Consulting the calendar, you might rightfully and rationally conclude that it’s way too early to prep for Christmas, even if windows at Macy’s have been decked out in holiday style for at least a couple of weeks now. (I haven’t even gotten my Christine O’Donnell witch costume together yet.)

The argument about how soon is too soon for sparkly ornaments, Santa Claus, and artificial trees to appear on the scene is admittedly as stale as the proverbial fruitcake, but what does seem different this year is the early arrival of new yuletide tunes.

Mariah Carey – “Oh Santa!”

On November 2, Mariah Carey releases Merry Christmas II You, the sequel to 1994’s 5x platinum Merry Christmas. That super-popular set premiered Carey’s modern classic, “All I Want For Christmas,” and the five-octave singer’s frosty-themed follow-up wisely features an “Extra Festive” remix of the song, several other holiday favorites, plus a few originals too.

One of the brand-new tunes on Merry Christmas II You is “Oh Santa!” It’s a catchy song, thanks to an infectious cheerleader chant, even if a tad too frenetic. (Don’t the holidays already have enough hustle and bustle?) “Oh Santa!” is good fun, though it can’t touch the sheer joy of “All I Want For Christmas,” but that’s a pretty high bar, even for Mariah:

Purchase Mariah Carey – “Oh Santa!” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.

Annie Lennox – “Universal Child”

One of my all-time favorite Christmas songs is the Eurythmics’ recording of “Winter Wonderland” from the 1987 charity album, A Very Special Christmas, and I’ve long wished the synth duo would have done more music for the holidays. Now some 23 years later, my sugarplum-sweet dreams are finally coming true. Dave Stewart has recorded “White Christmas” for a holiday album to benefit Sweet Relief, while former partner Annie Lennox — whose birthday is December 25 — hit the studio for the full-length A Christmas Cornucopia.

Comprised mostly of fresh arrangements of traditional carols, the album isn’t out until November 16, but “Universal Child,” a new song Lennox penned specifically for the project, is. All royalties from sales of the single support The Annie Lennox Foundation, which helps women and children in Africa living with HIV/AIDS. Seems that Christmas and charity are forever linked together for both halves of the Eurythmics.

I can’t think of a better reason to get a headstart on the holidays than with “Universal Child.” Hear here:

Purchase Annie Lennox – “Universal Child” via iTunes.

The Superions – “Fruitcake”

One of 2010’s odder yuletide musical treats was concocted by The B-52s’ frontman, Fred Schneider. Destination… Christmas! from The Superions, Schneider’s side project with musicians Noah Brodie and Dan Marshall, arrives October 26. With Schneider on board, the set glitters with all the kitschy fun you would expect (and none of those boring old carols).

The Superions win the award for really getting ahead of the holiday rush, since first single “Fruitcake” was released back in September. Yesterday Billboard.com posted an interview with Schneider and an exclusive stream of the full album:

Purchase The Superions – “Fruitcake” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.

Also in stores now with notable new Christmas collections are Indigo Girls (Holly Happy Days), Lady Antebellum (A Merry Little Christmas, a Target exclusive), Shelby Lynne (Merry Christmas), Katharine McPhee (Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You), and Wilson Phillips (Christmas In Harmony).

With so many more new Christmas tunes still coming to town, Santa might need a bigger sleigh for this year’s musical haul.