How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites from the Grand Ole Opry MP3 Download

How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites from the Grand Ole Opry songs Only his fourth studio album, NOEL finds Josh Groban already tackling that canonical mainstay of the adult contemporary singer, the Christmas album. As always, NOEL is a masterfully performed set, balanced neatly between pop standards and the more operatic material that showcases Groban's roots. Interestingly, he sounds best on the most familiar holiday standards, like "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song," both of which he invests with casual, jazzy phrasing, providing a welcome disinclination for the usual Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby homages that many other young singers in the style fall into. Even this early into his career, Groban clearly has a deeply held sense of who he is as a singer and interpreter, and this lovely collection is proof that he's one of the most exciting adult contemporary stars to appear in ages. Bringing Josh Groban's majestic yet intimate voice to Christmas music is truly a gift this holiday season. The young Adult Contemporary star's fourth studio album brings together the traditional such as 'Silent Night' with the contemporary such as 'I'll Be Home For Christmas' and the new, 'Thankful'. Featuring duets with Country's Faith Hill and R&B's Brian McKnight, and inspirational music's master choir, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and produced by the illustrious David Foster the album's wide appeal promises that a timeless Christmas music classic will be beneath the tree this year. Recording information: Chartmaker Studios; EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England; Rak Studios; Westlake Audio. Directors: Bill Ives ; Kirk Franklin; Craig Jessop. Photographer: Frank Ockenfels. Unknown Contributor Role: London Symphony Orchestra. Arrangers: E. Taylor; Josh Groban; Kirk Franklin; William Ross ; Brad Dechter. Personnel: Josh Groban (piano); Dean Parks, Andy McKee (guitar); Lucia Micarelli (violin); Jochem van der Saag (programming); Richard Page ...

How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites from the Grand Ole Opry CD music Not since Prince released the three-hour, three-CD set EMANCIPATION in 1996 or the Magnetic Fields took a similar number of discs for the sprawling 69 LOVE SONGS in 1999 has an artist attempted something as expansive as Vince Gill's THESE DAYS. A four-disc box set of all new material, nearly all of it Gill originals, THESE DAYS is possibly the widest-ranging country album of the modern era. The four discs are thematically and stylistically arranged. Disc one, WORKIN' ON A BIG CHILL, is a 1960s-flavored rock-and-roll album that recalls Bob Dylan's late '60s work with the Band and features Bonnie Bramlett's vocals on several songs. Disc two, THE REASON WHY, is a modern pop record in the style of Shania Twain's international releases, with several duet partners including Sheryl Crow and Leann Rimes. Disc three, SOME THINGS NEVER GET OLD, is straight honky-tonk in the Ray Price and Lefty Frizzell tradition. Finally, disc four, LITTLE BROTHER, is a strictly acoustic bluegrass and folk album that cuts Gill's writing and singing to its most elemental. Taken together, the four albums reveal Vince Gill to be one of modern country's most impressive performers. Liner Note Author: Jay Orr. Recording information: Blackbird "F", Nashville, TN; Blackbird Studio, Nashville, TN; Emerald Sound Studios, Nashville, TN; Masterfonics, Nashville, TN; OceanWay, Nashville, TN; Sound Kitchen, Nashville, TN. Photographer: Seņor McGuire. Personnel: Vince Gill (baritone, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, resonator guitar, mandolin, background vocals); Vince Gill (vocals); Diana Krall (vocals, piano); Guy Clark, John Anderson, Rodney Crowell (vocals); Jeff White (tenor, acoustic guitar, background vocals); Sonya Issacs (tenor); Tom Britt (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar, gut-string guitar); Billy Joe Walker, Jr., Steuart Smith (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar, dobro); John Hughey, Buddy Emmons (steel guitar); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Rob McCoury, Charlie Cushman (banjo); Ronnie McCoury (mandolin); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); The Nashville String Machine (strings); Jim Hoke (harmonica); Mark Douthit (tenor saxophone); Doug Moffet (baritone saxophone); Mike Haynes (trumpet); Barry Green (trombone); Jim Horn (horns); Pete Wasner (piano, electric piano, Wurlitzer piano, Hammond b-3 organ, Wurlitzer organ, synthesizer); Eric Darken (vibraphone, tambourine, percussion, bells, chimes); Michael Rhodes (bass instrument, upright bass); Mike Bub (upright bass); Eddie Bayers, Billy Thomas (drums); William Owsley III, Gene Miller, Lisa Cochran (background vocals); Del McCoury (vocals, tenor, acoustic guitar); Bekka Bramlett (vocals, background vocals); Dan Tyminski, Emmylou Harris, Gretchen Wilson, Jenny Gill, LeAnn Rimes, Lee Ann Womack, Alison Krauss, Michael McDonald , Amy Grant, Patty Loveless, Phil Everly, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Trisha Yearwood, Sheryl Crow, Katrina Elam, Bonnie Raitt (vocals); Tom Bukovac (electric guitar); John Hobbs (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer organ); Chad Cromwell (drums, tambourine); The Del McCoury Band. Audio Mixers: Justin Niebank; Neal Cappellino.

