JULIE C. GOODPASTER

Are you tired of listening to the same old Christmas records, tapes and CDs year after year? Do most of your old Christmas records skip? If so, be advised that there is a new holiday music assortment CD being released this week. Twenty-one local bands have gotten together with Media Play and Hot Wings Entertainment and produced That OTHER Christmas CD," which is being released next Tuesday, Nov. 25. The proceeds from the sale of this CD will go to benefit WNY United Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Inc. Among the local bands participating in the CD are the Goo Goo Dolls with Lance Diamond, DBs (defensive backfield of the Buffalo Bills),The Tom Stahl Band, Gretchen Schulz & The Morvells, Plaster Sandals, NY Rockin' Rodeo Band, McCarthyizm, Lynn Carol Schriver, The Dreadbeats, Pat Shea, Animal Planet, God's Children and Leeron Zydeco & The Hot Tamales. "A lot of the bands were chosen because they have already been recorded and we were carrying their CDs in our store, others contacted us and asked how to get involved," said Robin Lenhard, area marketing coordinator for Media Play. "Some we contacted because we knew they were good." It was August when Dale Anderson, from Hot Wings Entertainment asked Tom Stahl, of Hamburg, if he wanted to participate. "It was difficult getting into the Christmas spirit, but I just hammered it out and started thinking of Christmas," said Stahl, who wrote "It's Christmas Time Again," a tuneful, light-hearted song that really gets a listener into the inevitable Christmas spirit. "I have never written a Christmas song before," said Stahl, who who use a fast-paced rock and roll style with the song "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." This is the second year in which a benefit holiday CD has been put together. The CD from last year will be available again this Christmas season, according to Lenhard. "This year we tried to get a variety of traditional and original music together. Last year was all original," she said. An all-ages CD release party is scheduled for Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Tralfamadore Cafe, 622 Main St., in Buffalo. Tickets are available at the door or by calling the Tralf Box Office at 847-0850 or by visiting any area Media Play. Hamburg singer and songwriter, Tom Stahl is one of 21 local performers whose work is included on the holiday compilation, "The OTHER Christmas CD," scheduled for release on Tuesday, Nov. 25.