Patty Loveless - 'Bluegrass & White Snow'

Bluegrass & White Snow Bottom Line:

Patty Loveless has one of the most perfect voices in country music, & of late has been taking that voice back to her Appalachian roots with such releases as the amazing Mountain Soul. Just in time for Christmas, Patty once again returns to her beloved Kentucky home at that most magical season of the year with a breathtakingly beautiful release, Bluegrass & White Snow.

With a beautiful selection of traditional numbers, newer "classics," & her own new offerings, Patty gives us a lovely look at her own Christmas traditions & gives us her beloved musical memories to add to our own.

She opens with a classic, lovely rendition of "Away in a Manger," her honey-sweet voice caressed with the simple, gentle tones of an acoustic guitar, a bass, fiddle, mandolin, and mandola. It is as beautiful a hymn as it is a beloved Christmas classic, and here it is simple and glorious. Patty follows up with "Silent Night," where the same absolute simplicity of the acoustic instrumentation and Patty's golden vocals are joined by Claire Lynch and Trisha Yearwood on background vocals, and the overall is a true beauty for the blessed night.

Of the 13 tracks, there are eight classic hymns; in addition to "Away in a Manger" and "Silent Night," Patty is joined by Jon Randall for an exquisite take on "Joy To the World" (with Emmylou Harris's perfect tones joining in for a breathtaking harmony); an instrumental version of "Carol of the Bells," predominantly performed by the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble; "The First Noel"; a duet with Rebecca Lynn Howard on "Little Drummer Boy"; "Silver Bells", guest-starring Vince Gill on mandolin as well as Vince with wife Amy Grant on background vocals; and "O Little Town of Bethlehem."

Then Patty comes into the near-present, with the Tex Logan western-style "Christmas Time's A'Comin'" and her own co-written "Santa Train" which features some hot-sawin' fun fiddlin' and banjo, letting in the sheer joy of a family Christmas at home, a feeling which is fulfilled further with "Christmas Day At My House," a sweet anthem to that glorious day and all the feelings which are a part of it. The final tracks are "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem," a showcase for Patty's glorious voice, and finally the title track, "Bluegrass, White Snow," with guests Dolly Parton and Ricky Skaggs, another joyous memory of Christmas in Appalachia co-written by Loveless.

Patty Loveless opens her arms and welcomes us into her heart for Christmas. This is a delightful gift, and I thank her for it. It's a shame music this good is only heard once a year.

Bluegrass & White Snow Track List:

1. Away in a Manger
2. Silent Night
3. Joy to the World
4. Carol of the Bells
5. The First Noel
6. Little Drummer Boy
7. Silver Bells
8. O Little Town of Bethlehem
9. Christmas Time's a Comin'
10. Santa Train
11. Christmas Day at My House
12. Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
13. Bluegrass, White Snow