It’s a little warm to think of...

It’s a little warm to think of Christmas, but a number of top pop artists are already preparing to hear those silver bells of holiday cash registers: Mariah Carey has a seasonal album due Sept. 20, while Kenny G’s will be in stores in October. Veterans Neil Diamond and Tony Bennett also have Christmas albums due Sept. 20. . . .

Natalie Cole is also readying a Christmas collection, but first she’ll be heard singing “Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?” on the soundtrack to Ken Burns’ PBS documentary series “Baseball.” The soundtrack album of songs associated with the national pastime will be released in early September, shortly before the series debuts. . . .

“Unwrapped” is the description Ann Wilson has coined for a live, acoustic Heart album that will be recorded during a five-night stint at the small Backstage club in the band’s hometown, Seattle, starting Aug. 12. Plans are for the album, due in early ‘95, to include a new song titled “Cherry Blossom Road,” along with new arrangements of ‘70s and ‘80s hits. . . .

Amy Grant was joined last week by Travis Tritt on an Altadena video shoot for their duet “House of Love,” the title song and planned second single from Grant’s upcoming album, due Aug. 23. . . . L.A. rap trio Cypress Hill is at work on another collection of homages to weed smoking, tentatively due early next year. . . .

Luther Vandross has selected mostly ballads for his album of others’ songs, scheduled for late September. Among them are Barbra Streisand’s hit “Evergreen,” Lionel Richie’s “Endless Love” and the “Man of La Mancha” show tune “The Impossible Dream.” One of the few up-tempo songs is Stephen Stills’ “Love the One You’re With.” . . .

New Age queen Enya, who wasn’t planning to have a release this year, changed her mind and is working on an album that’s coming out at the end of the year. . . . Boyz II Men’s next album, featuring producing and writing by Babyface and the Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis team, is due in mid-September. . . .

TAFKAP (The Artist Formerly Known as . . .) produced and wrote all the songs on a collection titled “1-800-New-Funk”--which also happens to be the toll-free number for his merchandising service. Among the performers on the collection, due in stores this week, are George Clinton and Mavis Staples. Also included is the TAFKAP-Nona Gaye duet “Love Sign.”