Pat Boone Releases New Christmas Album

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Pat Boone is no stranger to holiday music. The result is Boone's first Christmas album in decades, ``The True Spirit of Christmas.'' Sixteen of the 21 songs on the record

Friday, December 7th 2007, 11:54 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Pat Boone is no stranger to holiday music. The result is Boone's first Christmas album in decades, ``The True Spirit of Christmas.'' Sixteen of the 21 songs on the record are new.

``I think I have sung and recorded more Christmas songs than just about anybody,'' the 73-year-old singer says.

But then he heard demos of new yuletide songs written by 85-year-old Paul Alter.

``A musical genius,'' Boone said of Alter. ``He's even inked a song about fruitcake.''

The release comes as Boone is recuperating from knee surgery. He had partial knee replacement surgery November 27th in Chicago, publicist Jerry Digney said Thursday.

Boone returned this week to his Los Angeles home, where he is undergoing physical therapy, Digney said.

``He's planning to hobble into the office this week at some point,'' Digney said, and return to the stage next month.

Boone has sold more than 45 million records during his 53-year career. His biggest hits include ``Love Letters in the Sand'' and ``April Love.''