White Christmas [Bonus Tracks] (CD - 1999)

Personnel includes: Martina McBride (vocals); Dennis Burnside (arranger); Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); Brent Mason (electric guitar); Carl Gorodetzky, Janet Askey, Karen Winkelmann, JoAnn Cruthirds, Elisabeth Small, Gerald C. Greer, Carolyn Wann, Lee Larrison, Conni Ellisor, Mary Kathryn Vanosdale, David Angell, Alan Umstead, David Davidson (violin); Jim Grosjean, Kristin Wilkinson (viola); Anthony La Marchina, Julia E. Tanner (cello); Mary A. Hoepfinger (harp); Karen Winkelmann (recorder); Skip Cleavinger (penny whistle); Matt Rollings, Jim Medlin (piano); Steve Nathan (synthesizer); Craig Nelson (acoustic bass); Joe Chemay (electric bass); Shannon Forrest (drums); Sam Bacco (percussion); James Ferguson, Marabeth Jordan, Louis D. Nunley, Lisa Silver (background vocals).

Engineers include: Clarke Schleicher, Tony Green, Mike Poole.

Recorded at Ocean Way, Nashville, Tennessee and Emerald-The Tracking Room, Nashville, Tennessee.

All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.

Personnel: Ann Richards (flute); Dan Lochrie, Dan Lochrie (clarinet); Bill Woodworth, Bobby G. Taylor , Bill Woodworth, Bobby Taylor (oboe); Mark Wilson Jordan, Mark Jordan (synthesizer); Dennis Wilson , Dennis Wilson Quintet (background vocals); Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); Brent Mason (electric guitar); Nashville String Machine (strings); Sam Levine (flute); Skip Cleavinger (pennywhistle); Karen Winkelmann (recorder); Lee Levine (clarinet); Jim Medlin, Matt Rollings (piano); Steve Nathan (synthesizer); Joe Chemay (bass guitar); Lonnie Wilson, Shannon Forrest (drums); Eric Darken, Sam Bacco (percussion); Lisa Silver, Marabeth Jordon, Mark Ivey, Bergen White, James Ferguson, Louis Dean Nunley (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Clarke Schleicher; John McBride; Al Schmitt.

Recording information: Blackbird Studios, Nashville, TN; Emerald - The Tracking Room, Nashville, TN; Emerald Studios; Love Shack; Masterfonics, Nashville, TN; Ocean Way Studios, Nashville, TN; Seventeen Grand recording; Sound Stage Studios, Nashville, TN; The Money Pit, Nashville, TN.

Photographer: Kristin Barlowe.

Arranger: Dennis Burnside.

Once, country artists used Christmas albums as an opportunity to create versions of holiday classics suitable for airplay on country radio. In the late '90s, country artists used holiday albums as an opportunity to stretch artistically--and that usually meant recording with a full orchestra. Martina McBride's WHITE CHRISTMAS, her first holiday collection, is a fine example of this trend. It finds McBride, a singer of astonishing talent and power, cradling her amazing voice in lush orchestral arrangements which occasionally, as on a track like "Let It Snow," turn whimsical. The material here is strictly classic Christmas, from secular favorites like "Silver Bells," and "I'll Be Home For Christmas" to religious ones like "What Child Is This" and "Away In A Manger."

In an attempt to mimic classic Christmas albums of the past, there's a vocal choir on many tracks, but McBride's voice is so breathtaking that you find yourself wishing they'd just be quiet and let her do all the singing. Thankfully, on the standout track, "O Holy Night," the arranger wisely lets her soaring vocals go solo. WHITE CHRISTMAS' true appeal is the warmth and emotion McBride manages to bring to Christmas standards the listener has heard countless times.

Martina McBride's White Christmas features the singer's countrified versions of holiday classics like the title track, "The Christmas Song," "Silver Bells," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," and "Silent Night." [The album was reissued in 2007 with a slightly re-ordered track list as well as bonus tracks, including "O Holy Night" and "What Child Is This."] ~ Heather Phares minimize