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| A Very Special Acoustic Christmas | 
 enlarge | Artist: Various Artists
Label: Lost Highway
Category: Music
List Price: $9.98
Buy New: $4.93
You Save: $5.05 (51%)
Buy New/Used from $2.14
Avg. Customer Rating:  (10 reviews)
Sales Rank: 21498
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.4 x 4.7 x 0.3
MPN: 000103802
UPC: 602498606780
EAN: 0602498606780
ASIN: B0000CAV4C
Release Date: October 21, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Silent Night - Reba McEntire | | • | Frosty The Snowman - Dan Tyminski | | • | Please Come Home For Christmas - Willie Nelson | | • | Just Put a Ribbon In Your Hair - Alan Jackson | | • | Only You Can Bring Me Cheer (Gentleman's Lady) - Alison Krauss | | • | Even Santa Claus Gets The Blues - Marty Stuart | | • | Jingle Bells - Earl Scruggs | | • | Christmas Is Near - Ralph Stanley | | • | O Come All Ye Faithful - Patty Loveless | | • | O Holy Night - Wynonna | | • | Winter Wonderland - Pat Green | | • | Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Sam Bush | | • | Away In A Manger - Ricky Skaggs | | • | Christmas Time At Home - Rhonda Vincent | | • | I'll Be Home For Christmas - Tift Merritt | | • | Peace - Norah Jones |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Every year since 1987, there's been A Very Special Christmas record of one sort or another, the proceeds of which go to the Special Olympics. This year's A Very Special Acoustic Christmas is as great as any previous year's efforts, even though it's deliciously unplugged. Country music superstars like Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, and Wynonna are balanced by such legendary country and bluegrass figures as Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs, and Willie Nelson (doing a version of Charles Brown's "Please Come Home for Christmas" that's almost as haunting as Brown's). Throw in the father of newgrass Sam Bush's sparkling "Let it Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!," Tift Merritt's sensual "I'll Be Home for Christmas," and a handful of other luminaries and you get a 16-tune acoustic set long on value that ends with multi-Grammy-winner Norah Jones singing "Peace." --Martin Keller
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 A Very Special Acoustic Christmas... indeed! December 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Must admit that I normally don't buy many country music albums. Out of hundreds of music CDs, I could count the total of this genre on two hands, and my bluegrass and folk collection is fairly thin. But for some reason, the artists on A Very Special Acoustic Christmas seem to express the music of the season in a truly wonderful way. Maybe it's just the season, but I don't think so, as this is truly a superb album.
This album is the sixth in the Very Special Christmas Series, which was produced on behalf of Special Olympics, and since the first "A Very Special Christmas" album was released in 1987, this amazingly successful series has raised more than $100 million for Special Olympics, making it the most ever raised by a benefit series. And every CD purchased still helps this worthy cause - look them up sometime.
This album was released on the the Grammy-award winning Lost Highway Records label, and the sixteen tracks and performers are:
1. Silent Night, by Reba McEntire
2. Frosty the Snowman, by Dan Tyminski
3. Please Come Home for Christmas, by Willie Nelson
4. Just Put a Ribbon in Your Hair, by Alan Jackson
5. Only You Can Bring Me Cheer, by Alison Krauss
6. Even Santa Claus Gets the Blues, by Marty Stuart
7. Jingle Bells, by Earl Scruggs
8. Christmas is Near, by Ralph Stanley
9. O Come All Ye Faithful, by Patti Loveless
10. O Holy Night, by Wynonna
11. Winter Wonderland, by Pat Green
12. Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!, by Sam Bush
13. Away in a Manger, by Ricky Skaggs
14. Christmas Time at Home, by Rhonda Vincent
15. I'll be Home for Christmas, by Tift Merritt
16. Peace, by Norah Jones
Some of these songs will be familiar, and some are new versions produced for this album for its release in 2003. Will just comment on a few of the tracks, and must say that opening with Reba McEntire's beautiful version of "Silent Night" and closing with Norah Jones singing and playing piano in her rendition of "Peace" made this album special. Liked Dan Tyminski's version of "Frosty the Snowman," but Willie Nelson's rendition of "Please Come Home for Christmas" is a special track worth repeating. Alison Kraus' romantic offering was very special surprise (to me), and "O Holy Night," by Wynonna became another favorite. Could go on about each track, as there are no 'dogs' here at all.
