Pinecastle Records releases A Very Acoustic Christmas today, featuring several of the label’s talented artists. Pinecastle has previously released three Christmas albums, 1994’s Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas, 2003’s A Pinecastle Christmas Gathering, and 2014’s Christmas in the Smokies.
Each album has featured artists that happened to be in the studio
working on releases and were able to take a quick break to get in the
Christmas spirit.
A Very Acoustic Christmas
highlights re-imaginings of classic carols such as “Angels We Have
Heard On High” from Ray Cardwell and “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” by
Clay Hess to new Christmas songs like “Oh The Joy of Christmas” written
by Tim Raybon from newest Pinecastle signee Merle Monroe.
Christmas
songs are also great vessels for special collaborations. Sister Sadie
bandmates Tina Adair and Dale Ann Bradley came together for Jim Reeves’
“An Old Christmas Card”. Tony Wray, of Tyminski and Blue Mafia, recorded
“You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” with long time friend and collaborator
Tim Crouch. Richard Bennett’s jazzy “Have Yourself A Merry Little
Christmas” is given some foundation by Pinecastle’s Ethan Burkhardt on
upright bass. The arrangement comes from his time performing solo
Christmas music at Dolly Parton’s Stampede.
While recording their latest release Denver Snow, Flashback took some time to cut a Don Rigsby original “The Greatest Gift” and the classic “Silent Night”.
A Very Acoustic Christmas Track Listing:
- Angels We Have Heard On High – Ray Cardwell
- The Greatest Gift – Flashback
- It Must Be Getting Close To Christmas – Clay Hess
- Oh The Joy of Christmas – Merle Monroe
- An Old Christmas Card – Dale Ann Bradley & Tina Adair
- You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch – Tony Wray
- It Came Upon A Midnight Clear – Clay Hess
- Silent Night – Flashback
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Richard Bennett & Ethan Burkhardt