Dylan's Christmas

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- The long-awaited new Bob Dylan CD was released Tuesday.

Dylan has released more than 50 albums in the course of a five-decade career but his newest is one of the most surprising concepts -- "Christmas in the Heart" -- a 15-track CD featuring holiday classics such as "Here Comes Santa Claus," "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing."

Reviews have been mixed but the intent isn't.

Proceeds from the record will go to help feed the hungry. Dylan, in announcing release of his Christmas album, said: "It's a tragedy that more than 35 million people in this country alone -- 12 million of those children -- often go to bed hungry and wake up each morning unsure of where their next meal is coming from. I join the good people of Feeding America in the hope that our efforts can bring some food security to people in need during this holiday season."

Bob Dylan, nee Robert Zimmerman, took his stage name as a nod to poet Dylan Thomas, who's "A Child's Christmas in Wales" is a classic.