Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

When Amy Winehouse died last July, the music world mourned the loss of a hugely gifted but deeply troubled artist. Blessed with a smoky contralto and an influential retro-soul style, she released two of the most acclaimed albums of the early 21st century: 2003’s Frank and 2006’s Back to Black, which earned her five Grammy Awards. Amy’s breakthrough opened the doors for singers like Adele and Duffy. But the “Rehab” singer was plagued by personal demons and her death from alcohol poisoning was as tragic as it was, seemingly, inevitable.             Now, with the release of Lioness: Hidden Treasures, Winehouse’s legions of fans will get ano...

More than just a holiday album, this 11-song collection of seasonal songs signals a mature step forward for Canada’s teenage pop star. Joining forces with heavyweight singers like Usher and Mariah Carey, as well as rapper Busta Rhymes, Bieber holds his own and delivers standout versions of “The Christmas Song,” “Drummer Boy” and Mariah’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Even better is his stark rendition of “Silent Night” and his joyous, Jackson 5-style take on “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

Gleeks will thrill to the TV cast’s second disc of yuletide cheer, which includes two original duets and some refreshing additions to their holiday repertoire. Lea Michele delivers a faithful version of Joni Mitchell’s wintry classic “River,” while Heather Morris rustles up a retro sound with the Waitresses’ 1981 new-wave hit “Christmas Wrapping.” Cory Monteith, Naya Rivera and Chris Colfer then join other cast members in a rousing, bell-ringing rendition of Band Aid’s 1984 charity hit “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”

Robin Thicke’s evolution from child prodigy to chart-topping pop star has been nothing short of remarkable. Born to Canadian actor Alan Thicke and his wife, singer-actress Gloria Loring, Robin was writing and producing songs for artists like Brandy when he was just 16. By 21, he was doing the same thing for such heavyweights as Pink, Christina Aguilera and Michael Jackson. A huge fan of hip-hop, Thicke also began collaborating early on with rappers like Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent. His own breakthrough as a soul singer came in 2007, when his haunting ballad “Lost Without U” made him the first white male solo artist to top the U.S. r&b singles chart since George Michael.   &nb...

Ol’ Blue Eyes was the epitome of 1950s and ’60s swagger—no wonder his swinging sound and style is all over TV shows like The Playboy Club and Pan Am. This 2-CD set lives up to its name, presenting the cream of Sinatra’s work for both Capitol and Reprise, opening with 1953’s “I’ve Got the World on a String” and closing with 1980’s “Theme from New York, New York.” A bonus live disc shows the Chairman of the Board, backed by the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, commanding a room in 1957 with his characteristic cool.

SMiLE is rock’s most mythical album: shelved just as the Beach Boys were challenging the Beatles for pop supremacy, it has long been hailed as an unreleased masterpiece. Now, 45 years later, Brian Wilson’s ambitious epic is finally available as both a double album and, for the serious fan, an exhaustive box set. Along with known classics like “Good Vibrations” and “Heroes and Villains,” the collections serve up dazzling art-rock gems like “Cabin Essence” and “Surf’s Up” that prove SMiLE was well worth the wait.

Lady Gaga is audacious and Britney Spears is troubled, but Rihanna is unquestionably pop’s naughty girl, a church-raised singer who didn’t hesitate to call her third CD Good Girl Gone Bad. On her follow-up albums, Rated R and Loud, Rihanna displayed her raunchy side, releasing provocative, kinky singles like “Rude Boy” and “S&M.” That image, combined with her sassy short-shorts and a pumped-up, club-ready sound, helped to catapult Rihanna to pop’s forefront with worldwide sales of over 20 million.             The Barbadian-born singer’s sixth album, Talk that Talk, is far louder and raunchier than anything she’s previously made, espe...

In this age of instant gratification, of rushed recordings and downloaded singles, it’s unusual to come across a thoughtful, unhurried concept album. But, then, England’s Kate Bush is that rare songbird, a gifted artist who rejects market trends to follow her muse. Bush’s latest is a quiet masterpiece, offering seven tracks of gorgeous, wintry piano-pop. The drifting “Snowflake” features the choirboy vocals of her 12-year-old son, Bertie, while the moody “Snowed in at Wheeler Street” includes a chilling duet with Elton John.

No band on the planet divides opinion quite like Nickelback. The dudes from Hanna, Alberta are revered and reviled for their catchy, meat-and-potatoes rock. With worldwide sales of 45 million, Chad Kroeger and his boys have happily embraced their outsider status, even calling their last CD Dark Horse. Nickelback’s seventh album delivers more of what its fans love and its detractors hate, from the boozy party anthem “Bottoms Up” to such lascivious hard rockers as “Midnight Queen” and “Gotta Get Me Some.”

It’s been quite a year for Canada’s Michael Bublé. In March, the handsome star married Argentine actress and model Luisana Lopilato in a lavish ceremony in Buenos Aires. This fall, the Vancouver-born vocalist published his first book, the illustrated memoir Onstage, Offstage. To top it off, the Grammy- and Juno-winning artist has now released his first full-length holiday album. “I am the most festive sap,” the charmingly self-deprecating Bublé confesses. “You have to be cynical not to like Christmas.” He adds: I’ve wanted to do a Christmas record forever. It becomes part of your legacy—look at Bing Crosby.”             With Bing as his ...