Customer Reviews

The Christmas Album

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Given the band's pedigree, you might expect a rocking Christmas album, but this is more of an easy listening traditional country album. There are no steel guitars and only a couple of tracks feature a fiddle, so this should appeal to a wider audience than just country fans.

There is a good mix of familiar and new songs, but the standout track is One Christmas tree, about a couple who have separated or divorced. Their children have to split Christmas between them, but their wish is that everybody could get together again under one Christmas tree. It is a very sad song, but a reflection of the times in which we live.

Colorado Christmas (written by Steve Goodman) is a song they originally recorded in 1983 for a various artists compilation titled A Christmas tradition, but they re-recorded it for this album.

The other original songs (Christmas dinner, This Christmas morning and Love has brought him here) are brilliant. Of the old standards included here, I like We three kings and It came upon the midnight clear best, but that might be because the others have been covered much more frequently. Jingle bells is done as an instrumental.

Overall, this is an excellent Christmas album - one of the best of it's kind.

If you like the Dirt Band, you will love this cd. This music is totally in keeping with their uniqueness as a band. The traditional songs are the weakest on the track, while the original songs are all great. One Christmas Tree and This Christmas Morning are even crankers, acoustic style. One of my most-listened-to Christmas cd's.

I hosted our company's Christmas party at my house. I picked up a few extra Christmas CD's and this was one of them. It literally brought a smile to my face when it started playing (and this was after an evening of fighting crowds and traffic.) I'm usually a Christmas jazz or Chistmas soul listener. This was my main music during the party and EVERYONE asked whose CD it was. When I said it was the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, I was AMAZED at how many people said they'd seen them in concert. It just gets a party going. Great CD.

If you like the Dirt Band, you will love this cd. This music is totally in keeping with their uniqueness as a band. The traditional songs are the weakest on the track, while the original songs are all great. One Christmas Tree and This Christmas Morning are even crankers, acoustic style. One of my most-listened-to Christmas cd's.

Contempoary christmas collage of mountain music both generous in spirt and acoustical profoundness.Hey- simply a real good roll'n listen.The orginals and two other seldom used selections make it a must have for those yearning uniqueness.I'm somewhat suprised they waited this long to release a yuletide effort,but it's been a showcase to thier craftsmanship as accomplished artists.Thanks.

I don't know why I waited so long to add this remarkable Christmas album to my collection. [I didn't get it until after Christmas last year.] It has become a seasonal favorite of mine. Here's a run down of the tracks:

1. "Colorado Christmas" - One of my favorite tracks. Written by the late Steve Goodman, featuring the talents of Alison Krauss on harmony vocals.

2. "We Three Kings" - A bluegrass treatment of the holiday classic. Former NGDB (and since rejoined) founding member John McEuen plays 5-string banjo and Alison Krauss adds fiddle.

3. "Christmas Dinner" - Written by the late "Tennessee" Ernie Ford, this number is a slightly comical look at the "season's eatings" the holiday brings. Vassar Clements adds some tasty fiddling.

4. "One Christmas Tree" - My second favorite track. Written by members Jimmy Ibbotson and Jeff Hanna. Richie Furay (founding member of Poco) adds harmony vocals.

5. "Silent Night" - A fairly straight forward reading of this classic. Wonderful harmonies.

6. "This Christmas Morning" - One of two originals written by member Bob Carpenter. Richie Furay adds harmony vocals.

7. "Silver Bells" - A terrific rendition of this familiar holiday song.

8. "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" - Jeff Hanna plays some wonderful acoustic guitar on this track.

9. "Love Has Brought Him Here" - Bob Carpenter's vocal adds to the beauty of his second contribution to the proceedings.

10. "Little Drummer Boy" - The NGDB put their own unique stamp on this Christmas standard.

11. "Jingle Bells" - Jeff Hanna displays some fine pickin' on this instrumental version. Jimmie Fadden's harmonica is also used to wonderful effect.

This is a terrific Christmas album, and at a value price it's a bargain you shouldn't pass up. [Running Time - 35:48] VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The nitty gritty dirt band performs many christmas classics such as "we three kings" and "silent night". They provide their own country rendition to these classics especially "Jingle Bells". There are also a few new songs such as "Christmas Dinner" and "one Christmas tree".

Each song is played in the dirt bands own unique style. They bring a freshness to such xmas standards as "We three kings" and "Jingle Bells". 3 1/2 stars.

Excellent Christmas album, with a country twist on some traditional songs. Colorado Christmas is required listening in my house over the holidays.

really enjoyed this CD. Less Rock n Roll as I remembered The band from years back but still have all the heart to touch mine with their Christmas spirit.

This purchase was to replace a CD that I have given to a cousin. That's how much I love these songs. Over the years, it has truly become our family favorite, and I have unopened copies that I will be giving to my children as they grow up and move out.