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Wow. Stacy Sullivan is incredibly talented, and her Cold Enough to Snow is superb. Having reviewed perhaps five million holiday albums over the years, it takes quite a bit to knock me off my reviewer's chair, but Sullivan managed to do just that. She possesses an A+ voice, an elegant/earthy alto brimming over with emotion and warmth. This album is sophisticated country cabaret with serious jazz/pop undertones. Just amazing! The little girl from Boggy Depot, Oklahoma, has come a long way, presenting some of the very best pipes I have ever heard, period. Her talents should not be surprising; after all, she hails from the musical Sullivan clan (matriarch Elizabeth and children Stacy, K.T., Tim, and Heather). Sister Heather plays the piano here; she and brother Tim display their songwriting abilities on the nostalgic "Christmas Morning, 1969" (listening to this fine tune provides a terrific time travel experience).

The song selection on Cold Enough to Snow is outstanding--the album combines ancient sacred pieces like "Silent Night" and "Ave Maria" with contemporary carols like "Some Children See Him." Sullivan also throws in some winter-related pieces that are not strictly holiday-tied, but are terrific inclusions nonetheless (numbers like Joni Mitchell's "River" and the title track "Cold Enough to Snow"). The artist is exceptional on classics like "I'll Be Home for Christmas"; her voice is so effortlessly pure and passionate that you are swept away before you know it. Sullivan's treatment of "River," a long-time favorite, is a revelation. Usually, the number is steeped in dark melancholy; this version carries a warmer soul and a sense of hope. "Away in a Manger" and "Silent Night" reflect a delightful, distinctly country sentiment, and Sullivan's profoundly beautiful "Ave Maria" will send shivers up your spine.

On a more superficial front, my review copy has a different track order than the list on the album's back (and in the liner notes). "Silent Night" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" are reversed. Not a big deal, but thought you might want to know.

Cold Enough to Snow is excellent music, through and through. Stacy Sullivan is a bona fide cabaret star who stands ready to sweep you off your feet this holiday season. Let her!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

Stacy Sullivan: vocals & guitar

Executive Producer for LML Music: Lee Lessack
Produced by Gabriel Moffat and Stacy Sullivan
Engineered and Mixed by Gabriel Moffat
Arrangements by Dick Wells
All Background Vocals and arrangements by Robbyn Kirmsse and Stacy Sullivan
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Mandolin and Dobro: George Doering
Piano: Heather Sullivan
Bass Guitar: John Pierce
Acoustic Guitar and Electric Guitar: Kevin Dukes
Drums: Gary Ferguson

Stacy Sullivan

Cold Enough to Snow

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Track List