A Very Special Acoustic Christmas

by Various Artists

This CD supports the awareness for the Special Olympics.

Personnel: David Wilson , John Jorgenson, Ron Block, Willie Nelson (guitar); Kenny Vaughn (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Marty Stuart, Jondan McBride (acoustic guitar, mandolin); Jon Randall (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Cody Kilby, Dann Huff, Emory Gordy Jr., Chris Tondre, Randy Scruggs, B. James Lowry, J.T. Corenflos , Larry Beaird, Bruce Watkins, Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar); Bruce Bouton (steel guitar); Larry Baxton (nylon-string guitar); Randy Kohrs, Rob Ickes (dobro); Stuart Duncan (banjo, mandolin, fiddle, background vocals); Ronnie Stewart , Earl Scruggs (banjo); Sam Bush (mandocello, mandola, mandolin); Glen Duncan (mandolin, fiddle); Dan Tyminski (mandolin, bells); Mike Compton, Ricky Skaggs (mandolin); Brendon Anthony (violin); Jonathan Yudkin (fiddle, cello); Kenny Kosek, Andy Leftwich, Shad Cobb (fiddle); Vinnie Ciesielski (trumpet, flugelhorn); Roy Agee (trombone); Randy McCormick (piano, synthesizer); Greenwood Hart, Norah Jones, Rob Schwimmer (piano); Brandon Bush (Wurlitzer organ, glockenspiel); Mike Rojas , Gabe Dixon (keyboards); Kevin Grantt (acoustic bass, upright bass); Tony Garnier (acoustic bass); Barry Bales, Mark Fain (upright bass); Viktor Krauss (electric bass); Joe Mardin (drums, tubular bells); Harry Stinson (drums, percussion, background vocals); Justin Pollard (drums, percussion); Chris Brown , Zeke Hutchins, Shannon Forrest (drums); Eric Darken, Larry Atamanuik (percussion); John Wesley Ryles, Lisa Cochran, Marabeth Jordan, Patty Loveless, Vicki Hampton, Bergen White, Kim Fleming, Liana Manis, Louis Dean Nunley, Brian Glenn (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Ken Tondre; Gary Paczosa; Jay Newland; John Guess; John Kelton; Justin Niebank; Mark Hagen; Michael O'Reilly; Ray Kennedy; Ron Reynolds; Bil VornDick; Brent King.

Liner Note Author: Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

Recording information: Emerald ENtertainment, Nashville, TN; Emerald Studios, Nashville, TN; Minutiae Sound, Nashville, TN; Music City Studios, Gallatin, TN; Right Track Studios, New York, NY; Room And Board Studio, Nashville, TN; SCruggs Sound Studio, Nashville, TN; Seventeen Grand recording; Skaggs Place Recording Studio, Hendersonville, TN; Sorcerer SOund, New York, NY; Sound Station, Nashville, TN; Starstruck, Nashville, TN; Station West, Nashville, TN.

Arrangers: Emory Gordy Jr.; Norro Wilson; Patty Loveless; Reba McEntire; Buddy Cannon.

In the dense annual blizzard of holiday albums, A VERY SPECIAL ACOUSTIC CHRISTMAS shines like a gleaming treetop star from a warm, inviting living room, thanks to its organic, no-frills approach and its remarkable lineup of performers. Dan Tyminski (of O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? fame) offers up a charming version of "Frosty the Snowman," while Willie Nelson lends his legendary voice and guitar playing to a fine take on "Please Come Home for Christmas."

Alison Krauss contributes her surprisingly poppy "Only You Can Bring Me Cheer (Gentleman's Lady)," Marty Stuart confides that "Even Santa Claus Gets the Blues," and Pat Green saunters through a relaxed "Winter Wonderland." Bringing the Yuletide album to an appropriate close is Norah Jones, in a beautiful solo rendition of Horace Silver's "Peace."