Honky Tonk Christmas (CD - 1993)

Personnel: Alan Jackson, Ross Bagdasarian, Janice Karman (vocals); Brent Mason, Bruce Watkins, Biff Watson (guitar); Paul Franklin, Jim Vest, Weldon Myrick (steel guitars); Mark Casstevens (banjo); Stuart Duncan (mandolin, fiddle); Harley Allen (mandolin); Jim Horn (saxophone); Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano); Roy Huskey, Jr., Glenn Worf (bass); Eddie Bayers (drums); Eric Darken (percussion); John Wesley Ryles, Bruce Rutherford, Chris Harris, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Mike Haynes, Vanessa Adair, Cindy Ashcraft, Ashley Berry, Angela Chancellor, Jennifer Cockrell, Joe Fisher, Rhonda Forlaw, Kelly Giedt, Dottie Hahn, Frank Hamlin, Steve Hood, Dick Kaiser, Jimmy Kull, Rich Morris, Kerri Pauley, Jon RObbin, Kara Ross, Roxane Stueve, Kris Sultmeir, Tom Thorton (background vocals).

Producers: Keith Stegall, Scott Hendricks, Don Cook, Ross Bagdasarian, Janice Karman.

Engineers include: John Kelton, Joe Bogan, Ross Bagdasarian.

Recorded at Sound Stage Studios, Sixteenth Avenue Sound and Nightingale Recording Studio, Nashville, Tennessee; Northbeach Studio, Franklin, Tennessee. Includes liner notes by Alan Jackson.

One of the best country Christmas albums, this smart blend of old and new songs doesn't have a traditional carol in the bunch. He starts off strong with the rocking "Honky Tonk Christmas" and then sings a gorgeous duet with Alison Krauss. He adds his voice to a previously taped track by the late Keith Whitley on "There's a New Kid in Town" and does a credible job with Merle Haggard's "If We Make It Through December." Save for a silly duet with the cartoon Chipmunks, this is a fabulous album. ~ Brian Mansfield minimize