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I'll try to slip this one in under the radar, because Carol is going to swat me when she notices I'm reviewing a DVD release. I always give her a ration and a half of holiday shizzle, whenever she submits a DVD review. I look at these things like something the cat dragged in. First, the graphic doesn't "fit" on our page design; second, I'm a music listener, not a music watcher. No joke: when I put Randy Travis into the DVD player on this laptop, it wouldn't even play it--not because there is anything wrong with anything sold by Dell Computer (long may it wave!), but because I have never set up my DVD player. Did you know that DVDs are encoded only to play in a particular part of the world? I didn't. I had to tell my DVD player which side of the world it lives on.

But be all that as it may, Randy Travis's Christmas on the Pecos is not something the cat dragged in. This Randy Travis cat is the most countrified southern fried steak one could imagine. Nobody looks more country than Randy Travis: his look carries on in the fine tradition of Porter Wagoner, tall and slim, in his buckskin-fringed jacket and sculptured haircut, a fitting homage to the soft-spoken man who brought country music to television in my day. So, it is no wonder Travis wouldn't want to showcase his own warm smile and cool country profile for all the world.

I loved Christmas on the Pecos, not the least because I live in Texas, and the Pecos River runs right through it. And because Travis manages to get the Carlsbad Caverns into the mix, making this outing an acoustical as well as a visual wonderland. He also had the courtesy to include his monster hit Forever and Ever. Amen, I song I took the liberty of rewinding the DVD to watch and listen to over and over. I also enjoyed the other non-seasonal on this offering, L.D. Burke's tasty treat, Sopapilla (good any time of year). Travis also isn't above plucking at the heart strings along with the guitar strings, and offers a poignant and worthy rendition of The Christmas Guest. And his cowboy band display some musicianship on the bluegrass classic Christmas Time's A Comin' that had me whistling along. There's also a nice interpretation of Willie's Pretty Paper, acoustically enhanced performances inside Carlsbad Caverns by Travis and the First Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir (directed by Kevin Pence), and a lot of down home fun, New Mexico style.

I do have a bit of a bias (at least on the site) against DVD releases. But I very much enjoyed watching and hearing this one. This one was mighty fine. Mighty fine.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2008)

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From the liner notes:

Executive Producers: Elizabeth Travis, Guy Lutman and Jon Hendry

Producer/Director: Charlie O'Dowd

Audio Producer/Music Director: Kyle Lehning

Randy's Band:

Steve Hinson, steel guitar

Rick Wayne "LD" Money, lead guitar

Herb Shucher, drums

David Johnson, fiddle

Lance Dary, six, twelfe and nylon string acoustic guitars, mandolin, background vocals

Bill Cook, bass guitar, background vocals

Robb Houston, acoustic guitar, background vocals

Joe Van Dyke, keyboards, tambourine

Randy Travis

Christmas on the Pecos
(DVD)

Artist link

Track List