Dylan fans, brace yourselves: the folk-rock legend sings in Latin on his Christmas album, which will be in stores Oct. 13.

While Dylan is finalizing the track listing for "Christmas in the Heart," he gave permission for six of the album's tracks to be played for a small gathering of journalists. It's evident Dylan took this project seriously; the tracks receive full arrangements with choruses, church bells, string sections and bands that include staples of Western swing.

To top it off, he has shot a video for a party-atmosphere rendition of "Must Be Santa," the Hal Moore and Bill Fredericks composition that has been recorded by the likes of Brave Combo and Tommy Steele.

Arrangements for the half-dozen tracks are rooted in the Christmas albums of the 1950s and early '60s, with hints of Andy Williams, Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, and choral sing-along LPs. The approach is old-fashioned, dotted with a convincing joy in Dylan's growl and the musicians who surround him. Imagine Bob as your uncle gathering the family around the piano and leading the sing-along: He might not have the best voice but he's certainly full of enthusiasm.

Evidence abounds of Dylan's commitment to make this an artistically sound project. "Little Drummer Boy" is solemn yet increasingly welcoming, an effect created by having a child gradually increase his vocal presence until he is singing full lines in tandem with Dylan. Mel Torme and Bob Wells' "The Christmas Song" opens with an upright piano that suggests isolation. As the backing swells, the piano gives way to tuned bells that reinforce the notion of a gathering; though a jazz guitar sparks the tune as in Nat Cole's hit version, there is no "Jingle Bells" in the coda.

Dylan has a ball with "Here Comes Santa Claus," seemingly traveling on a route lit with tiki torches, and "Christmas Island," which connects with The Andrews Sisters' version.

It's the traditional rendition of "Adeste Fidelius"--"O Come All Ye Faithful" to English speakers--that may raise the most eyebrows. Dylan has thrown the world a lot of curves in his nearly 50-year recording career, but who would have thought we'd ever hear him sing the words "Regem angelorum/Venite adoremus"? Oddly enough, rendition is quite convincing.