album's first single, "I Wish," was first fbr Atlantic. (Cuban released commercially Sept. 12. Link has been featured on Big 1999'S TOP Ilt)LII)AI' Snoop introduces Doggy's Pun's "Yeeeah Baby!" album, as The Christmas titles list provides a look at the top -selling titles from last year's holiday season. This recap covers the period from Angels, a group of female rappers well as Fat Joe's gold "Don album, the Nov. 20,1999, issue through this year's Jan. 15 issue, when Billboard published its Top Christmas Albums chart, which is based on Dogghouse Records, while rap Cartagena. ") Priority drops "Thug on SoundScan. Both new and previously released and Hanukkah are to the chart, which is group QB Finest drops an epony- On The Line" from Krazyie Bone. Christmas albums eligible appear on mously titled set featuring It's a "Dru World Order" on Dcf. compiled weekly but is printed every other week. The rankings on this Spotlight's recaps reflect accumulated units sold for each Queensbridge rap artists on Jam from Dru Hill. Usher returns week a title appeared on the Top Christmas Albums. Columbia. with a set on La Face. Top Christmas Albums 26 WHEN MY HEART FINDS OCT. 31 NOV. 21 CHRISTMAS -Harry Connick, Jr.- t niversal artist Monitah goes Loud artist Funk master Flex Columbia/CRG ..Ilome" after Damozel (MCA cranks it up with "Volume IV," Pos. TITLE -Artist-Imprint /Label 27 - female quartet) declares "You and Queen Latifah gets raw and -American Don't Know Me Like That." Loud brutally honest on "Niggativity," 1 FAITH: A HOLIDAY ALBUM - Gramophone Records artist Krayzie Bone's to be released independently on Kenny G- Arista 28 WINTER SOLSTICE ON ICE - untitled album is also due on Flavor Unit, a label she co -owns. 2 THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS - Various Artists- Windham Hill Ilalloween. Universal artist Sticky Def Jam drops "Aijuswannasing," Garth Brooks- Capitol (Nashville) 29 CHRISTMASTIME-Michael W. Fingaz (of Onyx) denies being the debut album from Music]. 3 A ROSIE CHRISTMAS -Rosie 16 MERRY CHRISTMAS -Mariah Smith- Reunion/Jive "Black "Irish (Autobiography Of Columbia releases the next album O'Donnell -Columbia /CRG Carey-Columbia /CRG 30 CHRISTMAS ISLAND-Jimmy Kirk Jones)." sends a let- from female vocal group 4 THESE ARE SPECIAL TIMES - 17 CHRISTMAS- Mannheim Buffett- Margaritaville /MCA ter sealed with "Ghetto Postage" and the next Maxwell set. Celine Dion -550 Music/Epic Steamroller- American 31 - on No Limit /Priority. 5 THIS CHRISTMAS -98 Degrees - Gramophone Mannheim Steamroller-American DECEMBER Universal 18 A CHRISTMAS ALBUM -Michael Gramophone NOV. 7 Def Jain issues the "Soul Food 6 JOY: A HOLIDAY COLLECTION - Crawford- Atlantic/AG 32 A CHARLIE BROWN Epic delivers an album of Soundtrack ( Best Of R &B 2000)" Jewel- Atlantic/AG 19 A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS -Vince Guaraldi- Babvface's greatest hits, while Dec. 5, Redman's next album Dec. 7 HOME FOR CHRISTMAS - LIVE: FROM WASHINGTON, Fantasy \1(::1 unleashes K -Ci & JoJo and 12 and Method Man's "Tical 0: 'N Sync -RCA D.C. - Various Artists -A &M/ 33 MR. HANKEY'S CHRISTMAS introduces Chico & Coolwadda, a The Prequel" Dec. 19. 8 A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER - Universal CLASSICS - Various Artists - rap group discovered, groomed Amy Grant -A &M/Interscope 20 TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL - THE American/Columbia /CRG and produced by Chris "The TO BE SCHEDULED 9 A CHRISTMAS STORY -Point Of CHRISTMAS ALBUM - Various 34 A CHRISTMAS ALBUM -Barbra Glove" Taylor (formerly with Albums from the following Grace -Word/Epic Artists -550 Music/Epic Streisand- Columbia /CRG Aftermath). Loud releases a new artists are also scheduled for 10 MIRACLES - THE HOLIDAY 21 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL - 35 CHRISTMAS FAVORITES -Nat King Wu =Fang Clan album; the group release sometime before the end ALBUM -Kenny G- Arista Mannheim Steamroller -American Cole -EMI- Capitol Special Markets has wrapped up its first tour in of the year: from Motown, Erykah 11 WHITE CHRISTMAS-Martina Gramophone 36 A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS- three years. "The Dynasty," an Badu's album "Mama's Gun "; McBride -RCA (Nashville)/RLG 22 CHICAGO 25- Chicago- Chicago Various Artists -A &M/Universal eponymously titled album on Roc - Elektra's LSG; Columbia duo The 12 ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS - Various 23 BREATH OF HEAVEN -A 37 WHITE CHRISTMAS-Bing A-Fella/Def Jam, features the col- Product G &B (Ghetto & Blues): Artists - Arista CHRISTMAS COLLECTION -Vince Crosby -MCA Special Products /MCA lective of Jay -Z, Amil, Memphis Cappadonna on Razor Sharpi 13 SECRET OF GIVING: A Gill With Patrick Williams And His 38 THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS - Bieck, Beanie Sigel, Rell and Epic; Eve's sophomore album on CHRISTMAS COLLECTION -Reba Orchestra -MCA Nashville Natalie Cole With The London Christ ion. Ruff Ryders /Interscope; veteran McEntire -MCA Nashville 24 CHRISTMAS EVE AND OTHER Symphony Orchestra- Elektra /EEG rapper Dougie Fresh on Flavor 14 MERRY CHRISTMAS WHIEREVER STORIES-Trans-Siberian 39 GIVE LOVE AT CHRISTMAS -The NOV. 14 Unit; and producer Swizz Beatz' YOU ARE -George Strait-MCA Orchestra-Lava/Atlantic/AG Temptations-Motown/Universal whips up "The debut album on Ruff Ryders/ Nashville 25 THE IRISH TENORS HOME FOR 40 THE CHRISTMAS ATTIC - Last Meal" -and his last album for Interscope. Syleena Johnson will 15 -Mannheim CHRISTMAS-John McDermott/ Trans- Siberian Orchestra - No Limit /Priorin- -and Cuban release "Chapter 1: Love, Pain Steamroller -American Anthony Kearns/Ronan Tynan - Lava/Atlantic /AG Link shines with `'21 Karat," his And Forgiveness" on Jive. Gramophone MasterTone /Point

