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Spirit of the Season in the Voice of the Mountains |
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Track List
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One of the most perfect
voices in country music belongs to Kentucky
songbird Patty Loveless, who once again returns to her Appalachian roots with a simply lovely holiday offering, "Bluegrass& White Snow." With a tremendous selection of traditional numbers, newer "classics," and her own tracks, Patty gives us a warm and glowing look at her native Kentucky Christmas traditions and gives us a special mountain Christmas of musical memories to bring home as our own. The first track is the secular classic, "Away in a Manger." Patty's rich voice is accompanied by a simple, gentle tone of an all-acoustic backup; guitar, a bass, fiddle, mandolin, and mandola. A beautiful hymn as well as a beloved Christmas classic, it is presented here with a straightforward, simple style that makes it all the more glorious. She follows up with the lovely "Silent Night," where the continued simplicity of the acoustic instrumentation and Patty's vocals are joined by Claire Lynch and Trisha Yearwood on background vocals. The presentation is as plain and perfect as a family gathering in the living room around a crackling fire. There are 13 tracks, of which eight are classic hymns. In addition to "Away in a Manger" and "Silent Night," Jon Randall joins Patty on "Joy To the World" (with Emmylou Harris joining for a breathtaking harmony); an instrumental version of "Carol of the Bells," predominantly performed by the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble; "The First Noel"; a duet with Rebecca Lynn Howard on "Little Drummer Boy"; "Silver Bells," which guest_stars Vince Gill on mandolin as well as Vince with wife Amy Grant on background vocals; and one of my favorite holiday classics, the beautiful "O Little Town of Bethlehem." Patty's devotion to the music as well as the subject comes out crystal clear in these elegantly unadulterated songs. Coming into the modern era of holiday classics, Patty gives out a happy take on the Tex Logan western_style "Christmas Time's A'Comin'," and she whips the listener into joyous celebration with "Santa Train," which features some fun fiddlin' and spritely banjo, letting in the sheer joy of a family Christmas at home. This warmth is furthered with "Christmas Day At My House," an anthem to Christmas Day and all the happy feelings which are a part of it. The final tracks are "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem," a showcase for Patty's glorious voice, and finally the title track, "Bluegrass, White Snow," with guests Dolly Parton and Ricky Skaggs, another joyous memory of Christmas in Appalachia co-written by Loveless. Patty Loveless opens her arms and welcomes us into her heart and her home for Christmas. Sometimes it's a shame music this good is only heard once a year.
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Kathy Coleman
Take Country Back December 2002