Bluegrass & White Snow: A Mountain Christmas
Encyclopedia
Bluegrass & White Snow: A Mountain Christmas is the twelfth album of original recordings by country music artist Patty Loveless
. The first half of the album comprises covers of well-known traditional Christmas tunes. There are new renditions of the familiar "Silver Bells" and "Christmas Time's a-Coming." There are also three new tunes, all co-written by Loveless and her producer-husband Emory Gordy, Jr.
: "Santa Train," "Christmas Day at My House," and "Bluegrass, White Snow," the latter of which is supported by vocals from Dolly Parton
and Ricky Skaggs
. There is an instrumental track on the album, "Carol of the Bells." (This would be the only track on a Patty Loveless album on which Loveless herself is absent.) The album rose as high as #20 on the Billboard Top Country albums chart.
Patty Loveless
Patty Loveless , is an American country music singer.Since her emergence on the country music scene in late 1986 with her first album, Loveless has been one of the most popular female singers of the Neotraditional country movement, although she has also recorded albums in the Country pop and...
. The first half of the album comprises covers of well-known traditional Christmas tunes. There are new renditions of the familiar "Silver Bells" and "Christmas Time's a-Coming." There are also three new tunes, all co-written by Loveless and her producer-husband Emory Gordy, Jr.
Emory Gordy, Jr.
Emory Gordy, Jr., born December 25, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, is an American musician and music producer. Since 1989, he has been married to country music artist Patty Loveless. Gordy was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1992...
: "Santa Train," "Christmas Day at My House," and "Bluegrass, White Snow," the latter of which is supported by vocals from Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
and Ricky Skaggs
Ricky Skaggs
Rickie Lee "Ricky" Skaggs is a country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, and banjo.-Early career:...
. There is an instrumental track on the album, "Carol of the Bells." (This would be the only track on a Patty Loveless album on which Loveless herself is absent.) The album rose as high as #20 on the Billboard Top Country albums chart.
Track listing
- "Away in a MangerAway in a Manger"Away in a Manger" is a Christmas carol first published in 1885 in Philadelphia and used widely throughout the English-speaking world. In Britain it is one of the most popular carols, a 1996 Gallup Poll ranking it joint second.-History of the lyrics:...
" (Traditional) – 2:50 - "Silent Night" (Josef MohrJosef MohrJoseph Mohr, sometimes spelt Josef was an Austrian Roman Catholic priest and composer, who wrote the words to the Christmas carol "Silent Night".-Biography:...
, Franz Gruber) – 3:14 - "Joy to the WorldJoy to the World"Joy to the World" is a Christian Christmas carol.The words are by English hymn writer Isaac Watts, based on Psalm 98 in the Bible. The song was first published in 1719 in Watts' collection; The Psalms of David: Imitated in the language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian state and...
" [with Jon RandallJon RandallJon Randall Stewart is an American country music artist. Signed to RCA Records in 1995, he debuted that year with the album What You Don't Know. A second album for RCA, 1996's Great Day to Be Alive, was recorded but never released...
] (George Frideric HandelGeorge Frideric HandelGeorge Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
, Isaac WattsIsaac WattsIsaac Watts was an English hymnwriter, theologian and logician. A prolific and popular hymnwriter, he was recognised as the "Father of English Hymnody", credited with some 750 hymns...
, Lowell MasonLowell MasonLowell Mason was a leading figure in American church music, the composer of over 1600 hymn tunes, many of which are often sung today. His most well-known tunes include Mary Had A Little Lamb and the arrangement of Joy to the World...
) – 2:12 - "Carol of the BellsCarol of the Bells"Carol of the Bells" is the common English language title of a Christmas carol of Ukrainian origin, which has in recent years grown in popularity, particularly in English-speaking countries. The work was originally a choral miniature composition by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych based on...
" [instrumental] (Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych, Peter Wilhousky) – 2:36 - "The First Noel" (Traditional) – 2:17
- "Little Drummer BoyLittle Drummer Boy"The Little Drummer Boy," originally known as "Carol of the Drum," is a popular Christmas song written by the American classical music composer/teacher Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. It was recorded 1955 by the Trapp Family Singers and further popularized by a 1958 recording by the Harry...
" [with Rebecca Lynn HowardRebecca Lynn HowardRebecca Lynn Howard is an American country music artist. She has charted seven singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and has released three studio albums...
] (Katherine K. DavisKatherine K. DavisKatherine Kennicott Davis was a composer, pianist, and author of the famous Christmas tune "The Little Drummer Boy".-Biography:...
, Henry Onorati, Harry SimeoneHarry SimeoneHarry Moses Simeone was a distinguished music arranger, conductor and composer, best known for arranging the famous Christmas song "The Little Drummer Boy", for which he received co-writing credit.-Early years:Harry grew up listening to stars performing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City,...
) – 3:54 - "Silver Bells" (Jay LivingstonJay LivingstonJay Livingston was an American composer and singer best known as half of a songwriting duo with Ray Evans that specialized in songs composed for films. Livingston wrote the music and Evans the lyrics....
