25 Holiday Records: 8: Light of the Stable by Emmylou Harris

We're counting down to Christmas Day with a list of 25 records we have in the shop at Royal Cat Records! Why? Because vinyl rules!

Our next record is a gentle country classic!

#8

Light of the Stable
by Emmylou Harris
Warner Brothers Canada
XBS 3484
1980

This is a 1980 Canadian pressing of the 1979 classic by country superstar Emmylou Harris. Emmylou was famously the muse, musical collaborator and romantic ladyfriend of Gram Parson --their romance is legendary and second only to Johnny and June Carter Cash in the annals of western/americana lore. Everybody, especially country stars, does a Christmas record and Emmylou is no exception. She acquits herself well here, with several great performances.

This is a record with a lot of expensive guitars and other stringed instruments on it. Ricky Skaggs plays on several tracks. Lots of strings, pickin' and strummin'. Lots of mandolin. Most of the songs  are fairly conventional country interpretations of the seasonal subject matter. We don't think Emmylou wrote any of these herself, but she puts her own wonderful distinct warbling vocal spin on them. Several are very pretty. The best track is the title track that rounds out the record, with vocal assists from the amazing trio of Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Willie Nelson; three of the greatest voices in the genre. This is a quiet record, like it's buried under a blanket of snow.

Tracklist:

A1 Christmas Time's A-Coming
Autoharp – Brian Bowers (2)
Banjo, Mandolin – Ricky Skaggs
Bass – Emory Gordy, Jr.
Guitar [Arch-top] – Brian Ahern
Harmony Vocals – Cheryl Warren, Sharon Hicks
Written-By – Tex Logan
2:45

A2 O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Bass – Emory Gordy, Jr.
Guitar [Gut String] – Brian Ahern
Harmony Vocals – Cheryl Warren, Sharon Hicks
Mandolin, Violin – Ricky Skaggs
Written-By – Lewis H. Redner*, Phillips Brooks
3:39

A3 Away In A Manger
Arranged By – Jonathan E. Spillman*
Bass – Emory Gordy, Jr.
Guitar [Gut String] – Brian Ahern
Mandolin – Albert Lee
Vocals – Nancy Ahern
Written-By – Martin Luther (3)
2:35

A4 Angel Eyes (Angel Eyes)
Acoustic Guitar – Brian Ahern, Rodney Crowell
Bass – Mike Bowden
Clavinet – Tony Brown (4)
Drums – Mike Ware
Electric Guitar – Frank Reckard
Harmony Vocals – Ricky Skaggs, Willie Nelson
Mandolin – Ricky Skaggs
Pedal Steel Guitar – Hank Devito
Percussion – Brian Ahern
Written-By – Rodney Crowell
3:16

A5 The First Noel
Arranged By – B. Ahern*
Harmony Vocals – Cheryl Warren, Sharon Hicks
2:36
B1 Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem
Autoharp – Brian Bowers (2)
Bass – Emory Gordy, Jr.
Fiddle, Acoustic Guitar, Harmony Vocals – Ricky Skaggs
Guitar [Arch-top] – Brian Ahern
Harmony Vocals – Cheryl Warren, Sharon Hicks
Written-By – A. L. Phipps*
3:02

B2 Little Drummer Boy
Acoustic Guitar – Emmylou Harris
Bass – Emory Gordy, Jr.
Bass [Six String] – Brian Ahern
Clavinet – Tony Brown (4)
Drums – John Ware
Electric Guitar – Frank Reckard
Guitar [High Strung] – Rodney Crowell
Harmony Vocals – Cheryl Warren, Sharon Hicks
Mandolin – Ricky Skaggs
Pedal Steel Guitar – Hank Devito
Percussion – Brian Ahern
Written-By – Harry Simeone, Henry Onorati, Katherine Davis*
4:00

B3 Golden Cradle
Arranged By – N. Ahern*
Guitar [Gut String] – Brian Ahern
Vocals – Nancy Ahern
Written-By – Traditional
2:04
B4 Silent Night
Acoustic Bass, Bass [Six String] – Brian Ahern
Acoustic Guitar – Emmylou Harris
Arranged By – Brian Ahern
Autoharp – Brian Bowers (2)
Harmony Vocals – Cheryl Warren, Sharon Hicks
Pedal Steel Guitar – Hank Devito
Violin, Guitar [Acoustic] – Ricky Skaggs
Written-By – Franz Gruber, Joseph Mohr
3:32

B5 Light Of The Stable
Acoustic Guitar – Brian Ahern, Emmylou Harris
Bass – Emory Gordy, Jr.
Drums – John Ware
Electric Guitar – James Burton
Guitar [High Strung] – Rodney Crowell
Harmony Vocals – Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Willie Nelson
Pedal Steel Guitar – Hank Devito
Piano – Glen D. Hardin*
Written-By – Elizabeth Rhymer, Steven Rhymer
2:25

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