Old Rivers/Twas the Night Before Christmas...Back Home

Walter Brennan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 10, 2000)
• Original Release Date: 1962
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Collector's Choice
• ASIN: B00000395Z
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,615 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Old Rivers

2. The Old Kelly Place

3. Conversation with a Mule

4. The Farmer and the Lord

5. Happy Birthday Old Folk

6. It Takes a Heap of Living

7. Boll Weevil

8. Steal Away

9. Pickin' Time

10. Old Rivers' Trunk

11. White Christmas

12. Just Three Letters for Christmas

13. A Farmer's Christmas Prayer

14. Henry Had A Merry Christmas

15. Old Time Christmas Prayer

16. (There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays

17. Silent Night

18. Christmas Together

19. Let the Bells Ring Out

20. A Good Year for Santa Claus

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The full range of holiday emotions, January 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Old Rivers/Twas the Night Before Christmas...Back Home (Audio CD)

For people who grew up with the Walter Brennan Christmas album, it's indispensable. For years after my family's LP cracked from the edge to the center hole, we'd line up the break every Christmas and ignore the pops and skips. In spots, this can be a heart-wrenching listen. The poor guy tears up when he realizes none of his children are coming home to be with him and Ma. On another cut he chokes up alone because now Ma is gone, too. Later, he recalls how his father once pretended to kill the pet turkey before finishing with a happy ending. He tells inspiring stories of humble celebrations, full of thanks and recognition of the meaning of the season. If you're lucky you'll end up regarding these songs the way Brennan's story-teller regards the old-time Christmas stories he lives for during the holidays: "I love 'em. Every one". Old Rivers features similar music - at times you might think you're hearing the same tunes with different lyrics. That's okay. The stories are fun and Brennan's voice is irresistable.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS/DOWN HOME MUSIC, November 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Old Rivers/Twas the Night Before Christmas...Back Home (Audio CD)

BACK IN THE EARLY 1960'S MY FAMILY HAD THE ORIGINAL WALTER BRENNAN CHRISTMAS ALBUM, SO I GREW UP LISTENING TO THAT ALBUM DURING THE HOLIDAYS. FOR SOME TIME, THIS ALBUM HAS BEEN OUT OF PRINT. I HAVE RECORDED THE ALBUM ON TO A CASSETTE, BUT AM DELIGHTED TO HAVE THIS ON CD. AFTER LOSING LOVED ONES DURING THE PAST YEARS, THIS CHRISTMAS CD BRINGS BACK A LOT OF WONDERFUL, HAPPY MEMORIES FOR ME AS MY FAMILY WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING "GRANDPA MCCOY'S" ALBUM OUT AND PLAYING IT YEAR AFTER YEAR. THE OLD RIVERS PORTION OF THE CD IS ALSO VERY GOOD. THIS IS A WONDERFUL, UNIQUE CD. SONE OF THE SONGS TELL STORIES FROM LONG AGO, AND HAVE SOME VERY HUMBLING MESSAGES. SOME OF THE SONGS HAVE "CATCHY" TUNES. THIS IS DEFINITELY A "5" STAR CD WHICH YOU WILL WANT TO PLAY YEAR AFTER YEAR.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Actually 10++ stars!, December 10, 2004

By 

Movie and Music lover! (HOLLYWOOD, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Old Rivers/Twas the Night Before Christmas...Back Home (Audio CD)

I can't imagine in our mtv, fast-paced world that Walter Brennan would get a record contract nowadays. That is a shame too, because his recordings are so timeless! I grew up listening to Walter Brennan, and hearing this cd puts a lump in my throat and brings tears to my eyes. I cannot even begin to list which tracks are my favorites because I love them all.

I wish Walter were still alive today. He sure would show some of the no-talent people out there (Britney) how to really entertain!

Thanks for the walk down memory lane Walter, and God Bless you.