Customer Reviews

Christmas Present

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As soon as Christmas Club checks are distributed the first week of November, I get out my Christmas music. My favorite is The Statler Brothers Christmas Present. The homegrown songs transport me back to my small town roots and bring tears of happy memories to my eyes. In the rush and jostle of city life, "An Old Fashioned Christmas" has the power to pick me up from these city streets and take me back home to Mt. Solon Virginia, a small town about twenty miles from the home of the Statlers. I need a new copy of this CD!

It was worth every penny paid. Growing up we would listen to my mom's record of this. The days of record players have long come and gone hence why we got this on CD. It's just not Christmas with out the Statler Brothers.

This CD, along with the Statlers' "Christmas Card," always begins and ends the season at our house. Admittedly, I am a diehard Statler fan, but these albums are part of the reason. They are an intriguing take on many of the old favorites, and they have stayed fresh and warm over the decades. In addition, the original music of the Brothers is always heartfelt and homey, making you grateful for the place where you grew up, the people who love you, and the great gift given to us at Christmas long ago. There is nothing else in the world of music that matches the harmony and heart of this group, and if you want to spend some time in a place that makes you feel cozy and safe, these are the albums for you.

The Statler brothers recorded their first Christmas album (Christmas card) when Lew DeWitt was a group member. By the time this album was recorded, Lew had departed because of ill-health, so Jimmy Fortune had joined the group as his replacement. Another difference between them is the earlier album contained several familiar songs as well as several originals, while this album only contains two not so well known covers, with the rest of the songs being originals.

The two covers (Bethlehem Brahms lullaby, Little toy trains) are both outstanding, but they aren't as familiar as a lot of Christmas songs that I can think of. Another track (For Momma) includes a chorus each from three of those old chestnuts (O little town of Bethlehem, Silent night, Away in a manger), which is as near as the Statler brothers get to the familiar classics on this album.

The seven entirely original songs are all excellent but for highlights, I'll pick out Christmas country style, Somewhere in the night and No reservation at the inn. That's not an easy choice in considering such quality songs, so I won't be surprised if your highlights are completely different.

The Statler brothers delivered another brilliant Christmas album with this release. I slightly prefer the earlier release despite its partial reliance on familiar classics, but there's really not much too choose between them as both are outstanding.

This album is one of the Christmas memories as I have from childhood. My parents would get tired of me listening to it SO much, but it was my favorite I would play it again and again and I still love it. My parents loved it too - it was there tape after all. I would reccomend it to anyone wanting to get the old fashion country Christmas spirit. - Listening to it just makes me want to snuggle up with some hot cocoa in a log cabin and watch the fire and Christmas lights.