Building a Library of Christmas Goodies

How many pop-related Christmas albums do you think are available in record stores these days?

* 100?

* 200?

* 500?

According to Schwann’s Spectrum catalogue, the answer is about 500, most of which can be found in compact disc.

So where do you begin in building a CD Christmas library?

For a rock ‘n’ roll Christmas, here are five recommendations--in order of preference:

Phil Spector’s “A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector” (Phil Spector Records)--Previously available on Rhino Records, this R&B-accented; album is widely hailed as the landmark Christmas album of the rock era. Just reissued on Spector’s own label, the album comes with the original 1963 “artists” photo on the cover and the 1972 Apple reissue photo of Spector in a Santa Claus suit in the fold-out booklet.

In the album, the most acclaimed record producer of the modern pop era gave material ranging from “White Christmas” to “Frosty the Snowman” the same glorious “wall of sound” dynamics that characterized his ‘60s hits, including the Crystals’ “Da Doo Ron Ron” and the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby.”

Elvis Presley’s “Elvis’ Christmas Album” (RCA)--The mixture of Christmas and gospel music, which spent four weeks on top of the pop charts in 1957, is uneven. Presley’s rendition of “White Christmas” is clumsy and self-conscious, and “I Believe” is indifferent. But the highlights--including a superbly sentimental “Blue Christmas” and a gutsy, blues-based “Santa Claus Is Back in Town”--are remarkable. Bonus: The album documents the influence of gospel on Presley’s style.

James Brown’s “Santa’s Got a Brand New Bag” (Rhino)--Drawn from various Brown Christmas albums and singles between 1966 and 1970, this 55-minute collection includes a few holiday season pop or R&B; standards (“The Christmas Song” and “Please Come Home for Christmas”), but the heart of the album focuses on songs that mix R&B; spunk and an edge of social comment. Sample titles: “Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto” and “Hey America.”

Various Artists’ “A Very Special Christmas” (A&M;)--Inspired by the Spector album, producer Jimmy Iovine brought together 15 leading pop-rock attractions in 1987 to record one track each for an album to raise funds for the Special Olympics. The cast ranged from Madonna (“Santa Baby”) and Bruce Springsteen (“Merry Christmas Baby”) to the Pretenders (“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”) and the Pointer Sisters (“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”). Lacks the overpowering vision of its model, but individual moments are frequently excellent.

Various Artists’ “Bummed Out Christmas!” (Rhino)--If you are looking for an offbeat Christmas party album, this 12-track compilation that was introduced last year is even better than Rhino’s rival “Dr. Demento” album because there is a unifying theme here (downbeat, hard-luck songs), and the music is less familiar. Selected song titles: “Somebody Stole My Santa Claus Suit,” “Santa Got a DWI,” “Christmas Eve Can Kill You” and “Christmas in Prison.” The artists range from the Everly Brothers to George Jones.

Recommendations in a more traditional pop vein, alphabetically: Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” (Capitol), Perry Como’s “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Forever” (RCA), Bing Crosby’s “Bing Crosby Sings Christmas Songs” (MCA), Willie Nelson’s “Pretty Paper” (Columbia) and Frank Sinatra’s “The Sinatra Christmas Album” (Capitol).

Collections and novelties, all from Rhino: Spike Jones’ “It’s a Spike Jones Christmas,” “Hipsters Holiday: Vocal Jazz and R&B; Classics” (Louis Armstrong and Eartha Kitt), “Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Christmas Novelty CD of All Time” (the Chipmunks to Stan Freberg), “Hillbilly Holiday” (Bill Monroe to Buck Owens), “The Best of Cool Yule” (Brenda Lee to the Drifters).

Among the New Releases: Patti LaBelle’s “This Christmas” (MCA), Barry Manilow’s “Because It’s Christmas” (Arista), Dolly Parton’s “Home for Christmas” (Columbia), the Roches’ “We Three Kings” (MCA).