Toby Keith Classic Christmas CD

2007 two CD holiday collection from the Country Music titan. Twelve years ago when Toby Keith released his first holiday album, he was in the midst of breakthrough success as an artist. Two years and two CD releases into his career, he had already sold one and a half million copies and amassed a string of chart topping singles. For many artists that might have been an entire career. Jump forward to the present Toby Keith is one of the most powerful artists of any genre. He has sold 30 million CDs, topped the country chart 23 times and received countless songwriting and industry achievement awards, including his recent 50 Million Spins Award from BMI. He has expanded his career to include acting and films, soundtracks, restaurants and even his own record label. Universal.

Unlike many Christmas albums, which are slightly awkward mixes of new material, old novelty tunes, and solemn hymns, Toby Keith smartly avoids the first and separates the others. A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS is a specially priced two-disc set whose 20 tracks could easily have fit on a single CD, but Keith divides the discs into two different styles. Disc one consists of all the traditional Christmas pop tunes, such as "Frosty the Snowman" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," while the second disc consists of reverent versions of hymns and sacred material.

Personnel: Randy Scruggs (acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, bouzouki); Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); Rob Ickes (dobro); Jonathan Yudkin (celtic harp, violin, viola, cello, xylophone, bass guitar); John Hobbs (keyboards); Dave Pomeroy (bass guitar); Chad Cromwell (drums, percussion); Mica Roberts, Harry Stinson, John Wesley Ryles, Lisa Cochran (background vocals).