How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites from the Grand Ole Opry buy CD music Although country icon George Jones had made gospel albums before this 2003 recording, both solo and with duet partner Tammy Wynette, this one bears a special significance. The two-disc set of spirituals marks the first time he'd tackled such material since an almost-fatal 1999 car accident. The mishap is said to have put him on spiritual notice, so to speak, and inspired this album (though he'd done some secular work in between). The arrangements, quite appropriately, steer clear of the customary gospel trappings and are squarely in the Billy Sherrill/classic Nashvile mold that suits Jones so well. The man's voice remains a marvel of tone and emotion, and hearing him lay into the likes of "Just a Closer Walk With Thee," "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms," and even the ubiquitous "Amazing Grace" is nothing short of heart-stopping. No other country singer can emotionally inhabit a song as fully as Jones, and hearing a lifelong hell-raiser try to mend his ways is doubly affecting. 2cds Feat. 24 Of His Favorite Gospel Standards. Recording information: Emerald Studios, Nashville, TN. Photographer: Jim Shea. Arranger: Vestal Goodman. Personnel: George Jones (vocals, guitar); Bruce Atkins (acoustic guitar); Brent Mason, Reggie Young, J.T. Corenflos, John Willis (electric guitar); Paul Franklin, John Hughy (steel guitar); Glen Duncan (fiddle); Gary Prim (keyboards); Michael Rhodes (bass); Eddie Bayers (drums); Louis Nunley, Bergen White, Curtis Young, Mark Ivey, Ray Walker, Michael Black, Gordon Stoker, Millie Kirkum, Sheri Copeland, The Smith Family (background vocals). Personnel: George Jones (vocals, guitar); Bruce Watkins (acoustic guitar); John Willis, Reggie Young , J.T. Corenflos, Brent Mason (electric guitar); Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Glen Duncan (fiddle); Gary Prim (keyboards); Eddie Bayers (drums); Curtis Young, Michael Black, Barry Charles, Mark Ivey, Mylon LeFevre, Ray C. Walker, Shemekia Copeland, Bergen White, Louis Dean Nunley, Gordon Stoker (background vocals).

How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites from the Grand Ole Opry album for sale Maintaining his position as a pure-country neo-traditionalist in a Nashville focused more on crossover success, Josh Turner's third album makes one concession to life in a post-Big and Rich world, a surprisingly effective duet with neo-soul R&B singer Anthony Hamilton on "Nowhere Fast." Otherwise, EVERYTHING IS FINE is as casual and diffident as its title, from the rollicking first single, "Firecracker," to a lovely ballad duet with Trisha Yearwood, "Another Try." Audio Mixer: Justin Niebank. Recording information: Blackbird Studios, Nashville, TN; The Castle, Franklin, TN; The Sound Kitchen, Franklin, TN. Photographers: Russ Harrington; Mark Tucker . Personnel: B. James Lowry (guitar, acoustic guitar); Brent Rowan (electric guitar, electric 12-string guitar, baritone guitar); Steve Hinson (steel guitar, dobro); Mike Johnson (dobro); Eric Darken (strings, percussion); Gordon Mote (piano, Wurlitzer piano, Clavinet, Hammond b-3 organ, Wurlitzer organ); Kevin Grantt (upright bass, bass guitar); Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar, National guitar, banjo); Aubrey Haynie (mandolin, fiddle); Jay Dawson (bagpipe); Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson (harmonica); Shannon Forrest, John Gardner , Chad Cromwell (drums); Wes Hightower, Russell Terrell, Liana Manis (background vocals). Additional personnel: Anthony Hamilton, Trisha Yearwood.

