CHRISTMAS FAVORITES

REB-1745 LARRYSPARKS "Christmas In The Hills" Back in the late 1970's Sparks had a lovely Christmas LP on the old King Bluegrass Label. That label was subsequently bought out by Rebel, and this new release is essentially that same album, but with the addition of three new cuts and new versions of a couple of others. It's strong solid work, with Sparks singing an excellent choice of songs with feeling and adding a version of Tex Logan's classic CHRISTMAS TIME'S A COMING, BEAUTIFUL STAR OF BETHLEHEM, and others; new are THEW BIRTHDAY OF OUR KING and CHRISTMAS IN THE MOUNTAINS, two good songs by Bill Castle. Highly recommended. Available on CD: $ 13.50

ROU-0513 VARIOUS ARTISTS "O Christmas Tree" A very successful & enjoyable 18-track compilation featuring good Christmas material by a variety of artists from the Rounder label. Artists include Rhonda Vincent, Cox Family, Bill Keith, James King, Tony Trischka, Ron Stewart, Lynn Morris and Bill Grant & Delia Bell. Songs are CHRISTMAS IS NEAR, PRECIOUS CHILD, CALL COLLECT ON CHRISTMAS, AULD LANG SYNE, SMOKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS, WINTER WONDERLAND, etc. Available on CD: $ 13.50

SIG-1251 LAURIE LEWIS & TOM ROZUM "Winter Grace" Featuring Laurie's wonderfully strong and expressive voice and an appropriately simple, tasteful backing. The songs are well chosen, with the initial track--The Messenger writen by Mark Simos- a lovely, haunting peice that alone is worth the price of the album. Other especially effective cuts are EARTH MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY, CHRISTMAS TIME'S A COMING, IF WE MAKE IT THROUGH DECEMBER, and instrumental treatments of THE SNOWEY ROAD and COLD FROSTY MORNING.THe accompaniment makes good use of fiddle, cello, mandolin, guitar & Bass. Very attractively packaged, this one is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. (Note after playinng the album's 11 tracks hang on for an extra "hidden" SLEIGH RIDE, played as banjo solo). Available on CD: $ 13.50

EK-85967 PATTY LOVELESS "Bluegrass & White Snow" 13 Christmas standards sung beautifully by Loveless with acoustic backup by a variety of musicians including Stuart Duncan (fiddle) and Rob Ickes (dobro). FIRST NOEL, DUMMER BOY, CAROL OF THE BELLS, SILVER BELLS, BEAUTIFUL STAR OF BETHLEHEM, JOY TO THE WORLD, etc. Available on CD: $ 15.00

AUDIUM-8162 VARIOUS ARTISTS "Christmas Grass" Superb all-instrumental treatment of 15 well-known standards by a small group of first rate Bluegrass musicians. These include Ronnie McCoury, Cody Kilby, Scott Vestal, Darrin Vincent, Stuart Duncan, Rob Ickes, Ricky Skaggs & Alison Krauss. A new release this year, but one of the best Christmas CDs currently on the market. AWAY IN A MANGER, CAROL OF THE BELLS, O HOLY NIGHT, JINGLE BELLS, CHRISTMAS TIME'S A-COMING, SILENT NIGHT, WINTER WONDERLAND, etc. Available on CD: $ 15.00

VICTORY-0333 PAUL WILLIAMS & THE VICTORY TRIO "The Real Christmas Story" 12 songs sung and played in solid down-home Bluegrass style and featuring Williams' wonderful voice. Apart from one number the songs are all either originals or lesser known. IN BETHLEHEM, WHO DO YOU THINK, LOVE CAME DOWN, LIGHT OF THE WORLD, NO GREATER GIFT, CALL HIS NAME JESUS, THE CHRISTMAS STORY, EMANUEL, etc. Available on CD: $ 13.50 Cassette: $ 8.00

CO-2722 BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN HOLIDAY "The Breaking Up Christmas Story" Originally produced by Paul Brown for a PBS radio special in 1996, this album is a warm & fascinating musical tour of Christmas traditions in the heart of the Blue Ridge. There is a generous amount of good old time picking by artists & groups form the Round Peak area of North Carolina--people like Tommy Jarrell, Benton Flippen, Kirk Sutphin, Earnest East, The Slate Mt. Ramblers and others, some drawn from old recordings (Camp Creek Boys, Da Costa Woltz, Benny Jarrell, etc) Equally interesting are the comments of Paul Sutphin (an original member of the Camp Creek Boys). A fine project that gives us a good glimpse of a disappearing rural tradition. BREAKING UP CHRISTMAS,OLD BUNCH OF KEYS, LITTLE MAGGIE, JACK OF DIAMONDS, LET ME FALL, BEAUTIFUL STAR OF BETHLEHEM,etc. Available on CD: $ 13.50

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