Believe: A Christmas Collection (Giant, 2000)
Various Artists
Reviewed by Tom Netherland
Spread through 11 tracks, 2 each for Williams ("Pretty Little Baby Child" and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"), Neal McCoy (including a so-so "Merry Christmas Darling"), Clay Walker and bluegrassers The Johnny Staats Project, the album sporadically reaches high for that ever elusive shooting star in the night.
Though silly, Keith Harling's honky-tonkin' "Santa's got a Semi," may prove to be the album's year-to-year staple. Staats' "What Child is This" comes close. Much as Bill Monroe's 1950's re-make of his own "Blue Moon of Kentucky," Staats splits the song, starting slowly then picking up the tempo to a roaring finish.
Rogers' "The Christmas Song" limps along as Walker's steel guitar 'n' fiddlin' "Blue Christmas" purrs pure country - though not nearly with the character of Ernest Tubb's classic rendition. Which mostly sums up the album. Nevertheless, as Christmas compilations go, this one manages more highs than most.
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