Divas for the shopping cart

All of them are present and accounted for. I am talking about the reigning pop divas who have all released new CDs this year. Barbra Streisand, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Britney Spears and others are providing holiday shoppers an excellent selection of albums that will surely warm many recipients this Christmas. Take your pick from this list. Any of these can go to somebody special or to yourselves.

Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel by Mariah. She got back on the hit track with last year’s E=MC2. Then she came up with this one a few months ago. It became another No. 1 seller. But what I think makes it very special is the fact that it is her most personal. Mariah wrote and produced the entire album save for one cut and for that, she recorded a great cover of the classic rock ballad, I Wanna Know What Love Is.

Mariah’s trademark power singing, sexy grooves and soaring melodies are all present. The CD just flows from one song to the other. And I am sure fans will love wondering which cut is about well-known events in the real life of this diva. Includes Obsessed, H.A.T.E. U., Candy Bling, Ribbon, Inseparable, Standing O, It’s A Wrap, Up Out My Face, More Than Just Friends, The Impossible, Angels Cry, and assorted mixes of Obsessed.

The Singles Collection by Britney. This girl went from cute Disney Mouseketeer to shocking tabloid fodder in so short a time. There were honestly times when she seemed like a study in self-abuse and degradation. Unfortunately, while her shenanigans keep her in the headlines, these also lead the public to forget that Britney started out as and is still a hit-making recording artist.

Here is a well-thought out collection that should remind us of her history of hits. They are all here from the early teen steps of Baby One More Time to her latest seller 3. The rest include You Drive Me Crazy, Born To Make You Happy, Ooops I Did It Again, Stronger, I’m A Slave For You, I’m Not A Girl Not Yet A Woman, Boys, Me Against The Music featuring Madonna, Toxic, Everytime, Gimme More, Piece Of Me, Womanizer, Circus, If U Seek Amy and Radar.

 Love Is The Answer by Barbra, produced by the light jazz diva for late smoky nights, Diana Krall. This I would say is the most romantic album of the year for the ’40s and above set. Of course, it would do a lot of youngsters good to listen and learn what precise, heartfelt singing is really like from the legendary Barbra. She is really unlike any other.

And what songs there are, the cream of the heart-wrenching standards are all here. Men out there should also take note. Listening to this can make anybody irresistible. Here’s To Love, In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning, Gentle Rain, If You Go Away, Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most, Make Someone Happy, Where Do You Start?, A Time For Love, Here’s That Rainy Day, Love Dance, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes and You Must Believe In Spring Some Other Time.

Celebration by Madonna. This is a gorgeous two-disc set with 34 of her greatest hits all remixed and remastered plus two new songs Celebration and Revolver. Sometimes one tends to take stars like Madonna for granted and think a greatest hits collection is just another compilation. Not this one. Madonna and her collaborators obviously made sure they improve on the original recordings. The mixes are unbelievably good. Grab a copy and hear how the beat pounds into your brain to get you into the groove and move.

And not to forget Celebration also comes in a video edition. That means you not only get to listen, you also get to watch all of Madonna’s famous videos if your trip is sight and sound at the same time. Among these are Hung Up, Music, Vogue, 4 Minutes featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, Holiday, Everybody, Like A Virgin, Into The Groove, Like A Prayer, Ray Of Light, Express Yourself, Open Your Heart, Borderline, Erotica, Justify My Love, Dress You Up, Material Girl, La Isla Bonita, Papa Don’t Preach, Lucky Star, Crazy For You, Who’s That Girl, Frozen, Take A Bow, Beautiful Stranger, Hollywood, Die Another Day and Cherish.

If you’re looking for something really new in sounds for gift-giving, make sure you watch out for the new releases from Rihanna, Leona Lewis and Carrie Underwood which should be available within the next few days.