The Gift

Kenny Rogers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 20, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Magnatone
• ASIN: B00000231J
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #175,591 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Mary, Did You Know?

2. A Soldier's King

3. Pretty Little Baby Child

4. What a Wonderful Beginning

5. It's the Messiah

6. I Trust You

7. Sweet Little Jesus Boy

8. The Chosen One Montage/The Chosen One/Away in the Manger/O Holy ...

9. Til the Season Comes Around Again

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kenny tells the Jesus story, January 12, 2005

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gift, The (Audio CD)

For this album, Kenny collected together a selection of original and lesser-known Christmas songs about Jesus. He also recorded a medley of famous carols, woven together as The chosen one montage.

The set opens with Mary did you know, a song that began life as obscure song recorded by a specialist Christian music singer. It was covered by Kathy Mattea for her Good News album and has since been covered by many more singers including Reba McEntire and may yet rise to the status of standard. Here, Kenny is joined by Wynonna (Judd) for a magnificent duet version

Other guests apart from Wynonna include the Katinas, a five-piece family group that joins Kenny on Pretty little baby child, and GLAD, a group that joins Kenny on a re-recording of a song that Kenny had recorded for his first Christmas album, Sweet little Jesus boy.

The chosen one montage includes some new lyrics but mostly includes a medley of Away in a manger, O holy night, Silent night, First Noel, We three kings and Joy to the world. Some of these songs have appeared separately on other Christmas albums by Kenny.

The set closes with Till the season comes round again, which (like Mary did you know) also appears on Reba's second Christmas album, Secret of giving. I wonder if Reba recorded these two songs after hearing this album. Whatever, Kenny and Reba both do great versions of them.

This album is for those interested in the religious aspect of Christmas and is something of a rarity for a mainstream artist these days - a Christmas album without any songs about Santa, snow and reindeer. Kenny has recorded some of those songs on his other Christmas album. Enjoy this for what it is - a great collection of Christmas songs about Jesus.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Christmas Classic, November 11, 2002

By 

Anthony Clesceri (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gift, The (Audio CD)

Kenny Rogers has become one of the greatest interpreters of Christmas songs. He has released 5 Christmas albums that have all been popular. Each one is a classic in its own way.

"The Gift" is probably the finest of Kenny's Christmas releases. In fact, it is one of the finest Christmas albums of all time.

What makes "The Gift" so unique is that it consists of new original Christmas songs. Kenny's version of "Mary, Did You Know?" with Wynonna is certainly the finest version of the song ever. "A Soldier's King" really captures the meaning of Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ. "Pretty Little Baby Child" is a unique offering with an island sound to it. The group The Katinas add a great sound to the track with words sung in Samoan. The rest of the songs are exceptional also.

The highlight of "The Gift" is a 16 minute piece titled "The Chosen One Montage." The track consists of a new song, "The Chosen One" written by Kenny Rogers, Warren Hartman, and Steve Glassmeyer. It also has pieces of Christmas standards such as "O Holy Night," "Away In A Manger," and "We Three Kings." In the montage, a child sings a part, and Kenny answers the child with spoken biblical adaptations. Kenny then moves into the traditional Christmas songs. The piece was used in Kenny's 1996 Christmas tour "The Gift," and he continues to use it in his Christmas tours to this day.

"The Gift" is a masterpiece for all Christmas music fans. It is not country sounding. It's not pop sounding. It's Kenny's own style that makes these songs instant classics. All music lovers can appreciate the message that "The Gift" instills. The album really highlights the true meaning of Christmas.

Now for the technical side...

"The Gift" was originally released in 1996 on the independent Magnatone Records. Kenny left the label in 1997, and since then Magnatone has closed up shop. Curb Records has taken over what was issued on Magnatone. This issue of "The Gift" was released for the 2002 Christmas Season on Curb Records.

The packaging is great for a reissue. The original printing had a special fold out CD case and the lyrics printed in the booklet. This reissue does not. But the album cover and much of the CD information including Kenny's liner notes are still intact. This is not always the case with reissues. Merry Christmas!!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Kenny"s Gift, November 10, 2002

By 

Scott (Portland, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gift, The (Audio CD)

I truly enjoyed Mr. Rogers album "Gift." Why? There are three songs on this album, one I dedicate to members who are or who have served in arm forces around the world. Has it ever occur to you how easy it is to forget those who are away from our loved ones during the christmas Holidays? Mr. Rogers performance of "The King's Soldier" helps me to remember those who have served distinguishly and with honor. Secondly, there are soldiers who believe in Christ the King and some of the lyrics truly fits what they are doing.

My second favorite is "The Messiah." It has a wonderful chorus and the words are simple, yet to me inspiring.

Finally, a fantastic duet can be heard in "Mary did you know," performed by Winonna Judd and Kenny Rogers. They sing with truth and conviction.

As for the other songs, I did like hearing them but not as much as the others that I have mentioned. I hope you'll like this album as I did.
Merry Christmas to all and good night