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Bob Dylan 'Christmas in the Heart' due Oct. 13

I really don't know what to say about this. I keep telling myself Dylan wouldn't touch Christmas music if he didn't think he could do it right. That, or he figures, why not? He's tried almost everything else. The only place to really go from here is hip-hop and I wouldn't put it past T-Pain to team up with the man.

Regardless, Christmas in the Heart is due from Columbia on Oct. 13. Perhaps most important is that Dylan's giving all his royalties to Feeding America and other charities that help out the hungry. According to the release, "All of the artist’s U.S. royalties from sales of these recordings will be donated to Feeding America, guaranteeing that more than four million meals will be provided to more than 1.4 million people in need in this country during this year’s holiday season. Bob Dylan is also donating all of his future U.S. royalties from this album to Feeding America in perpetuity." You can read more at BobDylan.com.

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Comment by Easy Ed on August 26, 2009 at 9:10am: Ok...I'm going to hold my breath and do a real quick rant about this: I think it's just fine if Bob or anyone else wants to record whatever they want and it's even cooler to be able to donate his artist royalties to a very worthy cause. My problem is with charity records in general. Because along the distribution chain there are manufacturers, retailers, record labels and publishers who are making a profit. And people think that their $15 is going to help buy meals but the reality is that their money will go much further if they donate it all directly to the charity. I'm finished.

Comment by Kim Ruehl on August 26, 2009 at 9:20am: True, but how many people would think to donate to this specific charity if not for something like this?

Comment by Easy Ed on August 26, 2009 at 9:29am: If Bob set up information tables or booths at his concerts, next to his concession with his $45 t-shirts, and maybe placed a link with a word from himself on his website..or even..gasp...said something about it from the stage every night...then I think a lot of awareness would develop and donations would flow. I'm sorry to be crabby and cynical about this but almost all charity releases aren't what they're represented as.

Comment by Kim Ruehl on August 26, 2009 at 9:33am: Agreed. Just playing devil's advocate.

Comment by simon2307 on August 26, 2009 at 12:15pm: Would you buy a Bob SatNav ?

Comment by Amos Perrine on August 26, 2009 at 8:01pm: As of 11 PM EDT the album is ranked #4 on Amazon's sales charts.

Comment by Gregory Wallace on August 27, 2009 at 7:37am: I wanna be in the room when T-Pain tells Bob he needs AutoTune.

Comment by Paul Cantin on August 27, 2009 at 7:58am: It's Thursday, so I guess this means Bob is a Christian again.

To be honest, when I first read this I thought it was a joke. Maybe I'll feel the same when when I hear the finished album.

The only Christmas album you ever need is Phil Spector's, btw.

Comment by Gregory Wallace on August 27, 2009 at 8:08am: The only Christmas album you ever need is Phil Spector's, btw.'>>

That figures, since the only Christmas song you'll ever need is Darlene Love's "Christmas"(Baby, Please Come Home)".

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