Is there a hole in your stocking, or pink slips paper-clipped to the tree in a festive display? Times are tough, but the simple joys do survive. Pile on the blankets and give a gift to yourself this season, in the pleasure of a new book from the Dewey 780.

With the record industry in seasonal hibernation, trying to squeeze out units into stockings and MP3 players, Im looking ahead to some of the most exciting events, new tunes and DVDs of the coming year. Flannel, anyone? In conjunction with the albums inclusion in Rock Band.

Santa and your friendly local postal carrier might be wishing that everyone gave digital gifts this year, as gift cards and iTunes credits surely lighten the load of their sacks. I'm sorry, St.

If you're just starting to build one, or looking to add to a stagnant stack of yuletide tunes, this year's offerings in the Christmas Music Department.

Two cool covers turn up as well; with a dramatic run at Bruce Springsteen's "The Hitter" and poppin' Tommy James' hit "I'm Alive." Look for the Welsh heartthrob to hit the talk show circuit next week, stopping by to seduce Tavis Smiley.

For those of us who grew up thumbing through endless peach crates of vinyl LP records in colorful, dank and dusty storefronts, the thrill of the hunt for coveted slabs of licorice pizza.

DVD, a deluxe package with the soundtrack CD and a mother lode of goodies including a T-shirt, popcorn box, bumper sticker and postcards. A green-vinyl version of the soundtrack.

After years on hold, a punk-rock, superstar sing-a-long side project featuring members of Bad Religion, NOFX, Social Distortion.

John James can be reached via cyberspace at yeahyeah@cinci.rr.com.

One of the most important and heartfelt albums of 1968 gets a labor of love deluxe reissue next week. On Tuesday Columbia Records.