(Lost Highway B0001038-02) 2003.
This compilation is the sixth in a series of "Very Special Christmas" albums which raised over $60m dollars for the Special Olympics organisation, which provides sports training and athletic opportunites for mentally disabled atheletes.[1]
Whilst this release contains many names that will be familiar to bluegrass fans, the term 'acoustic' is not exactly accurate, although the music is quite diverse and pleasant.
Ralph is featured singing Christmas Is Near, which he wrote and first recorded with The Stanley Brothers for King/Starday in 1958 and 1960. He also re-recorded it in 1993 for his Christmas Time With... album.
The version included here was recorded at Emerald Studios in Nashville, and produced by Emory Gordon Jr. It has a similiar feel to Ralph's Columbia work in the early 2000's on A Distant Land To Roam and Ralph Stanley, with sparse instrumentation and wonderfully 'aged' vocal lines. (You can also hear it on youtube.)
Patty Loveless (who is married to Emory Gordy Jr), also recorded with Ralph on Saturday Night / Sunday Morning and Clinch Mountain Country.
Track: |
Title: |
---|---|
CD: |
(51:44) |
1 |
Silent Night - Reba McEntire |
P.D. |
|
2 |
Frosty The Snowman - Dan Tyminski |
Steve Nelson / Jack Rollins |
|
3 |
Please Come Home For Christmas - Willie Nelson |
Charles Brown / Gene Redd |
|
4 |
Just Put A Ribbon In Your Hair - Alan Jackson |
Hoss Burns / Don Huber |
|
5 |
Only You Can Bring Me Cheer (Gentlemen's Lady) - Alison Krauss |
Alison Krauss / Viktor Krauss |
|
6 |
Even Santa Claus Gets The Blues - Marty Stuart |
Marty Stuart |
|
7 |
Jingle Bells - Earl Scruggs |
P.D. |
|
8 |
Christmas Is Near - Ralph Stanley |
R. Stanley |
|
9 |
O Come All Ye Faithful - Patty Loveless |
P.D. arr. Patty Loveless / Emory Gordy Jr. |
|
10 |
O Holy Night - Wynonna |
P.D. |
|
11 |
Winter Wonderland - Pat Green |
Felix Bernard / Dick Smith |
|
12 |
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Sam Bush |
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne |
|
13 |
Away In A Manger - Ricky Skaggs |
P.D. |
|
14 |
Christmas Time At Home - Rhonda Vincent |
Rhonda Vincent |
|
15 |
I'll Be Home For Christmas - Tift Merritt |
Walter Kent / Kim Gannon / Buck Ram |
|
16 |
Peace - Norah Jones |
Horace Silver |