Album: A Diamond Rio Christmas: The Star Still Shines / Artist: Diamond Rio / 12 tracks / Word Entertainment
Diamond
Rio have been entertaining country music fans for since 1984, with fifteen
songs that charted in the top five on the country charts, nine of which went
all the way to # 1, including their debut single “Meet In The Middle.” This
holiday season, marks the first time that the country music icons have
released a Christmas album, A Diamond Rio Christmas: The Star Still Shines.
A Diamond Rio Christmas features many familiar tunes such as a country swing rendition of “Winter Wonderland,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” recorded in A capella fashion.
The rich timbre of Marty Roe’s vocals leads the way for a countrified interpretation of Mel Torme’s “The Christmas Song,” while Gene Johnson’s tenor vocals and the deep baritone voice of Dana Williams, join him to form some beautiful three-part harmonies. Putting their own stamp on this Christmas standard, Dan Truman chips in with an elegant piano solo, and Johnson works some pretty chords on his mandolin.
Sounding a lot like a cowboy from another era, Gene Autry, lead singer Marty Roe gives us a splendid “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow.” Jimmy Olander’s guitar riffs are gold, and Truman lays down some incredible piano chops.
Olander’s banjo and Brian Prout’s drumming set the tempo for “Sleigh Ride,” as Diamond Rio presents a fun, joyous attitude. First, Olander makes his banjo’s chords dance like firebugs in the moonlight, and then he gifts us with an equally impressive guitar solo.
Other quality performances to listen for on this CD include some more magical harmonies on Charlie Brown’s favorite song, the Vince Guaraldi / Lee Mendelson tune, “Christmastime Is Here.” There is a fine guitar solo that forms the bridge for the tune, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” and “Christmas Is Coming,” combines some great banjo playing with a lively honky tonk piano.
Diamond Rio’s harmonies and excellent musicianship make for many magical moments as the album A Diamond Rio Christmas: The Star Still Shines unfolds. The only weak spots on the record both occur with hymns “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” and the aforementioned A capella version of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” It is always difficult to sing A capella so we will cut the boys some slack here, but on “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” they sound like they are singing a little bit out of their range.
If you would like to put a country twist on some great Christmas classics then you may want to purchase a copy of A Diamond Rio Christmas: The Star Still Shines.
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Reviewed December 2007
