(Photo by Jerry T. Lai/Getty Images)

Just hearing about a Christmas album seems to make the North Texas heat index dip just a bit…

I just mentioned [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Pat Benatar[/lastfm] is releasing one, and now these guys are throwing their Santa hat into the ring, too. [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Chicago[/lastfm] will release their third Christmas album this fall.  Chicago 30 – O Christmas Three — was produced by [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Phil Ramone[/lastfm] and contains 14 holiday songs, including “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “O Christmas Tree” and “Jingle Bells.”

Joining them on the album are [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]America[/lastfm], [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Steve Cropper[/lastfm], [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Dolly Parton[/lastfm] and [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Bebe Winans[/lastfm].

Chicago’s two previous Christmas releases were 1998′s Chicago 25 — The Christmas Album, which was re-released with six extra songs in 2003 as Chicago Christmas — What’s It Gonna Be, Santa?

Chicago performs in San Antonio tonight (Thursday 8/4/11). ~JZ.