Beautiful family vocals of Kim, Barb and Joel Fox punctuate some of the best bluegrass instrumentalists, Christmas Grass 3 features Darrin Vincent, Bryon House, Bryan Sutton, Cody Kilby, Adam Steffey, Aubrey Haynie, Joe Caverlee, Rob Ickes, Joel Fox, Eric Darken.

The opening song New Star Shining displays the true vocal talent of the Fox Family. The harmonic blend is especially soft and touching. IBMA's (International Bluegrass Music Association) Male Vocalists of the Year, Larry Sparks and Russell Moore are guest singers on I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, Russell Moore, on Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. Kim Fox shows off her songwriting strength in her original Watching Over The Soldiers At Christmas about all American soldiers who have and are defending our country and about the strength they find in the American flag.

Overall this CD has some extraordinary performances that should appeal to Bluegrass Country music fans the world over. You can buy it once and enjoy it in the years to come.


MSP    

Floyd Burton with his Grandsons Curry Burton (age 17) and Chase Hebert (age 11) have put together a collection of Christmas Classics. It’s made up of 100% standards and they are performed in the style that made Gene Autry famous.

Steel guitars, fiddles, mellow acoustic guitars, piano, drums, trumpet and sax all join together performing individual solos. The Grandsons provide backgrounds as well as some lead vocals. Floyd is the main vocalist on most of the songs but his boys do one heck of a job similar to the young Donny and Jimmy Osmond from years ago. This CD isn’t outstanding or unusual I anyway but for those of you who love the old country style Christmas from days gone by, you will get a warm bunkhouse feeling.

Track Listing:

I’ll Be Home For Christmas


MSP    

The no. 1 album on the first week of the Cashbox Christmas chart and it could stay #1 as long as it wants too because its that good. This is Josh's fourth studio album which is superbly produced by David Foster and arranged by Bill Ross as well as a few others. Josh delivers these Christmas classics with the sparkle of polished gold. It certainly will achieve gold status. Josh has that great classical style will not disappoint his fans and those who normally don't listen to classical music. Josh delivers a fresh rendition of "Little Drummer Boy", "the First Noel" featuring Faith Hill and "O Come All Ye Faithful" with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
JDH    

Judy Akin has put together a perfect little collection of smooth and easy songs for the Holidays. Her voice is warm inviting and controlled and in a range that is very similar to the wonderful Karen Carpenter’s. It’s going to be difficult to find a more perfect Christmas CD this year that is going to be as warm as a hickory fire in your own fireplace.

Production was provided by Steven McClintock who also co-arranged the songs as well as providing a duet on Baby It’s Cold Outside. On this eleven song CD Judy has also included three brand new songs that are bound to become standards in the next few years. Christmas Needs Love to be Christmas (McClintock, James) Christmas Without You (Weiss) and One Perfect Christmas (McClintock)

Track List

Where Are You Christmas


MSP    

Sounding like a cross between B.J Thomas, Gary Puckett (Union Gap), Dennis Yost (Classics IV) comes Michael Peace with a special holiday album, PEACE OF CHRISTMAS, an album that brings meaning back to the words "warmth” and "tradition". Envision yourself gathered around a crackling fireplace, with family and friends, as the snowflakes spiral downwards, just outside your window, listening to the strains of music that recapture the spirit and essence of a holiday season as it used to be, as it ought to be, and it still can be.

Have a listen to Michael's reworking of a classic: LITTLE DRUMMER BOY. This is a "rendering" that gives the song a "new", more contemporary, "sound” without losing it's traditional essence and flavor. From first note to last, the song is delivered with warmth, the kind of warmth that has been so hard to find in recent times. You can't go wrong with this one.

Then there's the original "SNOWFLAKES" that, as Mike puts it, "makes your soul want to sing", as you walk through the freshly fallen snow in anticipation of this special time of the year.

"HUSH HUSH", another original, one of my favorites, pulls you in with a classical feeling that really does make it seem as though it's been around for a decade or two, or three.

"IF WE DON"T SEE YOU SOON" gets a top rating, a truly top notch song, on the basis that it is "one of those songs" that you'll find yourself wanting to listen to again and again and again. Another personal favorite.

