It's beginning to look a lot like Kissmas -- er, that is, Christmas -- and the New Music Releases for December 2012 list means that classic rock releases are winding down for the year. December is always a light month for new music, but that doesn't mean there aren't still some great stocking stuffers arriving just in time to bring comfort and joy to the classic rock fan on your holiday list.

Kiss lead the month with the Dec. 4 release of a massive box set titled 'The Casablanca Singles,' which consists of 29 singles the group released during their tenure at Casablanca Records. Twenty-six of those are picture sleeve singles, with the group's solo singles in red, green and blue to replicate the original releases. The set retails for $146.35 and is available for pre-order.

Metallica will release a live DVD from Quebec in 2009, while Smashing Pumpkins, the Who, Eric Clapton, ELP, Gregg Allman, Rush and Frank Zappa are all the subject of interesting archival releases.

Read on for a complete list of December 2012's classic rock releases, and be sure to check out our continuously updated list of all the 2012 New Music Releases to keep up-to-date with what your favorite artists have released this year!

New Music Releases -- December 2012

December 4
Grateful Dead, 'Dick's Picks 26: 4/26/69 Electric Theater Chicago'(2-CD)
Kiss, 'The Casablanca Singles' (box set)
Smashing Pumpkins, 'Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness' (5-CD, 1 DVD remastered box set with 64 bonus tracks)
The Who, 'The Studio Albums' (vinyl box set with all 11 studio albums)

December 11
Eric Clapton, 'Slowhand 35th Anniversary' (remastered album in 5.1 Surround Sound, with live extras on vinyl)
Emerson, Lake and Palmer, 'Live in California '74' (CD)
Gregg Allman, 'I'm No Angel (Live on Stage)' (DVD)
Metallica, 'Quebec Magnetic' (DVD)

December 18
Rush, '2112' (CD and audio DVD deluxe edition)
Frank Zappa, 'Ahead of Their Time' (remastered), 'The Yellow Shark' (remastered), 'The Lost Episodes' (remastered)

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