Corn, Water and Wood - Riders in the Sky, Elliot, Carol Ashfo
Let It Snow/The Last Christmas Medley You'll Ever Need to Hear - Riders in the Sky, Cahn, Sammy
The Christmas Yodel - Riders in the Sky, Green, Ranger Doug
Sidemeat's Christmas Stew - Riders in the Sky, Green, Ranger Doug
The Prairie Dog Christmas Ball - Riders in the Sky, Green, Ranger Doug
The Friendly Beasts - Riders in the Sky, Louvin, Charlie
Virgin Maria - Riders in the Sky, Green, Ranger Doug
I'll Be Home for Christmas - Riders in the Sky, Gannon, Kim
An Old Fashioned Christmas Polka - Riders in the Sky, Miskulin, Joey
The Twelve Days of Cowboy Christmas - Riders in the Sky, Too Slim
Just Put a Ribbon in Your Hair - Riders in the Sky, Burns, Robert Charl
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - Riders in the Sky, Neale, John Mason
If you aren't familiar with Woody Paul and Ranger Doug, these are real cowboy singers whose smooth three-part harmonies, bad jokes, and old-timey taste in tunes make for engaging and entertaining performances and albums. L... more »ike sons of the Sons of the Pioneers, Riders in the Sky do a ranch-hand-like job of exploring the Christmas spirit on their second holiday album. With titles such as "The Prairie Dog Christmas Ball," "Sidemeat's Christmas Stew," and "The Twelve Days of Cowboy Christmas," you get a pretty clear picture of how much fun these buckaroos are having. Which isn't to say they can't be serious ("Virgen Maria" is a moving song of faith). But "The Christmas Yodel" is more their forte. Each disc ought to come with a slice of ham. --Martin Keller« less
If you aren't familiar with Woody Paul and Ranger Doug, these are real cowboy singers whose smooth three-part harmonies, bad jokes, and old-timey taste in tunes make for engaging and entertaining performances and albums. Like sons of the Sons of the Pioneers, Riders in the Sky do a ranch-hand-like job of exploring the Christmas spirit on their second holiday album. With titles such as "The Prairie Dog Christmas Ball," "Sidemeat's Christmas Stew," and "The Twelve Days of Cowboy Christmas," you get a pretty clear picture of how much fun these buckaroos are having. Which isn't to say they can't be serious ("Virgen Maria" is a moving song of faith). But "The Christmas Yodel" is more their forte. Each disc ought to come with a slice of ham. --Martin Keller
"These guys are enormously talented musicians. Even so, I figured their Christmas album would probably be a little cheesy, if only because Christmas itself has become a little cheesy these days. However this album is anything but cheesy--on the contrary, the songs have clearly been chosen with extreme care and fine taste. There are hymns, old cowboy songs, folk songs, each precisely arranged and performed by the exceedingly capable Riders. This album is sure to delight."
Riders Christmas CD Review
Vern Blythe | Denver, CO. | 01/03/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"As a 10 year collector of "non-standard" non-traditional Christmas hymns, I look every year for albums which have songs with a different approach/arrangement to the holiday season. This album has four of these songs - "Corn Water & Wood"(also on Michael Martin Murphey's CD), "The Friendly Beasts", "Virgen Maria" and "Just Put A Ribbon In Your Hair". These (except for Friendly Beasts) songs indicate more than a little effort to find holiday music which is not right in front of everyone's nose and for which any listener may obtain with a trip to the music store. This means the Riders (and their staff)put some extra effort into finding and arranging songs to expand the listener's music variety. Many artists make no effort at all to record anything but the most traditional (Same song - different voice).There are some songs with appeal to children, consistent with the Rider's history. Others are traditional with a Western flair. The addition of an accordion to the combo takes a little getting used to (polka & cowboy music is a different mix) but does provide some variety.Overall, from my holiday music perspective, when I can find 4 appealing songs of 11, 12 or 13 which are non-traditional and more obscure, I consider the product to be a success and one which warrants a purchase recommendation."
New Songs, Still Satisfying!
Annie Jones | 12/04/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Loved their first Christmas album so much we've worn the tape out! So this was a no-brainer buy - LOVED it. Not the same old boring holiday fare, a great mix of fun and feeling."
Christmas out on the range
Charles Seelig | Providence, RI | 12/03/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"You'll get a real feeling of being out on the prairie or at least knowing what it might be like on Christmas Eve miles away from any town, surrounded by your fellow cowboys and several thousand head of cattle. Some traditional, some more modern, and a few originals are included on this CD. Good for throwing into the holiday music mix."
A distinctive Christmas album
Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 11/15/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a very different type of album from the cowboy Christmas album by Michael Martin Murphey. Although both have an upbeat feel, this one is much more relaxing. The other thing to note is that while this album is rooted in western music, it is just as likely to appeal to fans of traditional country. The group like to yodel, so if you don't like that, give this a miss. Another feature of this album is the inclusion of an accordion - an instrument more commonly associated with cajun music than with western or country music. Many standards are included in The last Christmas medley you'll ever need to hear, though I'll be home for Christmas is sung in full. Twelve days of cowboy Christmas is an adaptation of Twelve days of Christmas. The album closes with a fine rendition of O come O come Emmanuel.The remaining songs are not famous. Several of them are original, while others are covers of obscure Christmas songs. Michael Martin Murphey included Corn water and wood on his Christmas album. My favorite track is the very romantic Just put a ribbon in your hair. Prairie dog Christmas ball and An old-fashioned Christmas polka are other highlights.This is a well-crafted album that will not appeal to everybody, but if you are looking for something a little different, this might be what you are looking for."