The Christmas EP, Richard Marx (TourDForce)

Songwriter and 80s hitmaker Marx is back for 2011 with a holiday collection, four familiar carols and an original, "Christmas Spirit," co-written with Fee Waybill of the Tubes. Really. If that co-write credit has you thinking something wild, crazy and Mistletunes-oriented, well, don't. This is straight-up pop music fit for the Hallmark Channel promo it currently is being used for. Same for the versions of "O Holy Night," "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Eve" and the "Silent Night" duet with Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek. "Alleluia" is an a cappella performance with Richard's sons and is well done, but don't get your rock 'n roll shoes out for this one. According to Richard's website, this will likely be extended into a full album in 2012.