Customer Reviews

Beautiful Star: A Christmas Collection

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just bought this cd and i have to say it is a great bluegrass christmas cd! i love it! rhonda sounds so good, i can imagine getting all cozy this christmas by the tree with a warm glass of milk and just having this cd playing softly in the back ground! you have to check this out! if you love bluegrass and christmas music than this will surely be a winner with you!!!!

Rhonda Vincent, unlike her contemporary Alison Krauss, has never strayed far from her bluegrass roots--and this wonderful collection of holiday songs is no exception.

The album starts off with an up-tempo Vincent original "Christmas Time at Home." The mandolin flourishes add a nice touch to "Let It Snow." With the banjo setting the pace, "Oh Christmas Tree" turns into a real toe-tapper. And while "Twelve Days of Christmas" is one of my least favorite holiday songs, the Thirteen Member Twelve Day Choir and the Twelve Day Orchestra breathe new life into this classic--even though not all of the choir members can carry a tune!

It should be noted that there are a few deviations that keep this from being exclusively a bluegrass album. "The Christmas Song" is given a smooth jazz treatment. "Winter Wonderland" adds an accordion into the mix. And "Away in a Manger" (with The Whites on harmony vocals) features the harp as the lead instrument to wonderful effect.

I also note that no fewer than four of these songs also appear on Emmylou Harris's classic LIGHT OF THE STABLE. Obviously that album had a major influence on Vincent. But far from being derivative, Vincent clearly puts her own stamp on each of these songs. Any fan of bluegrass music will find much to enjoy here. [Running Time - 35:49] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Finally! I was waiting for my yearly bluegrass-christmas CD, and my choice this year surely falls on this album. Rohnda sounds great. It's a great album, with a mixture of traditional bluegrass (Oh Christmas Tree, or Monroe's Christmas Time Is Coming) and swingy-classy-soft acoustic bluegrass (Rockin' Around The Christmas Tre...). Also, Rohnda's voice is spotlighted on "Away In A Manger", and Ralph Stanley's "Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem", which almost moved me...
Make yourself a Xmas Gift, buy BLUEGRASS MUSIC! ;)

As always, Rhonda Vincent is one of the most consistent bluegrass musician. You do not have to be diehard bluegrass fan to enjoy this CD. It's very traditional. I loved it!

The Queen Of Bluegrass Rhonda Vincent brings us on a beautiful bluegrass christmas journey.
She includes some of the classics like Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree,Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem,Let It Snow, and Silent Night.All beautifully arranged!
There's also the great fast-paced Oh Christmas Tree,your foot will be tapping along to this one.And a beautiful version of Away In A Manger,which includes a lovely harp arrangement.Sharon White Skaggs and Cheryl White also provide the harmonies.
Rhonda wrote a new song for the occasion aswell,the catchy Christmas Time At Home.On the fun Jingle Bells Rhonda brings in some kids to help her out.She wraps up the album with Twelve Days Of Christmas,which is very much light hearted and fun.A great way to end this fantastic holiday album.
You don't need to be a die hard bluegrass fan to enjoy Rhonda's music and this collection of superb Christmas songs is no different.An essential to your Christmas collection.....

Opening this album with a brilliant original self-penned song, Christmas time at home, Rhonda then focuses on performing exquisite bluegrass covers of old chestnuts, some of which may be more familiar than others.

The title track, Beautiful star of Bethlehem, is a great song that doesn't appear on Christmas albums anything like as often as it deserves to. Just about every bluegrass Christmas album includes a cover of Bill Monroe's Christmas time's a coming; this one is no exception. The album closes with a sprightly version of Twelve days of Christmas, a song that has often been parodied (sometimes to great effect) but is still a great song in its conventional form. With the exception of the Bing Crosby / Andrews sisters version, I don't think I've ever heard the song sound better than Rhonda and various guests sound here.

The remaining songs (The Christmas song, Rockin' around the Christmas tree, Let it snow, Silent night, O Christmas tree, Winter wonderland, Jingle bells, Away in a manger) are classic songs that have appeared on countless Christmas albums and will continue to do so. Rhonda's bluegrass style ensures that her versions stand apart from the vast majority of other covers of the same songs.

This is a real treat for bluegrass fans, but would also provide a good introduction to bluegrass music for anybody just dipping into the music. Don't be put off by the cover picture, in which Rhonda seems to be lacking the Christmas spirit; the music is much better.

Wonderful selection of songs, vocals are great, as always and excellent musicians. Perfect Bluegrass Christmas CD. When it comes to Rhonda Vincent and her band, you know you are getting what you hope for in her CD's. which is the best of Bluegrass whether it be Christmas or not.

Make this Christmas far less hectic and give a great gift that will last for generations. Rhonda Vincent's "Beautiful Star" is one of the BEST purchases that I have ever made! From the traditional Christmas songs to her own "Christmas Time At Home", this collection will satisfy even the most difficult person to shop for on your list!

Good Holiday cd. Rhonda has a perfect voice for carols.

Just got this cd from Amazon. Rhonda has one of the prettiest voices in bluegrass and each song is a gem. This is a must have Christmas cd.