Skaggs Family Christmas

Ricky Skaggs | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 18, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Skaggs Family
• ASIN: B000B8I8VO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,276 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When the Skaggs and the Whites got together in Ricky Skaggs's living room to play Christmas tunes, how could it not lead to an album? Both are steeped in America's bluegrass and country music traditions and there's nothing like Christmas to bring out the mandolins, guitars, piano, and distinctive vocals. Fans of both groups will admire the simple yet rich playing and singing. From Ricky's lyrical arrangement and bouncy vocal of "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" and Molly Skaggs's impossibly-young-sounding reading of "Christmas Time Is Here" to Cheryl White's more stark delivery of "Mary, Did You Know?" underscored by a mandola and warm string section, the 13-song disc offers a balanced set of pop standards and hymns, with a homily-like story from Buck White called "The Christmas Guest." But it's Buck's lived-in vocal and the families' spirited playing on "Hangin' Round the Mistletoe" that best characterizes what a friendly and fun Christmas gift this really is. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thanks to the Skaggs Family for sharing their music, love, and warmth, October 25, 2005

By 

J. Ross "a-music_fan" (Roseburg, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Skaggs Family Christmas (Audio CD)

Playing Time - 46:19 -- After hearing Volume One of Skaggs Family Christmas, "yule" need to run right down to your local CD store and pick up copies for all your friends and family members. This album is a great combination of easy-listening country and bluegrass treatments of Christmas standards and some less oft-heard material too. The bright, breezy recording includes Ricky Skaggs, members of Kentucky Thunder, The Whites, and many third generation family members. Sister/brother Molly and Luke Skaggs, along with their cousin Rachel White, make this a joyous family event. I was quite impressed by these young folks' vocal (and Molly's dulcimer) abilities.

Besides the standard bluegrass instruments, the arrangements are brought to life with tasteful whistle, percussion, accordion, dulcimer, viola, mandola, piano, bouzouki and strings. Sharon White's angelic lead vocals on "Love Came Gently" give us a rendition of soaring beauty. Nashville String Machine provides the smooth layer of synthesized wintery atmosphere. Cheryl White's voice is also a perfect gift for the holidays. The mid-set pickup is "Hangin' Round the Mistletoe," a cute and catchy song featuring Buck White's lead vocal and piano. An instrumental "Deck the Halls" is rather short at 2 minutes, but the band's hot breaks, even though conservatively confined to the song's melody, will melt even the coldest icicle.

One interesting selection is Buck White's recitation of "The Christmas Guest" (words by Grandpa Jones and Bill Walker). Gospel bluegrass collections occasionally have recitations, such as Ralph Stanley's moving story by Dean Deel, "On a High, High Mountain," about a friend's passing of his mother and father. On a Christmas album, however, a 5-minute recitation could be slightly distracting to some families spinning the CD for background music at holiday reunions. However, the poetic story is worth listening to closely. After seeing a vision in a dream, a man prepares for the Lord to be his Christmas guest. While seemingly disappointed by His non-appearance, the man discovers that He actually did appear as a beggar, hungry woman, and lonely child who were all met with the man's love and warmth on Christmas day.

In keeping with Skaggs Family's great support of the bluegrass genre, it might have been nice to tap the traditional bluegrass repertoire for some material. Granted there might not be a lot of Christmas bluegrass material, but imagine contemporary Skaggs Family arrangements of Ralph Stanley's "Jesus Christ is Born," "Holiday Pickin'" or perhaps "Christmas is Near." Or better yet how about a cover of Virginia Stauffer's "That's Christmas Time to Me," partly in tribute to Ricky's mentor, Bill Monroe? All in all, "A Skaggs Family Christmas" is an inspirational delight. This musical treasure has very warm and pleasant sounds for families at fireside during the holiday season. Thanks to the Skaggs Family for sharing their music, love, and warmth during a very religious and emotional time of the year. CMT will host a Skaggs Family Christmas television special on December 10, 2005, with several repeats of it throughout the holidays. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hoping for more Bluegrass, October 28, 2005

By 

J. P. Stutzke - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Skaggs Family Christmas (Audio CD)

If your expecting more of a 'Bluegrass' type Christmas album, I think this will disappoint you. The album consists mostly of the Whites singing the tunes and some Grandpa Jones mumblings. Its not your typical Ricky Skaggs Bluegrass album that we've all come to love. A 'Kentucky Thunder Christmas', now that would be special! As far as an ordinary Christmas album...its just ok.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The first of more classics to come, November 15, 2005

By 

M. Bullard "MikeB43" (Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Skaggs Family Christmas (Audio CD)

This is sure to be a Christmas bluegrass classic. Each song is tastfully performed with some of the best pickers around. Ricky Skaggs takes the traditional classics a step closer to bluegrass but without the hard driving Kentucky Thunder style of picking.

This is a must for any bluegrass Christmas collection. Oh, and this release says Volume One...I can't wait for volume two and the Tex Logan song... "Christmas Times A Comin" that Ricky and Family perform live each year in their Holiday Tour.

Just go to http://www.skaggsfamilyrecords.com and check out the tour dates.