, Ray EvansRay EvansRaymond Bernard Evans was an American songwriter. He was a partner in a composing and songwriting duo with Jay Livingston, known for the songs they composed for films...
) – 3:21 - "O Little Town of BethlehemO Little Town of Bethlehem"O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a popular Christmas carol. The text was written by Phillips Brooks , an Episcopal priest, Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia. He was inspired by visiting the Palestinian city of Bethlehem in 1865. Three years later, he wrote the poem for his...
" (Phillips BrooksPhillips BrooksPhillips Brooks was an American clergyman and author, who briefly served as Bishop of Massachusetts in the Episcopal Church during the early 1890s. In the Episcopal liturgical calendar he is remembered on January 23...
, Lewis H. Redner) – 3:46 - "Christmas Time's a Comin'" (Tex Logan) – 3:36
- "Santa Train" (Patty Loveless, Emory Gordy, Jr.Emory Gordy, Jr.Emory Gordy, Jr., born December 25, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, is an American musician and music producer. Since 1989, he has been married to country music artist Patty Loveless. Gordy was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1992...
) – 2:58 - "Christmas Day at My House" (Loveless, Gordy, Jr.) – 2:25
- "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem" (Arthur Leroy Phipps) – 3:22
- "Bluegrass, White Snow" (Loveless, Gordy, Jr.) – 3:21
Personnel
- Butch Baldassari – Mandolin
- Todd CerneyTodd CerneyTodd Cerney was an American songwriter and musician.He composed "Good Morning Beautiful", a 2002 five-week country number one hit for Steve Holy ; "The Blues Is My Business" , part of Etta James' 2003 Grammy Award winning album "Let's Roll"; and "I'll Still Be Loving You", a 1987...
– Mandolin - Jim DeMain – Mastering
- Charlie Derrington – Mandola
- Tonya Derry – Artist Coordination
- Stephan Dudash – Mandolin
- Stuart DuncanStuart DuncanStuart Duncan is a bluegrass musician who plays the fiddle, mandolin, guitar and banjo. Born in Quantico, Virginia and raised in Santa Paula, California, where he played in the school band, he has been a member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band since 1985, and is a much-in-demand session musician...
– Fiddle, Mandolin, Mandocello - Gene Ford – Guitar
- Claudia Fowler – Stylist
- Steve Gibson – Banjo, Bouzouki, Guitar, Percussion, Mandola
- Vince GillVince GillVincent Grant "Vince" Gill is an American neotraditional country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman to the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s, and as a solo artist beginning in 1983, where his talents as a...
– Mandolin, Background Vocals - Emory Gordy, Jr.Emory Gordy, Jr.Emory Gordy, Jr., born December 25, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, is an American musician and music producer. Since 1989, he has been married to country music artist Patty Loveless. Gordy was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1992...
– Bass, Guitar, Arranger, Producer - Amy GrantAmy GrantAmy Lee Grant is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, media personality and actress, best known for her Christian music. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christian Pop"...
– Background Vocals - Rob Haines – Mandolin
- Russ Harrington – Photography
- Emmylou HarrisEmmylou HarrisEmmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
– Background Vocals - Deb Haus – Art Direction, Artist Development
- John Hedgecoth – Mandocello
- Tim Hensley – Mandolin, Background Vocals
- Jim Horn – Recorder
- Rob Ickes – Dobro
- Beth Kindig – Art Direction, Design
- Lauren Koch – Contractor
- Butch Lee – Dobro, Percussion, Bass Drums, Bells, Wind Chimes, Glass
- Patty Loveless – Sleigh Bells, Train Whistle
- Claire Lynch – Background Vocals
- Van Manakas – Mandolin
- Anthony Martin – A&R
- J.C. Monterrosa – Assistant
- Nashville Mandolin Ensemble – Arranger
- Justin Niebank – Engineer, Mixing
- Alan O'Bryant – Banjo
- Dolly PartonDolly PartonDolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
– Background Vocals - Carmella Ramsey – Fiddle, Background Vocals
- Jon Randall – Mandolin, Background Vocals
- Deanie Richardson – Fiddle, Mandolin
- Victoria Russell – Creative Producer
- Ricky SkaggsRicky SkaggsRickie Lee "Ricky" Skaggs is a country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, and banjo.-Early career:...
– Mandolin, Background Vocals - Kay Smith – Artist Coordination
- David Spicher – Bass
- Bruce Sweetman – Mandolin
- Biff Watson – Guitar, Hi String Guitar, Baritone Guitar
- Blake Williams – Banjo, Bass
- Debra Wingo – Make-Up, Hair Stylist
- Trisha YearwoodTrisha YearwoodPatricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
– Background Vocals - Paul Zonn – Arranger
Chart performance
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 20 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 172 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Holiday Albums | 41 |
External links
- Bluegrass, White Snow performance at YouTube.
- Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem performance at YouTube