There are a number of excellent offerings in this Very Special Christmas Series that are worth mentioning, as they cover a wide range of musical tasted. Have listed them in order here, along with the years their original release:
#1. A Very Special Christmas - 1987
#2. A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 2 - 1992
#3. A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 3 - 1997
#4. A Very Special Christmas Live! - 1999
#5. A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 5 - 2001
#6. A Very Special Acoustic Christmas - 2003
These are all good CDs, easily 4-stars or better, and each is still being sold in support of Special Olympics. However, you may wish to pass on the following sets for the reasons noted:
Playlist Plus: A Very Special Christmas. This is actually a compilation set of previously released CDs: A Very Special Christmas 2, A Very Special Christmas 3 and A Very Special Acoustic Christmas. There is nothing on the packaging to indicate this, nor on the product description, and check the price on this set accordingly.
A Very Special Christmas Collection. This is a set which is made up of the first five discs in a so-called box set, but the details on the product description are very sketchy. See for yourself, and again, check the price on this set on a comparative basis.
In summary, A Very Special Acoustic Christmas has been out for several Christmas seasons now, but it's a good holiday album with some new songs and a few traditional favorites, not to mention that it benefits a very worthy charity. It's a fine collection of seasonal songs that will give fans of country and acoustic music a lot of pleasure, and could be a fine gift as well. It's a 5-star treat.
Happy Holidays!
 Okay if you like slow music December 20, 2006
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I guess this isn't what I was expecting - this is mostly the serious side of Christmas, not really any upbeat fun country stuff.
Keep On Praying December 18, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This set has been out for several Christmas seasons, but has just come to our house this year. It's a lovely set with consistency and variety. Reba McEntire opens with a lovely version of "Silent Night" with twang in her voice. Arif Mardin produced Willie Nelson's aching version of "Please Come Home for Christmas," "If not for Christmas, by New Year's night." Alison Krauss has written a romantic Christmas song with a modern flare titled "Only You Can Bring Me Cheer," "Hey, how about you stay? We could spend the night together. We could rock the night away." Marty Stuart's got swagger in his stocking on his self-penned "Even Santa Claus Gets the Blues," "What I wouldn't give for just one silent night, just me & Momma Claus by the warm firelight." Ralph Stanley's "Christmas Is Near" is a homey tune that speaks to the joys of family being nearby during the holidays. Patty Loveless does a gorgeous version of the traditional "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Sing choirs of angels, sing in exaltation. Sing all ye citizens of heaven above." Sam Bush's mandolin makes a joyful noise of the lovely melody "Let It Snow!" Ricky Skaggs' voice expresses wonder on the beautiful traditional melody "Away in a Manger." Ronda Vincent's self-penned tune "Christmas Time At Home" makes you want to start heading home for the holidays. Tift Merritt's "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is a slow-burning version, "The Lord is my shepherd, so I know I'll make it through; Baby, keep on praying because it's all that we can do." Norah Jones ends the set with a slow song called "Peace" that has a lovely melody and Norah's piano hauntingly echoing the chorus, "Peace is for everyone." This is a good Christmas set with some new songs and a few traditional favorites. Enjoy!
Wow! Especially Alison Krauss number! December 11, 2004
7 out of 10 found this review helpful
Great CD! Some great new Christmas songs, not just a rehash of the old traditionals. If you are looking for a fresh Christmas CD this is it! Some great blues possibilities on this CD. I am really blown away by Alison Krauss' "Only You Can Bring Me Cheer". I never ever even imagined her being able to sing rock/blues. I wish she would release a whole CD like this!!!
Buy this album for charity and the Alan Jackson cut December 7, 2004
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
If you want an upbeat Christmas album for that holiday party your throwing, this might not be it. This is a great album for those relaxing nights next to the fire with those you love. Willie Nelson, Ricky Skaggs, and Patty Loveless highlight this album. If anything, buy the album for Alan Jackson's cut of "Just Put a Ribbon in Your Hair." A version that is so good, could ultimately become a Christmas classic. A true gem. Radio! Play this song!!!
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