Marshall Tucker Band Carolina Christmas CD

Audio Mixers: Doug Gray; Chris Hicks; Buddy Strong; Keith Glenn.

Liner Note Author: Barry Alfonso.

Recording information: Southeastern Studios, Easley, SC.

Arranger: Doug Gray.

So it's come to this: a Marshall Tucker Christmas album. The first urge is to dismiss this as another attempt to cash in on the holiday record market, but right from the onset of the opener, "White Christmas," it becomes evident that this is an album a long time in the making, reassembling bandmembers from incarnations spanning over three decades. The performances are inspired but relaxed, much like their earliest releases, and there are moments when their signature hard rock sound can easily wipe away the notions that this is a Christmas record if it weren't for the timeless melodies and lyrics. Much of this album (like Marshall Tucker's career) is a bold move, especially as there are very few Southern rock Christmas records available. A nice alternative to the ho-hum various-artists holiday compilations and ideal for those looking for their holiday records to have a little hot sauce thrown in the mix. ~ Rob Theakston

The Marshall Tucker Band: Doug Gray, Stuart Swanlund, David Muse.

Personnel: Chris Hicks, Clay Cook (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); Stuart Swanlund (vocals, guitar, slide guitar); Barry "B.B." Borden (vocals, drums, percussion); Doug Gray (vocals, percussion); Gabrielle Gray Leopard (vocals); George McCorkle (guitar); Buddy Strong (acoustic guitar, shaker); W.L. Guthrie (mandolin); David Muse (flute, harmonica, saxophone, keyboards); Jerry Eubanks (saxophone); Paul Hornsby (piano, keyboards); Steve Keeter (keyboards); Pat Ellwood (bass guitar); Keith Glenn (shaker, bells); Alan Kerr (percussion).