Home For Christmas: Voices From The Heartland is a twelve-song collection released by Rounder Records. There are different musical genres represented on the album, which means there's a little something for everyone. Pick up a copy if you like variety when it comes to Christmas songs.
Riders In The Sky's version of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" is warm and inviting with its western-inspired harmonies and background music. When listening to this, it won't be hard imagining yourself sitting around a campfire singing along to the familiar lyrics.
Sam Moore lends his voice to "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," and I like how soulful he sounds. It's really a contrast as compared to Riders In The Sky's song, but it fits in just the same. The arrangement also makes the song have a little bit of a groove you can't help but notice.
It's no surprise that Roomful Of Blues tackles "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" with a bluesy sound, complete with trumpets, saxophones, and drums keeping the beat. As much as I enjoy the vocals, the individual instrumental solos are the best parts of this song.
I was a big fan of Deana Carter's Father Christmas album, so being able to hear her sing "The Christmas Song" on this album is a treat. Her version is done acoustically (with her father playing guitar) and sounds very warm and comforting. "Blue Christmas" isn't a favorite of mine, but Leon Redbone's version isn't that bad. Thanks in part to his wonderful voice and the low notes he can hit. Another song showcasing some lower notes on the scale is "You're All I Want For Christmas," performed by The Persuasions.
Rhonda Vincent can really add cheer to any music compilation and her contribution to this disc is "Let It Snow." It's my favorite song, no doubt because I am such a big fan of her music. There's talent oozing out of her and that goes for her mandolin playing abilities as well as her voice. She makes the album complete so that's why I saved the best song for last.
Rhonda Vincent can really add cheer to any music compilation and her contribution to this disc is "Let It Snow." It's my favorite song, no doubt because I am such a big fan of her music. There's talent oozing out of her and that goes for her mandolin playing abilities as well as her voice. She makes the album complete so that's why I saved the best song for last.
Track List:
- I'll Be Home for Christmas - Riders In The Sky
- Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Sam Moore
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Roomful Of Blues
- The First Noel/It Came Upon a Midnight Clear/Joy to the World - Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
- Please Come Home For Christmas - Charles Brown
- The Christmas Song - Deana Carter
- Jingle Bells - Wilson Pickett
- Blue Christmas - Leon Redbone
- You're All I Want for Christmas - The Persuasions
- Let It Snow - Rhonda Vincent
- Winter Wonderland - Shirley Alston
- Oh, Holy Night - Irma Thomas
