (on 2 discs) including Live At The Rainbow (1981), Beast Over Hammersmith (1982), Live In Dortmund (1983) - a total of 120 minutes of live performance. Disc 2 includes a 90 minute feature length documentary, a 1981 20 minute TV documenary, rare home movie footage from the band’s own archives, PLUS 5 promo videos and many other extras. It’s superb value-for-money, looks good and sounds fantastic, and is my pick of the Christmas DVD releases - by a country mile.

Robbie Williams GREATEST HITS. EMI

Not one of my favourite artists but who can deny that the partnership between Williams and Guy Chambers produced an eminently hummable and varied musical diet? Covering everything from the deeply emotional to disco to rock, this collection is destined to end up on every fans’ CD rack and is the ideal gift (so you’ll need to warn the receiver to hold-off buying it!). Williams could also muster a decent and intelligent set of lyrics to go with the killer melodies of his past partner. The album includes his latest single Radio which was written with his new writing partner Stephen Duffy. There are 19 tracks on offer here and all are excellent examples of why Williams has garnered such a loyal and large fan base. Other tracks include: Angel, Road To Mandalay, Old Before I Die, Rock DJ, Feel, She’s The One, No Regrets, Strong, Let Me Entertain You, Eternity, Sexed Up, Kids, Millennium, Lazy Days, Supreme, Let Love Be Your Energy, and Misunderstood. The big question remains, can he continue to produce the goods with Mr Duffy? I doubt it…

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Marilyn Manson LEST WE FORGET (CD & DVD). Interscope

This 19 song collection and video DVD represents the ultimate must-have for Manson fans. Songs include Tainted Love, Mobscene, The Fight Song, Disposable Teens, Personal Jesus, The Love Song, The Dope Show, This Is The New Shit, Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), Lunchbox, Tourniquet, Rock Is Dead, Get YOur Gunn, The Nobodies, Long Hard Road Out Of Hell, The Beautiful People, and The Reflecting God. Also included are two bonus tracks in (S)Aint and Irresponsible Hate Anthem. The accompanying DVD carries an 18 certificate, so parents be warned…

Michael Buble MICHAEL BUBLE. 143 Records/Reprise (Christmas 2CD Edition)

This one’s a real treat for Buble fans, and the reason is that while some of these songs have been heard before, they sound far better on this CD. Fever has real power and vivacity in this particular mix. The orchestral sounds are explosive and dramatic while Buble has never sounded better. Other songs include: Moonshine, Kissing A Fool, For Once In My Life, How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Summer Wind, You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Put Your Head On My Shoulder, Sway, The Way You Look Tonight, Come Fly With Me and That’s All. The second CD contains five Christmas songs - Let It Snow, The Christmas Song, Grown Up Christmas List, I’ll Be Home For Christmas and White Christmas.

Nick Drake A TREASURY – THE BEST OF NICK DRAKE. Island

If you have friends or family that are into pop-tinged folk they will just love this beauty. Drake has influenced more singer/songwriters than you can poke a stick at, and with music like this I can understand why. This new best-of collection is just beautiful with lovely sound quality. Tracks include: Hazey Jane (1& 2), River Man, Cello Song, Pink Moon, Poor Boy, Magic, Place To Be, Northern Sky, Road, Fruit Tree, Black Eyed Dog, Way To Blue and From The Morning. This is a magical album that will appeal to a wide cross section of music lovers.

Alan Lomax’s Southern Journey Remixed TANGLE EYE. Zoe

If I was to pick one record out of this small selection to receive this Christmas, it would be this one. I would recommend this for anyone with a love of jazz, blues, R&B, and soul. Alan Lomax spent most of his working life trailing around the world, and especially the USA, with his tape recorder capturing the very best music played at the grass roots. In particular, the Southern USA part of his journey bore the most delicious fruit in the form of indigenous black music by the very finest artists. The recording quality evident here is quite outstanding, while the remixing featuring samples from 1946-47 recordings is nothing short of miraculous. Most of these wonderful recording here are from the 1959 era and believe me when I say nothing heard before or since matches it musically and sonically. Songs and artists inlcuded are: John Henry Blues - Ed Lewis, Drownded - Mrs Sidney Carter, Heaven - Fred McDowell, Denise Gardner, Mattie Gardner, Ida Mae Towns, Home - Ervin Webb and prisoners, Parchman Blues - Henry Jimpson Wallace, Holler - C.B. “BB” Cook, O Death - Bessie Jones, Chantey - Bright Light Quartet, Hangman - Almeda Riddle, Work Song - C.B. “BB” Cook, Soldier Intro - Davell Crawford, and Soldier - Peerless Four.

BUT, a warning! Don’t listen to this album before gifting, because you’ll want to hang onto it for dear life. IT’S THAT GOOD!

Jane Siberry SHUSHAN THE PALACE (HYMNS OF EARTH). Sheeba Music

Canadian Jane Siberry happens to be one of my favourite singer/songwriters. In recent months a few critics have noticed her songs on KD Lang’s latest album and commented on how good they are. This album was released last year and I’ve picked it because of it’s relevance to the Christmas season. Based on hymns by Handel, Bach, Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Rossetti, Holst and more, it is one of the most beautiful albums I’ve heard in some time. Siberry is blessed with a very special, distinctive voice that can communicate all manner of genres. But this must have represented a major challenge even to her substantial skills and talent. She manages it in a way that sounds as natural as night and day, while exhibiting the most intense empathy and respect. This is the sort of record that you would put on late on Christmas night (or any night) when relaxation and contemplation are called for.