Music: Mix tapes for under your holiday tree

Roy Orbison, "The Soul of Rock and Roll" (Monument/Legacy, $60) -- Although Elvis Presley called him the greatest singer in the world, this shy, bespectacled Texan was underappreciated. Not only did he have a magnificently emotional four-octave voice, but he brought drama to rock, influencing the Beatles, Stones and many others. This 107-song package embraces everything from his first recording to his last performance, two days before his death in 1988. Throw in a swell booklet and memorabilia, and this is the best box set of 2008. (J.B.)

"Red House 25" (Red House Records, $70) -- The St. Paul label's 25th anniversary retrospective is a strikingly wide-ranging, richly satisfying collection of acoustic folk, blues, bluegrass, country and pop. Arranged chronologically on three discs, "25" features 64 songs by 46 artists, including Greg Brown, Spider John Koerner, Ramblin' Jack Elliott and Eliza Gilkyson. It includes a 48-page booklet that is a tribute to founder Bob Feldman, who died last year. (J.B.) 

Hank Williams, "The Unreleased Recordings" (Time-Life, $40) -- Good things sometimes come out of litigation. Culled from dusty old acetate recordings that the Williams estate had to wrangle to release, this three-CD set could be Hank's version of Johnny Cash's "American Recordings" series. The 54 tracks, from his "Mother's Best" radio show circa 1951, which he mostly prerecorded, are more laid-back and personalized than a lot of his studio classics. Many aren't even his songs, which is a big part of the fun, including "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" and a slew of gospel gems. A holy grail for Hank lovers. (C.R.)

U2, "Boy," "October," "War" (Island, $35); New Order, "Movement," "Power, Corruption & Lies," "Low-Life," "Brotherhood," "Technique" (Rhino, $25); and R.E.M., "Murmur" (IRS/UME, $30) -- The big reason these expanded reissues might make great gifts is the era of the original LPs, 1980-88, right before CDs took over. Many fans still only own them on vinyl or cassette. Each comes with a disc of extra tracks, which vary greatly. The best of the bunch is R.E.M.'s debut. You'll appreciate the remastering, and the bonus disc is of a single live show from 1983, featuring a murmuring Michael Stipe in all his pre-rock-star glory. (C.R.)

"Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan" (Sony Legacy, $23 for DVD, $17 for CD) -- The Wu-Tang Clan's many highs and lows (and those other kinds of highs) could certainly make an enticing documentary. Too bad this BET-backed DVD is "authorized" and thus skips many juicy and/or relevant details, including anything from the other guys about ODB's death. Still, fans will appreciate the (underused) concert and behind-the-scenes footage. A better bet is the soundtrack to the film, which is more or less a best-of collection that dutifully whittles down the group's randomly brilliant albums. (C.R.)

The Smiths, "The Sound of the Smiths" (Rhino, $12 or $26) -- No surprise, since they still snipe at each other, but Morrissey, Johnny Marr and "the other guys" have never worked together on a proper Smiths anthology. Until now. Available as a single or double-disc set, this is as definitive as it gets with the British brooders. The single disc chronologically compiles 23 of their best-known songs. Disc Two is the real treat for fans, with a well-chosen selection of lesser-known nuggets and rarities, such as a live version of "Meat Is Murder" and the single "Pretty Girls Make Graves." Here's hoping this is what finally brings the band back from the grave. (C.R.)

Nina Simone, "To Be Free: The Nina Simone Story" (RCA/Legacy, $50) -- With that smokily expressive voice, she was one of our greatest singers: jazz, soul, Broadway, folk, gospel, blues, pop and protest songs. Heavy on her pop-soul years at RCA, this three-CD, one-DVD package may not be definitive but it's the best Simone collection yet. (J.B.)

"Eminem: The Way I Am" by Eminem (Dutton, $40) -- Like his recordings, this autobiography comes in fits and starts, with bursts of overpowering emotion here and moments of silliness and/or stupidity there. He writes about his depression over the death of his mentor Proof, but says precious little about his ex-wife and mother. We learn that he dyed his hair blond while on ecstasy and reached out to Elton John to collaborate on the Grammys after he was accused of homophobia. It comes with a mini-documentary DVD and plenty of vintage photos and memorabilia, including lyrics to "My Name Is" scribbled in various colors of ink on Days Inn stationery. (J.B.)

"John Lennon: The Life" by Philip Norman (Ecco, $35) -- The acclaimed Beatles biographer interviewed Yoko Ono extensively, exchanged e-mails with Paul McCartney and got Sean Lennon to open up about his dad for the first time. This 822-page bio has you-are-there details and enough dirt to cause Ono to disown it because Norman was "mean to John." This richly comprehensive bio is about the complex man and his hard-to-imagine life, not about his unmatched music. The author talks about the Beatle having sexual feelings toward his mother, having masturbation contests with a boyhood friend and using radical politics as a pose. (J.B.)

"Jazz Icons: Series 3" (Naxos, $120 or $20 individually) -- OK, the box set is a price buster, but it captures seven jazz heroes -- Sonny Rollins, Cannonball Adderley, Nina Simone, Oscar Peterson, Lionel Hampton, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Bill Evans -- between 1963 and '75, playing live for television in Europe. Simone and Rollins, in particular, ooze passion. (J.B.)