When it comes to being cheerful, "CHRISTAMS IS COMING" fits the bill. Catchy, the kind of song you may very well find yourself wanting to sing along.

Tender is the word that best describes "SOFTLY FROM HEAVEN". Wonderful piano accompaniment and plucked guitar, words by Jackie Bartels.

"A SILENT NIGHT" is another favorite that begins with a dialogue, a dramatic retelling of a story, the story of a Christmas spent in the trenches during World War 1, a story of friend and foe coming together, for one brief moment, to set aside differences, for one brief moment, to embrace peace, for one brief moment, to show, for one brief moment, that even in the worst of times, we can come to our senses long enough to express good will even towards those whom we may be in conflict with, albeit, a small step towards peace, but a step worth taking, and Michael tells it well...a must listen.

All in all, an excellent album akin, in spirit, to Bing Crosby's "WHITE CHRISTAMS", with a unique spirit all it's own. The songs are memorable, well written, and the performance is warm, sincere, genuine, satisfying. Michael, noted for his smooth vocal style, respected by peers and associates, brings meaning back to the word "tradition". A PEACE OF CHRSITMAS is obviously a labor of love and it shows in one gem after another. "A SILENT NIGHT" is, in my opinion, the "piece de resistance", but the entire album is a "must have".

Hear CD Snippets
Brian Anthony - Wickman Music Canada    

Produced by Randy's longtime producer Kyle Lehning, and pressed on the legendary Gospel label Word Records, Randy delivers a truly laidback Christmas CD full of classics. The only thing country about this CD is Randy and on this CD he had some considerable voice coaching. There’s not that much twang in his voice, the album is not overly produced and Randy's vocal delivery is superb, he never sounded better Ole J.D. will go so far as to call this a real masterpiece. Includes the usual classics like 'There’s No Place Like Home For the Holidays", "O Holy Night", 'Let It Snow", "Joy To the World" and a new Christmas songs "Labor of Love", "Nothings Gonna Bring Me Down at Christmas Time" and "Our King" which was written by Randy. Five Stars
JDH    

It seems like Sarah and James Taylor dilivered on some of the same songs like River, and In the Bleak Midwinter. Of all the cd's reviewed for Christmas this is five and a half stars. Sarah just has one of those voices that stays with you. She is such a professional vocalist and perfectionist and it shows on each of these12 tracks. I just love the way she handles Happy Xmas ( War Is Over ) No doubt John Lennon would have been estatic over this version. Special apperances by Diana Krall and Jim Creegan. Go buy a copy of this one or download it, you won't regret it.
JDH    

I Love Christmas (Sneak Preview EP) 4 song EP. This is Tommy James & the original Shondells back together after 38 years and it's like nothing has changed except maybe they have improved like fine wine over the years. Tommy said when they all got back together in the studio it was nothing less than magic.

The Sneak Preview aspect is that this is a pre-release CD containing only four songs as a prelude of the 2008 Christmas full length album release. Thise year's CD is only available from the www.TommyJames.com Official web site. It is a limited release so it could become a nice collectors item in the future.

I have to admit that one of my favorites is Tommy and Jimmy Wisner's I Love Christmas. I predict that this one will stand the test of time to become a Christmas classic and favorite for everyone. It’s a memory of when Tommy was only three visiting Santa in the department store. Then the song quickly returns to the present to include a medley of a dozen other Christmas classics. Ya gotta love it.

It's Christmas Again is possibly the prettiest little original Christmas song that I have ever heard. The production is strong and solid with a continuous build starting with Tommy's a cappella voice then adding an acoustic guitar until all the instruments are combined to the mix. Under the music is the story of two lovers that fall out of love but are constantly pulled toward each other every Christmas. Born On the First Christmas Day tells the story of the very first Christmas in a very up-tempo shuffle beat style with a choir of angel singers to make it a really big production sound. Winter Wonderland closes out the EP with a jazzy rendition of the classic old favorite. I have to say that Tommy’s Christmas originals stand out as my favorites on this CD. This EP will be a great addition to this year’s catalog of great Christmas songs and one that you will be glad to have in your possession.

Arranged and produced by TOMMY JAMES AND JIMMY 'WIZ' WISNER