Cardinal rule number one for introducing new holiday songs amidst a sea of newly arranged classics: Make them compelling! No doubt she hopes that listeners will slow dance to the title track of her first holiday offering, but, despite its sweet sentiment, it's one of the handful of bland tracks amidst many that are far more interesting. The most unique choice Lee Ann Womack makes is moving away from her comfy country roots and doing a traditional jazz/big band-flavored party for the season at hand. Her wry duet of "Baby It's Cold Outside" with Harry Connick, Jr. is fully of sultry cool and sassy personality -- qualities the disc's other ballads could use more of. The medley of "Let It Snow/Winter Wonderland" is rendered in a classic '50s crooner fashion, with rising splashes of horn section complementing her lush vocals. That same tenderness serves her well on a sparse, folksy arrangement of "Silent Night," a mood she balances with sassy swingers like "The Man With the Bag." Even if there's some unevenness here, the disc in general lives up to its title concept. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
Pete Christlieb (Horn), Pete Christlieb (Saxophone), Rob Mounsey (Piano), Rob Mounsey (Conductor), Rob Mounsey (Associate Producer), Rob Mounsey (String Arrangements), Marilyn Baker (Orchestra), Elizabeth Wilson (Orchestra), John Acosta (Orchestra), Rick Baptist (Horn), Mari Tsumura (Orchestra), Dennis Budimir (Guitar (Acoustic)), Dennis Budimir (Guitar (Electric)), Darius Campo (Orchestra), Jon Clarke (Orchestra), Vinnie Colaiuta (Drums), Larry Corbett (Orchestra), Joel Derouin (Orchestra), Yvette Devereaux (Orchestra), Chuck Domanico (Bass (Upright)), Assa Drori (Orchestra), Greg Droman (Engineer), Greg Droman (Mixing), Steve Edelman (Orchestra), Ernest Ehrhardt (Orchestra), Charles Everett (Orchestra), Robert Findley (Horn), Armen Garabedian (Orchestra), Berj Garabedian (Orchestra), Pamela Goldsmith (Orchestra), George Graham (Horn), Dan Higgins (Saxophone), Patricia Johnson (Orchestra), Marabeth Jordan (Vocals (Background)), Peter Kent (Orchestra), Valarie King (Orchestra), Charles Loper (Horn), Joe Meyer (Orchestra), John Mitchell J. (Horn), Dennis Molchan (Orchestra), Jorge Moraga (Orchestra), Linda Rose (Orchestra), James Ross (Orchestra), Al Schmitt (Engineer), Al Schmitt (Mixing), Harry Shirinian (Orchestra), Sheridon Stokes (Orchestra), Raymond Tischer (Orchestra), Arturo Velasco (Horn), Brad Warnaar (Orchestra), Donald Waldrop (Horn), Bergen White (Vocals (Background)), Evan Wilson (Orchestra), Mark Wright (Producer), Shari Zippert (Orchestra), Gayle Levant (Orchestra), Leslie Woodbury (Orchestra), Brice Martin (Orchestra), Fred Selden (Horn), Suzie Katayama (Orchestra), Lisa Cochran (Vocals (Background)), Buddy Jackson (Art Direction), Katie Gillon (Art Direction), Lee Ann Womack (Main Performer), Wayne Bergeron (Horn), Jules Chaikin (Contractor), Karinne Caulkins (Design), Steve Genewick (Assistant Engineer), Steve Genewick (Mixing Assistant), Denyse Buffman (Orchestra), Norman Ludwin (Orchestra), Hank Williams (Mastering), Andrew Eccles (Photography), Todd Gunnerson (Assistant Engineer), Jennifer Munday (Orchestra), Melissa Mattey (Mixing Assistant), Carie Higdon (Project Coordinator), Seble Maaza (Stylist), Dirk Vanoucek (Digital Remastering), George Bohanon (Horn), Mally Roncal (Make-Up), David Bryant (Assistant Engineer), Thomas Boyd (Orchestra), Christopher Hanulik (Orchestra)
