I did not know what to expect from this Christmas CD from Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers.  I guess I expected a Country Christmas album, but this is far from that.  I am not familiar with The Gatlin Brothers at all.  This is probably the only thing I have heard from them on any kind of regular basis.

Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers are from southern Texas and began performing as a trio while in childhood.  As much as I can tell, it was always the three of them, but Larry Gatlin always got top billing.  That changed in 1979, when they officially became Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers.  They charted many hits on Billboard’s Country charts throughout the 1980s.  Things changed in Country music in the mid-80s, and as new singers and new trends came along, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers fell out of favor.

This is their first Christmas album, released during their most popular period.  They would release another Christmas CD, Christmas With The Gatlins, in 1990.  This turned out to be a surprise CD for me.  It is filled with wonderful Christmas songs, some of which I am unfamiliar with.  There are only ten songs here, but that was normal for LPs back in the 80s, before CDs.  But they are ten beautiful Christmas songs.  All the string arrangements are provided by the Nashville String Machine.

This CD reissue comes from Sony Music Special Products and was originally released on Columbia in 1982.  I put the year of this CD release as 1982 because that’s the only date I can find on it.  CDs did not start being produced until 1985, so I know this is a reissue of their Christmas album from 1982, but I don’t know the release date of this CD.

The cover of the CD is exactly the same as the cover for the album.  Good job!  It shows The Gatlin Brothers with their wives and children opening presents in front of a fireplace, next to an ornately decorated Christmas tree.  This is what a 1981 Christmas looked like.  The band’s name and CD title are at the top, just as they were on the album.

The back of the CD is similar to the back of the album.  Both feature the same picture of the three Gatlin Brothers standing in front of the same fireplace as from the front cover.  Both the album and the CD feature a numerical track listing, but the font has been changed for the CD.  This causes the text to appear much differently between versions.  Also missing from the back of the CD is any production and copyright notices that appear on the back of the album.  The back of the album had a more detailed song listing, including the lead singers of each song.

The CD cover comes out and opens along a single fold-out, but there is no information.  Both sides are completely blank.  What a missed opportunity to include a small bio of The Gatlin Brothers or lyrics, production notes, or anything!  Most of the information for these songs came from the back of the original album.

The back of the front cover features a numerical track listing with time signatures.  Below are writer and arranger credits.  The text is in black, and it’s superimposed against a light-yellow background.  Reading the writer credits reveals that three of the songs are original, two of which were written by Larry Gatlin.  All songs are presented in their original order.

Of the ten songs, all are traditional Christmas carols and hymns.  Rudolph, Frosty and even Santa himself do not make an appearance here.  There are two medleys, and they are also Christmas carols and hymns.  Of the traditional carols and hymns, all were arranged by Steve Gatlin.

The CD begins with Silent Night.  Larry Gatlin does a great job with the vocals.  The first half of the song has The Gatlin Brothers performing most of the instrumentation.  By the second half, the Nashville String Machine is accompanying the band, and all the Gatlin’s are harmonizing.

The 2^nd song, Sweet Baby Jesus, I believe, is an original to this album.  It was written by Patricia Bunch, Mary A. Kennedy and Pam Rose.  This is the only version of this song I have and the only place in my Christmas collection it shows up.  The arrangement is light, and until the end, the music is performed mainly by The Gatlin Brothers Band.  The Adult Handbell Choir of Woodmont Baptist Church provides harmonies and bells.  The Gatlin Brothers harmonize extremely well.  They have always included Gospel music in their song selections, and it is no different with this song.

The first medley, the 3^rd song, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / What Child Is This / O Come, All Ye Faithful, starts with the Nashville String Machine and then is joined by Larry Gatlin.  As the songs change, the singer does as well.  Rudy Gatlin is joined on vocals by his brother Larry Gatlin for What Child Is This.  More piano is heard than strings.  The arrangement again changes slightly and while an organ closes this song, it opens the next one.  The first half of O Come, All Ye Faithful is all organ, while during the second half, all The Gatlin’s share the vocals.  This is a terrific song that showcases The Gatlin’s harmonies.  Ralph Geddes provides the organ arrangement.

The 4^th song is another original Christmas carol, written by Larry Gatlin.  The song, Steps, is about the steps Jesus took from his infancy to adulthood that allowed sinners to be able to take their own steps into heaven.  It is mainly a piano song and during the refrain, the other Gatlin Brothers join together for the harmonies.  It is an endearing song of the life Jesus led to save all mankind.

The 5th song may be the best one on here.  The song Alleluia is again written by Larry Gatlin.  It is performed a cappella.  The Gatlin Brothers do a tremendous job of 4-part harmonizing.  The song speaks of the word Alleluia as more than just a word in a song, but rather a way of life, a way to express praise all through our days.

Steve Gatlin handles the vocals on O Holy Night.  This is a great version of this song, suited perfectly for Steve’s tenor voice.  As the Nashville String Machine provides lush arrangements, Steve brings his voice up to meet the rising pitch of the strings while the rest of The Gatlin’s come in to harmonize.

The 7^th song is a change of pace.  Away In A Manger is performed by a children’s choir that comprises some of the younger Gatlin’s and other children.  The song begins with piano and organ, before the children begin.  It is a sweet and well-rehearsed chorus.  After the middle part, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers take the second set of vocals.  All the Gatlin’s, young and old, are in attendance for the finish.

The 8th song is the final medley.  The First Noel begins, after a brief string intro, with an acoustic guitar while the strings come back for accompaniment.  All the Gatlin’s sing the vocals.  The second song of the medley, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, features Steve Gatlin.  The arrangement changes dramatically with the third part of the medley, Angels We Have Heard On High.  All the Gatlin’s join in with endearing and soulful harmonies on this Christmas hymn.  There is very little instrumentation, and what there is is mostly brass.

The 9th song, Messiah / I Know That My Redeemer Liveth features two songs from Handel’s Messiah that are not often heard.  Larry Gatlin does a great job with the vocals while accompanied by the Nashville String Machine.  This song features more Nashville String Machine than vocals and they occupy the last thirty seconds with a lush, solo performance.

The momentum doesn’t stop with the 10^th and last song, Messiah / Alleluia Chorus, also from Handel’s Messiah.  This does not sound like The Gatlin Brothers Band as it is all the Nashville String Machine providing the instrumentation.  The Gatlin Brothers are joined by the Adult Choir of Woodmont Baptist Church for a rousing rendition of this Christmas classic.  It is traditional in all respects, right down to the layered chorus and big brass arrangement.  As far as this glorious song goes, and it is performed by many, many artists, this must be one of the finest ever recorded.  When I say this arrangement is big, that is no understatement.  I would never guess this to be on a Gatlin Brothers Christmas album.  It is a terrific way to end this CD.

As I said earlier, I am not that familiar with The Gatlin Brothers Band, but I should become more familiar with them.  I don’t know how their regular Country songs went, and they certainly sold a lot of them, but I can attest to their talents in performing sacred Christmas hymns.

Do not look at this as a Country Christmas album.  This is more than that.  It is very well produced and well thought out.  This CD contains all sacred songs delivered in a solemn and soulful manner.  The Gatlin Brothers relied on their Gospel roots, and it shows.  The Nashville String Machine provides lush arrangements of familiar Christmas hymns.  And when present, the Adult Choir of Woodmont Baptist Church gives the songs an added dimension.

This CD will appeal to a lot of people who enjoy sacred Christmas music.  It would mix in well with any Christmas playlist, or perhaps be best played by itself, straight through.  I was not that familiar with it until this review, but it will be a go-to Christmas CD in the future.

I give this CD :

*****