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Amazon.com: Emmylou Harris has a breathtaking voice--literally. Her voice is all about air. The way she breathes in before dropping a note or the way one breaks off as she comes up for air. She can sing just about anything and make it sound like her heart is breaking and the end is near. Christmas songs are another matter. The slower songs work best ("Away in a Manger," "The First Noel"). "Silent Night" takes on new life as Harris locates its tranquil center. Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Neil Young join her. --Rob O'Connor
Customer Reviews:
- 5 stars times a hundredthousand or so!: This has been in my top 3 ever since decades ago. From "Christmas Time's A-Comin'" thru the last note of "Light of the Stable" this album has my heart. Emmylou has the most sublime voice of anyone I've heard on a Christmas album. She and her fellow artists have channeled the heavenly. (Do I sound too effusive? I'm holding back.) Her "Little Drummer Boy" always moves me to tears, and "Light of the Stable" is, for me, the finest new carol written. If you're not into country-music, I say give it another try with this one. You just might become a once-a-year fan.
- 'Christmas Time's A-Coming': It sure is, and this is another one of my favorite Christmas albums! What a treat, I thought I'd be listening to Emmylou Harris, not betting on Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton to boot! Their harmonies are just plain glorious! I love all the songs on this, especially "The Little Drummer Boy" and the title track, "Light of the Stable"! Recommended!!!
- Beautiful Star, Sing On!: This is one of my favorite Christmas CD's, one I must hear each year. All the ten songs are fine, but my favorite is "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem." It was a song we always sang in church when I was a child in East Tennessee. I have never heard it sung anywhere else. Harris does a fantastic job of this country/bluegrass carol. If you don't know it already, you will come to love it. "Little Drummer Boy" is another great one as well. I find myself humming these songs and others all day long after hearing this CD, a sure sign that I'm sold on it.
Ms. Harris is joined by Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Doly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Sharon Hicks, Cheryl Warren and Ricky Skags who sing backup vocals on the various songs. Brian Bowers, probably the reigning autoharp virtuoso, plays on some selections too. This CD is a reissue from an earlier LP. Ms. Harris was photographed for that album in a getup that apparently was meant to make her look like the Virgin Mary. On this CD somebody had the good taste to abandon that look. She is photographed wearing a red evening gown and looking every bit as elegant as Kathleen Battle. A wondrous improvement! Listening to this CD is one of the true joys of Christmas. - Familiar songs sung in a timeless way: I have all these songs on a variety of other Christmas albums, including ones from Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, the Chieftains, Andy Williams, etc. The song selection here isn't risky. But it doesn't have to be. Emmylou Harris' voice is so gorgeous (the word "ethereal" comes to mind) that these familiar songs have new life and depth in them. BUY IT! THIS WILL QUICKLY BECOME A CHERISHED PART OF YOUR HOLIDAY TRADITION.
- Beautiful bluegrass Christmas music: Emmylou's voice is beautiful on this CD. Her voice is relaxed, easy and floats over every note. The credits in the CD liner reads like a "Who's Who" of music. Ricky Skaggs, Brian Ahern, Emory Gordy, Jr., and Rodney Crowell are some of the listed instrumentalists on several songs. The vocals and instrumentals are just about perfect. On older records transferred to CD, I'm always concerned about audio quality. I found the sound quality to be quite acceptable. My only criticism is that this CD is only 30 minutes long. However, I'm glad that they didn't ruin a tremendous CD by slapping on a couple "bonus" tracks, just to make it longer. I recommend this CD to any bluegrass music or Emmylou Harris fan.
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