In a move that shocked industry analysts and music-lovers alike, BMG's RCA Records cancelled its Christmas album deal with Osama Bin Laden - just before copies of the highly anticipated double-CD were about to hit store shelves nationwide.

BMG and Bin Laden released a joint statement to customers and fans in which the two parties blamed the last-minute breakdown on "creative differences". The album, titled Uncle Osama's Christmas Sing-Along, which had been expected to outsell even 8 Days of Christmas by Destiny's Child this holiday season, was Bin Laden's musical debut.

Jack Rovner, President of RCA records, said he "regretted" having to opt out of the deal. He explained that Bin Laden's final product was "a bit rough around the edges", and that with the Christmas season already in full swing by the planned release date, the record's producers did not have time to "refine [the album]". "We were very happy with the album's first half," said Rovner, "but by the second CD, its Christmas spirit just wasn't there."

Rovner may have been referring to tracks such as "All Infidels will Die!" and "That means you, Kid". Although Bin Laden himself could not be reached for opinion, his New York-based agent told the press that such tracks had just been misunderstood due to "a cultural barrier." He refused to comment on the album's lyrics, however, leaving it up to the individual listener to interpret words such as "Baby Jesus is a pussy compared to the great Allah," and "Ramadan kicks Christmas's ass."

The album was recorded live in Afganistan using the latest cave acoustics technology. Back in November, news of the album's release sparked interest among Bin Laden's core fan demographic. One dissapointed Bin Laden buff, Abdul Bombhammed, called the cancellation "a great infidel injustice upon my CD collection." Fellow Osama-afficionado Allister Kayda said he had been looking forward to hearing "my latest instructions, er... all those great holiday classics."

Although a double CD, the album reportedly only consisted of 10 tracks, thanks to each song's marathon length of at least twelve minutes. Most of the songs disintegrate into directionless, mindless ramblings of anti-American sentiment. Says music critic David Humber of Rolling Stone: "This guy must have been on more drugs than Pink Floyd when he recorded this stuff. It's like he forgets he's even singing."

RCA's eleventh-hour cancellation may have been in response to certain complaints made by the CD's reviewers, who slapped an "Explicit Lyrics" label on its cover to warn parents of its not-so-jolly nature. President Rovner reminded consumers that the cancelled album's lyrics did not represent the views of his company. He added: "If RCA sales go down because of this, the terrorists will have won."

After this career setback, Bin Laden's other planned ventures, such as a book deal, a weight-loss infomercial, and a duet with Michael Jackson seem to be up in the air.