How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites from the Grand Ole Opry CD music On his second album, DOIN' MY THING, Luke Bryan's thing is decidedly lighter and relaxed than it was on his 2007 debut, I'LL STAY ME, with the uptempo songs veering toward funny odes to good times and the slower songs flirting with crossover power ballads. Tellingly, whatever disharmony there is between these two extremes -- lamenting that country is not a pristine John Deere cap nor mall-bought rebel flag, then singing a cover of OneRepublic's "Apologize," which brings him way too close to that very mall -- comes from outside writers chosen to give Bryan a crossover hit that he very well may get on his own terms based on the strength of the eight tunes he co-wrote here. Bryan never pushes his good-old boy or romantic sides too hard, sounding equally convincing when he's singing about "Drinkin' Beer and Wastin' Bullets," or when he's wooing a lover on "Do I." This light, easy touch helps sell those occasional contrived moments, but it's better showcased on his originals, where he seems like the good-hearted, slightly mischievous, boy next door who never wants to get goofy like Big & Rich or go to the Caribbean like Kenny Chesney; he only wants to stick around his home town and sing songs... and there's plenty of charm in that attitude, as evidenced by this ingratiating sophomore effort. Recording information: Blackbird Studios, Nashville, TN; House of Blues Studio, Nashville; The Mix Mill. Photographer: Kristin Barlowe. Personnel: John Willis, John D. Willis (acoustic guitar, banjo); B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar); Kenny Greenberg, J.T. Corenflos (electric guitar); Mike Johnson , Paul Franklin (pedal steel guitar); Joe Spivey (mandolin, fiddle); Rob Hajacos (fiddle); Kirk "Jelly Roll" Johnson (harmonica); Mike Rojas , Tony Harrell (piano, organ); Greg Morrow, Paul Leim (drums, percussion); Russell Terrell, Hillary Scott (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Derek Bason; Mills Logan.

How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites from the Grand Ole Opry buy CD music With his deep, buttery voice and heart-breaking twang, Randy Travis could recite golf scores and make it sound soulful, so listeners are in for a treat on this 2007 collection of holiday classics and originals done up country-style. As on his pervious Christmas album from 1989, the new songs are as good as the chestnuts. The standouts here include a poignant "First Noel" and the jolly shuffle "Nothing's Gonna Bring Me Down (At Christmas Time)." Songs Of The Season CD Randy Travis Recording information: Blackbird Studio D., Nashville, TN; Starstruck, Nashville, TN; Stepbridge Studio B, Santa Fe, NM; The Compound And The Insanery, Nashville, TN. Photographer: Eric Swanson . Arranger: Randy Travis. Personnel: Steve Gibson (acoustic guitar); Carl Gorodetzky (violin); Keith Nicholas (cello); David Hungate (bass guitar); Diane Vanette, Sheri Huffman, Sherilyn Huffman, Diane Vanette (background vocals); Pat Bergeson (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonica); Dan Dugmore (acoustic guitar, dobro); Brent Mason (electric guitar); Larry Franklin (mandolin, fiddle); Connie Ellisor, Karen Winkelmann, Janet Darnall, Mary Kathryn Van Osdale, Pamela Sixfin, David Davidson , Alan Umstead, Catherine Umstead, Cate Myer (violin); Bruce Christensen, Kristin Wilkinson, Jim Grosjean, Gary VanOsdale (viola); Kirsten Cassel, John Catchings, Carole Rabinowitz-Neuen (cello); The Nashville String Machine (strings); Shane Keister (piano, electric piano); Casey Wood (electric piano, Fender Rhodes piano, vibraphone, cymbals, shaker, tambourine, triangle, bells, sleigh bell); Tony Harrell (Fender Rhodes piano, harmonium); Paul Leim (drums); Lisa Silver, Ann McCrary, Wes Hightower, Regina McCrary (background vocals); The Cherry Sisters. Audio Mixer: Kyle Lehning.