New releases have slowed down now that the holidays are upon us, but a couple of "special edition" re-releases have me tickling Santa's tummy under the mistletoe and licking egg nog off the ol' yule log in anticipation. Fans of Emo popsters Fall Out Boy have something new to write about in their diaries this week, as the Island imprint releases the 14th version of their breakthrough album as From Under the Cork Tree: Essential, Super-Duper, Extra-Special Edition. Sure, fans have it 13 times over, but this one is a must-have, featuring a DVD of an FOB concert shot from the beer line at the Staples Center, five bonus tracks of the guitarist tuning up in the studio and those saucy nude photos of Pete Wentz that were all over the Internet. ... Also making me as giddy as one of Santa's elves smashing his hand in the toy-making machine in December and collecting worker's comp through the new year is the Deluxe, Ultra-Exciting and Glorious One-Month Anniversary Edition of Jay-Z's comeback album, Kingdom Come. The CD became a bonafide Hip Hop classic when it was released 30 days ago, and the Def Jam imprint is celebrating with a reissue sure to enthrall anyone and everyone on your holiday shopping list. Included is the six-hour "Making of" documentary DVD, Do Black People Even Drink Budweiser?, which features an exclusive look at the rapper in negotiations with Bud for his endorsement deal plus expanded liner notes, in which Jay-Z explains why he decided to come out of retirement after a whole 11 months (answer: money). ... Starbucks' Music to Drink Overpriced Coffee To series continues this week with the latest installment, Venti, Venti Good, featuring previously released tracks by Norah Jones, Kenny G, Sarah McLachlan, Bing Crosby and 11 other artists you'll need a jolt of espresso just to listen to. ... A new covers album has me gassing up the jalopy, slicking back my 'do with Pomade and getting a tattoo of a devil-lady playing a stand-up bass on my right forearm. Rapabilly Delight is a two-disc set from the Ruthless Records imprint that features today's Rap stars covering the biggest revved-up Rockabilly hits from yesteryear. Highlights include Nelly's Eddie Cochran tribute, "C'mon Ev'rybody," Kanye West's Gene Vincent homage, "Hip-Hop-A-Lula" and Cypress Hill's splifferific reworking of Roy Orbison's "Ooby Dooby."

Television Alert
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno boasts whoever was on Letterman last week Thursday and Friday. Jimmy Kimmel Live goes long Wednesday, with a special four-hour show to accommodate a one-song set by Widespread Panic. If it's still on the air, Last Call with Carson Daly sits down with Kid Rock all next week (unless Carson can score another guest). The Henry Rollins Show gets gritty with The Cheetah Girls Friday. And Insane Clown Posse clowns around Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

Releases Coming Tuesday
ABBA - Another Repackaged Greatest Hits (Sony/ Universal/BMG/K-Mart) featuring the unreleased demo, "Can You Turn Agnetha's Harmony Down on Track Five," with special guest will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas; The Beatles - On Ice (Apple/ Universal/Pepsi) George Martin does it again on this double-disc mash-up of live crowd noise from the Fab Four's early touring days, designed specifically for the wildly successful "John, Paul, George and Ringo Ice Capades" tour, with special guest will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas; George W. Bush - Wake Me Up When 2007 Ends (Island/Def Jam/Wal-Mart/Head On) the rapper/ POTUS' Def Jam debut, with special guest will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas; Guns 'N Roses - Chinese Democracy: The Hope You Weren't Holding Your Breath Edition (Geffen/ Universal/McDonald's) former long-awaited follow-up to the Use Your Illusion albums contains no new music, instead featuring a remastered version of Appetite for Destruction and a 75-page booklet with photos of the 417 musicians who have been in the band since 1996; Paris Hilton featuring Kevin Federline - "Money for Nothing" (Warner Bros./Time Warner/Time Life Books/Frantic Freddy's Foot-Long Hot Dogs and Records) unanticipated CD single of this Dire Straits classic; INXS ­ Sorry We Did That TV Show Thing, Michael (SubPop/J/Global Corp. Entertainment and War Profiteering Inc.) all-instrumental, with special guest will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas; Various Artists - NOW That's What I Call Theoretical Physics (K-Tel/Universal/ General Electric/Pizza Hut) the 134th edition of this popular compilation series, featuring Stephen Hawking's smash hit, "The Four Laws of Black Hole Mechanics and Their Relation to Thermodynamics (The Hyphy Remix)," with special guest will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas.

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CONTACT THOM THAMES: tthames(at)wahoo.com