Ottmar Liebert Poets & Angels

Ottmar Liebert captures the heart and soul of the gypsy guitar and brings new life to the celebration Eliades Ochoa of Christmas, combining renditions of ten holiday classics with five stunning originals. Tribute to the Cuarteto Patria I V I 'enlute to the Grammy® nominated Buena Vista Social Club CUARTETO FITRIA guitarist/vocalist Eliades Ochoa returns with his CD, 3 follow -up to last year's critically acclaimed o Sublime Ilusión. Tribute to the Cuarteto Patria Lara & Reyes is a much deserved recorded tribute to the L11.I111 6 nu>rS IinVIDAD historic band that he now leads. Navidad

Navidad, the new Christmas album by the Latin guitar duo of Sergio Lara and Joe Reyes will take you on a joyous sleigh ride of a lifetime. Craig Chaquico Panorama: The Best of

Panorama: The Best of Craig Chaquico is an amazing retrospective offering both a glorious CUSCO look back and glimpses of the great excitement and diversity to come from this trendsetting artist. A Choral Christmas Includes 2 new great tracks!

CUSCO's hallmark flutes and celestial sounds are joined by the angelic voices of the Munich Opera Choir. The result is an exceptional collection of ten traditional compositions originating from the late Middle Ages, Renaissance and classical periods.

H I G H E 0. H 1 ( N F H OCTAVE U l T{\ k www.higheroctave.com M o s t ' o x,o BILLBOARD SEPTEMBER 16, 2000 BILLI3OAR1) SPOTLIGHT 69 www.americanradiohistory.com